The Manchester Marathon took place last weekend in very good weather conditions and by all accounts it was a brilliant event, great atmosphere and plenty of spectators along the route with over 13,000 taking part. It was great to see Club members running so well in this race. We had very good performances from Shane Greene who was 715th in 3 hours 7 mins 59 secs, he went through half way in 89 mins 39 secs, Noel Gillman who was 914th and running a PB when finishing in 3 hours 12 mins 43 secs, he went through halfway in 95 mins 35 secs and a major improvement on last year’s performance of 3 hours 18 mins, John Laste was 2016th in 3 hours 31 mins 34 secs and going through halfway in 102 mins 24 secs, Anthony Power also ran very well when achieving a PB by finishing 2110th in 3 hours 35 mins 46 secs and went through halfway in 108 mins 16 secs, this was a major improvement on last year’s performance of 3 hours 42 mins 20 secs, Sheila Perry 2505th in 3 hours 38 mins 51 secs and went through halfway in 107 mins 6 secs, John Perry 2579th in 3 hours 39 mins 53 secs and went through halfway in 106 mins 24 secs, Pat Walsh was 3013th in 3 hours 44 mins 44 secs and went through halfway in 113 mins 26 secs, Niall Brannigan was 3496th in 3 hours 50 mins 39 secs and went through halfway in 105 mins 46 secs, Donal Ryan 4557th in 4 hours and 56 secs and went through halfway in 116 mins 8 secs, Denise Donnelly also ran very well when achieving a new Pb by finishing 4945th in 4 hours 6 mins 45 secs and went through halfway in 121 mins 21 secs, Brian Tyrrell 6260th in 4 hours 26 mins 50 secs and went through halfway in 125 mins 15 secs, Mellissa McCarthy was 5896th in 4 hours 21 mins 11 secs and went through halfway in 124 mins 43 secs, Lizzie Ryan ran very well when finishing 6590th in 4 hours 31 mins 37 secs, she went through halfway in 124 mins 42 secs, as her training for the last few weeks was curtailed due to an injury and Jacqui Walsh 7735th in 4 hours 53 mins 59 secs and went through halfway in 135 mins 59 secs. It is great to report that both John Laste and Anthony Power achieved the qualifying time for the New York Marathon in their age category,
In the Marathon relay Anne Marie Halpin ran very well when running 1 hour 41 mins for her distance, brilliant running all round. The Post Race celebrations took place in the Bishops Blais the famous Manchester United pub, where even the ABUs were in high spirits.