The annual Céide Coast Half Marathon and Coastal 10k hosted by Ballycastle AC were held on Saturday September 23.
This was the last edition of the event which has been held annually in October over recent years apart from a Covid-19 enforced break in 2020 and 2021.
Runners were transported from the village to the race start point at Céide Fields visitor centre/ cliffs.
Both courses were ‘levelled out’ for 2023 – in the past there had been a famously steep hill in Ballycastle Village for the finish, whereas for the final edition it was a different, not as steep, hill finish!
Congratulations to Norah Newcombe Pieterse today’s half-marathon winner and first woman home in 1:23.02. She led Mayo AC to complete a unique podium top three with John Gordon first M50 in second place 1:23.32, and Tadgh Hanrahan first M40 a close third in 1:23:36 – great running by all three – just over 30 seconds separating them at the finish line in Ballycastle!
Their clubmate Colette Tuohy F50 also ran a great race to finish second woman and 12th overall in 1:30.41 – she was first woman last year and 7th overall in 1:32.19.
The 8th annual Coastal 10k took place in conjunction with the half. Mayo AC had six finishers:
Congratulations to Donna Gallagher who was first woman across the line in 42:51, completing a Céide Coast women’s win double for Mayo AC.
Well done to the other Mayo AC finishers:
Jimmy Feeney 49:07 1st M60
Caitlin Woods 53:08 2nd F50
Regina Kiernan 1:00.14 2nd F60
Colette McTigue 1:03.57
Linda Creagh 1:13.32
Race winner was John Regan Celbridge AC 37:48
Full results of both races are at www.mayoac.com
