Dunboyne Eirgrid 4 Mile Road Race
24th March 2013
A hearty welcome from the Dunboyne community was warmly received by the 1002 participants on Sunday’s four mile road race.
The course was exactly as it said: flat and fast, to which I would add freezing with a constant threat of sleet or snow. The race passed through the village on three occasions making it an excellent spectator event and it appeared that the entire population of Dunboyne was somehow involved in this event. Scores of volunteers headed by Teresa Smith (50) provided the catering, acted as marshals or stood in the village or roadside to cheer us on.
Tallaght AC ladies Jenny Jones McMillan (28) and Pauline Madden (34) were chasing a sub 30 minute time to qualify for the lead group in this year’s Dublin Mini Marathon and were delighted with their results. There was a real feeling of this being a team event as clubs battled it out for individual and team titles while representatives from the Irish Amputee Football team moved at their own pace. “It was tough on the crutches but a great event as a group,” said player manager Chris McElligott. “Even though two of the lads could have gone a lot faster we decided that we should start and finish together.”
The well attended post race event was a chance to socialize and warm down with plenty of prize giving and a live band on stage. At €15 or €20 to enter on the day which included a technical tee shirt, goody bag, chip timing and tea/coffee, sandwiches and homemade cakes, this was a really good value and well run event. The only niggle for some participants was motor traffic control at one point on the course but overall this well established, vintage event was a real winner despite the cold.
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