The Boyne Athletic Club seniors have been very busy training since January preparing for Half Marathons and 10km races and their efforts have certainly paid dividends.
Returning after injury in March, Nicola Stafford, along with coach and pacer Mark Dowling, completed the hilly Wicklow Gaol Half Marathon in a superb 2.22.31. On the same day, clubmates Robert Fitzgerald and Timi Oluwabowale completed the Dunboyne 10km with Robert achieving a personal best of 42.16 and Timi finishing in a super time of 40.16
In early April, 15 Boyne AC seniors headed to Dundalk on a blustery Saturday morning to run in the Bear Races Half Marathon and 10km. Not even Storm Kathleen could stop these athletes, many of whom were making their half marathon debuts.
Gemma Fogarty and Blathnaid Wall got the race underway in the 10km, finishing in 59.48 and 1.10.11 respectively. Yvonne Walsh, running in her home town, finished in 1.23.39.
First across the line in the Half Marathon was Keith Byrne, who achieved an excellent personal best of 1.39.27, followed shortly by Robert Fitzgerard who finished the tough run in 1.40.01.
Catherine Tiernan was Boyne AC´s first female to cross the finish line, coming in at a speedy 1.44.44. Her clubmate Maria O´Riordan had a brilliant run, finishing in 2.11.37.
Rosaleen Byrne made an impressive half marathon debut, completing the race in 2.12.38. Her encouraging pacer Paul Brennan ran his first race for Boyne AC.
Also completing their first half marathons after 12 weeks of intensive training under coach Mark Dowling´s guidance were female capitan Joan Cadden 2.35, Michelle Crosbie 2.28.37 and Julie Gibson 2.39.45. Despite the adverse weather conditions, these athletes put in strong performances, displaying strength and stamina.
Running buddies Deirdre Cadden and Jean Marie Nawn finished the challenging race in 2.16.40 and 2.17.58. The following weekend, their pacer Nicola Veale, went on to put in a fine performance in the Westport marathon.
It was back to Dundalk for some of the for Boyne AC seniors the following week to compete in the DKIT 10km. Robert Fitzgerald had an excellent run, beating his own record to acheive a personal best of 42.10. His clubmates Catherine Tiernan 44.58 and Paul Brennan 50.22 also had fine performances.
