National Schools Combined Indoors
Well done to Lara O’Byrne and Roisin Rynn Cahill who competed in Athlone arena at the weekend for their school St Joseph’s in Lucan. Roisin finished in 4th place in the senior girls, just off the medals. Lara finished in 5th place in a very competitive inter competition just 14 points off 4th which would have seen her compete on the Irish team. She also got 3 personal bests today in long jump shot put and 800m . Both girls still have the national combined events to look forward to in the New Year.
British and Irish Masters Cross Country
The British and Irish Masters cross country was held in Tollcross Park Glasgow this year. Donore Harriers had just two competitors. Terry Mee, who competed on the Irish M70 team – a 5k race which is always ran with the masters women and was the 2nd home on the team but sadly Ireland were outside the medals coming 4th. 78 year old Ann Woodlock has competed in this race many times and she was on the W70 team finishing 4th on her team and they won a bronze medal.
Leinster Senior XC
Following her bronze medal at the Dublin Senior last week, Barbara Cleary continued her impressive form ahead of the National Senior inter-clubs in 2 weeks time, winning the Leinster Senior women’s cross country championship on Sunday in Tyrrellspass, on what was a pretty tough course. Lying 9th in the early stages, Barbara gradually worked her way up into the top 3. And despite a fall on a sharp bend, Barbara retained her lead and finished 10 seconds clear of Wexford runner and former 800m National champion Fiona Kehoe, and MSB’s Caitriona Mullen. A great run for Barbara and thanks to coach Willie smith who was there to see her victory and was able to give us a race report straight after the finish!
The presentation photo above is by Emily Wallace of Mullingar Harriers, as featured on the Athletics Leinster site, more here: http://www.athleticsleinster.org/
Remembrance Run Phoenix Park
Many Donore runners ran in remembrance of the late Jim McNamara and others who have passed. Race organiser Frank Greally was on hand after the run to present a special candle to Jim’s brother Mick and to Tommy Hayward’s son Eric. A very emotional day for “Jim’s girls” who all jogged around The Remembrance Run 5k on Sunday. The race honoured a number of great names of the Irish athletics scene who passed away this year and two of them were Jim McNamara and Tommy Hayward. Great to see all the Donore Harriers gang there: Sian O’ Connor, Rhona McHugh, Jennifer O’Keeffe, Catherine McKeon, Mary McDermott, Eilish Funston, Liagh Miller, Angela Eustace, Karen Behan, Niamh Murphy, Audrey Gahan, Pauline Dennigan and Charlie O Neill. Audrey Gahan joined us soon after Jim’s passing but she’s so one of the gang now that we forget she never had the pleasure of knowing Jim and that he never had the pleasure of knowing her! It was so good to see Pauline Dennigan who travelled up from Kerry to be with us here today, she was one of the old gang who raced many a championship race with us as we travelled the length and breadth of the country in the cross country season. Good to see Joan McTernan and Dave Hudson there too. Jim’s nephew and Ian Redican also ran today and he, Jim’s brother Mick and Tommy Hayward’s son Eric were all invited back to the VIP tent after to get a special memorial candle to both Jim and Tommy. Frank Greally who organises the race every year with AAI presented them with the candles. Mick will give this special candle to Jim’s daughter Andrea Draper. Well done to all Donore Harriers athletes that turned out today sorry if we missed you at the finish line…..
– Florence Curley