All posts by Medbh Peavoy

Dungarvan 10 and Weekend Round Up

February 2, 2015Club News, Results, SeniorMedbh Peavoy

The remarkable Jim McNamara not only retained his over 70s title at the popular Dungarvan 10 mile road race(1/2/15), but recorded a time 4 minutes quicker than last year. Gentleman Jim (time of 1.14.29) is an evergreen legend of Irish athletics and an inspirational coach. One of his protégés also had good reason to celebrate at Dungarvan. Ann Curley may not have retained her over 40s crown, but she finished as 3^rd woman overall whilst placing second in her age category. Her time of 1.02.27 was over a minute quicker than her time in 2014. Nicola Dowdall F40 recorded a time of 1.15.08 to place 575^th overall.

Meanwhile at the Trim 10 mile road race (1/2/15) the Donore Harriers team (145), led home by Garvan Smith, won the 3^rd team award behind winners Mullingar Harriers (60) and runners-up Celbridge AC (61). Smith (58.17) finished 18^th overall in the race and second in the M40 category. The scoring team was completed by Sean Fox (59.39) in 27^th, Will Morris (59.49) in 29^th and Niall O’Reilly (1.05.18) in 71^st spot. The other Donore competitors were Tony Griffin (1.13.17) who placed 5^th in the M55 category and Charlie O’Neill (1.16.18) who was 4^th in the M60s class.

Over in the U.K Lee Van Haeften placed 3^rd in the Dewsbury 10km (1/2/15) race run in cold and blustery conditions.

At the Athletics Ireland Indoor Games at Athlone on Sunday (1/2/15) John Travers (8.19.30) was the runaway winner of the 3000m race, finishing half-a-minute in front of Keith Shiels of Foyle Valley AC. Having already got the qualifying time in the 1500m Travers was hoping to gain the qualification mark for his favoured 3km trace race, but the lack of serious competition and fatigue following his sub-4 mile in New York on the previous weekend took its toll.

In the 800m race Daragh Fitzgibbon (1.55.80) knocked 3 seconds of his previous best time to place an excellent 4^thamongst a strong field.

Junior athlete and Kylemore College student Sean Lawlor (22.40) got a fine 2^nd place in the 200m behind Kieron Elliott (21.92) of North Sligo AC. Following a false start that eliminated Zac Irwin of Sligo AC Lawlor made a hesitant start that allowed Elliott gain the advantage from the start. Adam Halpin (24.78) placed 5^th in the 200m heats, whilst David Campbell was unluckily disqualified after making a slight movement on his starter blocks.

In the second round of the National Indoor League at Athlone Arena (31/1/15) Cathal O’Brien placed 3^rd in the High Jump with a best effort of 1.87 metres. Adam Halpin (55.47) was 11^th in the 400m, whilst David Campbell (52.47) placed 5^th in the 400m guest race.

Next Sunday sees Donore Harriers compete in the National Masters and Intermediate cross country championships at Tuam in Galway.

Results in brief:

LATE RESULT: Albert 5km Parkrun, Middlesborough (24/1/15): 2^nd Lee Van Haeften (15.31)

MISSING RESULT: Raheny 5 Mile (25/1/15): 550^th / 49^th in M45 category James Clarke (35.04)

Naas 5km Parkrun (31/1/15): 2^nd Ian Redican M40 (20.34)

Athletics Ireland National Indoor League Round 2 at Athlone Arena (31/1/15):

400m – 11^th Adam Halpin JNR (55.47); High Jump – 3^rd Cathal O’Brian (1.87m);

400m guest race – 5^th David Campbell (52.47).

Donore Harriers remain 12^th of 16 competing teams.

