Raheny 5 Report

The biggest ever Raheny 5 mile race took place today (over 3,500 in the main race) and it turned into an historic day for the club with the first ever time a Donore lady – Barbara Cleary – finished first woman in one of Ireland’s most prestigious road races. There was some rainfall but not enough to play havoc with the race and there was no wind – so we saw a rake of great times and PBs on the day

Before the main event we had great runs today by the Donore young juveniles. Sean Kinsella was 2nd in the 8-12 group 800m. With excellent runs from Oliver Hopkins (4th), Michael Barry (12th) followed by Joe Kinsella. Our only girl today and on her debut run was Jenny Walsh, great running and as always smiling.

In the main race, we had 23 runners out and it was a great mix of some newly-minted members and club stalwarts like Tommy Halton who has done 30 Raheny’s in a row we think???

Star of the day was Barbara Cleary whose ladies victory was never in doubt from the start. Her time was a scintillating 27.34 which is a new PB – beating by a big margin Olympian Catherina McKiernan and Sarah Mulligan who has also represented Ireland. It’s the first time a Donore woman has claimed this victory, but no surprise to many – Barbara is on a winning streak and hasn’t put a foot wrong in recent races – her 3rd win in January alone. Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill came 5th woman in a super 29.16 – another PB. Barbara also led the Donore ladies team (Barbara, Sorcha, Grace Kennedy, Bronagh Elliott to first place – beating Crusaders by 2 points. It’s been a good few years since the Donore girls won this so absolutely brilliant.

First in for the club overall was Eoin Durkan in 26.27 – super running and Kevin Nolan and Eoin Hannon were in next in the low 27s – then Chris Muldoon not far off. It was encouraging to see many runners who have joined Donore in the past year including some of the above and Ciaran, John, Fiona, Audrey, Ken – some wearing the black and white for the very first time. Thanks to the supporters too out there – always an exciting race to watch and one with some great Donore memories over the years

Full results below
Eoin Durkan 26.27
Kevin Nolan 27.09
Eoin Hannon 27.24
Barbara Cleary 27,34
Chris Muldoon 27.58
Robert Clougher 28.03
Andrew Wilson 28.49
Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill 29.16
Ken McKeown 30.55
Stephen Dawson 31.00
Grace Kennedy 31.29
Ciaran Ryan 31.54
Bronagh Eliott 33.15
John Meegan 33.26
Karen Behan 34.56
Audrey Gahan 34.59
Frank McNally 36.31
Elaine Verdon 37.02
Fiona Barrins 37.48
Michelle Dawson 38.40
Tom Halton 41.11
Laragh Stevens 45.54
Siofra McCarthy 46.37

Cross country report – Schools, BHAA and Meet & Train

It’s been an exciting week for the club on the indoor track and road but the cross country season is still very busy. During the week many of our teenage endurance runners were in action competing for their schools in the West and East Leinster cross country championships. Phoenix Park was the west Leinster venue and it was a bitterly cold day at the Pope’s Cross area, Avondale House Rathdrum was the East venue and that features a fearsome hill for some of the races. There were many top 10 and top 20 results in these event. Fathi Aden led his inter race for a time and finished 2nd eventually with the up and coming Graham Gilshinan in 8th, and Jack Raftery 10th. Suzanne Masterson made the top 10 in the senior race in Rathdrum – full results below

>
> WEST LEINSTER SCHOOLS XC AT PHOENIX PARK 26.01.2027
> Minor Girls = 33rd Hannah Bermingham
> Junior Girls = 19th Amelie O’Hanlon; 24th Niamh Gannon
> Intermediate Girls = 13th Roisin Brady
> Minor Boys = 25th Cillian Gleeson; 50th Michael Barry Jnr
> Junior Boys = 114th Rowan D’Souza
> Intermediate Boys = 2nd Fathi Aden; 8th Graham Gilshinan; 10th Jack Raftery; 18th Barney Kelly; 76th Lorcan O’Ceallaigh
> Senior Boys = 29th Daniel Brady
> EAST LEINSTER SCHOOLS XC AT RATHDRUM 26.01.2016
> Intermediate Boys =?? Sekeriye Ahmed
> Senior Girls = 10th Suzanne Masterson; 19th Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh

Race 3 of the winter Meet and Train women’s XC league attracted a huge field of 140 in Griffeen Park Lucan. Donore had 14 runners in action over the 2 mile race – ably managed by Mary Murphy who has been great at getting the troops out. There was also a loyal band of supporters out there First home was Mairead Kirby – full results below

Mairead Kirby 15th 13.29
Audrey Gahan 34th 14.09
Lee Chambers 49th 14.43
Caren Crowley 53rd 14.50
Elaine Verdon 69th 15.11
Mary Murphy 72nd 15.17
Catherine McKeon 89th 16.04
Michelle Dawson 90th 16.08
Linda Curtin 99th 16.30
Teresa Brophy 102nd 16.36
Sarah Ni Ruairc 105th 16.50
Jennifer O’Keefe 114th 17.09
Sue Lynch 123rd 17.51
Ann Woodlock 129th 18.28

At the BHAA XC in Cherryfield Park, Maura Kearns had an impressive run in the ladies 2 mile race finishing 3rd in 12.27.

In the men’s 5 mile race well done to
Shane McAuley 19th 29.35
Fergal Roche 20th 29.39
Kieran Beausang 54th 32.27
Joe Murphy 66th 33.28
Ian redican 79th 34.35
Tom Halton 151st 45.12
Terry Mee 156th 49.10 1st M70

Race reports by Florence Curley and thanks to Faith Hopkins for the Raheny 5 juvenile report input.