HIGHLIGHTS: TOM BRENNAN 5KM – Oliver Hopkins (15.55) first junior; Men’s team 3rd; Age category wins Tony Kynes and Barry Potts.
REPORT: With a mild blustery breeze and the temperature reaching 14° the TOM BRENNAN MEMORIAL 5KM ROAD RACE in the Phoenix Park on New Year’s Day had the feel-good factor. With increased cases of the covid-19 omicron variant widespread and more prevention precautions in place it was heart-warming to see the athletics community enjoy sport and camaraderie in the wide-open spaces of the park. A dozen Donore Harriers athletes, both young and old, were among the 488 who lined up for the two-lap race that started and finished on the Furze Road.
The star performer in the black and white singlet was 16 years-old Oliver Hopkins, who produced his best performance since winning the All-Ireland Schools Junior Cross-Country race in March 2020. Hopkins (15.55) finished 11th overall and won the junior men’s category with 4 seconds to spare over Joe Dowd of Sli Cualann AC.
Hopkins had a tough 2021 competitive year dogged by injury and illness. His strong performance on the first day of 2022 will be source of encouragement as he targets the forthcoming schools’ championships. Next home for Donore Harriers was mountain running regular Rory Burke (16.29) in 23rd position. He was followed by David McConn (16.48) in 28th place and then Des Tremble (17.14) in 43rd and 2nd in the M50 category. Liam Morris at just 14 years-old is another young athlete with great promise in athletics. Morris (17.45) came 55th and 6th in the ‘junior’ class. Ciaran O’Flaherty (18.58), who was part of the Donore Harriers team that won 3 national road-relay titles between 1987 and 1993 and the national senior inter-clubs cross-country in 1993, ran a fine race to finish 91st overall and 4th in the M55 age-group.
There were age-category wins for Tony Kynes (20.20) in the M65 class and Barry Potts (23.41) in the M70. They placed 126th and 194th overall.
Audrey Gahan (22.57) crossed the finish mat in 179th and 5th W40. Frank McNally (23.53) was 198th & 10th M55 – and Tommy Halton (31.26) placed 334th & 6th M65.
In the team competition Donore Harriers men’s team came 3rd. With 3 to score Oliver Hopkins, Rory Burke and David McConn totalled 61 – just 6 points ahead of Portmarnock AC. Raheny Shamrocks AC (10) won ahead of Clonliffe Harriers (40). 18 teams closed. 487 runners closed the race. The race was won by Daniel Stone (14.48) of Raheny Shamrocks AC, just 4 seconds ahead of his team-mate Kieran Kelly. Here’s a video link
New recruit Simon O’Toole came 24th of 262 finishers in the GALWAY CITY HARRIERS RESOLUTION RUN 5KM (01.01.2022) in a personal best time of 18.10. The race was won by Sean Cotter (15.45) of Craughwell AC, just two seconds ahead of David Carter (GCH) who trains regularly at Donore Harriers.
Andy Kinane came 19th of 289 finishers in the RITA & ROBBIE CHRISTMAS 5KM ROAD RACE at NAVAN (27.12.2021) in a time of 17.28. Barbara Murray (19.45) was in 50th position overall and 3rd in the W40 category.
In the IMRA DJOUCE REMEMBRANCE RUN on Monday (27.12.2021) Aideen Burke completed the 8km mountain route in 39.32 to finish 45th of 121 finishers. She was the 5th woman home.
