HIGHLIGHTS Women masters team bronze, Men’s M50 team silver in the DUBLIN MASTERS CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS. Barry Potts individual gold in the M70 class. 16 years-old Abdel Laadjel ran a superb 15.19 to win Junior category in the TOM BRENNAN NEW YEAR’S DAY 5km. Barbara Cleary 2^nd woman and 1^st W45 and Barry Potts 1^st M65.

 

The DUBLIN MASTERS CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at Raheny on Sunday (05.01.2020) kicked off another year of team competition with Donore Harriers again in the mix for medals. Big fields, tight bends and narrow tree-lined passages gave the athletes plenty to consider at the St. Anne’s Park venue. A chilled, dry afternoon and flat, grassy underfoot conditions offered some respite after recent mud laden XC races.

Good team-packing brought its reward in the Women’s 3km race. Barbara Murray (13.07) gained to 10^th position in a fine contest held over 2 laps. Next home was Audrey Gahan (13.14), who took the advice of her captain Florence Curley to get a good start so as not to be boxed-in in the crowded field, in an excellent 13^th position. Ariana Ball (13.32) followed in 19^th place, as Sinead Graham-O’Reilly (13.34) took the final scoring position just one-second and one place ahead of the fast finishing Caroline McCarthy. The Donore Harriers team (65) took the bronze medal position ahead of Civil Service AC (86) – and behind winners Sportsworld AC (42) and Raheny Shamrocks AC (also 42).

Also, in the field of 180 finishers were Cliodhna Carthy (14.23) in 61^st and Mary McDermott (15.45) in 131^st. Barbara Murray (W45) and Audrey Gahan (W40) narrowly missed individual medals as both placed 4^th in their age categories. Team captain Florence Curley said afterwards: “Very proud of our women’s team today … so happy for this hardworking team who richly deserved their medals”.

The Men’s race over 4 laps (6km) had the expectation that the M50-plus team would feature, whilst the M35 team had less reason for optimism with the withdrawal due to illness of Rossa Hurley, the defending Dublin Masters XC champion, and Luke Boland, recent winner of the Waterhouse Byrne Baird shield race.

Both categories were combined in a unique race where many long-standing rivalries were renewed. Every finishing position was contested with sheer determination due to team commitments and bragging rights. This was all about good team sport and personal honour!

The Donore M50 team came an excellent 2^nd of 14 teams on 336 points behind Raheny Shamrocks AC on 220. The team was led home by Peter Gaffney (23.46), who ran a very consistent race to place 50^th. Phil Hennessy (24.00) gained to 55^th in the second half of the race, whilst Ciaran O’Flaherty (25.29) was paying the price for a fast start and had to dig-deep for the sake of the team before crossing the line in 105^th position. The team was closed by Peter Nugent (25.52) in 126^th.

The non-scoring M50 athletes were – Tom Fagan (26.07) in 137^th, Tony Kynes (27.29) in 195^th, Tony Griffin (28.28) in 225^th, Kenneth Cronin (29.35) in 248^th and Des Gill (29.47) in 253^rd.

Niall Lynch (22.27) was first home for the M35 team in 19^th place. The scoring 4 was completed in a flurry as fast finishing Gavin Keogh (22.54) passed his two team-mates to finish 28^th, with Fergal Whitty (22.55) in 29^th and Danny O’Sullivan (22.57) in 30^th. The team came 7^th (18 teams) on 106 points. Raheny Shamrocks AC (42) won the category.

The other Donore finishers were – Des Tremble (23.29) in 44^th, Alan Keogh (23.51) in 53^rd, Donal Iremonger (24.36) in 71^st and Chris Muldoon (24.36) in 115^th.

In the Master Men’s 3km race for M65 plus runners the evergreen Barry Potts (14.13) came 2^nd overall and claimed the individual gold medal in the M70 age group.

 

Within a few minutes of finishing a disappointing 12^th in last month’s National U17 cross-country championships Abdel Laadjel was advised by his Academy Squad coaches Gerry Naughton and Ciaran O’Flaherty to compete in the TOM BRENNAN NEW YEAR’S DAY 5KM race. “It was a case of getting back on the horse. Abdel was tired in Dunboyne and the performance did not justify the hard work he put into training” explained Naughton.

When Laadjel passed the 3km marker he was in a chase group of 4 athletes that included the national senior cross-country champion Liam Brady of Tullamore Harriers and 1996 Olympic Games 1,500m athlete Shane Healy of MSB AC. The young Donore Harrier was in new territory and he did not look out of place! And whilst Laadjel lost a little ground on the elite athletes over the remaining 2 kilometres a strong finish brought him home in an excellent 8^th place overall, just 7 seconds shy of Brady (6^th in 15.12). He won the junior men’s category ahead of Jafer Abduisheker (15.44) of Tulsa (USA). The overall race was won by Hiko Tonosa (14.20) of DSD AC. .