Dungarvan 10 Mile (1/2/15): 96^th / 3^rd female Ann Curley F40 (1.02.27); 554^th / 1^st in O/70s category Jim McNamara (1.14.29); 575^th Nicola Dowdall F40 (1.15.08)

Trim 10 Mile (1/2/15): 18^th / 2^nd in M40 category Garvan Smith (58.17); 27^th Sean Fox (59.39); 29^th Will Morris (59.49); 71^st Niall O’Reilly (1.05.18); 199^th / 5^th M55 Tony Griffin (1.13.17); 260^th / 4^th M60 Charlie O’Neill (1.16.18)

TEAM: 1^st Mullingar Harriers (60); 2^nd Celbridge AC (61); 3^rd Donore Harriers <Smith; Fox; Morris; O’Reilly> (145)

Dewsbury 10km (1/2/15): 3^rd Lee Van Haeften (31.57)

Athletics Ireland Indoor Games 2015 at Athlone Arena (1/2/15): 200m Final – 2^nd Sean Lawlor JNR (22.40); 200m Heat 4 – DQ David Campbell; Heat 5 – 5^th Adam Halpin JNR (24.78); 3000m Final – 1^st John Travers (8.19.30); 800m Final – 4^th Daragh Fitzgibbon (1.55.80) PB

JUVENILE REPORT

Donore Harriers duo of Lucy McCann and Ciara Murphy qualified to the Leinster Schools cross country championship to take place in the Phoenix Park on the 11^th of February. Running in the South Leinster championships held on the grounds of the Cistercean College in Roscrea on Thursday 29^th of January they placed 5^th and 6^th respectively in the Intermediate Girls category whilst representing Scoil Mhuire in Clane. At the same event Michael Gibbs (also Scoil Mhuire) placed 23^rd in the senior boy’s race.

In the East Leinster Schools at Avondale Park in Rathdrum on the 27^th of January Suzanne Masterson and Eliza NiThighearnaigh placed 17^th and 23^rd respectively in the very competitive Intermediate Girls race representing the Loreto St. Stephen’s Green school.

Results in brief:

East Leinster Schools Cross Country championships at Avondale Park, Rathdrum (27/1/15): Intermediate Girls – 17^th Suzanne Masterson (Loreto Stephen’s Green); 23^rd Eliza NiThighearnaigh (Loreto Stephen’s Green)

South Leinster Schools Cross Country championships at Roscrea (29/1/15): Intermediate Girls – 5^th Lucy McCann (Scoil Mhuire); 6^th Ciara Murphy (Scoil Mhuire); Senior Boys – 23^rd Michael Gibbs (Scoil Mhuire)

Sub 4 Mile for Travers in New York and Weekend Round Up

January 27, 2015Club News, Juvenile, Results, SeniorMedbh Peavoy

John Travers opened his indoor season with a fantastic win in New York. Competing in the New Balance Invitational Mile at the Armoury Centre on Saturday against a strong field of American based athletes Travers won by three metres over Chris Gowell and dipped under the magic 4 minutes barriers for the second time on the track. Travers lay in the main pack through the first half of the race and edged into the lead on lap 5 of 8. He was forced to maintain a fast pace to fend off the close attention of Chris Gowell, a Welsh international now based as a full-time athlete in Austin, Texas. Travers broke the line in 3.59.62 with Gowell second in a time of 4.00.13 and Ross Proudfoot (4.01.47) of Canada in third. Travers was understandably “chuffed” after the race as this result augurs well for the remainder of his indoor campaign. Here is a link to the race http://www.armorytrack.com/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=45586&do=videos&video_id=131245

Three members of the Donore Harriers ‘A’ squad competed in the South of England Cross Country championship at Brighton on Saturday. The ‘Southern’ is the second largest cross country race in the U.K attracting the strongest distance club runners. The 9-miles classic usually has an array of international athletes to the fore and this year saw England’s Ben Tickner (50.21) of the host club hold on for victory from Paskar Owar (50.24) of Uganda and Belgrave Harriers. The Donore trio was led home by Eric Keogh (55.24) in an excellent 70^th place, whilst Caoimhin Kelly (59.08) and Mark Dooley (60.29) will have gained from the experience when placing 176^th and 232rd respectively.

