Staplestown, County Kildare was the venue for the 6th running of the Donadea 10km road race held on Saturday last. In the bright clear crisp autumn morning over 300 runners completed the course with the final 7km being run over a 2 lap trail inside the Donadea Forest.

 Eric Keogh put the disappointment of finishing 4th in the Dublin Novice cross-country championship behind him when racing to an excellent 2nd place. Brian McMahon of Clonliffe Harriers, recently 3rd in the Dublin half-marathon, won the race by about 100 metres in a time of 31.46s. Eric (32.05) always maintained his form and held off the challenge of third-placed John Frazer (32.09s) of St. Malachy’s AC.

Lee Van Haeften (32.55) continues to show a return to form by placing 5th, only 4 seconds behind Gary O’Hanlon. Lee can feel satisfied with matching O’Hanlon, as the Clonliffe man has chalked up a 2.28.05s PB when winning the Waterford Viking marathon earlier this year. Next to cross the line was Dave Heffernan (33.11s), who had 13 seconds to spare over 6th placed finisher David Fitzpatrick of Tallaght AC.

The cross country season is now in full swing and the first BHAA fixture took place at Castleknock College.  In the men’s 4 mile race, Feargal Swaine was 9th and 2nd M40, Fred Kiernan was 14th and Willie Morris 24th.  Only a fortnight after doing the Berlin marathon, Ian Redican ran too, and Terry Mee was 1st M70.  In the women’s 2 mile race   we had Cliodhna Carthy, Susan Walsh, Jenny O’keeffe and Ann Woodlock 1st W70.

Across the city in Santry, Clonliffe Harriers hosted a ladies 5k CC race to celebrate 50 years of the club’s ladies team; Rhona Duane had a fine race and came 8th with Eilish Joyce 21st.  At the Simon 5 in the Phoenix Park Rene Kilraine finished in 30.07