Laadjel, Irish born to Algerian parents, ran only one previous 5km race when he posted a time of 17.34 at the Brickfields Parkrun one year ago (05.01.2019). Coach Ciaran O’Flaherty was full in his praise of the Kishoge Community College student “Today he proved that he has the talent and it was reward for his commitment. Abdel has a big future in the sport”.

Barbara Cleary covered the flat 2-laps course in 17.10 to finish as 2^nd woman behind Catherine Mullan (16.52) of MSB AC. She convincingly won the Women’s Over 40 category having 3 minutes to spare over runner-up Valentina Kossio (20.20) from Italy. Another category winner was Barry Potts (22.02), who placed 161^st overall and 1^st M65.

The other competing club athletes were: – Stephen Dawson (19.24) 83^rd overall and 15^th in the M35 age grade, Audrey Gahan (21.22) 145^th and 6^th W40, Pamela White (22.28) 179^th and 25^th senior woman, Frank McNally (22.47) 191^st and 9^th M55, Dana Mackey (26.07) 283^rd and 18^th W45, Tommy Halton (27.14) 298^th and 5^th M40, Michelle Dawson (28.06) 329^th and 18^th W35, Conan Mackey U14 (28.40) 355^th and 15^th junior man, and Frank Greally (39.21) in 686^th and 16^th M60.

 

Patrick Farrell (42.31) placed 10^th of 102 finishers in the CARAGH NEW YEAR’S DAY 10KM RACE in Co. Kildare.

 

In her native Co. Clare Barbara Cleary (18.17) was 3^rd overall and first woman in a field of 202 finishers in the MILLTOWN MALBAY GAA 5KM ROAD RACE on St. Stephen’s Day. It was a case of finish as you started! Cleary won at the same fixture on New Year’s Day 2019 in a time of 18.24.

 

In the PARKRUN series on New Year’s Day Fergal Whitty (17.27) was the first finisher at Hartstown, whilst two Under 19 athletes Gavin Curtin (17.24) and Barney Kelly (18.25) were runners-up at Corkagh Park and Griffeen Park respectively. Eva Crowe U14 (20.11) was 12^th overall and 2^nd woman at Porterstown.

There was plenty of more action from club runners in last Saturday’s (04.01.2020) PARKRUN races. Tristan Druet (16.59) was first home in Tymon Park, whilst Gavin Curtin (18.38) took the plaudits at Waterstown. Curtin and 6^th place Aidan Kelly (20.33) were directed off the route and had to retrace some of their strides to join back into the race. Barney Kelly (18.38) was again runner-up, this time at Castletown Estate in Celbridge, whilst Paul Cummins (18.45) was also 2^nd home at Brickfields. 13-years old Laura Nunan (22.12) was first woman home when 15^th overall at Porterstown. Kate Cleary (21.58) was 2^nd woman at Poppintree Park with another 13 years-old Katie Delaney (24.49) 3^rd woman at Waterstown. Special mention to Nicola Dowdall who did 3 parkruns in the space of 4 days which she finished with a 24.50 and 4^th place at Kilcock and to 10 years-old Eoin Mooney who ran 21.59 for 9^th place at Corkagh Park. More results below.

 

RESULTS IN BRIEF:

TOM BRENNAN NEW YEAR’S DAY 5KM ROAD RACE at PHOENIX PARK (01.01.2020)

8^th & 1^st Junior Abdel Laadjel U18 (15.19 PB)

29^th, 2^nd woman & 1^st W45 Barbara Cleary (17.10)

83^rd & 15^th M35 Stephen Dawson (19.24)

145^th & 6^th W40 Audrey Gahan (21.22)

161^st & 1^st M65 Barry Potts (22.02)

179^th & 25^th WS Pamela White (22.28)

191^st & 9^th M55 Frank McNally (22.47)

283^rd & 18^th W45 Dana Mackey (26.07)

298^th & 5^th M60 Tommy Halton (27.14)

329^th & 18^th W35 Michelle Dawson (28.40)

355^th & 15^th MJ Conan Mackey U14 (28.40)

686^th & 16^th M60 Frank Greally (39.21)

772 finishers

CARAGH NEW YEAR’S DAY 10KM RUN at CARAGH, CO. KILDARE (01.01.2020)

10^th Patrick Farrell (42.31)

103 finishers

DUBLIN MASTERS CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at ST. ANNE’s PARK (05.01.2010)

