4 days ago
Record numbers descend upon Cooley Peninsula for Glenmore AC's Challenge Running Festival
Nestled between the mountains of Slievenaglogh and Slieve Foye, the beautiful valley of Glenmore offers competitors stunning views of the Cooley mountains and Dundalk Bay as they take on the challenge.
The event has grown in popularity each year, expanding from the original 10 mile route to now include race distances of 5km, 10km, the original 10mile route, Half Marathon, and this year saw the introduction of a full marathon distance for the first time.
Race HQ was at Mullaghbuoy Community Centre as usual, with buses organised to transport the 5km competitors to their race start, with the 10km, 10-mile, half and full marathon starts within walking distance from the centre.
This year saw a record attendance of over 500 competitors complete the challenge. As was evident from the wide array of club colours on display, there was great support from local clubs north and south of the border, as well as some less familiar ones.
There were some great performances on the day from Glenmore club members with Martin McCarragher winning the 10km event, Annie McGuinness third lady in the 10 mile race and winner of the Kenneth McBride Perpetual Cup.
RACE RESULTS
Men - Top 3
5km: 1. Neil McGeough 15:40 (Newcastle & District); 2. Paul Cummins 16:19 (NA); 3. Paul Blayney 16:42 (Beechmount Harriers AC)
10km: 1. Martin McCarragher 38:21 (Glenmore AC), 2. Ronan Kennedy 39:22 (NA), 3. Paddy O'Mahony 39:25 (Ardee & District AC)
10 mile: 1. Brendan Heaney 56:29 (Armagh AC), 2. Maurice McMahon 57:01 (North East Runners AC), 3. Drew Fowler 59:29 (Ballydrain Harriers AC)
Half Marathon: Eoin O'Connell 1:16:22 (Tara AC), 2. Ronan Wogan 1:18:26 (Raheny Shamrock AC), 3. Conor McCooey 1:26:37 (Blayney Rockets AC)
Marathon: George Snee 2:40:17 (NA), 2. Arturas Siktorovas 3:06:18 (Monaghan Phoenix AC), 3. Paul O'Sullivan 3:25:54 (NA)
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Women – Top 3
5km: 1. Edel Corr 19:00 (Galbally Runners), 2. Denise McCann 19:14 (Galbally Runners), 3. Bernie Balfe 21:21 (Ardee & District AC)
10km: 1. Lisa Conlon 41:55 (Dunleer AC), 2. Kelly Ann O'Brien 43:57 (North East Runners AC), 3. Emer McKenna 49:08 (Monaghan Phoenix AC)
10 mile: 1. Eimear McCracken 1:07:39 (Annadale Striders), 2. Niamh O'Brien 1:09:48 (NA), 3. Annie McGuinness 1:10:30 (Glenmore AC)
Half Marathon: 1. Ann O'Rourke 1:41:24 (Carrick Aces AC), 2. Brenda Barry 1:45:06 (Monaghan Phoenix AC), 3. Eileen Fearon 1:50:38 (Slieve Gullion Runners)
Marathon: 1. Petra Shanley 3:43:26 (NA), 2. Anne Lyons 4:00:36 (Clonliffe Harriers AC), 3. Lorna Doran 4:03:01 (Carrick Aces AC)
10-mile age category winners:
M40 – Donal McMorland (1:02:07) Glenmore AC; M50 – Steve Reenan (1:05:58) North East Runners AC; M60 – Gerry O'Connell (1:08:45) Glenmore AC; F40 – Joanne O'Connor (1:13:24) Glenmore AC; F50 – Grainne Keenan (1:17:25); F60 – Rose White (1:44:10) Glenmore AC
Glenmore AC won both of the team prizes in the 10 mile race:
Men - Donal McMorland, Cormac Crawley, Gerard McBride, Gerry O'Connell
Ladies - Annie McGuinness, Joanne O'Connor, Yvonne Gallagher, Sarah Dooney-Conlon
Kenneth McBride 10-mile Perpetual Cup winners
Donal McMorland and Annie McGuinness took home the Kenneth McBride Perpetual Cups for the first male and female athletes from Glenmore AC in the 10mile race.
Kenneth, a former Glenmore AC Chairperson and driving force behind the creation of the original Glenmore Challenge over 10 years ago, sadly passed away recently.
He is sorely missed in the preparation for the event each year, and on the day itself. It is with great thanks to the McBride family for donating the cups, that Kenneth's influence on the event will continue.
It was also wonderful to have so many of the McBride family present at the event with special mention to Kenneth's mother Mamie McBride, and children James, Bríanán and Dearbhla who presented the cups at the end of the race.
Kenneth's son, James was also competing in the 10km event and raised €6,000 through a go-fund-me page he set up for the Irish Cancer Society in memory of his father.
Competitors were greeted at the finish with the unique medals and t-shirts and the now legendary post-race atmosphere and refreshments including a BBQ and non-alcoholic beers amongst other refreshments.
There was a significant increase in the number of competitors at this year's event, and the club is aware that there were some finishers who did not receive a medal.
If anyone who didn't receive a medal and would like one posted out to them, please email glenmoreac@ or contact Fiona on 086 6667840.
Well done to all Glenmore Athletes who took part in the events.
Marathon competitors: PJ Hynes (4:11:28), Fiona Mhic Conchoille (4:12:27)
Half Marathon: Peter Noone (1:29:47), Margaret Purcell (2:03:26), Kevin Woods (2:03:26), Paul Burns (2:11:05), Aisling Murphy (2:11:06)
10-mile: Donal McMorland (1:02:07), Cormac Crawley (1:06:02), Gerard McBride 10th (1:08:44), Gerry O'Connell (1:08:44), Annie McGuinness (1:10:30), Joanne O'Connor (1:13:24), Yvonne Gallagher (1:26:16), Sarah Dooney-Conlon (1:26:48), Kevin Harnett (1:27:43), Rose White (1:44:10), Shane Arnold (1:47:49), Tony Elmore (1:47:49), Joan Farnon (1:50:57), Barry MacConchoille (1:54:54),
10km: Martin McCarragher (38:21), Maeve White (50:07), Ronan Oliver (50:40), James McBride (52:02), Ciaran Walsh (52:02), Hugh O'Neill (52:46), Tony Purcell (1:23:44)
5km: Mario Kolak (17:41), Eugene Rafferty (19:32), Patrick Oliver (19:55), Ciaran Galligan (21:13), Ursula Noone (22:57), Marina Jakopcin kolak (23:23), Paul Flanagan (24:00), Kevin McKoewn (26:04), Gillian McElarney (26:08), Logan McAreevey (27:18), Erin McGreehan (30:16), Anita Roddy (31:56), Theresa Keenan (32:15), Deirdre Rice (34:46), Orla McGee (35:46), Noeleen Quigley (46:43)
Full results available at –
