The 126th running of the Waterhouse Byrne Baird Shield began at the traditional 11am time at the traditional dog pond start in the Phoenix Park. It was a bright cold day with some blustery winds. Heavy rain in the 48 hours before the race meant that parts of the 2 mile lap had puddles and some muddy stretches but there was still plenty of good running on the lap.
Handicappers this year were the men’s and women’s endurance captains Josh O’Sullivan Hourihan and Anne Curley and club captain Iain Morrison. There was a list of 27 to start – in the end, 24 took to the line some competing in the race for the first time, others grizzled veterans of this race!
Chief course marker was Willie Smith (the youngest ever winner of the race aged 15 in 1958) with Charlie O’Neill and Iain Morrison and timekeepers led by Willie Smith assisted by Pam White and Anne Curley.
Spectators gathered as the first runner Angela Eustace started at 11am on the first of 5 laps, by 11.29 all of the runners were on their way. “Scratch” man on the day was last year’s winner and fastest man Ken Nugent.
Some former winners were present including the 1954 winner Jim O’Reilly and the 1979 winner Eamonn Coghlan still the holder of the fastest time in the race’s history.Also present were descendents of Davie Baird – winner of the race in 1920, 1921 and 1937 , a three time winner thus adding his name to the shield for ever more.
As the race progressed Angela Eustace still led for a time but then another leader emerged, Louise Kelly who had been given a handicap of 24 and a half minutes. She remained at the front of the race as behind her, places changed a number of times. Suzie Henley Willis and youngest runner in the race – mountain running specialist Laura Nunan who had both been given a 23 minute handicap ran in tandem for much of the race and were in joint third for a while. Meanwhile other runners were coming through like Peter Nugent who had started on an 18 minute handicap with Tom Fagan.
Other runners like Danny O’Sullivan (25 minute handicap) Emmet O’Briain (4.30 handicap) who started with Des Tremble but started to pull away were making their presence felt and also in the mix was Neil Hand 8 minute handicap and Deirdre Nic Canna (13.30 handicap)
Going into the last lap Louise Kelly still had the lead but as experience has shown in those last 2 miles everything can change. Some Donore supporters had gone over to the woods and that last flat stretch to the football and cricket pitch before rounding that last corner. Over at the dog pond, spectators were now able to see the runners through the trees. Louise had now been overhauled by a number of runners Deirdre Nic Canna, Emmet O’Briain, Danny O’Sullivan Peter Nugent with Ryan Aikins in pursuit. Eventually it was Deirdre who still held the lead with Emmet in furious pursuit. Could Emmet with his track pedigree unleash a final kick? Both runners had performed very well in the Dublin Intermediate cross country only 2 weeks before and Deirdre a mountain runner was showing a good combination of speed and strength in the fight to stay ahead.. As the runners rounded the final corner they were very close with Deirdre still leading and Emmet giving it everything to close the gap. There were cheers as the runners thundered down to the finish with Deirdre winning it from Emmet by a mere three seconds, one of the closest finishes in recent years. This is the 9th time a female has won the shield and the 8th woman (Valerie McGovern won twice). Danny O’Sullivan finished 38 seconds later in third place Peter Nugent claimed 4th another 14 seconds later with Ryan Aikins 2 seconds after him.
The fastest time on the day was that of Ian Fitzgerald in 62.38 who finished 9th overall and he was awarded the Tommy Hayward cup for that honour.. Fastest female was also our winner Deirdre Nic Canna (72.06) . Fastest junior female was Lauran Nunan who finished 12th in 85.30. Within 15 minutes all of the runners had finished. (All times and finishers at the end of the report)
At 11.45am the juvenile runners ran their 2 mile handicap for the Willie Dunne Shield and Report on that follows. The winners were handed their shields in the Phoenix park and then back at the clubhouse after another official presentation of trophies and prizes took place – for the first time since 2019 because 2020 and 2021 had to be held outdoors.
