No one can catch Mary Walsh in Grand National

Athletics: Tullamore Harriers News - The annual running of the Grand National took place on Tuesday of this week. This race is run over four laps of the Spollenstown-Charleville road circuit and covers a distance of 5,060 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. Mary Walsh was the first to be let off and ran a very steady race to stay out in front to come home the winner in a time of 25.12. If Mary had looked behind she would have seen a fresh Jody O"Reilly charging through the field to finish second, just 26 seconds behind. Pauline Curley was one of the last to start and she too ran well to pass a lot of runners to finish third. Catch Grennan was the last to start and he recorded the fastest time of the night, despite a change of singlet mid race, but the finish line came to quick for him and he had to settle for sixth place. The presentation of prizes for the race and for other club races took place later that night in Eugene Kelly"s Lounge and a good social night was had by all. Full Results (Actual times in brackets) 1 Mary Walsh 25.12 (24.42); 2 Jody O"Reilly 25.36 (17.36); 3 Pauline Curley 25.47 (17.32); 4 John Harkin 25.48 (17.18); 5 Catch Grennan 25.53 (16.53); 6 Adrian Curley 25.58 (17.13); 7 Johnny Feery 26.00 (18.00); 8 Martin Carroll 26.02 (17.32); 9 Liam Dunne 26.05 (19.20); 10 Fran Mollen 26.10 (20.55); 11 John O"Connell 26.14 (18.44); 12 Adrian Martin 26.15 (20.00); 13 Ann Carroll 26.16 (19.01); 14 Mick Murphy 26.25 (17.45); 15 Liz Cuskelly 26.33 (18.48); 16 Mary Daly 26.38 (20.13); 17 Larry Rigney 26.41 (21.41); 18 Maire Triona Keane 26.44 (19.14); 19 Nick Devery (Guest) 26.50 (19.05); 20 Pat Conlon 26.51 (20.06); 21 Vinny Conlon 26.55 (19.55); 22 Maurice Fitzgearld 26.57 (21.07); 23 Paddy Dolan 27.01 (21.16); 24 Garry O"Connor 27.12 (21.27); 25 Tony McCormack 27.18 (21.18); 26 Una Mullen 27.38 (22.23); 27 Gerry Kavanagh 27.38 (22.38); 28 Brendan Kennedy 28.57 (23.12); 29 Andy O"Grady 31.16 (26.16). Guest. Niall Bryant 22.29 Catch Grennan wins Winter League The third and final leg of the Winter League took place on Thursday of last week. A big field of 37 runners lined up for the 3000 metre race which was run over the tarmac lap and consisted of almost five laps. Right from the start Noel Kelly set a very fast pace with John Harkin and Catch Grennan endeavouring to stay with him. On the second lap Kelly had opened up a lead on Grennan who in turn had pulled away from Harkin. Adrian Curley was in fourth position at this stage followed by Pauline Curley, Johnny Feery and Declan Madden. Noel Kelly maintained his pace to the end and was a comfortable winner in a good time of 9.10, 26 seconds clear of Catch Grennan. Adrian Curley ran on well to pass a tiring John Harkin to finish third. David Finn, who was running as a guest, came in fifth just ahead of Pauline Curley, who was sixth in a time of 10.06 followed by Declan Madden and Johnny Feery. Whilst Noel Kelly was victorious on the night, the overall winner of the Winter League with one win and two second place finishes was Catch Grennan. In second place was Adrian Curley and John Harkin was third. In the team competition, Team B captained by Adrian Curley emerged the winners with 612 points from John Cronin"s team on 516 points. This year"s Winter League was a great success with big numbers of runners in the three races and some good performances throughout, all which made for a very enjoyable competition for all who took part. Full Results 1. Noel Kelly 9.10; 2 Catch Grennan 9.36; 3 Adrian Curley 9.44; 4 John Harkin 9.58; 5 David Finn (Guest) 10.03; 6 Pauline Curley 10.06; 7 Declan Madden 10.18; 8 Johnny Feery 10.23; 9 Liz Cuskelly 10.39; 10 Luke Mitchell 10.42; 11 Richie Faulkner 10.46; 12 Christopher Finn (Guest) 10.48; 13 John O"Connell 10.50: 14 Maire Triona Keane 10.50; 15 Ann Carroll 10.51; 16 Vinny Conlon 11.12; 17 Tony McCormack (Guest) 11.13; 18 Damien Lawlor 11.18; 19 Liam Dunne 11.19; 20 Pat Conlon 11.20; 21 Mary Daly 11.37; 22 Brendan Carroll 11.37; 23 Tony (Archie) McCormack 11.47; 24 Dillon McCabe (Guest) 11.49; 25 Garry O" Connor 11.53; 26 Brendan Kennedy 11.54; 27 Paddy Dolan 11.55; 28 Nicole Cuskelly (Guest) 11.55; 29 Maurice Fitzgerald 11.57; 30 Fran Mollen 12.01; 31 Sinead Rigney (Guest) 12.19; 32 Anna Redmond (Guest) 12.20; 33 Una Mullen 12.26; 34 Larry Rigney 12.52; 35 Andy O"Grady 14.42; 36 Jim Dolan 15.50; 37 John Cronin 19.54. News Roundup John Todd had a busy schedule last weekend when he competed in two races in Dublin. On Saturday, John ran in the Business Houses Cross Country race in The Ward, North Co. Dublin. On a tough course over 6000 metres John finished first over 55 and 22nd overall in a time of 28.08. On Sunday John competed in The Jingle Bells 5k road race in the Phoenix and again he was first in the over 55 category. Fixtures 25th December; Goal Mile; 31st December; Round the Houses road race at 12 noon. Training Tuesday and Thursday at 6.30pm, Sunday morning at 8.30am (except on a Race day). New members always welcome.