Dublin intermediate and juvenile league
On a freezing cold and snow white Tymon Park on 11 December, the last championship races of the 2022 cross country took place. First off was the last leg of the Dublin juvenile league – we have had a great representation across the age groups in the league this and this last series of races was a tough one with the icy cold. In the overall results of the league we had 52 boys and girls competing across all the races and we had 8 runners who finished 1-6 in their agegroup. Well done to all and to the coaches and parents who supported.
Next up on the day were the womens and men’s intermediate races. Below is an account of the women’s race from captain Anne Curley
A bitter cold day in Tymon Park was a fabulous day out at the Dublin Intermediate for our girls. No rain and very little wind but slippy and undulating with some crunchy snow thrown in, it was still going to be heavy going. The time of year and various bugs, viruses, family commitments and injuries mean that a full team was in serious doubt after a very enthusiastic original panel of 8 but we all know that a week is a long time in this game never mind a few, anything and everything can go wrong. Nevertheless we had a proud army of four on the day. Deirdre Nic Canna was first of the team out of the trap mixing it well in the top ten, she looked strong throughout, the undulating drags were nothing to this mountain runner who worked her way up to a superb 4th place in the last lap, her placing did wonders for the team as did Amy Moriarty making her maiden ‘voyage ‘ on the cross county, unfamiliar with Tymon Park she arrived just in the nick of time and a pair of borrowed track spikes she thundered through the field finishing an amazing 8th,Aisling Kirby who had raced solo in the unforgiving National Novice the week before ran a brave and truly gutsy race keeping Amy in sight all the way holding those crucial places to finish a solid 14th, having the team there gave her that extra bit of motivation to finish strong with nothing more to give, a great feeling knowing you gave it everything you had and finally the hero of the day Suzie Henley Willis who when she heard we were lacking a full team put up her hand to volunteer after pulling out a few days before , not only that but she was on her feet for hours in the cold supervising the junior races before she put her own racing spikes. She thundered around the course in 21st place bringing the team home, her courage and commitment to the team paid off and her placing was crucial for the bronze medal on 47 points, it wasn’t clear from the finish if we had medalled or not but when news came through there was celebrations galore. Team winners were DCH followed by Liffey Valley
In the men’s race over 8k, there were 8 competitors some of who were on last year’s bronze medal winning team. They went one better this year acing the team silver on 37 points, just 4 points behind winners Portmarnock. Ian Fitzgerald (5th) Kevin O’Boyle (7th) Emmet O’Briain (8th) and Danny O’Sullivan 17th were the scoring 4 with strong support from Ryan Aikins (21st) Des Tremble (23rd) and Niall Lynch (26th). Ian is new to cross country this year and this was a first cross country medal for him and Danny – are kudos Niall juvenile coach who all morning was in a frozen Tymon with the juveniles. So a good end to the 2022 cross country – roll on the Masters, intermediate and schools races in 2023.
Captains race and MAURICE B AHERN CUP 17.12.2022
The 3rd edition of the Maurice B Ahern Cup was incorporated into the Captain’s Run on the Horse Gallops course on Saturday morning. The 3 laps, 5km course was marked out by Willie Smith, with the first lap close to 1600m and the remaining laps close to 1700m. Overnight freezing weather meant that the ground surface was frosty in places, but the sun came out to make a pleasant enough morning for the runners and spectators.
The qualifying criteria for the MB Ahern Cup was that competitors had to have competed in this autumn’s Dublin and/or National Juvenile and Junior cross-country championships. The sealed handicap was determined by how each athlete raced against pre-determined projected times.
There were 8 contestants. Daire McCarthy, an Under 15 athlete, with a predicted time of 18.15 returned a time of 18.15 to win the gold medal and will have his name added to the trophy. Lily Clarke-Hanrahan, an U14 athlete, came 2nd with a time of 22.00 – just 30 seconds outside her predicted time. The bronze medal went to Julie Cleary U16 who ran 19.37, plus 57 seconds.
Newcomer Cormac Whelan, who recently competed in the National Under 17s, came 4th in a time of 19.33 (plus 1.18), Next came Claire O’Hanlon U15 with a time of 22.01 (plus 1.31), with Eoin Mooney U14 in 6th with 21.22 (plus 2.22). Honor Lynch, who was not contesting the Cup, ran a time of 24.10. (Unfortunately Aryell Sheedy and Laura Nunan had to withdraw )
The previous winners of the Cup were Gavin Curtin in 2020 and Oliver Hopkins in 2021.
In all 34 donore members took part across the Captains race (including the Maurice Ahern cup juveniles), which has been run as a pre Christmas event for many years incorporating a bring a prize, get a prize approach and a gathering back at the clubhouse. First over the line was men’s captain Josh O’Sullivan Hourihan followed by Emmet OBriain and Wayne Waldron. First female was Sorcha Loughnane. Followed by Julie Cleary and Lily Hanrahan
Full results as follows
Josh O’sullivan Hourihan 16.32
Emmet O’Briain 17.36
Wayne Waldron17.48
Danny O’Sullivan 17.56
Diego Martinez 18.02
Des Tremble 18.04
Dave McConn 18.10
Daire McCarthy18.15
Niall Lynch 18.20
Sorcha Loughnane 19.25
Cormac Whelan 19.30
Craig Scott 19.38
Julie Cleary 19.39
KenNugent 21.20
Eoin Mooney 21.22
Peter Brennan 21.54
Lily Hanrahan Clarke 22.00
Claire O’Hanlon 2201
JP O’Hanlon22.12
Amy Moriarty 22.24
Florence Curley 22.40
Dean Fullston 22.50
Peter Nugent 22.59
Tom Fagan 22.59
Ariana Ball 23.51
Suzie Henley Willis 23.59
Honor Lynch 24.14
Katherine Marsh 25.23
Louise Kelly 25.31
Colin Moore 27.59
Charlie O’Neill 28.22
1-2 laps Laura Nunan, Aryell Sheedy, Anne Curley
Road
Also on 11 December in a very cold Newmarket in Cork Kane Collins was 21st in the 5k there in a time of 15.36. On the same day at the Lennon Solar Christmas 5k run by Drogheda & District AC Barbara Murray was 7th female in 20.51 and 3rd F40
We had some runners who went to sunny Malaga for an enjoyable half marathon on Sunday 11 December
Craig Scott 86.59
Fred Kiernan 94.47
Track and field live
The 3rd meet in the National Indoor Arena track and field live took place on December 14th and there we had some representation from the club. Ruby Blake 3rd in the U14 girls 60m sprint in 8.93. Michael McCarthy 4th in mens 60m sprint heat 2 in 7.95 and he came back for the 400m to finish third in his race in 57.13. Simon Ayres was 6th in the heat 2 800min 2.05.30. Gavin Curtin is coming back well and finished 3rd in the 3000m in 8.33.09