An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir November 2017 www.dfmagazine.ie 32 | By SGt WAynE FItzGERAlD PhotoS By AIRMEn ADAM MuRPhy, BIlly DoylE AnD JAMIE BARREtt, 105 Sqn T he highpoint of the Defence Forces competitive sporting calendar An Cosantóir 10K Road Race, took place in the Phoenix Park on Wednesday 11th october 2017. With 1,100 competitors from all over the DF along with veterans and invited guests, they took to the roads for the 38th annual An Cosantóir 10K Road Race and 5K Walk. The Senior Male category was won again by Pte Kenneth Rodgers (12 Inf Bn) in an impressive time of 32.47, 55 sec- onds slower than last year's winning time; his name is yet again etched into the trophy. The Senior Female category was won by newcomer Cadet Elizabeth Carroll, (36.06) from the Cadet School. the other individual winners were as follows: Female O/35: CQMS Dolores Collins, 2 BTC (49.18) Female O/40: Sgt Siobhan Boyle, DFSM (59.20) Guest Female: Ms Jennifer Gilmartin, (48.22) Male O/35: Cpl Peter Walsh, 6 Inf Bn (36.22) Male O/40: Pte Paul Buckley, 6 Inf Bn (34.58) Male O/45: Tpr Brendan McCarthy, 2 Cav Sqn (39.23) Male O/50: Sgt Declan Madden, 6 Inf Bn (39.08) Male O/55: Sgt Maj John Murray, CIS Gp (40:28) Veteran Male: Mr Ben Wedick (43.28) As well as winning individual categories the 6 Inf Bn also won the Team Event for their impressive 9th consecutive year, they were followed by McKee Bks Coy and 1 ACS re- spectively. This year out of 16 Blocks the winning bragging rights also went to the 6 Inf Bn (40.22), followed by the Cadet School (41.03) and 7 Inf Bn (41.16) respectively. The Minister with Responsibility for Defence Mr Paul Kehoe TD who had taken part in the event along with the Chief of Staff, Vice Admiral Mark Mellett DSM, was at the finish line acknowledging competitors. At the prize giving the Chief of Staff, Vice Admiral Mark Mellett DSM addressed those gathered. The COS started by thanking everyone for taking part, he thanked our sponsors ANASC Credit Union and Friends First for their continued support. He said the An Cosantóir 10K was part of maintaining a soldier's health, fitness and wellbeing. "The Defence Forces is a great organisation built on fitness," he said. Adding that we should build on events like these and encourage others to take part, "Help me help you, by encouraging others," he said. Lt Col Oliver Dwyer, Dir of Public Rela- tions thanked J7 Branch, OC McKee Bks, Catering Staff, MPs, medics, CIS staff, An Garda Síochána, the Office of Public Works (OPW) and to everyone whose efforts made the race possible.

• Cover