It was a busy morning and afternoon in Donore Harriers on September 21st. The club has a long tradition of an ‘opening run’ which marks the traditional start of the cross country season.
Photos of previous opening runs can be seen in the club lounge and in club archival material. We continued this time-honoured tradition last weekend.
But first there was the running of the club novice races for men and women up at the Phoenix park Magazine area. It was a beautiful morning and while the half marathon in the park meant numbers were a little depleted, well done to the winners Abdel Lajel and Jill Dempsey and the participants and guests. Willie Smith set the course and he and Iain Morrison club President acted as timekeepers.
Back to the club where everyone middle distance, sprinters, throwers, coaches and members old and young gathered for a photo on the newly marked track and set off for the opening run, a leisurely one lap of 300m!
Then we gathered in the lounge where a minute’s silence was observed for the late Mick Connolly the legendary Donore runner who passed away on Friday 20th after a short illness RIP
Presentations were made to the athletes who won international master, junior and U23 selection this year. They were Rossa Hurley and Niall Lynch who were picked on the M35 and M45 teams at the British and Irish masters CC in Swansea and both won team silver. Aoife Lynch has had a terrific year including international representation on the 4×100 u23 Irish team in Sweden and was honoured, thanking her coach John Geoghegan and all who supported during the year. Jack Raftery too competed in the European U20 4x400m in Sweden this year and was honoured (Absent was middle distance junior international Louis O’Loughlin)
A special tribute was given to Ann Woodlock for her W80 world and European gold and silver indoor and outdoor in 2019 and overall international achievement which has been particularly fruitful in the past few years.
Willie Smith then spoke of the late Basil Clifford of Donore Harriers, Ireland’s second ever sub 4 minute miler, 1964 Olympian and how from 2019 the winner of the men’s national senior 1500m will be presented with the Basil Clifford trophy, this year’s winner was our own John Travers.
The oldest living member of Donore Harriers Dr Cyril white aged 90 and a member for the past 75 years spoke and paid tribute to Basil and his achievements and many others who influenced him in a lifetime in athletics as a runner and race official including the legendary US sprinter Jesse Owens
Cyril Smyth, well known to many as a race starter and official has been extensively researching Basil’s running career at home and abroad and gave us a sense of the achievements of the Inchicore man who died tragically in a factory accident in Birmingham in 1973 aged only 35.
It was great to see members old and young, new and long-standing here , and thanks Stephen for the Barbecue after the presentations . Here’s to a good Season of racing for all our members.
