7th Paddy Desmond Memorial 4M, 2011-03-17, Ballinhassig

It was Paddy’s day on the double on March 17th as in excess of 250 runners made the short trip to Ballinhassig for the 7th Annual Paddy Desmond Memorial 4M Road Race hosted by Rising Sun A.C. This year’s event doubled up as the County Novice & Masters Roads Championships, a commonsensical approach that certainly contributed to the record turnout. Perhaps this kind of mutually beneficial arrangement will become more commonplace in the future. As they say, if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em! As with Ballycotton, unusually dry March weather meant that conditions were once again ideal for running. The race was well stewarded and the organisers made sure that participants were well catered for in the Marion hall afterwards. 

In the men’s race, Wieslaw Sosnowski (Eagle) was first home in 20:56 with Chris Harrington (Leevale) second in 21:03 and Danny Smith (Ballynonty) third in 21:09. In the ladies race, Emma Murphy (St. Finbarr’s) was first home in a time of 24:12 confirming her return to form and adding to her recent victory in the ESB-Fota Island Hotel 5Km Road Race. Ann Marie Holland (Eagle) finished second in 24:41 with Michelle Nolan (Midleton) in third place just 9 seconds behind. John Meade and Paul Gallagher (St. Finbarr’s) continued their excellent run of form on the roads by finishing 4th and 7th overall. 


County Novice & Masters Roads Championships 2011

In terms of the County Championships, Meade and Gallagher’s 2nd and 3rd positions helped the St.Finbarr’s team to victory in the Men’s Novice section. Ken Devine was a category winner in the M45 section with Willie Hayes finishing 3rd at M50. Eamonn McEvoy was first home at M55. In the Ladies section, Margo Dinan and Orla Crosbie finished 1st and 2nd in the F40 category. Mary Murphy finished 3rd at F50 while Marion Lyons was best at F55. 

Novice Men
1.  St Finbarrs ‘A’  2,3,11,14 – 30 pts
2.  Midleton  7,8,15,21 – 51 pts
3.  St Finbarrs ‘B’  17.18.20,23 – 78 pts

Masters Men O50
1.  Eagle  9, 16, 19 – 44 pts
2.  St Finbarrs  5, 17, 25 – 47 pts 

Novice Women
1.  Eagle  2,3,10,15 – 30 pts
2.  St Finbarrs ‘A’  6,7,9,11 –  33 pts
3.  St Finbarrs ‘B’  12,17,18,19 – 66 pts 

Masters Women O40
1.  St Finbarrs 1,4,10,12 – 27pts
2.  Midleton  3,6,7 – 16 pts

Masters Women 0/50
1.  St Finbarrs  11,13,15 – 39pts

Daffodil Day, Friday, March 25th 2011

You make me feel so young. You make me feel so Spring has sprung.
Every time I see you bloom. I’m such a happy individual.
 
The moment that you peak. I wanna run and play hide-and-seek.
Wanna go and bounce the Moon. Just like a big toy Balloon

You and I are just like a couple of tots. Runnin’ around the Meadow.
Pickin’ up all those Forget-me-nots.
 
You make me feel so young. You make me feel there are Routes to be gone.
Lots of Bests to be done, and wonderful Times to be run.

And even when I’m old and gray. I’m gonna feel the way I do, here today.
Because, you make me feel so young.