Fit4Life & the Streets of Galway 8k Route

Fit4LIfe Galway race

Fit4Life had a great evening running the Blackrock Health Galway Clinic Streets of Galway 8K route.

It was brilliant to have Bernie Kelly joining us to support and encourage our beginners around the course.

Fit4Life is all about helping people start running, improving their fitness, sharing tips and being part of a running community.
We are on our summer break now but will be back in September and new members of all levels are welcome to join us then.

Galway Clinic Streets of Galway 8K 2022 – Registration now Open!

Ireland’s favourite road race is back… Click here to register now!

https://www.myrunresults.com/events/galway_clinic_streets_of_galway_8k/4490/details

Galway City Harriers are delighted to announce that the 36th edition of the Streets of Galway 8k road race will take place Saturday 6th August at 7pm.

Since its inception in 1986 the event has grown into one of the most prestigious road races in the country, yet remains true to its original motto of Sport for All, as many locals and visitors take on the event year in year out. The event will bring thousands of participants onto the streets of our city and suburbs into what is a fantastic event for the city.

This event is the jewel in the crown of road races in the West and tours through the famous City of the Tribes.The race route starts at Grattan Road beside South Park in the city and takes in many of the sights of Galway city. including the Spanish Arch, Eyre Square, the landmark Galway Cathedral and NUI Galway, and routes out towards Salthill, past Pearse Stadium and then back in the ‘Prom’ along Galway Bay for a fast section into the finish at the historic Claddagh.

You can follow us on Facebook again this year at: https://www.facebook.com/StreetsOfGalway on Twitter @StreetsofGalway and Instagram streetsofgalway. We look forward to your company for a great night of sporting endeavour in the city of the tribes.

Strength & Conditioning Sessions

Strength & Conditioning Sessions

New Block – Evening S&C Sessions: Start Monday 24th January to Monday the 14th February – 4 weeks.

This block will run from Monday the 24th January to Monday the 14th February. The block is 4 weeks long and will consist of only Monday sessions. However, it is not necessary to do all 4 weeks. There are are ticket sales for either individual days or for the entire block.

Mondays –

24th and 31st of January

7th and 14th of February

Each session will be approximately 45 minutes in length. Monday’s session will be starting at 7.30pm.

These sessions are open to anyone, not just runners, but the sessions will be tailored towards getting stronger, more robust for running and exercising and general injury prevention. If you own or have access to equipment then great bring it along. If not do not worry just bring with you anything at all you can that can add an extra challenge to the workout. Examples of this could be a bag pack full of clothes or books or a mixture, a bag of potatoes etc.

In terms of payment, the price is per screen, and you can therefore have more than one person completing the workout in your home if you’d like. Tickets for the 4 week block are 24€ – 6€ per session (plus booking fee). After you sign up you will be sent out an email on Monday afternoon, the 24th, containing more information plus the zoom link for your selected session.

The price for the One-off sessions are 9€ (plus booking fee) per session. These will work on a week by week basis, as in when you buy a ticket you will be included in the next session. For these One-off session tickets you will be sent a link within 24 hrs after you’ve signed up for.

If you have any specific questions please feel free to get in touch by email: david.fitzpatrick@outlook.ie

Resolution Run 5k – Saturday 1st January 2022

The Resolution Run is a famous 5k race which has been on the go in Galway since 2010. The event is a fundraiser for sport in Galway, particular athletics, via its organisers Galway City Harriers and Galway Athletics.

The Resolution Run 2022 is a fast and flat 5K road race that takes place on January 1st at 10:30am. The course routes through the City Centre, from the Claddagh, passing Wolfe Tone Bridge , Merchants Road and the Docks, and routing back out to Grattan Road and the Prom before a fast finish along South park into the finish at Nimmos Pier. The route passes most of the city’s famous landmarks along the way.

The race is AAI certified and entry fee of €20 includes a souvenir limited bobble hat. Race HQ is Claddagh Hall area. The route is suitable for runners and walkers of all abilities.

Please note that there will be no changing facilities or showers available. Roads will not be closed for the event, however there will be either marshals or Guards at all junctions to ensure your safety!

Fields of Athenry 10k

Well done to everybody who ran in the Fields of Athenry 10K today. Many thanks to Athenry AC for hosting this great event. Congratulations to the first lady home Aoife Kilgallon who won in a fantastic course record of 33:49. Mick Clohisey reclaimed top spot on the podium with his 8th victory in a time of 30:46.

The 18th Fields of Athenry 10km takes place on St. Stephen’s Day, December 26th at 11am. Over the last number of years this has become one of the leading road races in the country. The race was held on its traditional route, finishing under the medieval arch in Athenry.

Registration for 2022 now open for new and returning members!

