Mark Walsh and Niamh O'Mahony win their respective West Muskerry 5km races

Mark Walsh made in three wins in a row at the West Muskerry 5km although his Leevale colleague Hannah Steeds was deprived of a similar hat-trick when having to settle for second behind Kerry athlete Niamh O’Mahony.

Organised by the local club, almost 300 runners took to the streets of Macroom in this annual event sponsored by Folláin and Killian Lynch Auctioneers.

Although Walsh’s time of 16:08 was slightly slower than his two previous wins, this victory was all the more sweeter as he had been getting over an injury since winning over five miles at Millstreet at the end of June.

He was pushed all the way by surprise packet Patrick O’Driscoll from Bantry who finished in 16:24 with Sean Stokes taking third place in 16:30. Conrad Watt of the Cork Track club, second last year, was 18 seconds faster on this occasion when coming home fourth in 16:38.

Niamh O’Mahony from the Riocht club has just graduated from Providence College in Rhode Island and she followed up her victory at the Willie Neenan race in Millstreet with a course record of 16:40. 

Steeds was just 12 seconds in arrears with her 16:52 time, faster than she ran in her two previous victories.

Local athlete Saorise Twomey, winner of both the South Munster and Munster Schools’ titles earlier this year, finished an excellent third in 17:15 with her West Muskerry colleague Aoife Lucey taking fourth spot in 18:19.

Amongst the category winners were Conor Lucey (M40, 17:08), Alex O’Shea (M50, 17:51), Padraig Sheehan (M60, 19:33) and Pat Kerrigan (M70, 25:08). 

The female category prizes went to Martina Kiely (F40, 18:51), Anna O’Neill (F50, 22:00) and Mary Buckley (F60, 21:36).

There is no doubting the popularity of the 5km distance during the summer and one of the last of the season races deserving support is the Chris Harrington Memorial which is promoted by Leevale AC.

This takes place on Sunday August 30 at Tramore Valley Park, commencing at 11am.

Results:

Men:

1 M Walsh (Leevale) 16:08; 2 P O’Driscoll (Bantry) 16:24; 3 S Stokes (unatt) 16:30; 4 C Watt (Cork TC) 16:38; 5 F Murphy (unatt) 16:58; 6 T Kiely (North Cork) 17:06.

Women:

1 N O’Mahony (Riocht) 16:40; 2 H Steeds (Leevale) 16:52; 3 S Twomey (West Muskerry) 17:15; 4 A Lucey (West Muskerry) 18:19; 5 C Finn (Leevale) 18:47; 6 M Kiely (St Finbarrs, F40) 18:51.