Ray Treacy wins the main event at the Tullamore Road Races Festival.
Paddy Larkin, secretary of the Tullamore Harriers Athletic Club, describes the work undertaken to install a tartan running track and plans for a sports complex to be developed. The club's plans have been put on hold for the moment as the project has not received any public funding from government.
The development of the track has been enormous undertaking by a small amateur athletic club. Paddy Larkin says that the club were anxious to get the track down as the longer it went on, the more expensive it would become. The second phase of the development will be a venue to facilitate all indoor sports.
We'd like to think that we'd be able to cater for all our own needs at least in this country.
The Road Races Festival has 1,144 athletes taking part with supporters out in force to cheer on the runners.
Winner of the senior men's road race was bank official, Leevale runner Ray Treacy and brother of athlete John Treacy. Ray Treacy says he found the last three miles very hard but managed to hold onto the lead. He is looking forward to competing in the national and international cross country races. Second place went to Paddy Murphy with third and fourth places going to two other Leevale runners Donie Walsh and Noel Shannon.
This episode of 'Sports Scene' was broadcast on 15 January 1978. The reporter is Brendan O'Reilly.
