Moone Kilomarathon a great success

The Kilomarathon and 10k in Moone on September 27th was a very successful occasion, writes Sean Cleary, event PRO. There were over 470 entries for the day.

Tony Donoghue, Chairman and all the Organising Committee were all delighted with the turnout. Especially they were grateful of the local support, the Parents Group from Moone School, were running as was Headmaster Darragh Flynn who made the Kilomarathon his first ever long distance race.

The Scouts, Scout Parents and Scout Leader Richard Ryall, as ever manned the Water stations, an essential feature of any Marathon. They were greatly appreciated as it was quite a warm day for participants. Tony asked me to thank the Stewards who kept Car Parks working with no traffic jams and those at road junctions, who made sure there were no straying runners.

There was special praise for Joan Dunne and her team of caterers. This year the runners seemed fitter than usual and so many arrived at the same time for vitals that the staff really turned in a blinder, keeping the food and drinks coming non stop under extreme pressure.

The Kilomarathon turned out to be an international affair, won by Romanian Abul Liktorskie in a time of 1 hour 31.15 seconds who was hotly pursued into second place by Brian Kirwan of St Lawerence O'Toole's, Carlow. Irish Olympian Pauline Curley who is also on the Irish team for the World Cross Country Events, won the Ladies Kilomarathon. Pauline is from Tullamore.

Deirdre Byrne from Wicklow, who with Pauline is a member of the Irish team for the World Cross Country Championships, won the Ladies 10k. Mens 10k was won by E.O'Neill from Tinryland. The main sponsor was Horan's of Castledermot with Stack's Pharmacy, and Tony thanks both and all the others who contributed by sponsoring or by helping in any way.