HIGHLIGHTS: Oliver Hopkins and Abdel Laadjel individual gold in the All Ireland Schools XC; Barbara Cleary 1^st woman in Bohermeen Half-Marathon, with Fergal Whitty 2^nd M40; Emmet O’Briain, Niall Allen, Colm Dunne and Donal Iremonger all medal at the National Masters Indoors; Barry Potts 1^st M70 at Kinvara Half-Marathon; Eric Keogh and Lee Van Haeften one-two at Straffan 10km; Sinead Lambe 18.28 in Parkrun.

 

A historic day for Donore Harriers on a dry but windy Saturday afternoon at Santry Demesne (07.03.2020) for the 51^st version of the ALL IRELAND SCHOOLS CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS. Oliver Hopkins had ambitions of a top-ten finish in the Junior Boys race over 3.5km. His tactic was to make a strong start and to concede the least number of places as possible. Not on the field commentators’ favourites list the St. Declan’s student had them busy searching the event programme to check the identify of competitor no. 390. The talented young Donore Harriers athlete, carefully coached by his father Graham, elegantly strode on. Instead on getting caught, he stretched out his lead much to the delight of his onlooking family and club supporters. By the finish line Hopkins (12.47) had 6-seconds to spare over runner-up Luighaidh Mallon of Rathmore Grammar School. A race commentator announced it as “one of the bravest front running performances that I have seen in these championships for many a year”. Oliver Hopkins has arrived on the big stage! In the same race Thomas Bolton (14.02), running in the colours of Belvedere College, placed 39^th.

Abdel Laadjel, representing Kishoge Community School, after second-place finishes in the West Leinster and Leinster qualifying races was expected to be in the mix for a top 3 finish in the Intermediate Boys race over 5km. As the race reached the 3.5km point (3 laps) Laadjel was in a front group of 4 that included the champions of Leinster, Munster and Ulster. Going into the final lap the young Donore man majestically moved to the front and stretched his lead to 30 metres by the finish line. A buoyant Laadjel (16.47), a member of the club’s Academy Squad coached by Ciaran O’Flaherty and Gerry Naughton, later explained: “I just felt so good out there today. I felt strong. I think I could have gone quicker”. Matthew Lavery (16.51) of St. Malachy’s Belfast was 2^nd and Dean Casey (16.52) of St. Flannan’s Ennis came 3^rd. James Bolton (18.20) placed 29^th and was the first scorer on the Belvedere College team that came 6^th.

Louis O’Loughlin is well established as a rising star in Irish athletics. Despite missing a lot of training due to injury and recurring blisters O’Loughlin still went into the senior boy’s race over 6km with a realistic chance of making the podium. He passed the halfway point (3km) in 12^th position and hearing a ‘last lap’ call from the side-line the Moyle Park College student ‘bombed’ the 3^rd lap and moved into 1^st place – only to find that he still had a lap to go. It was a basic mistake that cost him any chance of a medal and possibly a hat-trick of wins by Donore Harriers athletes. He slipped back to 10^th position, before making a late rally that took him back up to 6^th position in a time of 19.16. Gavin Curtin (20.14), also Moyle Park College, put in a solid performance, gaining 5 places over the final 1.5km circuit to finish in 24^th position. Barney Kelly (22.41), representing Belvedere College, came 72^nd. The dramatic race, which saw the lead change several times, was won by Michael Morgan (18.53) of Summerhill College in Sligo ahead of Conall McClean (18.59) of BMC Titanic Quarter (Belfast) and Leinster champion Shane McEvoy (19.08) of St. Kieran’s Kilkenny. McEvoy ran himself into the ground (literally) and collapsed 8 metres short of the line, before dramatically crawling to the finish line for the bronze medal.

Matei Ursachi (9.45) came 21^st in the Minor Boys race over 2.5km for St. Paul’s School in Raheny. Ursachi made a positive start, but the discomfort of a head-cold hampered his progress. He is a tremendous young athlete with a very exciting future in the sport.

Oliver Hopkins and Abdel Laadjel have been selected to represent Ireland at the Schools International Athletics Board (SIAB) cross-country championships at Falkirk, Scotland on the 21^st of March 2020.

 

The NATIONAL INTERVARSITIES CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS took place at the ‘Model Farm’ Currahean Road Sports Centre in Cork on Saturday (07.03.2020) with 5 club competing club members. In the men’s 8km race Matthieu Proffitt (28.47) placed 22^nd and was a scoring member on the Trinity College team that won bronze. Oisin Fitzgibbon (30.11), making a welcome return to competition after a 2-year absence, came 38^th in the colours of Athlone IT. Rory Burke (30.41) placed 42^nd representing UCD and Michael Ryan (31.13) came 51^st and was a non-scorer on the Trinity College team. Louise Murray (20.11), made a positive return after an injury lay-off, to place 32^nd in the 4km Women’s race. She helped Trinity College to team gold.