Eoin Durkan (27.01) was the first Donore Harrier home when he placed 36^th in the AXA Raheny 5 mile road race at St. Anne’s Park on Sunday. Master athlete Alan Farrell was the next clubman home in 176^th place in a time of 30.29. The women’s team was led home by Sinead Graham (33.31) in 432^nd spot with Aoife O’Sullivan placing 439^th (34.09). 14 club members competing amongst a field of well over 2,000 entrants.

At the National Indoor Junior & U/23s championships at Athlone Arena Sean Lawlor (21.86) blitzed the field to win the Junior Men’s 200 metres final. A fast start gave the ‘Ballyer Bullet’ the advantage and he held on brilliantly to edge out his main nemesis Zak Irwin (21.91) of Sligo AC. In the 1500m final middle-distance specialist Daragh Fitzgibbon (4.04.22) ran a very solid race to gain the silver medal behind Andrew Wright of Willowfield Harriers. Adam Halpin placed 4^th in the heats of the Junior Men’s 400m knocking well over a second off his previous best time. In the Junior Women’s pole vault Ailbhe Healy jumped 2.55m at her first attempt, but was unable to clear the next height of 2.70m that would have put her in contention for a medal. She had to settle for a commendable 5^thposition. Here is a link to the indoor championships http://jumping-the-gun.com/?p=2837 (Sean Lawlor’s final is at 4.25)

Results in brief:

New Balance Invitational Mile at the Armoury Centre, New York: 1^st John Travers (Donore Harriers & Ireland) 3.59.62; 2^nd Chris Gowell (Wales) 4.00.13; 3^rd Ross Proudfoot (Canada) 4.01.47

South of England XC championships (9 miles) at Brighton: 70^th Eric Keogh (55.24); 176^th Caoimhin Kelly (59.08); 232^nd Mark Dooley (60.29)

Naas 5km Parkrun: 7^th Ian Redican M40 (20.09)

Marlay 5km Parkrun: 56^th Tomas Griffin (20.19)

National Indoor Junior & under 23s Championships at Athlone Arena : u/20s 200m Final – 1^st Sean Lawlor (21.88) gold medal; u/23s 60m Heat 1 – 7^th Darren Hughes (8.11); u/23s; 1500 Final – 2^nd Daragh Fitzgibbon (4.04.22) silver medal; u/20s 400m Heat 4 – 4^th Adam Halpin (54.77 PB); u/20s 60m Heat 1 – 6^th Conor Fox (7.64); u/20s 60m Heat 1 – 4^th Aoife Lynch (8.25); u/20s Pole Vault Final – 5^th Ailbhe Healy (2.55m)

AXA Raheny 5 mile road race at St. Anne’s Park : 36^th Eoin Durkan (27.01); 176^th Alan Farrell M40 (30.29); 432^nd Sinead Graham (33.31); 439^th Aoife O’Sullivan (34.09); 558^th Rhona Duane (35.19); 562^nd Frank McNally M50 (35.11); 696^th Terry Mee M70 (37.05); 952^nd Charlie O’Neill M60 (39.40); 953^rd Tommy Halton M55 (39.40); 994^th Catherine McKeon (39.39); 1079^th Laura Murray (39.42); 1179^th Joseph Maguire M75 (41.47); 1515^th Tony Jenkins M70 (43.58); 1915^th Michael Brophy M65 (47.45)

JUVENILE REPORT

A number of Donore Harriers juvenile athletes were in action in the opening series of the schools cross country championships. At the ‘West Leinsters’ the recently crowned national under 14s champion Fathi Aden (Synge Street) made the podium with a 3^rd place finish in the Junior Boys. Fathi lost the opportunity to challenge for the top spot due to making a slow start. However the star performance of the day came from Sam Gallagher (Lucan CBS) in the senior boys 5km race. Gallagher worked his way through to third position only to be outkicked in the final 30 metres. Whilst he had to be content with 4^th position it was, nevertheless, a very fine effort in a very competitive race. Stephen Gavin (Salesians College) showed a return to form following injury when placing 6^thin the same race.

