Pictures- Great results on the road for Kilkenny Athletes in Gowran

A glorious May Bank Holiday Weekend saw Gowran AC host the Leinster Novice and Masters road races. First up on the day was the Master women’s 3km race, which took on two laps of the 1.5km course around the village of Gowran.

The women’s race was won by Rachel Murphy (Plant Based AC) in 11:09. Annmarie O’Grady (Gowran AC) was the first Kilkenny woman home. James Kelly (Castlecomer AC) had an incredible run in the stacked Masters 6k race of 82 runners to finish second in a time of 19:48. He also claimed gold in the Men’s O35+ age category.

The Kilkenny county O35+team of James Kelly, Patrick Brennan (Castlecomer), Paul Flood (Gowran) and Len Galvin (St Senan’s) were fifth. The Thomastown team of Paul Moran, Tom Walsh and John Davis secured bronze in the men’s O50+ club team.

Clare Allen (Kilkenny City Harriers) was the leading Kilkenny woman home in the women’s Novice 3k race finishing fifth and leading KCH to first place in both the club and county team. Orla McPhilips, Claire Dermody and Oonagh Guilfoyle made up the Kilkenny City Harriers teams on the day for both club and county.

In the Men’s 6km race Matthew Holland (Gowran) was the first Kilkenny runner home in 10th. He led the county team of Eamonn O’Connor (KCH), Colm Smyth (KCH), Michael O’Shea (Thomastown), Padraig Ruane (KCH) and Johan Muller (Gowran) to bronze medals.

Tinryland Half Marathon

The inaugural Tinryland Village half marathon was held on Bank Holiday Saturday and consisted of three 7km laps around the stunning countryside of Tinryland village. Aoife Nolan (Kilkenny City Harriers) won the women’s race and was 20th overall in a super time of 1:33:37.

There were lots of runners from Kilkenny at the event, which drew a great crowd.

Irish Milers Club

The Irish Milers Club event held in TUS Clonmel had track races and included the Dr Pat Callaghan Hammer and Shot Gala. Kilkenny had athletes competing in both track and field events.

In the men’s under-20 shot-put Andrew Cooper (Gowran) placed second with a throw of 16.73m. Brow Rangers had two of their throwers at the gala with Doireann Haughney throwing 40.66m for third place in the girls’ under-18 hammer (3kg) - just 9cm split second and third places. Meabh O’Donovan had a quality throw of 39.19 for a fourth place finish.

On the track James Gaule (KCH) competed in the Men’s 3k A race and was seventh in 8:48:71. Callum Barron (KCH) raced in the Men’s 3k B race and finished in 8:57.77 for a fifth place finish.

In the Women’s 800m A race Pia Langton (KCH) was just outside the European B Standard of 2:07:00 when she ran 2:07:01 in her 800m. She will compete again in the pursuit of reaching the Europeans again this year.

Clodagh O’Callaghan (KCH) was competing in the Women’s 800m B race finishing third in 2:17:87. In the Men’s 800m D race Eoin Aylward (St Senan’s) ran 2:01:19 for a fourth place finish in his race.

Kyrell Mtinsi (KCH) and James Kelsey (Gowran) were competing in the men’s 800m E race, with Kyrell finishing second in 2:08:10 and James fourth in Clonmel in a time of 2:11:36.