The annual Belgooly four mile road race attracted it’s usual clientele, although there was a distinct lack of visiting runners for the race compared to other years.
Leevale’s James Grufferty was back for the race from East Tennessee State University, where a back injury severely curtailed his racing programme.
Gruff was joined for the first mile of the race by Thomas Maunsell in the lead group. However, the group was broken up by American Jeff Scott before the two mile mark as he set sail for home. Gruff tried to go with him but then decided that a ‘tempo run’ was more appropriate for him and eased back a little.
Scott, who is married to Michelle Murphy from Carraig na bhFear, won as he pleased, with Gruff taking second ahead of Eric Meade of East Cork.
Thomas Maunsell, running his first road race for months, had a good run to finish sixth.
Once again David Healy was back in Cork and he was again content to leave his wife Sarah do all the hard work. The former Sarah Dupre from Canada won the women’s race for the second year, ahead of Valerie Vaughan from Blarney Inniscarra and Michelle Scott from Carraig na bhFear.
Leevale’s John O’Leary won the over 60 title