The 18th annual Carter, DeLuca, Farrell & Schmidt Ho Ho Ho Holiday Run, held on the roads of Bethpage on Dec. 17, was a tremendous success, and represented a big score for veteran athlete Steve Quigley of Bayville.

The 38-year-old Quigley, perhaps better known for his prowess as a triathlete, turned in an outstanding 21 minute, 54 second time for the 5 Kilometer Run, earning 3rd place in the Clydesdale 200 pound weight division in the process.

There were nearly a thousand finishers in the 5K Run and nearly a hundred youngsters in the 1/4 Mile Fun Run that preceded the main event. The net result is that several local charities, including Maurer Foundation for Breast Health Education, and the Tender Loving Care Foundation for premature infants, will each receive substantial contributions. In addition, the generous toy donations by the participants will allow many disadvantaged children to have a more festive Holiday through the events' partnership with Mercy First.

Thanks go to Race Directors Joe Sturgess and Bob Sherman, and to all the Greater Long Island Running Club volunteers who continuously and willingly donate their time. Special thanks go to the event's title sponsor the law firm of Carter, DeLuca, Farrell & Schmidt,LLP for the firm's generous contribution to the event and to Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto and all the good folks from the Town's Parks Department for their continuing support for this and other local running events .

"Our sincere congratulations to Bayville's Steve Quigley and all the other athletes who helped us close out the 2005 racing season here in the Town of Oyster Bay in terrific fashion," observed Run Co-Director Joe Sturgess. "We hope to see Steve and everyone else when we open the 2006 racing season at Bethpage State Park on February 26 with the North Fork Bank 3 runner by 2 Mile Trail Relay."