Claire O’Connor (St. Louis) 5^th in the Intermediate Girls; Niamh O’Neill (Castleknock CC) 4^th in the Senior Girls; and Sekeriye Ahmed (Synge Street) 9^th and Jack Raftery (Castleknock CC) 12^th in the Junior Boys also qualify for the Leinster Schools final at the Phoenix Park next month.

In the North Leinster Schools Cross Country at ALSAA (23/1/15) club newcomer Nahom Alem narrowly failed to make the top 15 and qualification in the senior boys race over 5km. Eritrean born Alem represented Marino College and after a steady start worked his way through a field of older and more experiences runners to place 18^th.

Donore Harriers juvenile athletes dominated the Waterstown 5km Parkrun on Saturday. Michael Gibbs u/18s (18.17) was the first home in the race taking half-a-minute of his previous best time. Nahom Alem u/18s (18.39) placed 2^nd, an excellent run given that he competed in a schools cross country race on the previous day. Lucy McCann u/17s (20.43) was the first female home, whilst Ciara Murphy u/17s (21.49) placed an excellent 2^nd on her debut 5km race. Hannah Barr (Junior) was 5^th female with a PB time of 24.02.

Results in brief:

West Leinsters Schools Cross Country championships at Phoenix Park (21/1/15): Minor Girls – 37^th Marie Cormican (Mount Sackville); Junior Girls – 25^th Niamh Clarke (St. Joseph’s Lucan); 60^th Angelica Gonia (Maynooth PP); Intermediate Girls – 5^th Claire O‘Connor (St. Louis Rathmines); Senior Girls – 4^th Niamh O‘Neill (Castleknock CC); Junior Boys – 3^rd Fathi Aden (Synge Street CBS); 9^th Sekeriye Ahmed (Synge Street CBS); 12^th Jack Raftery (Castleknock CC); 160^th Matthew Lynch (Luttrellstown CC); Intermediate Boys – 42^nd Daniel Brady (Lucan CBS); 61^st Tadgh Fitzgibbon (Salesians Celbridge); 71^st Ruairi Fitzgibbon (Salestians Celbridge); Senior Boys – 4^th Sam Gallagher (Lucan CBS); 6^th Stephen Gavin (Salesians Celbridge)

North Leinsters Schools Cross Counry championships at ALSAA (23/1/15): Senior Boys 18^th Nahom Alem (Marino College)

Watertown 5km Parkrun: 1^st Michael Gibbs u/18s (18.17 PB); 2^nd Nahom Alem u/18s (18.39 debut); 5^th/ 1^st female Lucy McCann u/17s (20.43); 11^th / 2^nd female Ciara Murphy u/17s (21.49 debut); 17^th / 5^th Hannah Barr JNR (24.02 PB); 36^th James McDonagh u/15s (27.38); 44^th / 13^th Shona Smyth u/15s (29.17)

Race Report for Weekend January 18th

January 20, 2015Club News, Juvenile, Results, SeniorMedbh Peavoy

With the national intermediate and senior cross country championships coming up in the next few weeks some of Donore Harriers leading athletes showed good form at the Business Houses open cross country race at Cherryfield Park in Firhouse on Saturday (17/1/15), whilst Lee Van Haeften and Mark Dooley impressed at cross country races in the U.K.

The Donore trio of Eric Keogh (26.57), Michael McMahon (27.17) and Colm O‘Connell (27.41) dominated the front of the Business Houses 5 miles race eventually placing 1^st, 2^nd and 4^threspectively.

At a recent North Yorkshire & South Durham cross country league (10/1/15) Lee Van Haeften placed an excellent 2^nd whilst competing as a guest runner. This was a particularly encouraging result as Van Haeften missed out on his regular training programme in the latter stages of 2014 due to injury. Mark Dooley was first finisher in the Isle of Man senior cross country championship at Ballannette on Sunday (18/1/15). However he did not qualify for the championship title due to a residency rule. Dooley (35.32) won out on a fine race duel with local favourite Alan Corlett (35.37) of Manx Harriers.

