Sergiu Ciobanu records fifth win in a row at Ballycotton 10 mile

A fifth victory in a row by Sergiu Ciobanu of Clonliffe Harriers in the men’s race in and a course record winning time of 54:20 by Maria McCambridge of Dundrum South Dublin Athletic Club were the highlight performances at yesterday’s annual Ballycotton 10 mile in East Cork — the 38th running of this Irish road classic.

Ciobanu, the Moldovan native who recently received his Irish citizenship papers, had to work hard to achieve victory in yesterday’s event as former Dublin Marathon winner, Sean Hehir (Rathfarnam/WSAF AC) challenged him closely up to the final 800 metres.

A group of three, Ciobanu, Hehir and Greg Roberts (City of Derry AC), set the early pace and passed the first mile marker in 4:55. The trio were tracked closely by Alan O’Shea, (Bandon AC) as they went through four miles in 19:44. Between four and five miles, Hehir raced into the lead, closely tracked by Ciobanu. The pair took turns at the front from there until the final half-mile when Ciobanu surged clear for victory in 49:03.