2022 Registration

GCH Membership is now open for 2022. We would love to welcome back all our members who have registered with us over the past few years. New Senior members are welcome, however there is a waiting list in place for the Juvenile section in some age groups.

Galway City Harriers welcomes members across all ages and all disciplines. Our Club members benefit from access to our training sessions, and there are plenty of opportunities to compete for the club, from beginners up to international level.

We use the Athletics Ireland on-line registration and payment system which will make the registration process smooth and secure.

Connacht Athletics Awards

Connacht Athletics Awards

Eight awards were won by GCH at the inaugural Connacht Athletics Awards – great report below by Connacht P.R O. Pierce O’Callaghan, who made these awards a reality.

McPhillips & Diver win inaugural Connacht Athletes of the Year Awards.

European U20 1500m Champion Cian McPhillips (Longford) and Tokyo Olympic Marathon 10th placer Sinead Diver (Mayo) have been voted the Connacht Athletes of the Year 2021 by a panel of 15 experts.

McPhillips had an exceptional year making the semi-final of the European Indoor 800m and breaking his fellow Longford man Ray Flynn’s Irish U20 1500m record in the process.

He beat off strong opposition including two Tokyo Olympic relay finalists Chris O’Donnell (North Sligo) and Cillín Greene (Galway City Harriers) who had the consolation of sharing the Paul Hession award for the Connacht Sprinter of the Year.

Sinead Diver broke new ground for both Ireland and her adapted Australia when she took a magnificent top 10 placing in the Tokyo Olympic Marathon.

The Belmullet woman, who is based in Melbourne but still a proud member of Mayo AC was the unanimous choice ahead of World relay medallist Sarah Quinn (St Colman’s South Mayo) and Swinford’s throwing sensation Michaela Walsh.

Galway’s Robert McDonnell won the U20 Athlete of the Year category for his 5th place finish in the European U20 200m final while Sligo-woman Erin Taheny won the women’s equivalent for her National sprint double.

The U18 categories were also top notch and the men’s award went to Liam Shaw (Athenry) who at 16 became the youngest ever Irish U20 Shot Put Champion as well as winning International Schools bronze while teenage Galway jumps sensation Angela Cielecka won the women’s equivalent over a very competitive field.

Fresh from his top 6 placing and team gold at the European Cross Country Championships in Dublin last weekend Keelin Kilreehill was voted the Connacht Cross Country runner of the year while Freya Renton (Westport) who won two National underage Cross Country titles this year has never been beaten in a Cross Country race.

The Masters awards were won by two long serving stalwarts of the sport at National level – Kathryn Casserly from Castlegar who has won over 30 Irish titles took the women’s award and the ever young Sean Breathnach took the men’s award.

The Hall of Fame award for significant contribution to Connacht Athletics went to former Connacht Council Chairman Michael O’Brien (Carrick-on-Shannon) who has fulfilled numerous roles within the sport and was a founding member of the very successful Carrick-on-Shannon athletics club in Leitrim.

The John McDonnell Connacht Coach of the Year was perhaps the most competitive award of the night and in the end the judges couldn’t separate Philip Finnerty for his trojan successes for his native Moy Valley and Brendan Glynn for his major impact in raising the level of Connacht sprinting including a hand in two of the mixed relay team in Tokyo as well as coach to Sarah Quinn who won a World Relay medal.

The Fr Kevin Ryle award for the Connacht Official of the Year was shared between Connacht Council Secretary Amanda Hynes (Swinford) and Athenry’s Iain Shaw, without whom no Connacht Championships could take place.

The club of the Year was shared between Moy Valley and Craughwell as two outstanding clubs who hare operating at the highest level in terms of athlete numbers, organising events, national medals won, and facilities built.

The Development club of the Year went to the popular newcomer Loch Lurgan who were only established in 2018 but already have 150 members, the best dressed athletes in the province and numerous athletes qualified at National level.

The prestigious discipline awards named after legends of the sport in Connacht went to:

  • Paul Hession Medal to Connacht sprinter of the Year
  • Chris O’Donnell (North Sligo) & Cillín Greene (Galway City Harriers)
  • Mary Cullen Medal to the Connacht Distance Athlete of the Year
  • Cian McPhilipps (Longford)
  • Billy Glynn Medal to the Connacht Jumper of the Year
  • Evan Hallinan (Craughwell)
  • Martin Sheridan Medal to Connacht Thrower of the Year
  • Conor Cusack (Lake District)
  • Olive Loughnane Medal to Connacht Race Walker of the Year
  • Cian McManamon (Westport)
  • Mary Barrett Medal to the Connacht multi-eventer of the Year
  • Louise King (St. Colman’s South Mayo)

The Pride of Connacht Athletics Inspiration Award was shared by Jessica Burke (Galway City Harriers) and Craughwell’s Shauna Bocquet for their inspirational deeds in raising funds for a track and finishing a race with a bleeding nose against all the odds.