Results in brief:

Business Houses AA 5 mile Cross Country race at Cherryfield Park (17/1/15): 1^st Eric Keogh (26.57); 2^ndMichael McMahon (27.17); 4^th Colm O‘Connell (27.41); 80^th Tom Fagan M45 (32.57); 81^st Ian Redican M40 (32.57); 146^th Des Gill M45 (37.51); 162^nd Terry Mee M70 (39.50); 171^st Joseph Maguire M75 (41.45); 173^rdTommy Halton M55 (42.08)

North Yorkshire & South Durham XC League at Hartlepool (10/1/15): 2^nd Lee Van Haeften (30.42) guest runner

Isle of Man Cross Country championship at Ballannette (18/1/15): 1^st Mark Dooley (35. 32) ineligible for title

Hartstown 5km Parkrun (17/1/15): Michele Murphy F50 (28.02)

Naas 5km Parkrun (17/1/15): 33^rd Marc Gibbs M45 (24.50)

JUVENILE REPORT

At the National Indoor Combined Events at the Athlone Arena on Saturday (17/1/15) Kolade Abiodun placed an excellent 3^rd in the Boys under 16s competition whilst Lara O‘Byrne finished in 4^th spot in the Girls under 16s. Kolade, who recently received the Dublin juvenile athlete of the year award for 2014, opened his account with a PB of 8.89s in the 60m Hurdles despite being impeded due to a mid-race tumble by a competitor. A 1.58m High Jump and a 9.61m Shot Putt kept Kolade in contention for a medal. Next came the Long Jump and his best effort of 5.38m consolidated his bronze medal placing. Kolade finished off his day with a hugely impressive 2.20.6 in the 800m. His final tally of 2953 points put him clear in 3^rd position behind winner David Ryan of Moycarkey Coolcroo AC (3426) and runner-up Tony Odubote of Ennis Track AC (2985).

Lara O’Byrne, a committed young athlete also coached by Ray O’Keeffe and Liam Brennan, gave a very encouraging early season performance when placing 4^th in the Girls under 16s category. Her figures included: 9.96 in the 60m Hurdles; 1.56m in the High Jump; 8.42m in the Shot Putt; 4.43m in the Long Jump; and 2.42.6 in the 800m earned her 2790 points – just 109 short of a medal place.

At the Naas 5km Parkrun (17/1/15) under 18s athlete Michael Gibbs placed 2^nd overall in the time of 18.56, whilst 15 years-old Lucy McCann (21.39) was the first female finisher when placing 13^th overall.

A small number of Donore athletes competed for their respective schools in the DCU Invitational schools cross country races on Wednesday 14^th January with Niamh O’Neill impressing in the Senior Girls race by placing an excellent 5^th in the colours of Castleknock Community College.

Results in brief:

National Indoor Combined Events at Athlone (17/1/15) o

Boys under 16s Kolade Abiodun

60m H	High Jump	Shot Putt	Long Jump	800m	Total	Position
8.89s PB	1.58m	9.61m	5.38m	2.20.6	2953 points	3^rd

Girsl under 16s Lara O’Byrne

60m H	High Jump	Shot Putt	Long Jump	800m	Total	Position
9.96s	1.56m	8.42m	4.43m	2.42.6	2790 points	4^th

Naas 5km Parkrun (17/1/15): 2^nd Michael Gibbs u/18s (18.46); 13^th / 1^st female Lucy McCann u/17s (21.39)

Team Gold Double for Donore at Dublin Masters and Weekend Round-Up

January 12, 2015Club News, ResultsMedbh Peavoy

It was a hugely successful day for the Donore Harriers athletics club at the Dublin Masters Cross Country championships at St. Anne’s Park in Raheny on Sunday. Highlights included John Dunne running a ‘stormer’ to retain his Dublin masters individual title – and victories for both the men’s and women’s teams.

