John Dunne may have come late to the sport of athletics, but he is certainly making his mark! Last week he represented Ireland in the World Masters Athletics championships at Lyon in France (4-8/7/15) and earned himself an individual silver medal and a team bronze in the Irish colours. Competing in the 8km cross country event the Donore Harriers man (25.21) was always to the fore before crossing the line just 4 seconds adrift of winner Michael Moissonier (25.17) of France, but well clear of 3^rd placed Vladimir Srb (25.39) of the Czech Republic. John was understandably “absolutely thrilled” after this fine achievement. The former Castleknock Celtic FC player who joined Donore Harriers in 2012 also contested the 5,000m track race and placed an excellent 8^th of 36 finishers in a time of 15.45.22. John commented after the race: “slower than I wanted, but racing in 38 degree heat is not ideal. Delighted with a top 10 finish…” John was just 8 seconds shy of his personal best time, which given the hot and humid conditions indicates that he ran to his maximum potential on the day. His coach John Downes, a former Irish senior international and the 1991 & 1996 National cross country champion, described his protégé as: “… a great team-man, totally dependable, trains smart and gives his all in competition … just wish he started in the sport 20 years earlier”.

In the over 50s Women’s 5,000m Walk Anne Gormley was forced to retire due to the searing heat.

In the National track and field championships at Santry on the weekend (8&9/8/15) Donore Harriers had a disappointing return of just two bronze medals. These came in the Men’s Javelin where Jaco Oosthuysen first throw of 58.19m proved to be good enough for 3^rd position – and in the 110m Hurdles when Simon Taggart (14.83) crossed the line behind the two big favourites Ben Reynolds (13.84) of North Down AC and Ger O’Donnell (14.05) of Carrick-on-Shannon AC.

Middle-distance specialist John Travers had a disappointing weekend on the track finishing 4^th in the 5,000m in a time of 14.36.90 and 6^th in the final of the 1,500m in 3.59.26. What was encouraging for the club was having 3 men contest the 1.500m final with Eric Keogh (4.03.89) finishing 10^th and Daragh Fitzgibbon (4.09.39) four places further back. Travers, Keogh and Fitzgibbon, who were all part of the Donore Harriers team that won the National Road Relay championship in April, qualified to the final with times of 3.59.16, 4.00.92 and 4.04.91 respectively.

Eamonn Fahey, the bronze medallist in 2014, missed out on the final of the 100m by just one-hundred of a second. Running in Heat 4 he placed 3^rd in 11.33 against a minus 3.4 wind reading. The wind reading was more favourable for the fastest loser qualifiers in the other heats, such are the fine margins in sprint races! Eamonn (11.09) took some consolation by winning the ‘B’ final.  

Barbara Cleary (17.00.75) produced a stand-out performance in the colours of Donore Harriers in the Women’s 5,000m. After a conservative start 42 years-old Barbara gained on a group of 4 athletes who were contesting 3^rd position. However, this group split up over the final 600m as the battle for bronze heated up. Barbara had to be content with 6^th position in a race won by Irish international Mary Cullen (16.07.40) of North Sligo AC.

The mother and daughter duo of Orlaith and Clodagh Read contested the Women’s 4kg Hammer; the family bragging rights going to juvenile athlete Clodagh. Clodagh impressed with a first round personal best throw of 39.36m to place 15^th, whilst Orlaith (31.24m) came 19^th in a field of 21 competitors.             

Michael McMahon (32.39.14) came 13^th in the 10,000m, Cathal O’Brien (1.75m) 6^th in the High Jump and track and field captain David Campbell (53.65) 7^th in heat 1 of the 400m.

In the Streets of Athboy 5km race on Friday evening (7/8/15) Dave Heffernan was a clear winner having 55 seconds to spare over runner-up Rory Mooney (unattached).

Finally, congratulations to Michelle Dawson on completing the 70.3 Half-Ironman race in Dublin (9/8/15) with a combined time of 6.59.02. 

World Masters Athletics Championships at Lyon, France (4/8/15): o/35 Men 8,000m Cross Country – 2^nd John Dunne (25.21) (led Ireland to team bronze); (7/8/15): o/35 Men 5,000m Track – 8^th John Dunne (15.45.22): o/50 Women’s 5,000m Walk – DNF Anne Gormley

National Track & Field Championships at Santry (8&9/8/15): DAY 1 = Men’s Javelin – 3^rd Jaco Oosthuysen (58.19m); Men’s 10,000 Final – 13^th Michael McMahon (32.39.14), DNF Aogan MacDomhnaill; Women’s 5,000m Final – 6^th Barbara Cleary F40 (17.00.75); Men’s 100m Heat 4 – 3^rd Eamonn Fahey (11.33); Men’s 1,500m Heat 1 – 4^th Eric Keogh (4.00.92), 8^th Daragh Fitzgibbon (4.04.91); Men’s 1,500m Heat 2 – 1^st John Travers (3.59.16); Men’s 400m Heat 1 – 7^th David Campbell (53.65)

DAY 2 = Men’s 110m Hurdles Final – 3^rd Simon Taggart (14.83); Men’s 5,000m Final – 4^th John Travers (14.36.90), DNF Lee Van Haeften; Men’s 100m ‘B’ Final – 1^st Eamonn Fahey (11.09); Men’s 1,500m Final – 6^th John Travers (3.59.26), 10^th Eric Keogh (4.03.89), 14^th Daragh Fitzgibbon (4.09.39); Men’s High Jump – 6^th Cathal O’Brien (1.75m); Women’s Hammer – 15^th Clodagh Read JNR (39.36m PB); 19^th Orlaith Read F40 (31.24m)

Naas 5km Pop-Up (5/8/15): 2^nd Rossa Hurley (17.43); 10^th Ian Redican M40 (20.00)

Streets of Athboy 5km (7/8/15): 1^st Dave Heffernan M40 (16.00)

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (8/8/15): 8^th Kenneth McKeon (20.53); 10^th Michael Barry Sen. (21.05 PB)

Streets of Galway 8km (9/8/15): 79^th Alasdair Brown (30.33)

70.3 Half Ironman Triathlon at Dublin (9/8/15): Michelle Dawson (6.59.02 = 1.9km swim in 49.11, 90km cycle in 3.37.26, 13.1km run in 2.19.54)

LATE RESULT: BHAA Dublin Fire Brigade 5km (26/7/15): 31^st Ian Redican M40 (20.07), 37^th Peter Nugent M45 (20.39), 40^th Des Gill M45 (20.53), 63^rd Colin Moore M45 (22.24), 76^th Colm Nugent M50 (23.04), 78^th Keith Daly M35 (23.26), 120^th Ann Woodlock F75 (27.43)

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (1/8/15): 9^th Noah Synnott u/13 (21.02), 22^nd Michael Barry u/12 (24.12)