The Awards will be presented in a glittering ceremony on zoom in early January with lots of special guests already confirmed.
The Connacht Council wish to congratulate all winners and nominations and wish all members a Happy Christmas.

National Novice, Junior, and Juvenile Uneven Age Cross Country Championships at Gowran Park in Kilkenny

Cross Country Championships

Great results of GCH athletes competing in the National Novices Cross Country Championships in Gowran.
Ellen Moran was a superb 4th in the Women’s race, cementing her stellar 2022 in real style.
Barbara Dunne, Maebh Brannigan and Aine O’Farrell completed the team points in 26th, 53rd and 62nd respectively for a brilliant 5th club placing.
We had an impressive 9 Novice women running in total, all high quality runners this year, with Olive Gleeson (77th), Niamh Hennelly (80th), Eleanor Whyte (109th), Deirdre Moran Smyth (119th) and Deirdre McCrae (121sts) all having excellent runs.
In the Men’s race David Carter and Aaron Brennan were 24th & 26th placed of a huge field, with Conor Byrne & David Mannion high up also.
At under 17 level, Isabella Burke can be well-pleased with a great 29th place, while our Juvenile club fielded 2 club teams and another six individuals who all did the club very proud; see GCH Juvenile page for details

Fantastic team photo from yesterday’s National XC of our Novice women’s team that featured Aine, Barbara, Deirdre, Deirdre, Eleanor, Ellen, Maebh, Niamh & Olive. Great turnout and great way to end our club’s Cross Country season and 2021 overall. Photo courtesy of Maebh Brannigan.

National Cross Country Uneven Ages

GCH travelled to sunny Gowran, Kilkenny with a large contingent for the National Uneven Ages Cross Country Championships.
Our Under 11s kicked off the day: these 3 representatives made it to the Nationals at the first time of asking, which is a great achievement. Emily Maloney placed 177th following a great season. Both Keelan Keady & Finn Lynagh were only just outside the Top 100 in the boys race.

Our u13 Boys were represented by Justin McCarthy who was just inside the top 100 in 95th.

Justin’s sister Jennifer was part of a strong GCH u13 Girls team that competed really well, spearheaded by Keilah Murray in 82nd and Caoimhe Lydon in 99nd. Jennifer, Laura Campion, Rachel Francis & Jessica Burke completed the squad that finished in 18th position. Keilah Murray was also part of the Galway team that came a creditable 7th in the Inter County competition.

The Under 15 Boys also had a team, led by Harry Keaney (85th), Odhran O’Driscoll (89th) inside the top 100 and followed closely by Dara Comer Byrne & Eamon Lydon. The Boys Team finished 15th in Ireland overall, a great achievement.

In other juvenile races, Caitlin Podmore and Sophie Foley were not far from too 100 in 120th & 130th respectively while last but not least at all, Isabella Burke had our highest finish if the day in the under 17 race when placing 29th.

Superb running all round, thanks to all parents & coaches for the driving, cheering, coaching and support. It brings a great 2021 cross country season to a close. well done to all our athletes who competed.
Finishing positions today in summary:

U11
Emily Maloney 177th
Keelan Keady 105th
Finn Lynagh 106th

U13
Keilah Murray 82nd
Caoimhe Lydon 99th
Jennifer McCarthy 115th
Laura Campion 135th
Rachel Francis 159th
Jessica Burke 160th
Girls Team 18th

U13 Boys
Justin McCarthy 95th

U15
Caitlin Podmore 120th
Sophie Foley 130th
Harry Keaney 85th
Odhran O’Driscoll 89th
Dara Comer Byrne 129th
Eamon Lydon 135th
Boys Team 15th

U17
29th Isabella Burke

Congrats to all who ran so well and did their club proud.

Congratulations to the members of the new Galway Athletics county board

Galway Athletics county board

Our own Brian Bruton maintains his role as P.R.O., with Craughwell’s Marion McEvilly the new Chairperson. In the Secretary position will be Tuam’s Tamara O’Callaghan, who in a previous life was CEO of Cycling Ireland & held roles in the English FA and the International Olympic Committee.

Elsewhere, Andy Talbot is Treasurer and PJ Coyle is a delegate to Connacht board. Full committee listing in the attached link below
We are blessed in Galway (& Connacht) to have people of such calibre in these and other committee roles & wish them well in continuing the county’s great profile & success in athletics.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=4402141336580500&id=730791613715509

Pictured at the National Cross Country in Gowran last weekend were Connacht Council chairman Brian Bruton and secretary Amanda Hynes who are normally there before anyone arrives and last to leave….

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