On a cold and blustery day the first into action were the women, who had to race two 1500m laps over flat terrain. Anne Curley led the race at the halfway stage, with Niamh Fitzgerald of Lucan Harriers in second and Kim Hickey in third. On the second lap Fitzgerald (10.53) moved to the front and eventually ran out a clear winner with Donore pair Curley (11.01) and Hickey (11.10) placing 2^nd and 3^rd respectively. Hickey’s was a gold medal run as she claimed 1^stplace in the W35 category.

Strong running by Breda Mahony and Barbara Murray, who finished 16^th and 20^th respectively, ensured that Donore Harriers (41) won the team competition ahead of Clonliffe Harriers (58) and Raheny Shamrocks AC (61).

Further down the field Ann Woodlock gave her usual consistent performance to place 108^th overall and win the W75 category.

There was an exciting battle at the front of the men’s race over 6000m. Former senior international runner Peter Matthews of Dundrum South Dublin AC, the Raheny pair of Brian Leahy and Mick Traynor and defending champion John Dunne of Donore Harriers were in close order through the first 3 laps. Heading out into the last lap it was Matthews and Leahy at the front with Dunne and Traynor only a couple of meters back. With the race at melting point over the final few hundred metres it was Dunne who worked his way to the front, eventually winning by about 10 metres from runner up Matthews. This was a fantastic win for the Donore man, proving that he has the mental tenacity to outrun his opponents in the heat of battle.

Niall Lynch ran a very gutsy race. He was in fifth place going into the last lap, but he paid the toll for his earlier ambitions in the race to slip back to 7^th on the final circuit. However, he held on to win the over 40s category from his team-mate Ciaran McCarthy. McCarthy ran an excellent race to place 8^th overall. Fergal Whitty closed the Donore Harriers scoring team in 11^th place.

Donore Harriers (27) ran out as clear winners in the team category ahead of Rathfarnham (46) and Raheny Shamrocks (59).

Category medals were also won by Terry Mee, who got bronze in the M70s – and Jim McNamara and Joseph Maguire, who took gold and silver in the M75s.

Results in brief:

Dublin Masters XC championship – Women 3km: 2^nd Anne Curley (2^nd in F40 class); 3^rd Kim Hickey (1^st in F35); 16^th Breda Mahony F35; 20^th Barbara Murray F40; 76^th Irene Walsh F50; 108^th Ann Woodlock (1^st in F75)

Team: 1^st Donore Harriers <Curley, Hickey, Mahony & Murray> (41); 2^nd Clonliffe Harriers (58); 3^rd Raheny Shamrocks (61) – 15 teams

Dublin Masters XC championship – Men 6km: 1^st John Dunne (1^st in M35); 7^th Niall Lynch (1^st in M40); 8^thCiaran McCarthy (2^nd in M40); 19^th Henry English M35; 24^th Chris Muldoon M35; 39^th Graham Hopkins M40; 50^thDes Tremble M40; 58^th Alan Farrell M40; 91^st Noel Conway M40; 96^th Tom Fagan M45; 106^th Peter Nugent M45; 113^th Niall P. O’Reilly M35; 119^th Ian Redican M40; 136^th David Wogan M50; 167^th Kenneth Cronin M50; 186^thJim McNamara (1^st in M75); 6^th in 3km race Terry Mee (1^st in M70); 7^th in 3km race Joseph Maguire (2^nd in M75); DNF Gerard McDonald injured.

Team: 1^st Donore Harriers <Dunne, Lynch, McCarthy & Whitty> (27); 2^nd Rathfarnham (46); 3^rd Raheny Shamrocks AC (59) – 15 teams

The first round of the Athletics Ireland National Indoor League took place at the Athlone I.T. Arena on Sunday. Donore Harriers fielded development teams in both the women’s and men’s competition under the captaincy of David Campbell. The young athletes performed with great endeavour with the women’s team placing 10^th of 12 teams on 24 points behind joint leaders Leevale AC and Craughwell AC (both 46.5). The men’s team lay in 15^th place from 20 teams on 37 points behind leaders Clonliffe Harriers (99).

