Two years ago, Rosemary Ryan from Bilboa in Limerick finished second in the Flora Women’s Mini Marathon.

“I have to win this race some day,” she muttered after crossing the finish line behind US-based Maria Davenport.

Yesterday, in the 27th edition of this great race, Ryan proved the class of the field when she led home an entry of 40,374 in a time of 34 minutes 6 seconds.

She had set the pace from the start, leaving a quality field struggling to keep up. Unlike some of the others, Ryan had little difficulty with the heat, having spent a few weeks in Portugal warm weather training in the recent past.

She had led along the Merrion Road, where the leafy gardens provided welcome shade from the sun, and then turned up Nutley Lane into a cauldron of heat, with the others by now about 100 metres behind. When she went through six kilometres in just over 20 minutes, she looked on target to break 34 minutes.

It was not to be – with no shelter from the searing heat, her pace slowed over the final few kilometres, although she maintained her commanding lead. After crossing the line and tipping a cup of water over her head, the Limerick woman pronounced herself delighted with her run.

“It wasn’t a bad time given the weather. Ballsbridge was lovely and I like courses where you can cut the corners,” she said.

While her main aim of the year is the European Cross Country Champi

onships, which Ireland will host at Santry next December, Ryan hopes to put in some good times on the track over the summer.

“I like the track, though it hasn’t always gone well for me. So we’ll see. My priorities are not getting injured and not going over the top.”

Last year, she narrowly failed to qualify for the marathon at the Beijing Olympics with the place going instead to Pauline Curley from Tullamore. “I made the Olympic team in 2000, when I ran the 5,000m along with Sonia, and I would have loved to have joined Pauline in Beijing. I’m certainly not turned off the marathon and will probably run another one next year.”

Finishing second yesterday was none other than Curley, now turned 40 but still one of the canniest road racers around.

Forcing the pace in the chasing group for the first 5km was Caitriona Jennings from Rathfarnham WSAF, who had beaten Pauline when finishing second at the National 10k in Navan last April. Also in contention were the 2008 mini marathon winner Annette Kealy from Raheny, Siobhan O’Doherty from Borrisokane, who finished third last year, and Riocht veteran Niamh O’Sullivan. Curley watched and waited. “At 6km, I made my move. I told myself that I had only 4k to go and that was only 20 minutes of hard work. So I dug deep, although I only managed to pass Caitriona at about 8km.”

For Curley, who is a huge fan of the mini marathon, finishing was a relief. “I’m in the middle of exams to become a massage therapist. So I'm delighted to have finished – it’s one less thing to think about!”

In third place, Annette Kealy was experiencing mixed emotions. “I would have given anything to have won again. I gave it my all, but it was not to be. It is such a great race – every time I stand on the start line I am amazed. Every year such a lot of goals are achieved and there are lots of very happy women on the streets of Dublin,” said the barrister and mother of four.

With Catriona Jennings suffering badly, Siobhan O’Doherty came through to finish fourth, with Jennings just holding off O’Sullivan for fifth place. “I went off way too fast. I went through the halfway in close to a personal best time for 5k and then I really suffered. The last kilometre was so hot,” said Jennings, a sister of international rower Siobhan.

Tullamore Harriers are definitely a top team

If there was a team prize for yesterday’s race, it would most likely have gone to Tullamore Harriers. While the club’s most famous member Pauline Curley came in second, she was not too far ahead of another Pauline – Pauline Lambe this time - who was eighth in 37 mins 20 secs, with Liz Cuskelly hot on her heels in 38 mins 50 secs.

“Yes, I’ve improved a lot over the past year. I moved to Waterford and there are so many races down there. The Ger Wyley Series of races is great. I won a couple of them and set course records and you’d think I was some kind of superstar!” says Pauline Lambe.

Age is no barrier as Coyle takes category win

Among the category winners yesterday was Joan Coyle, a mainstay of the race’s organisation for many years.

Last year, Joan decided to retire and her aim in this year’s race was to break 45 minutes. With lots more time to train, she did it in style, clocking a time of 44 mins 33 secs, which saw her finish first over 60, ahead of Evelyn McNeilis from Naas, who is another mini marathon stalwart.

Other age class winners included Finn Valley’s Kay Bryen over 45, Mages Greenan of Clonliffe first over 50 ahead of Mary Jennings from Waterfod and novice runner Sheila Jones, who is a member of the organising club Dundrum South Dublin.

Injury doesn’t stop Aine from reaching finish

Cheerfully sitting outside the Order of Malta first aid tent with a large ice pack on her ankle was Aine McCormack from Ratoath.

“I twisted my ankle when my foot went into a crack in the road just after the start but was determined to finish it because I’d trained so hard. I’d speed walked in the past but wanted to run this year.”

Keeping her company was Sinead Brown, another novice runner. Despite the early disaster, the pair finished in 70 minutes. “We were running for Aware because we both have small children and suffered from post- natal depression – a much misunderstood form of depression,” said Aine before limping off home.

Tydavnet share the quack with duck mascot

Saying hello to the Meningitis Trust’s friendly duck was a group from Tydavnet Faith and Light Community in Co Monaghan.

“We’re a community for people with special needs,” explained Paul McKenna.

“This is our fourth year taking part in the mini marathon and we have a team of about 50. Tydavnet? That’s the name of where we’re from!”

IWA supporters get use of tent

Making good use of the Irish Wheelchair Association tent in the Charity Village was Natasha Spremo, one of a team of 218 walking the mini marathon for the charity.

“I’ve been working for the IWA for six years now and although I had a walker’s number I got around in 70 minutes, so I’m pretty pleased.

“This tent idea was great especially as we were right beside a toilet!” she said showing off her specially adapted IWA t-shirt, which had been cut back and then made respectable using a number of charity “pins”.

Also finishing in style were Paula Brown, Michelle Byrne and Oksana Shashakova.