Everything you wanted to know about the 2011 mini marathon

• Over 1600 women participants identified themselves as being from Castlebar itself.

• Over 50 charities were associated with the 2011 mini marathon

• The ‘Western People ladies from Ballina’ who participated in the mini marathon raised €636 and another little girl raised €230 for Vincent de paul in Ballina.

Vincent de Paul said that “they thrive on local small donations and the mini marathon meant just that with a contribution to last year of €866”

• A group of over 50 women trained on the track in castlebar as part of the Fit4work activity at work programme run by Mayo County Council, GMIT and HSE. Plans are afoot for an even bigger and better team this year.

• Local woman and Mayo AC athlete Collette Touhy won the 2nd annual Western people West Of Ireland women’s mini marathon in a time of 39:27, with Westport’s Derval Devaney in 2nd in a time of 40:50 and Mayo AC athlete Breaffys Angela O’Connor in 3rd positions in 41:00

• Special Olympic Athlete Aoife Beston ran her first mini marathon in a very credible 1:07

• 30 second year students from Mount St Michael Claremorris led by Roisin Henry raised money in support of the Oesophageal Cancer Fund.

• Over 200 volunteers helped in the 2011 mini marathon.

• An Sportlann was used on the 2 days leading up to the mini marathon to distribute bib numbers and timing chips.

• Sunday May 1st in Castlebar was blistering and over 5000 bottles of Connaught gold water was used.

• 36 ‘Siobhans’ took part in the mini marathon 2011

• 50 Teresas or Threses took part

•  5 Johns, 1 Jonathon and 1 John Joe also took part

Sample of Projects / Initiatives which were supported
by the proceeds from the Mini Marathon

• Mayo Athletic Club, Westport AC, Castlebar AC and Ballina AC were all supported in the delivery of their activities during 2010.

• The Mayo Meet and Train / Fit4Life Network of six locations ie Westport, Castlebar, Ballina, Claremorris, Ballinrobe and Swinford were nurtured and further developed in 2010.

• 2010 Summer 5K fun run / walk series (400 participants in 3 events).

• Primary Schools Introduction to Athletics Programme - In 2010 10 schools from the Claremorris catchment area involving 600 students took part in the programme. Over 200 more children joined the local Claremorris AC as a result of this programme.

• The Active 55 participation project for older people which takes place at 15 leisure and community facilities throughout Mayo with 300 participants.

• Commenced a county wide Boccia league for people with a disability. 12 teams from all over the county with approximately 50 participants.

• 30 people with a disability were able to participate in an Adventure Sports day in Achill.

• Developed an initiative titled “Girls Active” targeting teenage girls who may not have an interest in mainstream team sports. During 2010 5 second level schools were assisted in providing extracurricular activities for that group.

• 2010 Mayo Cycle for Fun Series which promoted leisure cycling in 4 different areas ie Westport, Castlebar, Ballinrobe and Ballina with approx 250 participants.

• Launched an initiative “ Link2BActive” which provides jobseekers with opportunities to participate in sport and physical activity at discounted rates in 20 leisure / sporting facilities throughout the county.

• Able to maintain the annual special participation grant scheme to community and voluntary organisations at previous years levels despite cutbacks.