Our Tallaght AC Master Men competed twice over the Weekend. The first
squad was sent to the Leinster Novice & Masters Road Race Championships
in Gowran, County Kilkenny.
The race was four laps on a 1500m course. In ideal conditions James
Crowley was first home for the club in a time of 21mins 05secs followed
by Billy Murphy in a time of 21min 25sec. Martin Haddock was next in a
fine time of 22min 23sec and Viv O Hanlon came in next in 25min 43sec.
Jame’s time got him the silver medal in the 0/35 category and Viv's
excellent run got him the gold medal in the O/55 category. Well done to
Viv, Tallaght AC's Leinster Master O/55 Road Championships Champion !!!!
James and Billy scored second and third respectively in the Dublin Team
that secured bronze along with Rathfarnham WSAF's Owen McLoughlin and
Brendan Hogan.
Three of our Masters made the long trip to Ballybofey in County Donegal
on Sunday 2nd of September to compete in the National Half Marathon
Championships of Ireland.
First for the famous Red and Yellow vest was Davy Byrne in just over 73
mins which got him silver in the O/35 category made all the more
remarkable considering the terrible blister he developed in the days
leading up to the event. Well done Davy.
Best performance of the weekend has to go to the talented Niall
Coppinger who won gold in a very competitive O/45 category and he
brought home the gold in a fantastic p.b. time of 74mins 40secs on a
course that was not easy. Well done Niall our Tallaght AC's National
Master O/45 Half Marathon Champion. He has only been running a few years
and has developed really quickly into one of the most respected Master
runners in the 32 counties.
Billy Murphy came home in third for Tallaght in 83 mins, yes the same
Billy Murphy that competed in Kilkenny only 15 hours earlier!!! What a
man , a bionic man and his great run in Donegal ensured Tallaght AC
secure the silver medal in the Masters category. Well done to Billy,
Davy and Niall. Great stuff lads.