Staff Reports
(l to r) Ken Nason, Niall Bruton , Andrew Walker
photo used with permission from the Irish Independent
Niall Bruton (Clonliffe) narrowly defeated UCD upstart Andrew Walker in the Billy Morton Mile held in Santry on 7 July. Fittingly a Clonliffe Harrier won the race which commemorated the 30th anniversary Billy Morton's passing.
Bruton had to call on his reserves of both talent and tenacity to overtake Walker at the line. Although the time of 4:01.36 is well off is best of 3:53.93 run in 1996 it a bright spot for Bruton and may serve as a launching pad for a fine season. The challenge facing the talented Clonliffe runner is finding some fast races to showcase his fitness in the hope of getting a qualifying time and performing well at this month's national championships.
In the other races, Eddie King (Sale Harriers) won the 800 metres in 1:48.53 and Noel Berkeley (DSD) ran 14:02.7 to edge Noel Cullen (Clonliffe) by a second in the 5,000 metres.
Billy Morton Memorial Meeting Santry, Co. Dublin Ireland Sponsored by Clonliffe Harriers A.C. 7 July 1999 Morton Memorial Mile 1 Niall Bruton Clonliffe 4:01.36 2 Andrew Walker University College Dublin 4:01.78 3 Ken Nason Metro-St Brigid's 4:02.08 4 Patrick Davoren Limerick 4:02.77 5 Shane Healy DCH 4:05.44 6 Eugene O'Neill Crusaders 4:11.90 800m 1 Eddie King Sale Harriers(England) 1:48.53 2 David Brosnan Leevale 1:50.72 3 John Cashman University College Cork 1:52.75 5,000m 1 Noel Berkeley Dundrum South Dublin 14:02.7 2 Noel Cullen Clonliffe Harriers 14:03.7 3 Peter Matthews Dundrum South Dublin 14:04.2 4 Seamus Power Kilmurray/Ibrickane A.C. 14:10.8