Loughrea AC

Loughrea Athletic Club celebrated its 40th Anniversary in fine style last weekend.The 'Athletics Weekend', hosted by the Lough Rea Hotel & Spa, main sponsors of the weekend. started with a Chi running workshop on Saturday conducted by former Olympian, Catherina McKiernan. Later that same evening a large crowd gathered for a seminar sponsored by Run Ireland entitled "success in middle and long distance running'' which was excellently chaired by Irish Times sports columnist Ian O' Riordan and included Loughrea AC's own olympian Olive Loughnane along with Pauline Curley,Catherina McKiernan,Paul McNamara,Jim Hogan,Maria Keane,Robert Denmead,Vince Regan and Eilis Dolan.
The course topics ranged from diet, training for a 5km road race, core strength, injuries and their prevention, marathon preparation, to most memorable running performance. Modern preparation and technique were dispelled by the 'Irish man who ran for England' the affable Jim Hogan who claimed in his day they ate and drank what they wanted, trained 130 miles a week and did not taper for big races.The tough-talking Limerick man was a real crowd pleaser and spoke of doing 30 by 400m in his bare feet.
The weather was beautiful on Sunday for the junior run and Senior road race both of which had 400 entrants.The roads were shut just before the junior road race and this made for safe competitive fare.The junior race was won by Craughwell AC's Linda Porter. A large crowd had gathered for the senior road race which was started by Loughrea AC's Olympian Olive Loughnane. Loughrea Athletic Club members were wearing the new club singlet and this added to the occasion.The atmosphere was electric as the runners set off on the downhill start from the Loughrea hotel and proceeded down the main street,the pace was frantic from the start with the leaders passing the 1 mile mark in 4.19. The race was eventually won by Brian Farrell from Sli Chulann (23.48) followed home by Gerry Ryan of Galway City Harriers (24.13) and Rory Chesser of Ennis Track was third (24.16). Tullamore Harriers Pauline Curley won the ladies race (29.04) followed home by Veronica Colleran of Ennis Track (29.35) and Elizabeth Cuskelly Tullamore Harriers in third place with a time of 30:14. Loughrea AC's Caroline Clancy ran a brilliant race to secure fourth place (31.22). The prize giving was held in the Lough Rea Hotel and Spa under the stewardship of general manager Ken Bergin where the athletes were treated to the best in Hotel food.
It has been a milestone year for Loughrea Athletic Club and presentations were made to Michael O'Brien, Martin Smyth, Colm Moorehead and T.J Beatty for their association with the club for the last 40 years.

A big thank you to Lough Rea Hotel and Spa for a top class venue and all members who helped in the running of this weekend