 

Emmet O’Briain, Niall Allen, Colm Dunne and Donal Iremonger got among the medals in the IRISH LIFE NATIONAL MASTERS INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS at the Athlone Arena on Sunday (08.03.2020). O’Briain (2.06.72) took gold in the M40 class 800m, finishing well clear of John Whirskey (2.0862) of South Galway AC. Niall Allen took gold in the M45 Weight For Distance with a best of 6.39m and silver in the M45 Shot Putt (11.16m). A delighted Colm Dunne (7.85) won bronze in the M45 60m and was 4^th in the 200m (25.27). In the M45 category 800m Iremonger (2.11.01) took bronze behind winner Mark O’Shea of Drogheda & District AC.

 

There was plenty of club action in road races over the weekend. It was a Donore Harriers one-two in the STRAFFAN 10km ROAD RACE on Saturday (07.03.2020), as Eric Keogh (30.05) hit the line in 1^st place with Lee Van Haeften 2^nd in 31.25.

 

In the BOHERMEEN MEATH SPRING HALF-MARATHON on Sunday morning (08.03.2020) Barbara Cleary was the 1^st woman home in an excellent 1.17.15 and had more than a minute to spare of runner-up Sarah McMahon of DSDAC. Cleary, who was 28^th overall, convincingly won the W45 category. Fergal Whitty (1.12.30) came 11^th and took 2^nd position in the M40 age-group. With the demise of the popular Ballycotton 10-mile road race, the friendly Bohermeen HM event has become a popular event among club members. Anne Curley explains: “The 2^nd week of March was synonymous with the Ballycotton 10 where many Donore pilgrims travelled every year. Bohermeen took over and it was a particular favourite venue of Jim Mac (the late and great Jim McNamara) and he ran his last ever half-marathon here back in 2015…”. Among this year’s club contingent were – Danny O’Sullivan (1.19.17) in 50^th, Alan Keogh M40 (1.20.41) in 69^th, Stephen Dawson (1.22.23) in 100^th, Kevin Odgers M40 (1.28.43) in 206^th, Craig Scott M40 (1.28.43) in 212^th, Anne Curley W45 (1.31.03) in 268^th, Patrick Farrell (1.31.38) in 574^th, Oliver O’Hara M40 (1.42.51) in 574^th, and Ann Ryan W45 (2.06.57) in 1,076^th. Dawson, Keogh and Farrell were among those who achieved personal bests.

Club stalwart Anne Curley was full in her praise of Barbara Cleary’s achievement when she said: “… her incredible talent at near 47 years of age burned as bright today as it did 8 years ago when she finished 2^nd in the National Half-Marathon in Athenry in a similar time. Her 77- minute run on this challenging course saw off a few heavyweights who also had their eye on the prize today…”

 

Club newcomer Jean Murphy (1.33.40) finished a fine 84^th overall and 6^th woman in the 26-EXTREME CARLINGFORD HALF-MARATHON on Saturday (07.03.2020). There were more than 900 competitors.

 

The 10^th edition of the KINVARA ROCK & ROAD RACES took place on Saturday (07.03.2020) with 6 club members lining up for the HALF-MARATHON. Setting out from the seaside village of Kinvara the race took an undulating scenic route through rural county Galway. Barry Potts placed 116^th of the 554 finishers and was 1^st in the M70 category. Niamh O’Reilly (1.51.45) was next in 247^th and 52^nd woman, followed by Orlaith McMahon (1.56.37) 318^th and 74^th, Deirdre Healy (1.59.37) 378^th and 99^th, Jo Hughes (2.09.34) 456^th and 148^th, and Eimear McMahon (2.23.37) 521^st and 186^th.

 

In the BHAA AIB RACES at the grounds of Maynooth College on Saturday (07.03.2020) Mary McDermott W50 came 18^th in the 2-mile women’s race with Ann Woodlock W80 (22.15) placing 31^st. Peter Nugent M50 (25.49) came 28^th in the Men’s 4-mile race, and he was followed by Ian Redican M45 (27.36) in 47^th, Tom Fagan M50 (28.03) in 55^th and Des Gill M50 (29.19) in 62^nd. The women’s race had 33 finishers and there were 105 in the men’s event.

 

In the PARKRUN 5km (07.03.2020) races Sinead Lambe (18.28) was 5^th overall and 1^st woman home at Castlewellan in Co. Down. Sinead O’Reilly (21.05) was 8^th and 2^nd along the Royal Canal in Kilcock, as Paul Cummins (19.04) was first home at Brickfields and Aidan Kelly, a junior athlete, was 2^nd at Corkagh in 19.24. Juvenile athletes Dylan McKenna (22.23) and Katie Delaney (23.49) were 6^th and 13^th at Waterstown. More parkrun results below.

