Published: Saturday, 7th January, 2012 9:30am

Rita Daly wins New Year's Eve run in fine style

The 54th running of the New Year's Eve Run took place at 12 noon on December 31. A big crowd of fifty runners lined up at the start of the race over a distance of 4700 metres, with the race run on a sealed handicap basis.

Catch Grennan shot into the lead right from the off and had a big lead established after the first of four laps. He maintained this pace throughout and came home in front in a time of 15.10. Eddie Garry had a great run to finish second in 15.35 with Mark Serviss third in 15.46. The fastest woman on the day was Pauline Curley who clocked 16.22.

After the handicapper adjusted the times, Rita Daly was the declared the winner and was presented with the very impressive New Year's Eve Run plaque.

Rita's uncle, Mick Neville, was the very first winner of this race in 1957 and he repeated the feat the following year in 1958. Rita's winning time was 13.20 which was 23 seconds ahead of Fra Mollen in second, with Rita's sister Bernie Daly pacing third in 13.49.

Full Results

1 Rita Daly 13.20; 2 Fra Mollen 13.45; 3 Bernie Daly 13.49; 4 Mary Bracken 14.00; 5 Ray Martin 14.01; 6 Leonard Owens 14.12.

Before Handicap Adjustment

1 Catch Grennan 15.10; 2 Eddie Garry 15.35; 3 Mark Serviss 15.46; 4 Dave Fox 15.52; 5 Richie Galvin 16.20; 6 Pauline Curley 16.22; 7 Jody O'Reilly 16.35; 8 Jason Donegan 16.41; 9 John Donegan 16.42; 10 Johnny Feery 16.49; 11 Conor Mooney 17.08; 12 Liam Dunne 17.29; 13 Ray Martin 17.31; 14 Christy Donegan 17.39; 15 John Todd 17.42; 16 Mary Bracken 18.00; 17 Fra Mollen 18.00; 18 Philip Serviss 18.23; 19 John O'Connell 18.44; 20 John Phelan 18.48; 21 John Monaghan 18.59; 22 Adrian Martin 19.04; 23 Anderson De Santos (Guest) 19.35; 24 Pat Conlon 19.36; 25 Sinead Rigney 19.48; 26 Andy O'Grady 19.50; 27 Deirdre Lambe 19.55; 28 Evelyn Herlihy 20.03; 29 Leonard Owens 20.12; 30 Denzel Jacobs 20.13; 31 Mary Daly 20.15; 32 Shane Dunne 20.16; 33 Rita Daly 20.20; 34 Dean Claffey 20.38; 35 Declan Lambe 20.54; 36 Nita McLoughlin 21.02; 37 Bernie Daly 21.19; 38 Mags Grennan 21.29; 39 Ger Keyes 21.34; 40 Michelle Conlon (Guest) 21.44; 41 Charlotte Abbott 22.38; 42 Jim Langan 23.01; 43 Mary Casey 24.24; 44 Angela Martin 24.32; 45 Sharon Daly 24.32; 46 Ellen Hogan 25.53; 47 Jim Dolan 26.00; 48 Pat Kennedy 26.16; 49 Fiona Phelan 27.01; 50 Miriam Brady 28.57; 51 Josie O'Grady 29.51.

Victory for Ellen Hogan

The annual running of the Grand National took place on the Tuesday before Christmas.

Sixty-one runners competed on what was a very wet night. This race is run over four laps of the Spollenstown-Charleville road circuit and covers a distance of 5060 metres. It is a handicap race where the runners are let off at different intervals, with the fastest athletes setting off last in pursuit of those ahead of them.

Ellen Hogan was one of the first to be let off and she soon went into the lead. Ellen continued to run strongly and comfortably held off the chasing runners behind to come home the winner in 28.54. Ellen had thirty seconds to spare over Mary Bracken who came storming through the field with a great run in second place. Dean Claffey maintained his good form of late to take third place in 30.03 just four seconds ahead of fourth placed Aoife Convey.

The fastest time of the night was recorded by Catch Grennan with a 16.25 clocking, while Michelle Mullaney clocked 20.26 in being the fastest woman.

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