HIGHLIGHTS: Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill scorched a brilliant PB to win the CELBRIDGE 5km ROAD RACE. John Travers 9^th in HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX 1,500m at Budapest. Ray Hynes 3^rd in the OLYEGATE HALF-MARATHON in Co. Wexford. Aislinn Nic Dhomhnaill 1^st woman home in the COILLTE/AN RIOCHT 5km ROAD RACE in Co. Kerry. David McConn, Kevin Odgers and Ray Armstrong gain PBs in the ANTRIM COAST HALF-MARATHON. Aideen Burke 4^th and 5^th placings in two IMRA RACES.

 

REPORT: Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill (15.59) ran the fastest 5km time by an Irishwoman in Ireland for 2021 when winning the NALLY’S SUPERVALU CELBRIDGE 5km ROAD RACE last Thursday evening (26.08.2021). <Subject to being corrected I believe that Sorcha’s time makes her 4^th in the Irish 5km rankings for 2021>. The Donore Harriers athlete knocked a minute off her previous best time for the distance and finished 12^th overall in a race won by Irish international Hiko Tonosa (14.27) of DSD AC, with London Olympic Games marathoner Mark Kenneally (15.11) of Clonliffe Harriers in 3^rd spot. Limerick native Nic Dhomhnaill finished over a minute clear of the 2^nd placed woman Sheila O’Byrne (17.16) of Parnells AC. The other competing club members were Stephen Murphy who placed 91^st in a personal best time of 18.39 and Sinead O’Reilly (19.43) who was 141^st and 5^th in the W40 category.

John Travers was back in action at the HUNGARIAN ATHLETICS GRAND PRIX SERIES at Budapest on Tuesday last (24.08.2021). Travers never got with the pace of a very competitive 1,500m, spending the whole race chasing a respectable placing before settling for 9^th of 12 starters in a time of 3.45.39. Mechaal Adel (3.36.51), who recently placed 5^th in the Olympic final, outkicked Elzan Bibic (3.36.71) of Serbia and Robert Farken (3.36.96) of Germany to win in dramatic style.

In the OLYEGATE HALF-MARATHON in Co. Wexford on Sunday (29.08.2021) Ray Hynes was the 3^rd finisher in a time of 1.10.40. This was an excellent run by Hynes – and an indication of his return to peak fitness as when he recorded a 2.24.18 marathon in Seville in February 2020. The race was won by Colin Maher (1.10.19) of Ballyfin AC with Matthew McMeekin (1.10.24) of Sligo AC in 2^nd. There were 114 finishers.

Five club members ventured north to compete in the ANTRIM COAST HALF-MARATHON in County Antrim. Starting and finishing close to the Chaine Memorial Tower in Larne the race took a coastal route along east Antrim, before turning back to the town at Ballygally Castle. An improving David McConn (1.17.39) was the first Donore Harrier home in 160^th place with a new personal best time. Also among the three thousand competitors in the mass participation race were Evan Hurley-O’Dwyer (1.18.57) in 197^th, Kevin Odgers (1.27.04 PB) in 526^th, Ray Armstrong (1.27.06 PB) in 527^th and Andrew Rodger (2.11.28) in 2,451^st. The race was won by Liam Aldridge (1.07.04) of Billingham Marsh House Harriers.

Aislinn Nic Dhomhnaill came 9^th overall and 1^st woman in the COILLTE/AN RIOCHT AC 5km ROAD RACE at Castleisland in Co. Kerry on Saturday (28.08.2021). The race is part of a series organised by the local An Riocht Athletics Club. The overall race was won by Darragh O’Leary in 16.29.

In Sunday’s (29.08.2021) WICKLOW WAY HALF-MARATHON run on an out and back route between Lough Tay and Crone, Aideen Burke was the 4^th woman finisher in the time of 2.30.02. Burke placed 77^th overall from 178 finishers. The race organised as part of the Irish Mountain Running Association series is actually 22km in length and has a total climb of 840 metres. Burke also recently competed in the IMRA RESCUE BENEFIT MOUNTAIN RACE at Laragh Co. Wicklow (18.08.2021). She competed that race along an 8km route around Paddock Hill in 47.41 to place 46^th overall and 5^th woman.

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HUNGARIAN ATHLETICS GRAND PRIX SERIES at BUDAPEST (24.08.2021)

Men’s 1.500m A Race: 9^th John Travers (3.45.39)

12 starters

NALLY’S SUPERVALU CELBRIDGE AC 5km ROAD RACE (26.08.2021)

12^th & 1^st woman: Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill (15.59 PB)

91^st Stephen Murphy (18.39 PB)

141^st & 5^th W40 Sinead O’Reilly (19.43)

331 finishers

OYLEGATE HALF-MARATHON at Rahale, Co. Wexford (29.08.2021)

3^rd Ray Hynes M35 (1.10.40)

114 finishers

ANTRIM COAST MASS HALF-MARATHON at Larne, Co. Antrim (29.08.2021)

160^th David McConn (1.17.39 PB)

197^th Evan Hurley-O’Dwyer (1.18.57)

526^th Kevin Odgers (1.27.04 PB)

527^th Ray Armstrong (1.27.06 PB)

2,451^st Andrew Rodger (2.11.28)

2,904 finishers.

THE COILLTE/AN RIOCHT AC 5km ROAD RACE at Castleisland, Co. Kerry (28.08.2021)

9^th and 1^st woman: Aislinn Nic Dhomhnaill W40 (17.39.5)

IMRA MOUNTAIN RESCUE BENEFIT RACE at Laragh, Co. Wicklow (18.08.2021)

46^th and 5^th woman Aideen Burke W35 (47.41)

109 finishers

IMRA WICKLOW WAY HALF-MARATHON at Lough Tay to Crone and return (29.08.20210

77^th and 4^th woman Aideen Burke W35 (2.30.02)

178 finishers.