The remarkable Jim McNamara not only retained his over 70s title at the popular Dungarvan 10 mile road race(1/2/15), but recorded a time 4 minutes quicker than last year. Gentleman Jim (time of 1.14.29) is an evergreen legend of Irish athletics and an inspirational coach. One of his protégés also had good reason to celebrate at Dungarvan. Ann Curley may not have retained her over 40s crown, but she finished as 3^rd woman overall whilst placing second in her age category. Her time of 1.02.27 was over a minute quicker than her time in 2014. Nicola Dowdall F40 recorded a time of 1.15.08 to place 575^th overall.

Meanwhile at the Trim 10 mile road race (1/2/15) the Donore Harriers team (145), led home by Garvan Smith, won the 3^rd team award behind winners Mullingar Harriers (60) and runners-up Celbridge AC (61). Smith (58.17) finished 18^th overall in the race and second in the M40 category. The scoring team was completed by Sean Fox (59.39) in 27^th, Will Morris (59.49) in 29^th and Niall O’Reilly (1.05.18) in 71^st spot. The other Donore competitors were Tony Griffin (1.13.17) who placed 5^th in the M55 category and Charlie O’Neill (1.16.18) who was 4^th in the M60s class.

Over in the U.K Lee Van Haeften placed 3^rd in the Dewsbury 10km (1/2/15) race run in cold and blustery conditions.

At the Athletics Ireland Indoor Games at Athlone on Sunday (1/2/15) John Travers (8.19.30) was the runaway winner of the 3000m race, finishing half-a-minute in front of Keith Shiels of Foyle Valley AC. Having already got the qualifying time in the 1500m Travers was hoping to gain the qualification mark for his favoured 3km trace race, but the lack of serious competition and fatigue following his sub-4 mile in New York on the previous weekend took its toll.

In the 800m race Daragh Fitzgibbon (1.55.80) knocked 3 seconds of his previous best time to place an excellent 4^thamongst a strong field.

Junior athlete and Kylemore College student Sean Lawlor (22.40) got a fine 2^nd place in the 200m behind Kieron Elliott (21.92) of North Sligo AC. Following a false start that eliminated Zac Irwin of Sligo AC Lawlor made a hesitant start that allowed Elliott gain the advantage from the start. Adam Halpin (24.78) placed 5^th in the 200m heats, whilst David Campbell was unluckily disqualified after making a slight movement on his starter blocks.

In the second round of the National Indoor League at Athlone Arena (31/1/15) Cathal O’Brien placed 3^rd in the High Jump with a best effort of 1.87 metres. Adam Halpin (55.47) was 11^th in the 400m, whilst David Campbell (52.47) placed 5^th in the 400m guest race.

Next Sunday sees Donore Harriers compete in the National Masters and Intermediate cross country championships at Tuam in Galway.

Results in brief:

LATE RESULT: Albert 5km Parkrun, Middlesborough (24/1/15): 2^nd Lee Van Haeften (15.31)

MISSING RESULT: Raheny 5 Mile (25/1/15): 550^th / 49^th in M45 category James Clarke (35.04)

Naas 5km Parkrun (31/1/15): 2^nd Ian Redican M40 (20.34)

Athletics Ireland National Indoor League Round 2 at Athlone Arena (31/1/15):

400m – 11^th Adam Halpin JNR (55.47); High Jump – 3^rd Cathal O’Brian (1.87m);

400m guest race – 5^th David Campbell (52.47).

Donore Harriers remain 12^th of 16 competing teams.

Dungarvan 10 Mile (1/2/15): 96^th / 3^rd female Ann Curley F40 (1.02.27); 554^th / 1^st in O/70s category Jim McNamara (1.14.29); 575^th Nicola Dowdall F40 (1.15.08)

Trim 10 Mile (1/2/15): 18^th / 2^nd in M40 category Garvan Smith (58.17); 27^th Sean Fox (59.39); 29^th Will Morris (59.49); 71^st Niall O’Reilly (1.05.18); 199^th / 5^th M55 Tony Griffin (1.13.17); 260^th / 4^th M60 Charlie O’Neill (1.16.18)

TEAM: 1^st Mullingar Harriers (60); 2^nd Celbridge AC (61); 3^rd Donore Harriers <Smith; Fox; Morris; O’Reilly> (145)

Dewsbury 10km (1/2/15): 3^rd Lee Van Haeften (31.57)

Athletics Ireland Indoor Games 2015 at Athlone Arena (1/2/15): 200m Final – 2^nd Sean Lawlor JNR (22.40); 200m Heat 4 – DQ David Campbell; Heat 5 – 5^th Adam Halpin JNR (24.78); 3000m Final – 1^st John Travers (8.19.30); 800m Final – 4^th Daragh Fitzgibbon (1.55.80) PB

JUVENILE REPORT

Donore Harriers duo of Lucy McCann and Ciara Murphy qualified to the Leinster Schools cross country championship to take place in the Phoenix Park on the 11^th of February. Running in the South Leinster championships held on the grounds of the Cistercean College in Roscrea on Thursday 29^th of January they placed 5^th and 6^th respectively in the Intermediate Girls category whilst representing Scoil Mhuire in Clane. At the same event Michael Gibbs (also Scoil Mhuire) placed 23^rd in the senior boy’s race.

In the East Leinster Schools at Avondale Park in Rathdrum on the 27^th of January Suzanne Masterson and Eliza NiThighearnaigh placed 17^th and 23^rd respectively in the very competitive Intermediate Girls race representing the Loreto St. Stephen’s Green school.

Results in brief:

East Leinster Schools Cross Country championships at Avondale Park, Rathdrum (27/1/15): Intermediate Girls – 17^th Suzanne Masterson (Loreto Stephen’s Green); 23^rd Eliza NiThighearnaigh (Loreto Stephen’s Green)

South Leinster Schools Cross Country championships at Roscrea (29/1/15): Intermediate Girls – 5^th Lucy McCann (Scoil Mhuire); 6^th Ciara Murphy (Scoil Mhuire); Senior Boys – 23^rd Michael Gibbs (Scoil Mhuire)