Preperations are nearly complete for the clubs annual St. Stephens Day race in the Phoneix Park where last years winner, Michelle Dawson, will be taking to the mud again to defend her title. Following this years race, we will be making a special presentation to Matt Rudden in the clubhouse in celebration of a milestone birthday. Matt is the man who built the clubhouse as we know it today. It would be great to get as many members and supporters as possible out to support both our great race and this presentation to Matt Rudden.
It was Mr. Samuel Waterhouse the well-known Dublin jeweller, who presented the magnificent shield in 1896 for a 10 mile handicap cross-country race. That was a long time ago but the race still goes on every St. Stephen’s morning in the PhoenixPark for the members of Donore Harriers. They say it’s the oldest continuous cross-country race in Europe, if not in the world.
It would have taken a tough man to stay with the likes of Paddy Byrne as he raced to victory over 10 miles of mud and snow that Stephen’s morning in 1915. Paddy won the shield three times and re-presented it to the club and his name was then added to the trophy. Because of the involvement of many members in the Great War the race wasn’t held in 1916 – the only occasion it wasn’t competed for in its long history. One of those club members who joined the 10 th Batallion of The Royal Dublin Fusiliers was Davie Baird. Davie was badly wounded at the Battle of Ancre in 1916. Nonetheless, he fully recovered and went on to win the coveted prize in 1920, 1921 and for a third time in 1937. He also re-presented the trophy to the club. It is now called the Waterhouse –Byrne –Baird Shield.
After some years in different locations, the race has been staged in the PhoenixPark since 1934 – an ideal venue for the intrepid competitors but also for those hardy souls who brave the usually harsh elements to spectate, while at the same time getting in their post Christmas-day “constitutional”.
The race starts and finishes every year at the same tree beside the dog pond on the horse gallop. The slowest go off first, the faster later but the handicappers try to ensure, that by the time the five two mile laps are completed, it’s anyone’s race. That’s the beauty of it; every competitor has a chance of winning.
I’ve seen some of the great Irish distance runners take their chance and fail, sometimes because of the vagaries of the handicapper but often because of the nature of the race itself. It isn’t easy to restrain from eating and drinking a bellyful on Christmas day – which is what is required if one is to have any hope of taking the Shield. Over the years many an athlete has tried to fool the handicapper by performing poorly in prior races in order to get a good handicap.
I was there to watch the historic triumph of the first lady winner, Valerie McGovern, in 1985, in a race for so long the bastion of male athletes. Like everyone else who witnessed it, I also marvelled at the great Eamonn Coghlan’s record breaking win in the teeming rain in 1979. His is the only sub 50 minute run in the history of the event.
For me, the unique spirit and magic of this event was embodied by the late Frank Cahill. For over 50 consecutive years he had tried in vain to win the event. In 1975 he finally realised one of his life’s ambitions at the age of 75 by winning the coveted shield. The following year despite having had his handicap cut back, he confounded even nature itself, by running faster and triumphing a second time. One anecdote has Frank starting the race that morning with a handicap of 55 minutes while the scratch man lay in his bed at home.
I was there as usual at eleven o’clock last St.Stephen’s morning keeping an eye on proceedings. I met up with some of my old running pals and re-ran some of our valiant efforts to win the shield. This time neither hoary frost nor clinging mud bothered me. My cross-country spikes and black and white club vest enjoyed another restful Christmas.
Nothing much has changed over the years. The starter still shouted out the names and the times they were due off. By 12 o’clock, an hour into the race, a sizeable attendance had gathered, knowing that only at this stage was it possible to identify a likely winner. As the race came to a climax, one was aware not just of a visible attendance but also of an invisible presence. I didn’t see them but I knew they were there – the spirits of departed officials and athletes – ensuring that the tradition and soul of this unique event was carried on.
Maurice Ahern wrote and read this piece for Sunday Miscellany on RTÉ Radio on Sunday December 22nd, if you missed this you can catch it again on the RTÉ Radio website.