The annual Belgooly four mile road race was again a big attraction on a stormy St. Stephen’s Day. On the line this year was Mark Carroll, home for the holidays, and his Leevale clubmate Martin McCarthy. From the gun the two principals, Carroll and McCarthy went to the head of the field, with Fiacra Lombard of UCC the only one to go with them. By the time they got through the village Lombard could take no more of the hot pace, dropping off to leave the two leaders battle it out. Running side by side they reached the mile marker in 4:50, and the half way mark in 9:38. Rounding the turn they faced the uphill section, but that failed to separate them. However, as soon as they reached the downhill section Carroll upped the pace, leaving McCarthy almost standing still. He piled on the pace, covering the third mile in a nippy 4:17. He finished up with a 4:23 last mile for a winning time of 18:18, some sixteen seconds ahead of McCarthy. Lombard was never threatened as he ran almost the entire race on his own to finish third. Leevale juniors Paul Carroll and Ronan Crowley came next, with just five seconds between them. They were followed by Cillian O’Tuama of Leevale, Cathal O’Connell of St. Finbarrs, and Ian O‘Leary of Leevale. Leevale were team winners. Michelle Scott was an easy winner of the womens race, with Joan Hough of St. Finbarrs second and Claire Gibbons of Leevale third.