Victories for Britton and Christie in Gerry Farnan
Held in ideal conditions in the Phoenix Park, on Sunday 15th October,
the annual Gerry Farnan races for women and men, promoted by Metro St.
Brigids, attracted fields of 59 and 105 respectively. As usual, as part
of the event, the Irish Masters Association held their trials to select
teams to represent Ireland in the forthcoming 5 nations international
in Falkirk on November 18th.
The women’s race was won by Irish international Sli Cualann’s
Fionnuala Britton who broke from the field during the second 1 mile of
lap 3 to forge a comfortable victory ahead of Orla O Mahoney (Raheny)
and Niamh O’Sullivan (Riocht AC). With prizes awarded to the top
six finishers the remaining three prizewinners were Ciara Durkan, (Skerries)
Ellen Diskin (DCU) and Carmel Parnell (Leevale) (O/50). The team honours
went to Finn Valley.
The men’s field could have graced most national championships but
neither the 5 mile race nor the high quality of the opposition prevented
Mullingar’s Mark Christie from striding to victory from Gary Murray
(St. Malachy’s), Michael Clohisey (Raheny), Mark Kennealy (Clonliffe
Harriers), Joe Sweeney (DSD) and David Kelly (Sligo). Like Britton in
the women’s race, Christie separated himself from the rest of the
field in the early stages and for the last 3 miles never looked in danger
of losing. The race also saw the return to competitive running of many
times national champion Seamus Power who, sadly, did not finish although
showing well in the early stages. The Gerry Farnan trophy was presented
by club president, Eamonn Coghlan to the 2006 winners of the team prize,
Raheny Shamrocks.
Metro St. Brigids gratefully acknowledge the assistance of all our members
whose help on the day and in preparing for the event was vital, to the
members of the Irish Masters Association and the Dublin County Board who
helped out and to Donore Harriers for the use of their premises as race
headquarters.
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