With the Dublin clubs dominant the National Inter-Clubs cross country championships at Kilbroney Park in County Down  again proved to be a capital battle! Six laps over a 2 kilometres undulating course in thepanoramic setting between Slieve Martin and the Carlingford Lough was the venue as the first 4 teams in 2014 again locked horns in pursuit of cross country glory. Mick Clohisey of Raheny Shamrocks AC and Dundrum South Dublin (DSD) came as defending individual and team champions.

Donore Harriers, having ended a 21 year barren spell in the team competition by gaining bronze medals in 2014, were intent on adding to their great legacy in Ireland’s premier cross country competition.

At the end of the first circuit (2km + 150m) Clohisey had opened up a sizeable lead on Sergiu Ciobanu of Clonliffe Harriers. In the team competition Ciobanu was heading a strong Clonliffe team, obviously looking on regaining the crown that they lost in 2014. The Santry based team was leading on 33 points (places 2, 8, 10 & 13) with Raheny Shamrocks 52 (1, 12, 15 & 24) in second and then defending champions DSD 55 (5, 6, 17 & 25). Donore Harriers held 4^th place with Lee Van Haeften in 11^th position (time 6.42), Mark Dooley in 19^th (6.48), Eric Keogh in 21^st (6.49), John Dunne in 26^th (6.54), Michael McMahon in 28^th (6.55) and Caoimhin Kelly in 41^st (7.15).

After 4km the colours of Clonliffe were again prominent. They had 4 runners (2, 10, 11 & 12) in the top 12 for a score of 35. Raheny, spearheaded by runaway leader Clohisey, remained in second on 57 (1, 15, 20 & 21). However, the competition for 3^rd place intensified as Donore Harriers on 65 points held a narrow lead over DSD on 67 (5, 6, 27 & 29). Lee Van Haeften was still leading the team in 13^th place (13.06) with Keogh only a metre back in 14^th. Dooley 18^th (13.08), McMahon 22^nd (13.31) and Dunne 23^rd (13.32) were packing well behind.

Clohisey extended his lead by the halfway mark, which he passed in 18.31. Mark Dooley and Eric Keogh (both passed6km in 19.35) in 12^th and 13^th place led the Donore team. A clearly unwell Van Haeften fell back to 18^th (19.52) and retired from the race soon after. Dunne and McMahon continued to run stride for stride and were holding places 19^thand 20^th (both 19.53). In the team race Clonliffe (2, 8, 9 & 11) on 30 had an unassailable lead. Raheny (1, 14, 16 & 24) on 55, Donore Harriers (12, 13, 18 & 19) on 62 and DSD (5, 6, 27, 31) on 69 continued to battle for the silver and bronze positions.

Donore’s cause was not helped by Van Haeften’s unfortunate retirement. Nor was it helped by Brendan O’Neill of DSD gaining to 3^rd place in the latter half of the race. However, despite having 2 athletes in the top 5, the DSD team was struggling with their 3^rd and 4^th scoring runners holding positions in the 20s, whilst the Donore athletes continued to dig deep and fight for each position. Thus, at the end of lap 4 (8km mark) Clonliffe consolidated their lead on 27 points (2, 7, 8 & 10), Raheny were on 47 (1, 13, 15 & 18), Donore Harriers on 54 (Dooley 9^th in 26.03; Keogh 12^th in 26.14; Dunne 16^th in 26.35 & McMahon 17^th in 26.35) and DSD on 64 (4, 5, 25 & 30).

Race leader Clohisey passed the 10km mark in 30.44, 31 seconds clear of Ciobanu with O’Neill gaining to 3^rd. Mark Dooley (32.35) maintained 9^th, Eric Keogh (32.55) improved a  place to 11^th whilst Dunne and McMahon remained in relentless pursuit in 16^th and 17^th (both 33.15). Clonliffe led on 27 (3, 5. 9 & 10), then came Raheny on 49 (1, 14, 15, 19) with Donore (53) in 3rd and DSD (3, 5, 24 and 30) next on 62.

