HIGHLIGHTS: Double gold for Niall Allen in the NATIONAL MASTERS TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS. The other medal winner were Fiona Smith-Keegan (gold), Michael McCarthy (silver), Florence Curley and Donal Iremonger (both bronze). Ray Hynes 2^nd in ROSCOMMON AC 5km ROAD RACE. John Travers 10^th in KAMILI MEMORIAL 3,000m in Poland. Juvenile members Honor Lynch, Laura Nunan and Oliver Hopkins represented Ireland in the HOME COUNTRIES JUNIOR MOUNTAIN CHAMPIONSHIPS in Co. Down.

 

REPORT: The NATIONAL MASTERS TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS returned after Covid-19 restrictions prevented the 2020 edition from taking place. This year’s “masters” was held at the Morton Stadium in Santry on Sunday (05.09.2021), with some strong performances from the Donore Harriers team. Top of the bill was Niall Allen, who won two gold medals in the M45 Discus with a 4^th attempt effort of 31.44m and in the 56lb Weight-For-Distance event with a 3^rd round throw of 6.55m.

Fiona Smith-Keegan also won a gold medal in the Women’s Javelin over/45 category with a best throw of 20.84 metres. Earlier she had placed 5^th in the W45 Long Jump (2.94m).

In the M35 Long Jump multi-eventer Michael McCarthy took home a silver medal after a best effort of 5.18m. He was unlucky not to get bronze in the M35 100m sprint final, placing 4^th in 13.06.

In distance finals, women’s road and cross-country captain Florence Curley (11.31.06) and Donal Iremonger (4.32.88) took bronze medals in the W45 3,000m and M50 1,500m respectively. Iremonger was involved in two highly competitive races, being in the mix in the 1,500m before narrowly losing out to winner Vivian Foley (4.31.93) and runner-up Jon Hennessy (4.31.93) of Midleton AC and having to settle for bronze. He also came 4^th in a W50 800m final in 2.12.19, in a race won by former Olympian Shane Healy (2.05.72) of Metro St. Brigid’s AC. Curley’s 3,000m race was won by Irish international Maria McCambridge of DSD AC.

Also, just out of the medals were Colm Dunne (12.48) 4^th in the M45 100m and Kevin Nolan (2.08.39) 4^th in the M35 800m. In the M50 final of the 5,000m Peter Nugent (19.41.98) came 9^th.

In the 4^th and final race in the ROSCOMMON AC 5km ROAD RACE SERIES on Friday evening (03.09.2021), Ray Hynes (15.36) came 2^nd behind Feidhlim McGowan (15.25) of North Sligo AC, and well clear of 3^rd placed Gary Scully (16.14) of Nenagh Olympic AC. There were 52 finishers.

M50 athlete Frank McNally was the club’s lone competitor in the SEAMIE WELDON MEMORIAL 5km ROAD RACE at Ardee on Saturday (04.09.2021). McNally came 113^th from 329 finishers.

John Travers closed out his track season by competing in the LOTTO SILESIA MEMORIAL KAMILI at Chorzow in Poland on Sunday (05.09.2021). Travers finished 10^th of 12 starters in the Men’s 3,000m ‘A’ race in a time of 8.09.31. Travers described his experience: “Almost to 2k was perfect and then my achilles started throbbing. The pace was fast also, so I probably would have dropped slightly even if the achilles was grand, but defo could have got under 7.50 if my body held up”. The race was won by Tadese Worku from Ethiopia in a meeting record time of 7.36.47.

Three members of the Donore Harriers juvenile team represented Ireland in the HOME COUNTRIES JUNIOR MOUNTAIN RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIPS at the Mournes in Co. Down on Saturday (04.09.2021). Honor Lynch and Laura Nunan competed in the Under 17 Girls race finishing in 18^th and 20^th position, with Oliver Hopkins placing 21^st in the Under 17 Boys competition. Both races took a gruelling route along Slieve Meelbeg (Little Bald Mountain) in the Mourne mountain range, including the Meelmore Col. It was a respectable performance from the Donore trio against strong opposition from England, Wales and Scotland where mountain/fell running has a more popular profile.

 

ROSCOMMON HARRIERS 5km ROAD RACE SERIES RACE 4 (03.09.2021)

2^nd Ray Hynes M35 (15.36)

52 finishers

SEAMIE WELDON MEMORIAL 5km ROAD RACE at Ardee, Co. Louth (04.09.2021)

113^th Frank McNally M50 (23.02)

329 finishers

NATIONAL MASTERS TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS at Santry (05.09.2021)

Women’s W45 3,000m Final: 3^rd Florence Curley (11.31.06) – BRONZE

Women’s W45 Long Jump Final: 5^th Fiona Smith-Keegan (2.94m)

Women’s W45 Javelin Final: 1^st Fiona Smith-Keegan (20.84m) – GOLD

Men’s M35 100m Final: 4^th Michael McCarthy SNR (13.06)

Men’s M45 100m Final: 4^th Colm Dunne (12.48)

Men’s M35 800m Final: 4^th Kevin Nolan (2.08.39)

Men’s M50 800m Final: 4^th Donal Iremonger (2.12.19)

Men’s M50 1,500m Final: 3^rd Donal Iremonger (4.32.88) – BRONZE

Men’s M50 5,000m Final: 9^th Peter Nugent (19.41.98)

Men’s M35 Long Jump Final: 2^nd Michael McCarthy SNR (5.18m) – SILVER

Men’s M45 Discus Final: 1^st Niall Allen (31.44m) – GOLD

Men’s M45 Weight-4-Distance: 1^st Niall Allen (6.55m) – GOLD

LOTTO SILESIA MEMORIAL KAMILI SKOLIMOWSKIEJ at Chorzow, Poland (05.09.2021)

Men’s 3,000m: 10^th John Travers (8.09.31)

HOME COUNTRIES JUNIOR INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIPS at the Mournes, Co. Down (04.09.2021)

Under 17 Girls: 18^th Honor Lynch (36.18), 20^th Laura Nunan (NTG)

Under 17 Boys: 21^st Oliver Hopkins (NTG)

KERRY WAY ULTRA RACE at Killarney (03 & 04.09.2021)

Ray Lonergan result to follow