A special part of the presentation was devoted to the 3 time winner whose name adorns the shield – Davie Baird. Prevented from making a proper presentation on the 100th anniversary of his first win due to the COVID pandemic, Willie Smith made contact again with his descendants and wider family to honour his contribution to the story of the shield. We heard from Willie Smith and granddaughter Roz of how he was badly wounded in the first World War , a bullet lodged in his spine and thereafter remained but he went on to win the then Waterhouse Byrne trophy twice in succession in 1920 and 1921. 100 years ago in 1922 although 6th overall (winner was Hugh Lusk from Ballymoney) he had the fastest time and won again in 1937 when aged in his early 50s and Willie read out a newspaper account of that win.. Commemorative medals for each of his three victories were presented to his grandchildren Roz O’Connor and Richard Baird and wider family. Thanks Willie for organising this
And so concluded the 126th running of this historic race – thanks to the handicappers, course markers and timers, club committee, Stephen Kelly and all who pitched in. Thanks Mick Bourke, Charlie O’Neill, Thomas Delaney, Justin Conneff for the photos
Results with Gross time and Actual Time
1st Deirdre Nic Canna 87,36 72.06 (fastest female)
2nd Emmet O’Briain 87.39 63.07
3rd Danny O’Sullivan 88.17 63.16
4th Peter Nugent 88.31 77.30
5th Ryan Aikins 88.33 65.35
6th Louise Kelly 89.22 84.51
7th Des Tremble 89.33 65.03
8th Neil Hand 90.26 66.56
9th Ian Fitzgerald 90.38 62.38 (fastest man)
10th Craig Scott 91.06 68.06
11th Laura Nunan 91.30 85.30
12th Suzie Henleywillis 91.51 85.51
13th Donal Iremonger 92.11 74.10
14th Dave mcConn 92.28 65.28
15th Aideen Burke 92.32 82.32
16th Dean Fullston 93.11 80.10
17th Julia Hackett 96.04 90.34
18th Audrey Gahan 96.20 84.50
19th Ken Nugent 97.53 68.53
20th Angela Eustace 1.42.09 1.42.09
Barry Potts 1 lap
Tom Fagan 2 laps
Niall Lynch 3 laps
Romeo Omozee 4 laps
like the Waterhouse Byrne Baird Shield race, had a close finish. The chase handicap race had Max Henley-Willis, with a time allowance of 3 minutes and 30 seconds, the first to leave the start line. His task was not to be passed by the other eight competitors whilst completing a two-mile lap of the WBB course.
Rain showers over the previous 48 hours meant the course was wet and muddy in places. The challenge was real! By the time young Max rounded the cricket ground and entered to the final 400 metres strait he had 3 challengers in hot pursuit. The leader ran on strong to the line and withheld his chasers, Mark Nunan, Anna Whelan, and Ruairi Quinn – who all crossed the line within a 30-seconds timeframe. Kudos to the handicapper Niall Lynch.
Max finished in the time of 17.35, actual time 17.35, with Mark Nunan (17.49) on a handicap of 30 seconds the runner-up. Mark’s actual time was 17.19. Anna Whelan, another fine young athlete, took the bronze medal with a race time of 17.55 and a real time of 16.10 (handicap 1.45).
Fourth finisher Ruairi Quinn (18.02) was just 7 seconds outside the medals with an actual time of 17.47. Eli Henley-Willis (18.52) came 5th running a real time of 18.22. James Dunne, the 3rd winner of the Shield, came next with a race time of 19.15 and a real time of 16.00. Aryell Sheedy ran despite having a heavy cold and was the co-scratch athlete. He came 7th in 20.40, actual time 17.10.
The race was completed by Anabella Omozee and her brother Mario – both are from the Ray O’Keeffe & Alex Conway sprints group. Anabella (22.06 – actual 19.21) and Mario (23.16 – 19.46) – the other scratch athlete – placed 8th and 9th respectively.
With thanks to Willie Smith (course marker), Charlie O’Neill (starter), Niall Lynch (handicapper), Graham Hopkins (awards), Diane Nunan and Gerry Naughton (recorders), and Mick Bourke (photos)
Results
1st Max Henley-Willis 17.35 – h/cap 3.30 – actual time 17.35
2nd Mark Nunan 17.49 – h/cap 0.30 – actual time 17.19
3rd Anna Whelan 17.55 – h/cap 1.45 – actual time 16.10
4th Ruairi Quinn 18.02 – h/cap 3.15 – actual time 17.47
5th Eli Henley-Willis 18.52 – h/cap 3.00 – actual time 18.22
6th James Dunne 19.15 – h/cap 0.15 – actual time 16.00
7th Aryell Sheedy 20.40 – h/cap scratch – actual time 17.10
8th Anabella Omozee 22.06 – h/cap 0.45 – actual time 19.21
9th Mario Omozee 23.16 – h/cap scratch – actual time 19.46