This year’s Dublin Novice cross country moved from its traditional Phoenix Park venue to St Anne’s Park Raheny. It was a mild day and quite dry underfoot, earlier the Donore juvenile runners showed the way with some great runs in the juvenile league.
After a 20 minute delay the ladies 3k race got underway, and it was a debut championship cross country outing for some of our 8-strong team. With 71 finishers and 12 teams it was a particularly competitive race this year. Janette Strickland had the race of her life in only her 2nd championship outing moving steadily through to finish 18th overall, Marianne Dunlevy held off a number of runners at the finish in 29th place and not far behind was Rhona Duane in 33rd. Bronagh Elliott did her first ever cross country race and was a solid 35th, Eva Campion had a fine run and was 37th with Ashling Swaine next in 40th. Medbh Peavoy was further down the field than she would have liked in 42nd but she will bounce back as always and Cristina Gonzalez was 50th. The girls finished 8th team so no medals this time but this team will gain in strength and experience as the season continues.
The men’s 6k race had 87 runners and 13 teams in the mix, Donore had 12 men competing. A last lap rush by Niall Lynch (8th in 19.26), Graham Hopkins (17th in 19.58) and Emmet O’Briain (22nd in 20.10) saw the Donore Harriers men’s team climb into a medal position.
The team was lying 4th at the end of lap 3 (at 4.500m), but the trio all gained places over the final 1,500 metres loop to gain bronze medals in the team competition. An independent counter had Donore on 65 points after lap 3 with Raheny Shamrocks on 60. However, Donore gained to 51 points at the end, whilst Raheny slipped to 62. The team competition went to Clonliffe Harriers on 29 points with Crusaders second on 47 points.
The Donore team was led home by Eric Keogh (4th in 19.08), who was 4th in this race last year and was aiming for a medal this time – after 2 strong laps at the top of the race Eric was in contention, the eventual winner Clonliffe’s Ian Guiden however started to stretch the field out and Eric dropped back, hampered perhaps by the effects of a cold during the week, and he finished 4th once again but still an excellent run. The other Donore team members to finish the flat 6km route in the dry and humid conditions were: – Fred Kiernan (29th in 20.25); Eoin Hannon (39th in 20.48); Fergal Swaine (46th in 21.09); Luke Boland (51st in 21.26); Bob Blake (55th in 21.33); Padraig McGreal (60th in 22.05); and Stephen Dawson (66th in 22.33).
There was great support for the teams out there too so thanks to all who made the journey out to spectate.
On the roads, some of those training for Autumn marathons tested themselves on the Athlone 3/4 marathon and had great success. Kim Hickey was 2nd lady in a super 2.30.29, NY marathon-bound Alma Hanevy was 3rd in 2.31.06 – and new member Liagh Miller did 3.12.53.