The very popular and competitive Dunboyne AC 10k Road Race took place on Sunday in the Co. Meath town. Formerly a 4 Mile Race, this 10k attracted some of the country’s top athletes to race this year.
Conditions for racing were ideal on Sunday, leading to some fast times being clocked, with the sun shining and very little wind, a feel of summer in the air for athletes and spectators alike.
Almost 80 juvenile athletes kicked off the day’s proceedings on the club’s impressive 400m track with races for U6’s all the way up to U15’s. All entry fees to the juvenile races were kindly donated to the Irish Red Cross appeal for Ukraine. The juvenile races provided a fun start to the action before the main race kicked off at noon.
Nearly 600 runners, joggers, and walkers from all over the country tackled the one loop course. Efrem Gidey was the star attraction in the Men’s race. Gidey led from the off and showed his class. Having only recently came back from injury, the Clonliffe Harriers AC athlete left the field in his wake and once again proved his credentials. Gidey won a bronze medal at the 2019 Spar European Cross Country Championships in Lisbon and having comfortably won several high-profile road races in recent weeks looks like he is returning to his best.
Efrem romped home to victory nearly two minutes clear of his nearest rival, finishing in a time of 28.25. Jake O’Regan of St. John’s AC in Co. Clare finished in 2nd, clocking 30.10, while their was a incredibly tight battle all the way to the line for 3rd with John Paul Williamson just pipping Colin Maher of Ballyfin AC, Co. Laois by four seconds, 30.40 (Williamson) compared to 30.44 (Maher).
The ever-impressive Fionnuala McCormack won the Women’s race comfortably. McCormack has represented Ireland in distances as low as 3000m Steeplechase to the Marathon and her class is undisputable. She clocked an impressive time of 32.27 to take victory. Ciara Hickey of Brothers Pearse AC finished 2nd in a time of 34.55, with Sheila O’Byrne of Sli Cualann AC in 3rd running 36.20.
In the Men’s team competition, Portmarnock AC took the win with Jamie Gahan leading them home in 7th place. Donore Harriers finished 2nd with Brothers Pearse in 3rd.
Mullingar Harriers won the Women’s team title led home by Sinead Whitelaw who finished 5th. Crusaders AC were 2nd and home club Dunboyne finished 3rd.
In the Meath Championships Dunboyne AC took both the Men’s and Women’s honours.
