The annual Kinsale Regatta five mile road race was held in Kinsale tonight, with a brilliant evening sunshine making it tough for runners, but the run along the sea shore made for a pleasant race. After a mile into the race there was a breakaway group of four at the head of the field, Cathal O’Connell of St. Finbarrs, and the Leevale trio of Kevin Barry, Billy O’Rourke and James McGee. Barry was first to drop off the pace at about the two mile mark, but the others stayed together until well inside the final mile. Then it was O’Rourke who gently increased the pace, going on to win in a time of 25:04, with McGee second some eleven seconds adrift, and O’Connell third in 25:18. Danny Herlihy of Leevale ran most of the race on his own in fourth place, while Ian O’Sullivan of UCC was fifth ahead of Eamon McEvoy of St. Finbarrs in sixth. The first three were the exact same as last year. Mary Sweeney of St. Finbarrs was in great form in the womens race, winning in a time of 30:18, some two minutes ahead of clubmate Blaithin Hannon, with Frankie Devlin of Midleton third. Vet wins were recorded by Marie Creedon (over35), Maureen Fitton (over 40), Kathleen O’Connell (over 45), Larry Kennedy (over 40), William Desmond (over 45), Eddie Mullane (over 50), John O’Connell (over
55), John O’Leary (over 60), while Garrett Coughlan was junior winner.