Leixlip 5K 2015

Last Saturday saw the 2015 running of the Leixlip 5K Road Race and Fun Run, which forms part of the Kildare 5K series organised by Kildare Athletics and is one of the club’s primary fund-raising events of the year.   Despite awful weather conditions, over 200 athletes took part in the race and the rain did not dampen the enthusiasm of the runners or the support received around the course from supporters and marshals.

The men’s race was a close run affair, with the result still in doubt as the competitors entered the track to complete the final 500m.  In the end, Neil Wiktorski of Sli Cualann took this year’s race in a time of 16:23.  Two athletes for Celbridge AC, Barry Murphy and Conor Burke made up the podium positions in times of 16:25 and 16:30 respectively.   The women’s race was won by the ever-impressive Michelle Cox from Newbridge AC, finishing the 5K course in 18:29, ten seconds clear of Ide Nic Dhomhaill from Donore Harriers who beat her sister and club-mate Sorcha in to third place by four seconds. 

The Phyllis Muldoon Memorial Trophies, presented to the first male and female local runners home, were won by Martin Horan and Alison Pickett, both from Le Chéile AC.  The master’s categories were keenly contested as always with wins for Aoife Lynch (F35), Tara Shirley – Donadea RC (F40), Cathy Walsh – Le Cheile AC (F45), Teresa Dennehy (F50), Josephine Dignam – Lucan Harriers(F55) in the women’s categories and Phil Adams (M35), Will Byrne – Lucan Harriers (M40), Frank McDonald – Celbrdige AC (M45), Larry Kelly – St. Coca’s AC (M50), Brendan Maher from Esker Running Group (M55) and Brian McGrath from Le Chéile AC (M60) in the men’s.  Over forty athletes from Le Cheile took part in the race, many of them the graduates from the club’s recent Couch-to-5K programme taking part in their first competitive 5K road race. 

Once again, the club held junior races as a curtain-raiser for the main race.   The weather did effect participation, but a number of brave, budding athletes raced for 200m on the track.  They all got a great reception from the senior athletes at the finish line and they were all delighted with their medals and goody bags at the end.

An event like this does not take place without huge support from local businesses and the community at large and Le Chéile AC would like to recognise Wheelworx who are always great supporters of their race and sponsored the athlete’s prizes this year all.  LIDL provided the club with water and bananas for all the athletes and they also received numerous generous donations to make up the contents of the goody bags.  On such a cold, miserable day, the post-race cup of tea was welcomed by runners, supporters and organisers alike.  The club did itself proud again with the spread of home-baked treats as well as cakes generously donated by the Imperial Bakery and Staunton’s SuperValu.

Thanks to Anto Lee for measuring the course and to Alison Underwood who always provides the club with her expertise in relation to our branding and advertising. Thanks to James and Ken and all the photographers out on the course today.

The club want to thank all our members and their families who baked, prepared the clubhouse and the track, manned the catering and registration tables and who marshaled in such awful condition, we would not be able to put on the race without your support and hard work.