In the final lap Clohisey (36.53) further increased his lead and ran out a very convincing winner. Ciobanu (37.26) was a good second with the fast finishing O’Neill (37.35) in 3^rd place. The Donore Harriers team was led in by Mark Dooley (38.59) who gained a place on the last circuit to finish 8^th. Eric Keogh (39.31), a middle-distance specialist, had to dig deep on the final 2km lap to hold 13^th after he lost a couple of places during a ‘bad patch’. Michael McMahon (39.47) won out his ultimate duel with John Dunne (39.50) as they crossed the line in 16^th and 17^th places. Caoimhin Kelly (43.40) was Donore’s non-scoring runner in 52^nd position.

The final team score read: 1^st. Clonliffe Harriers 27 (2, 6, 9, 10); 2^nd Raheny Shamrocks 46 (1, 12, 14, 19); 3^rd Donore Harriers 54 (8, 13, 16, 17); 4^th DSD AC 59 (3, 5, 22, 29); 5^th North Belfast Harriers 101, 6^th Liffey Valley AC 141 – 10 teams closed.

This was arguably a better team result that the bronze gained in 2014. John Travers was missing due to the close proximity of the race to the European Indoors next weekend and Lee Van Haeften was forced to abandon mid-race due to illness. Thus, great credit must go to the scoring four. Mark Dooley put behind a disappointing run in the South of England championships a month ago to run his “best every race”. It was fitting that Mark should lead the team home having missed out in the 2014 race due to injury. Eric Keogh, who is gearing towards the 800m and 1500m this summer, showed real grit to place 13^th – four places higher than last year. It is hard to imagine that both John Dunne and Michael McMahon took up ‘running’ in 2012 – yes in 2012! John Dunne was again the 4^th scoring man as he was last year. He was 25^th last year and improved to 17^th this year. But what about Michael McMahon! In the 2014 event he placed 45^th in what was his second race for the club. In 2015 he placed 16^th in Ireland’s senior cross country title race. It shows what can be achieved through dedication and hard work!

This was Donore Harriers 14^th team bronze in the history of the competition, adding to an overall tally that includes 23 team gold and 13 team silver. Team member John Dunne said: “we are improving all the time and there is no reason why we can’t win the team competition over the next couple of years”. A positive attitude and a work in progress!

At the Griffeen 5km Parkrun on Saturday morning  George Brady M35 (17.39), who is preparing for the Belfast Marathon in May, recorded a good win. In the early stages he had to contend with the close attention of Michael Gibbs u/18s (18.03). 17 years-old Gibbs again lowered his personal best when finishing in 3^rd position. Jack Connolly u/15s (19.58) was competing in his first 5km race and showed the benefits of regular training when he placed 13^thoverall. Another to impress was Ciara Murphy (20.05), who was 17^th overall and the first female finisher. Ciara also recorded a new PB and continues to improve. Shona Smyth (26.58) placed 108^th and is clearly regaining her fitness level.     

Results in brief:

National Senior Cross Country Championships at Kilbroney Park, Rostrevor: 8^th Mark Dooley (38.59); 13^th Eric Keogh (39.31); 16^th Michael McMahon (39.47); 17^th .John Dunne (39.50); 52^nd Caoimhin Kelly (43.40); Lee Van Haeften DNF (ill); Heywood Richardson DNF (injured)

TEAM: 1^st. Clonliffe Harriers 27 (2, 6, 9, 10); 2^nd Raheny Shamrocks 46 (1, 12, 14, 19); 3^rd Donore Harriers 54 (8, 13, 16, 17); 4^th DSD AC 59 (3, 5, 22, 29); 5^th North Belfast Harriers 101, 6^th Liffey Valley AC 141 – 10 teams

Griffeen 5km Parkrun: 1^st George Brady M35 (17.39); 3^rd Michael Gibbs u/18s (18.03 PB); 13^th Jack Connolly u/15s (19.58 PB); 17^th / 1^st female Ciara Murphy (20.05 PB); 27^th Daniel Brady u/17s (20.56); 108^th / 17^thShona Smith u/15s (26.58)

Mondello Park 10km: 6^th Colm O’Connell (34.02)

Lismullen 10km (1/3/15): 51^st / 2^nd M60 category Terry Mee M70 (49.33)

LATE RESULT Naas 5km Parkrun (21/2/15): 9^th / 2^nd female Lucy McCann u/17s (20.10)