The 2008 FUTURE Streets of Galway 8K road-race took place on Saturday evening last beginning at Southpark in the Claddagh, following the traditional route through the city-centre and out through Salthill, before finishing in a closed loop adjacent to the start-line. This was the 23rd running of this hugely popular road-race which continues to be a focal point on the Irish road-racing calendar for elite competitors and recreational runners alike.

Once again this year, local running club Galway City Harriers (GCH) as event organisers, had to cap entries at the 2000 mark a number of weeks before the race date due to the huge demand for entry places. With the introduction of chip-timing for the first time, a smoother start to the race on the narrow streets was guaranteed and all runners went to the line just after 7pm in blustery but dry conditions after a day of heavy rain in the City of the Tribes.

A fascinating race was anticipated at the elite end of the male race with strong competition from visiting challengers such as Josphat Boit (Clonliffe Harriers) and Vinny Mulvey (Raheny Shamrock AC) as well as a host of strong local runners in what was a top-class senior men's field. In the female category, Rosemary Ryan (Bilboa), who is the course record-holder for female competitors, was welcomed back to defend her 2007 title.

Men's Cateogry

Race sponsors FUTURE Wealth and Protection were again offering a bonus for a new course record, but the blustery conditions made this more difficult on the night and existing course records were going to be very tough to beat. From the start, Boit and Mulvey set a fast pace, and the chasing pack were having to work very hard to track them. Boit always looked the more comfortable however and once he took to the front he continued to push the pace and never relinquished his lead before winning in a very impressive time of 23m 35s. Mulvey finished in second place, 16 seconds adrift, followed by Christopher Erichsen in third position, a further 45 seconds back. Cillian O'Leary (Raheny Shamrock AC) was fourth in 24m 45s and Jason Fahy (Olympic Harriers) was fifth in a time of 24m 51s. Despite still running as a junior, David Rooney (Raheny Shamrock AC), took sixth place with a highly creditable 25m 07s. Of the local runners, Conor Maloney (GCH) came home in a time of 26m 25s for fourteenth place, just beating his club-mate Ruaidhri Geraghty who clocked 26m 37s.

Women's Category

Rosemary Ryan (Bilboa AC) successfully defended her crown to become a four-time winner when she won in a time of 27m 43s this year. Teresa McGloin (Finn Valley) traveled from Leitrim to take second exactly a minute later in 28m 43s. Breege Connolly was third in 28m 45s, followed closely by local girls Aoife Brady (Sportsworld) in 29m 29s, Regina Casey (GCH) in 29m 57s and Anne Carter (Athenry AC) in 30m 09s.

Juniors

Keith Fallon and Fiona O'Shea (Limerick AC) won the male and female junior categories in highly commendable times of 31m 17s and 38m 05s respectively.

There were many more prizes across the different race categories presented by the race director Vincent Jordan and GCH club secretary Bernie Kelly at the official prize-giving ceremony afterwards. A full prize list is attached below.

Male Vets

Mick Rice (Athenry AC) won the M40 category in a time of 27m 26s, just pipping Edward McEntee (Sportsworld) and Derek Coogan (North Laois) at the line. Martin Corcoran (Craughwell AC) took the honours in the M45 category with a time of 27m 03s with Dermot Lowe in second place. Eugene Moynihan (Marian AC) successfully defended his M50 title in 28m 42s just holding off Sean Doyle (Rathfarnham WSAF) six seconds behind him and local athlete Andrew Talbot (Clare River Harriers) won the M55 category in 31m 59s. Noel King won the M60 category in 37m 15s, while past-president of GCH, Brian Geraghty, won the M65 category in an amazing time of 31m 22s.

Female Vets

Siobhán Lennon (Ennis Track) won the F35 category in 32m 08s with two Sportsworld women, Kathleen O'Callaghan and Eileen Walsh, in hot pursuit all the way, while Orla Gormley (Raheny Shamrock AC) won the F40 category in 30m 42s from Mayo AC's Anne Murray. Popular local girl Maire-Treasa Beatty (Athenry AC) was always in control of the F45 category finishing in 34m 33s with Kilmurray-Ibrickane's Maura Falsey second in 36m 50s, while Nuala Reilly (Drogheda & District) held onto her F50 category title, posting a time of 36m 03s this year. Judith Roche won the F55 category in 40m 56s.

Fit 4 Life

Local man and popular club member Don Deacy (GCH) won the male Fit4Life category with a time of 35m 52s followed home by Paul Kelly in 36m 48s. Edel Carty won the female Fit4Life category in 35m 41s, with Nicola Deacy (daughter of Don) coming second in 36m 59s. A special mention must also go to Pat Larkin from Moycullen, who as far as records will show, is the only competitor to run in every single Streets of Galway since race inception in 1986, and came home this year in 51m 59s. Congratulations on your fantastic achievement Pat – go neirí an bóthar leat!

Teams

Raheny Shamrock AC won the men's team event followed by Ennis Track in second-place and Athenry AC in third-place. Sportsworld were victorious in the ladies' team event followed by Athenry AC in second-place and Ennis Track finishing third.

Locals Dominate Field

Male runners just slightly outnumbered female runners this year as 55% of finishers were male and 45% female. Almost 85% of all finishers were unaffiliated to any official running club, showing the special appeal of the Streets of Galway race to the wider population outside of club running. Of the clubs who ran on the night, the largest representations came from Athenry AC (64 entrants) and GCH (58 entrants). Craughwell AC, Clare River Harriers AC, Galway Triathlon Club, Ennis Track, Loughrea AC, Mayo AC, Sportsworld and Tuam AC as well as the Garda College were all well represented on the night and there were competitors from as far afield as Great Britain, the US and Germany to add an international flavour to the event. Local charity Croí had a number of runners participating, including player-manager of Galway United FC, Jeff Kenna, together with some of his playing staff.

Once again this year, many spectators turned out all along the route and particularly around the finishing area and were very generous in showing their appreciation for top-class local Galway athletes competing on home soil against national class competitors.

Thank Yous

The organisers, GCH, would like to thank the race sponsors as well as the many volunteers and organisations who gave of their time and services to help stage this significant sporting event in the city. FUTURE Wealth and Protection, as main event sponsors, have again demonstrated practical and financial support for the event. Park Jewellers sponsored the Seiko race clocks again this year and Gleesons sponsored the many litres of water required on the night.

Special thanks to the Gardaí, who guaranteed the smooth running of the event through the city’s streets and the Civil Defence who helped marshal the course. Fr. Griffin’s GAA and Galway City Council provided access to the changing facilities while Jimmy Curran and all at Galway Rovers once again kindly offered their club-house for the post-race presentations and refreshments. The inimitable Ralph O’Gorman (who has been with the event since the first race) provided his usual entertaining race commentary. Tom McGuire provided the PA system, Sam Hire the safety equipment. John O’Connor of Craughwell kindly offered his services as event photographer and did his usual fantastic job in recording images of the event for posterity. Dr. Fionnuala Geraghty provided the medical back-up while the Chartered Physiotherapists (Western Branch) were on hand to organise the warm-up. Many current and past GCH members, family and friends were drafted in on the night as well as many colleagues from other clubs in the county (the girls of Renmore Hockey club to name but one) to ensure the smooth running of the event overall.

Well done and a sincere thanks to all involved. Roll-on 2009 and the second Saturday in August...