MASTERS WOMEN 35-plus 3KM

10^th & 4^th W45 Barbara Murray (13.07)

13^th & 4^th W40 Audrey Gahan (13.14)

19^th & 5^th W35 Ariana Ball (13.32)

23^rd & 6^th W35 Sinead Graham-O’Reilly (13.34)

24^th & 7^th W35 Caroline McCarthy (13.35)

61^st & 13^th W45 Cliodhna Carthy (14.23)

131^st & 19^th W50 Mary McDermott (15.47)

DNF Julia Hackett (injured)

180 finishers

TEAM W35: 1^st Sportsworld AC 42, 2^nd Raheny Shamrocks AC 42, 3^rd Donore Harriers <Murray, Gahan, Ball & Graham-O’Reilly> 65. 16 teams

MASTERS MEN 35-plus 6KM

19^th & 5^th M45 Niall Lynch (22.27)

28^th & 17^th M35 Gavin Keogh (22.54)

29^th & 5^th M40 Fergal Whitty (22.55)

30^th & 18^th M35 Danny O’Sullivan (22.57)

44^th & 10^th M45 Des Tremble (23.29)

50^th & 5^th M50 Peter Gaffney (23.46)

53^rd & 9^th M40 Alan Keogh (23.51)

55^th & 7^th M50 Phil Hennessy (24.00)

71^st & 14^th M45 Donal Iremonger (24.36)

105^th & 13^th M50 Ciaran O’Flaherty (25.29)

115^th & 29^th M40 Chris Muldoon (25.42)

126^th & 14^th M50 Peter Nugent (25.52)

137^th & 18^th M50 Tom Fagan (26.07)

195^th & 5^th M60 Tony Kynes (27.29)

225^th & 8^th M60 Tony Griffin (28.28)

248^th & 13^th M60 Kenneth Cronin (29.35)

253^rd & 52^nd M50 Desmond Gill (29.47)

DNF Lou MacCurtain

291 finishers

TEAM M35: 1^st Raheny Shamrocks AC 42, 7^th Donore Harriers <Lynch, Keogh, Whitty & O’Sullivan> 106, 18 teams

TEAM M50: 1^st Raheny Shamrocks AC 220, 2^nd Donore Harriers <Gaffney, Hennessy, O’Flaherty & Nugent> 336, 3^rd Rathfarnham WSAF 442. 14 teams

MASTERS MEN 65-plus 3KM

2^nd & 1^st M70 Barry Potts (14.13)

LATE RESULT: MILLTOWN MALBAY GAA 5KM ROAD RACE in CO. CLARE (26.12.2019)

3^rd overall and 1^st woman Barbara Cleary (18.17)

202 finishers

PARKRUN SERIES (01.01.2020)

Corkagh: 2^nd Gavan Curtin U19 (17.24), 100^th Nicola Dowdall W45 (25.18), 130^th David Hudson M60 (26.50), 145^th Mary Murphy W45 (27.32), 245^th Joan McTernan W60 (33.39)

Griffeen: 2^nd Barney Kelly U19 (18.25), 111^th Nicola Dowdall W45 (24.49), 118^th Helaine Kelly W45 (25.12 PB)

Hartstown: 1^st Fergal Whitty M40 (17.27), 10^th Owen Robinson M35 (20.28), 43^rd Caroline McCarthy W35 (24.18)

Porterstown: 12^th & 2^nd woman Eva Crowe U14 (20.11 PB)

PARKRUN SERIES (04.01.2020)

Castletown: 2^nd Barney Kelly U19 (18.38). 91^st Helaine Kelly W45 (26.01), 98^th Hugh David Kelly U11 (26.43)

Brickfields: 2^nd Paul Cummins (18.45), 69^th Ray Holmes M60 (32.07)

Bushy: 179^th Tommy Halton M60 (29.27)

Corkagh: 9^th Eoin Mooney U10 (21.59)

Griffeen: 122^nd Liz MacCurtain W50 (27.39), 140^th Terry Mee M75 (28.20)

Poolbeg: 51^st Karen Woods W40 (22.41)

Poppintree: 13^th & 2^nd woman Kate Cleary W45 (21.58)

Porterstown: 15^th & 1^st woman Laura Nunan U15 (22.12)

Royal Canal, Kilcock: 22^nd & 4^th woman Nicola Dowdall W45 (24.50), 31^st David Hudson M60 (25.43), 38^th Joan McTernan W60 (26.36)

Tymon: 1^st Tristan Druet M35 (16.59)

Waterstown: 1^st Gavin Curtin U19 (18.38), 6^th Aidan Kelly JNR (20.33), 21^st & 3^rd woman

Katie Delaney U15 (24.49)