Results in brief:

National Indoor League Round 1 Women:

60m: 5^th Linda Ngankam (8.00s)

60m guest race: Aoife Lynch JNR (8.16s); Ailise Keating JNR (8.61s)

800m: 6^th Claire O’Connor JNR (2.32.0)

Long Jump: 7^th Karen Hughes JNR (4.04m)

Shot Putt: 10^th Anne Gormley F50 (5.39m)

Team: = 1^st Leevale AC (46.5); = 1^st Craughwell AC (46.5); 10^th Donore Harriers (24)

National Indoor League Round 1 Men:

60m: 5^th Sean Lawlor JNR (7.16s)

60m guest race: Adam Halpin JNR (7.96)

800m: 4^th Daragh Fitzgibbon (1.58.70)

800m guest race: David Campbell (2.03.41); Killian O’Hora (2.14.92)

Long Jump: 15^th Adam Halpin JNR (4.34m)

Shot Putt: 14^th David Campbell (7.51m)

Team: 1^st Clonliffe Harriers (99); 2^nd Raheny Shamrocks (90); 15^th Donore Harriers (37)

Race Report for Weekend 4th January 2015

January 6, 2015Club News, Results, SeniorMedbh Peavoy

John Travers ran out a clear winner of the Tom Brennan Memorial 5km race in the Phoenix Park on New Year’s Day. A wet and windy day made conditions difficult – and in the circumstances it still proved to be a good day of sport organised by local club Liffey Valley AC. Donore Harriers star man Travers (14.43) was always in command and opened up a gap of about 70 metres on runner-up John Coghlan (14.55) of Metro St. Bridget AC. Brian Keane (15.03) of Leevale AC came 3^rd.

Ian Redican, fresh from his Waterhouse Byrne Baird Shield success, won the M40 category in the Caragh 5km, whilst George Brady and Samantha Conroy had wins in the parkrun series at Griffeen Park and Tymon Park respectively. Colin Morrissey achieved a new personal best when placing 2^nd in the Waterstown parkrun.

In the second round of the Women’s Meet and Train Cross Country League, Donore had their usual strong turnout with 11 ladies taking to the frost and mud in Bushy Park. Similarly to the first round, Kim Hickey ran strongly to finish in second place (12.09) to Lucan’s Niamh Fitzgerald who once again set a blistering pace. Next home was Eva Campion 16th (13.40), Sian O’Conor 18th (13.45), Aisling Swaine 33rd (14.04), Lee Chambers 57th (14.13), Angela O’Dea 62nd (14.51), Meadbh Campbell 69th (15.03), Mary Kingston 71st (15.10), Sue Lynch 113th (16.42) and Ann Woodlock 117th (16.54)

Results in brief:

Tom Brennan Memorial 5km (1/1/15)

1^st John Travers (14.43); 41^st Luke Boland (17.23); 53^rd Des Tremble M40 (18.08); 74^th Derek O’Neill M45 (19.04); 111^th David Wogan M50 (20.24); 115^th Rhona Duane F35 (20.40); 148^th Aoife O’Sullivan (21.45); 188^th Florence Curley F40 (22.43); 191^st Charlie O’Neill M60 (22.44); 330^th Sue Lynch F50 (28.19)

Other results:

Caragh Temple Street Hospital 5km (1/1/15): 4^th / 1^st M40 category Iain Redican (19.19)

Emyvale 10k (1/1/15): 1st woman Barbara Murray (41.07)

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (3/1/15): 2^nd Colin Morrissey M35 (18.47 – PB)

Griffeen 5km Parkrun (3/1/15): 1^st George Brady M35 (17.34)

Tymon 5km Parkrun (3/1/15): 11^th / 1^st woman Samantha Conroy F35 (21.35)

Hartstown 5km Parkrun (3/1/15): 4^th Niall O’Reilly M35 (19.07); 5^th Peter Nugent M45 (19.08)

Marlay 5km Parkrun (3/1/15): 9^th Alan Farrell M40 (18.33 – PB)

Race Report for Weekend 28th December 2014

December 31, 2014Club News, Events, ResultsMedbh Peavoy

Former club president Willie Smith described Ian Redican’s victory in the 118^th Waterhouse Byrne Baird Shield race at the Phoenix Park on St. Stephen’s Day as being: “poignant and significant”. The words echoed the fact that 50 years to the day the prestigious race had been won by Tommy Redican, Ian’s father. And similar to the race of 1964 the winner only took over the lead in the last of 5 by 2 mile laps.