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TOM BRENNAN NEW YEAR’S DAY 5KM ROAD RACE in the PHOENIX PARK (01.01.2022)
11th & 1st Junior Oliver Hopkins (15.55)
23rd Rory Burke (16.29)
28th & 6th M40 David McConn (16.48)
43rd & 2nd M50 Des Tremble (17.14)
55th & 6th Junior Liam Morris JUV (17.45)
91st & 4th M55 Ciaran O’Flaherty (18.58)
99th & 3rd M45 Alan Farrell (19.12)
126th & 1st M65 Tony Kynes (20.20)
179th & 5th W40 Audrey Gahan (22.57)
194th & 1st M70 Barry Potts (23.41)
198th & 10th M55 Frank McNally (23.53)
334th & 6th M65 Tommy Halton (31.26)
487 finishers
GALWAY CITY HARRIERS RESOLUTION RUN 5KM (01.01.2022)
24th Simon O’Toole (18.10 PB)
262 finishers
RITA & ROBBIE CHRISTMAS 5KM ROAD RACE at NAVAN (27.12.2021)
19th & 6th M40 Andy Kinane (17.28)
50th & 3rd W40 Barbara Murray (19.45)
289 finishers
IMRA DJOUCE REMEMBRANCE 8km RUN at County Wicklow (27.12.2021)
45th & 5th woman Aideen Burke W35 (39.32)
121 finishers
WATERHOUSE BYRNE BAIRD SHIELD 10 MILE CLUB HANDICAP CHAMPIONSHIP at the DOG POND, PHOENIX PARK (26.12.2021)
Amended H/cap Actual
1st Ken Nugent 1.24.38 01.00 0.56.38
2nd Rossa Hurley 1.26.41 03.00 1.00.41
3rd Claire Mulligan 1.27.03 17.30 1.15.33
4th Barbara Cleary 1.27.10 04.00 1.02.10
5th James Bolton JNR 1.27.55 scratch 0.58.55
6th Neil Hand 1.27.58 06.30 1.05.28
7th Danny O’Sullivan 1.28.22 04.00 1.03.22
8th Alan Keogh 1.28.41 06.30 1.06.11
9th Craig Scott 1.28.44 06.00 1.05.44
10th Peter Nugent 1.29.22 13.30 1.13.52
11th Barry Potts 1.29.23 20.00 1.20.23
12th Treasa Ryan 1.29.24 19.00 1.19.24
13th Emmet O’Briain 1.29.28 04.00 1.04.28
14th Niall Lynch 1.30.15 03.00 1.04.15
15th Suzie Henley-Willis 1.30.20 24.00 1.25.20
16th Gavin White 1.30.56 07.30 1.09.26
17th Fergal Whitty 1.31.12 01.00 1.03.12
18th Donal Iremonger 1.31.27 06.00 1.08.27
19th Dean Fullston 1.32.01 17.00 1.20.01
20th Tom Fagan 1.32.10 15.00 1.18.10
21st James Clarke 1.32.38 22.00 1.25.38
22nd Luke Boland 1.32.47 03.00 1.06.47
23rd Ian Redican 1.34.31 15.00 1.20.31
24th Angela Eustace 1.37.40 27.00 1.35.40
25th Ryan Aikins 1.37.40 03.00 1.11.40
STREETS OF ATHENRY 10KM ROAD RACE (26.12.2021)
4th Ray Hynes (32.01)
21st Alasdair Brown (35.27)
84th Simon O’Toole (39.01)
1,049 finishers
FARRANFORE ST. STEPHEN’S DAY 5KM ROAD RACE, CO. KERRY (26.12.2021)
6th & 2nd woman Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill (16.19.4)
11th & 2nd M50 Des Tremble (17.14.3)
20th, 5th woman & 1st W40 Aislinn Nic Dhomhnaill (17.35.5)
301 finishers
FINN VALLEY 5KM ROAD RACE at CARNDONAGH, CO. DONEGAL (26.12.2021)
1st John Travers (14.48)
248 finishers
TULLAMORE HARRIERS ANNUAL TRACK ONE-MILE HOSPICE FUND-RAISER (26.12.2021)
Peter Brennan (5.32)
PARKRUNS 5km (01.01.22)
GRIFFEEN: 72nd Charlie O’Neill M65 (29.03)
HARTSTOWN: 3rd Peter Nugent M50 (20.38)
PORTERSTOWN: 10th Tom Fagan M50 (22.20)
TYMON: 36th & 7th woman Joan McTernan W60 (27.31)
WATERSTOWN: 9th Joe Kinsella M15-17 (24.12)