 

RESULTS IN BRIEF:

ALL IRELAND SCHOOLS CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at SANTRY DEMESNE (07.03.2020)

MINOR BOYS 2.5km

21^st Matei Ursachi (St. Paul’s Raheny) 9.45

JUNIOR BOYS 3.5km

1^st Oliver Hopkins (St. Declan’s Cabra) 12.47

39^th Thomas Bolton (Belvedere College) 14.02

INTERMEDIATE BOYS 5km

1^st Abdel Laadjel (Kishoge Community College) 16.47

29^th James Bolton (Belvedere College) 18.20

SENIOR BOYS 6km

6^th Louis O’Loughlin (Moyle Park College) 19.16

24^th Gavin Curtin (Moyle Park College) 20.14

72^nd Barney Kelly (Belvedere College) 22.41

IUAA INTERVARSITIES CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at CURRAHEAN ROAD SPORTS GROUND, CORK (07.03.2020)

WOMEN’s 4km

32^nd Louise Murray (TCD) 20.11

60 finishers

MEN’S 8km

22^nd Matthieu Proffitt (TCD) 28.47

38^th Oisin Fitzgibbon (AIT) 30.11

42^nd Rory Burke (UCD) 30.41

51^st Michael Ryan (TCD) 31.13

84 finishers

STRAFFAN 10km ROAD RACE (07.03.2020)

1^st Eric Keogh (30.05)

2^nd Lee Van Haeften (31.25)

112 finishers

BHAA AIB/NUIM XC EVENT at MAYNOOTH COLLEGE (07.03.2020)

MEN’S 4-mile

28^th Peter Nugent M50 (25.49)

47^th Ian Redican M45 (27.36)

55^th Tom Fagan M50 (28.03)

62^nd Des Gill M50 (29.19)

105 finishers

WOMEN’s 2-mile

18^th Mary McDermott W50 (16.37)

31^st Ann Woodlock W80 (22.15)

33 finishers

KINVARA ROAD & ROAD HALF-MARATHON, CO. GALWAY (07.03.2020)

116^th & 1^st M70 Barry Potts M70 (1.40.34)

247^th & 52^nd woman Niamh O’Reilly (1.51.45)

318^th & 74^th woman Orlaith McMahon (1.56.37)

378^th & 99^th woman Deirdre Healy (1.59.37)

456^th & 148^th woman Jo Hughes (2.09.34)

521^st & 186^th woman Eimear McMahon (2.23.37)

554 finishers

26 EXTREME CARLINGFORD HALF-MARATHON (07.03.2020)

84^th & 6^th woman Jean Murphy (1.33.40 club debut)

926 finishers

SIMON HOME RUN 5 MILE ROAD RACE at PHOENIX PARK (07.03.2020)

24^th Fred Kiernan (31.50)

57^th Owen Robinson (34.42)

1,025 finishers

IRISH LIFE NATIONAL MASTERS INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS at ATHLONE ARENA (08.03.2020)

M45 60m FINAL – 3^rd Colm Dunne (7.85) BRONZE

M45 200m FINAL – 4^th Colm Dunne (25.27)

M40 800m FINAL – 1^st Emmet O’Briain (2.06.72) GOLD

M45 800m FINAL – 3^rd Donal Iremonger (2.11.01) BRONZE

M45 SHOT PUTT – 2^nd Niall Allen (11.16m) SILVER

M45 WEIGHT FOR DISTANCE – 1^st Niall Allen (6.39m) GOLD

BOHERMEEN AC MEATH SPRING HALF-MARATHON (08.03.2020)

11^th & 2^nd M40 Fergal Whitty (1.12.30)

28^th & 1^st woman & 1^st W45 Barbara Cleary (1.17.15)

50^th Danny O’Sullivan MS (1.19.17)

69^th Alan Keogh M40 (1.20.41 PB)

100^th Stephen Dawson MS (1.22.23 PB)

206^th Kevin Odgers M40 (1.28.43)

212nd Craig Scott M40 (1.28.43)

268^th Anne Curley W45 (1.31.03)

287^th Patrick Farrell MS (1.31.38 PB)

574^th Oliver O’Hara M40 (1.42.51)

683^rd Derek McArdle M40 (1.46.22)

1,076^th Ann Ryan W45 (2.06.57)

1,244 finishers

PARKRUNS (07.03.2020)

Brickfields: 1^st Paul Cummins (19.04), 35^th Rachel Haskins (26.25), 39^th Daniel Nemeth M35 (26.39)

Castletown: 52^nd Joan McTernan W60 (NTG)

Castlewellan, Co. Down: 5^th & 1^st woman Sinead Lambe (18.28)

Corkagh: 2^nd Aidan Kelly JNR (19.24), 122^nd Meadhbh Campbell (31.51)

Poolbeg: 43^rd Karen Woods W40 (23.02)

Porterstown: 131^st Michele Murphy W55 (31.26)

Royal Canal, Kilcock: 8^th & 2^nd woman Sinead O’Reilly W35 (21.05)

St. Anne’s: 147^th Charlie O’Neill W65 (24.53)

Waterstown: 6^th Dylan McKenna U15 (22.33), 13^th & 2^nd woman Katie Delaney U15 (23.49), 32^nd Liz MacCurtain W50 (28.33), 33^rd Eugene MacCurtain M50 (28.34).