And so it all begins, preparations and plans for the 37th Annual 5 Mile Boxing Day Run but there's just one thing different this year, a huge difference, for the first time in 36 consecutive years the event takes place without the founder and main organiser, Oliver McCullagh.
Oliver was the engine behind our event, he founded it, he worked hard at making it the best he could, he gave up his time for it, he gave up his Christmas for it, he never stopped coming up with ideas and plans and he enjoyed every single bit of it...he gave it his all!
On Boxing Day he was the first there ready to get things started and the last to leave, never afraid to get stuck into the many, many tasks it took to ensure the run would go ahead...ice, snow, pandemics, you name it, Olly conquered them all...'You can never cancel an event' he would say and he stuck by it, many years he cleared and salted that route, by hand, on occasions to ensure the runners and participants could take to the road and face the famous hill. He could've called it his run, his event, but he never did that, he called it the Communitys Run. 'This run belongs to the community!'
Oliver we are indebted to you for the legacy you have left behind in the 'Greencastle 5'. We could sit back now and forget about the run, not bother with organising it and wondering where we should even start but we couldn't do that, its in our blood now, its part of us, the run will continue and we will do our best to make it great. We will make Oliver proud and he will guide us every step of the way. 'All you young one's will keep it going'...yes Olly you better believe we will!!
We look forward to welcoming you all to the beautiful hills of the Sperrins and may you enjoy every mile!
Oliver McCullagh and is team held a successful 36th celebration of the Tyrone Classic.
Conor Maguire took his first victory in the event and judging by the manner of his win, it could be the first of many for the Monaghan man.
Maguire race shoulder to shoulder with Conan McCaughey until the notorious climb around the four-mile mark.
The Monaghan Phoneix athlete found an extra gear to distance himself from McCaughey and after that the contest was over, the UCD student raced home in an impressive 24:53 time.
North Belfast Harier McCaughey held on for second in 25:07, a time normally good enough to win the race.
Omagh Harrier Owen Mullan took third in 25:28 and also claimed the honour of being first master across the finish line.
Top 5 Men 2022 - L-R: 5th: Christopher Fielding, 4th: Gavin Corey, 1st: Conor Maguire, 2nd: Conán McCaughey, 3rd: Eoin Mullan
The women's race was equally competitive with Mid Ulster's Grace Carson also using the ascent to grab a key advantage over Catherine Whoriskey.
The City of Derry Spartan could not match the younger and faster Loughborough student on the final downhill kilometre.
The lead stretched to a comfortable 13 seconds at the line, reached by Carson in a swift 28:23, Finn Valley's Cassie Lagan was a somewhat distant third in 32:17
Top 5 Ladies 2022 - L-R: 4th: Pauline McGurren, 2nd: Catherine Whoriskey, 1st: Grace Carson, 3rd: Cassie Lagan, 5th: Charlene Abraham
1st Overall 2020
Conor Duffy (Glaslough Harriers)
CONOR Duffy followed in the footsteps of Glaslough Harriers club-mate Patrick Cassidy by winning the 35th annual Greencastle 5 on Sunday.
Back in 2004 Cassidy won the popular road race in 25.52 minutes but 16 years on and in near perfect conditions Duffy bettered that time by stopping the clock at 24.35.
Duffy sprinted home four seconds ahead of last year’s winner, Neil Johnston of Annadale Striders, with Johnston’s club-mate Eskander Turki completing the podium in a 24.43.
Top European mountain runner Zac Hanna, Newcastle and District AC, was fourth man home in 24.49 with Conán McCaughey, North Belfast Harriers fifth in 25:04.
Best of the female competitors was Grace Carson, Mid Ulster and Loughborough University, who clocked an impressive 28.20, just 20 seconds outside Anne Marie McGlynn’s course record.
The ladies’ pre-race favourite Racel Gibson of North Down AC was runner-up in 30.35 minutes with Pauline McGurren completing the podium in 32:02.
The 35th anniversary race, initially scheduled for it’s traditional slot on Boxing Day, had been brought forward owing to further lockdown measures introduced by the NI Executive.
Conor Duffy and Grace Carson were the winners of yesterday’s Greencastle 5 Miles Road Race in Tyrone. The race was brought forward from its traditional St. Stephen’s Day date and the field limited to 120 runners to comply with current guidelines.
2020 Lockdown Race - Wave 1 - Start
