National Road Relay Title for Sligo AC

Sligo AC produced one its best performances at national level in many years when winning the National Road Relay Championships in Dublin on Sunday.

Over 250 athletes competed in the Woodie’s DIY National Road Relay Championships in Raheny and the senior Sligo AC men's team of James McGeough, Alberto Sanchez, Dermot McDermott and David Harper came out on top for Sligo AC.

The team produced a brilliant performance to win the senior title ahead of Dublin clubs Raheny Shamrock and Clonliffe Harriers AC. Sligo AC's 800m athlete David Harper showed a great burst of speed to put Sligo into an early lead with Raheny, Clonliffe and Finn Valley all in close attendance. Finn Valley AC began to make an impression and were the leaders at the second changeover with Clonliffe and Raheny now back in second and third respectively.

The crucial three mile leg saw Alberto Sanchez of Sligo AC put in a stellar performance to record a time of 14.22. Sanchez demonstrated great strength to hand over in the lead team mate Dermot McDermott in a time of 28:48. At this stage Raheny were only three seconds behind Sligo AC. Clonliffe Harriers AC at this point were 100m back in third place going into the final leg.

The final two mile leg turned into an exciting battle between McDermott of Sligo AC and O’Leary of Raheny Shamrock. McDermott looked the more comfortable of the two as the two athletes headed out on the final mile of the race. McDermott made the decisive break coming up the finishing straight and looked full of running on his way to an impressive victory in a combined time of 38:31. Raheny Shamrock AC finished in second place in a time of 38:34 ahead of third place Clonliffe Harriers in a time of 38:35.

Meanwhile, the club will be represented in the capital again this coming week-end at the SPAR Great Ireland Run. The national 10k event through the Phoenix Park will provide a testing challenge for the club's representatives. The club will also be represented further afield this week-end when a number of members compete in the Rotterdam Marathon. It will have been the culmination of several weeks of training in tough weather conditions for the athletes concerned, some of whom completed their last marathon only last October in Dublin.

The Sligo 8K now open for entries!

Sligo AC are delighted to announce The AMCOR FLEXIBLES SLIGO 8K Run/Walk, which will take place on Friday, May 17th, 2013 at 7pm in Rosses Point, Sligo.

Ciaran Donnellan (Amcor Flexibles), Vanessa Foley, Michael O'Connell, Emmet Dunleavey, Carina Clarke, Seamus Somers (All Sligo AC) and Collette Hamilton (Sligo Credit Union) at the presentation of the 2013 Sligo 8K.

Featuring a flat fast course with AAI Permit, and Chip timing. Registration and Chip Collection from 5 O'Clock in The Yacht Club in Rosses Point. Prizes for first 3 male/female finishers as well as prizes for first 2 male/female in the usual age categories. After race refreshments will be served in The Yacht Club. Contact 087 6405190 for further details.

To enter the race please click here.

Carina makes it two in a row!

The club was well represented in the 300 strong field of runners in the Carney 10k today in very cold and blustery conditions.

Five out of the top ten positions in the men's field were filled by club members while Carina Clarke made it two wins in a row in the Road Race League with a pb of 38.24. Third woman home was Mari Johnston, also of Sligo AC, in a pb too of 39.57.

Richard Gorman 2nd overall with Liam Feely winner and Stephen Prentice third overall with Mel Casserly.

Richard Gorman set the pace for the men, coming home second overall in 33.32 with Seamus Somers 4th in 35.06 and Michael O'Connell 5th in 36.12. Jonathan Hill was 9th in 36.40 with Ultan McNasser 10th in 36.49. Ross Downey was a very impressive 12th overall in 37.10.

Mari Johnston (3rd woman overall) and Carina Clarke (first woman overall) in today's Carney 10k with new pbs.

There were category prizes for several club members. Carina Clarke followed up her Tubbercurry 10k success with another impressive win in Carney, leading the women's field from the off. Mari was next as third woman overall with Roseanne Mitchell the next club member home in 42.29 followed by Cathy McCarthy in a new pb of 44.51, Catherine Bradley in 45.18, Deirdre Deering in 45.36, Pauline Henry in 47.06, Fiona Fahey Gilmartin in a pb of 47.12 and Ashling Cawley in 47.26.

Complete results can be found here. Lots of photos are available on the Club's Facebook page here.

Good Friday Grange 5K Race

There was a good turn out of members at the Good Friday 5k road race in Grange. The event, in its third year, was held as a fundraiser for Cardiac Services at Sligo Regional Hospital.

It attracted a field of over 120 runners who braved the cold, icy conditions. Many of the runners used the race as a 'warm up' for the Carney 10k on Easter Monday. It was good to see Ultan McNasser back competing once again, securing second place in a time of 17.32. He was followed in third by Eamon Dunbar in 18.09 Eamon was also first veteran.

The race was won by Niall Hoey of North Sligo AC in 17.23. Rory Connor was second veteran home in 19.11. There were also some good performances from Sligo AC's younger members. Noel Burke was first junior home in 21 minutes and third placed junior was Keenan Deering in a new pb of 21.56. Orla Mulvihill was second female junior in 22.04.

 Best of luck to all competing in Carney. Don't forget to wear the club vest.

Sligo AC in action at Cara Bundoran 10 Mile Road Race

Excellent turn out from the club at the Cara Bundoran 10 mile road race and 10k event today. Sligo AC had the overall winner in the ten mile event and the club was also first in both the men's and women's team events in the ten miler.

Over 30 members participate in testing conditions

Well done to the winner of the ten mile race Richard Gorman, who along with Michael O'Connell, Seamus Somers and Neal Higgins made up the successful men's team.

A big well done too to Lucy Brennan who was third overall in the women's category of the ten miler and who led home the winning Sligo AC team which also included, Roseanne Mitchell, Deirdre Deering and Pauline Henry.

Connacht Indoor Championships

A host of medals were won by Sligo AC members at the Connacht Indoor Championships in Athlone on Sunday. From individual to realy events the club's athletes were to the fore in both juvenile and senior grades. Two bus loads made the journey to the new indoor arena and they did their coaches proud. There were also plenty of parents present to cheer on their offspring.

Many of the club's younger members were making their debuts not only at the track but also experiencing indoor running for the first time. It all augurs well for the many events ahead including the track season.

This coming week-end will see a strong club presence at the Cara Bundoran 10 mile road race. There'll be a field of over 800 runners for the event which also includes a 10k for the first time.

The race is a excellent start to the road race season and the events come thick and fast soon after with the Tubbercurry 10k on St. Patrick's Day kicking off this year's Road Race League that features ten races spread over several months and ending in October with the Grange 10k.