First run in 1986 the unique Donore Harriers club 10 mile race is recognised as being the longest running organised cross country race in Europe and this year’s event marked the 80^th consecutive time that the race was held in the Phoenix Park.

On a cold and overcast morning the ‘yacht’ or pursuit handicap race was started by Joseph Maguire and Tony Jenkins, who were both given a 30 minutes advantage on the scratch athlete John Dunne. Significantly 70 years-old Jenkins was also rolling back the years as he had briefly led the opening stages of the 1964 race having first competing in the event two years previous. However, it was Joseph Maguire – recently capped by Ireland in the British & Irish Masters cross country championship at Nottingham in the M75 category – who maintained the lead through the opening 3 laps.

On the fourth lap the evergreen Jim McNamara M75 swept past Maguire and made his bid for glory. Jim, who came 7^th in the 1964 race, has won countless races at Irish and European level. With one lap (2 miles) to go Jim held a 45 seconds lead over Ian Redican with the fastest man in the field John Dunne 4 minutes back – and gaining! The handicappers (Iain Morrison, Florence Curley & Fred Kiernan) had done a great job, because the enthusiastic spectators at the finish line were still speculating as to the outcome of the race.

As the athletes heading back into view with a half-mile to go it was Ian Redican at the front, who was cheered on by several of his family members – but sadly not his father who passed away a couple of years ago. Jim McNamara was next with John Dunne in hot pursuit. Redican ran to his full potential on the day in what was arguably his best race. After crossing the line victorious he went on his knees to savour the same turf where his late father had achieved success 50 years to the day. A remarkable outcome to what was a memorable race.

John Dunne got past Jim McNamara in the closing stages to claim the runner-up position, whilst Sian O’Connor had a very fine race to finish as the first woman in 8^th position.

Result in brief:

1^st Ian Redican M40 (1.25.14) h/cap 15 mins; 2^nd John Dunne M35 (1.26.09) scratch; 3^rd Jim McNamara M75 (1.26.24) h/cap 25 mins; 4^thHenry English M35 (1.26.44) h/cap 5 mins; 5^th Barry Potts M65 (1.26.59) h/cap 13m.30s; 6^th Joe Murphy (1.27.08) h/cap 15 mins; 7^th Garvan Smith M40 (1.27.10) h/cap 4 mins; 8^th Sian O’Connor (1.27.11) h/cap 25m.30s; 9^th Alan Farrell M35 (1.27.19) h/cap 10 mins; 10^th Niall Lynch M40 (1.27.37) h/cap 1 min; 11^th Kenneth Cronin M50 (1.27.39) h/cap 22 mins; 12^th Colin Morrissey M35 (1.27.57) h/cap 12 mins; 13^th Emmet O’Briain M35 (1.28.36) h/cap 8m.30s; 14^th Peter Nugent M50 (1.28.48) h/cap 15 mins; 15^th George Brady M35 (1.29.22) h/cap 5 mins; 16^th Joseph Maguire M75 (1.29.39) h/cap 30 mins; 17^th Graham Hopkins M40 (1.29.43) h/cap 2m.30s; 18^thSean Fox M35 (1.29.58) h/cap 5 mins; 19^th Arthur Connick M50 (1.30.06) h/cap 25 mins; 20^th Anne Curley F40 (1.30.14) h/cap 8m.30s; 21^st Noel Conway M50 (1.30.20) h/cap 9 mins; 22^nd Charlie O’Neill M60 (1.31.28) h/cap 22 mins; 23^rd Tony Jenkins M70 (1.38.32) h/cap 30 mins

First woman: Sian O’Connor

Fastest man: John Dunne (56.09)

Fastest woman: Anne Curley (1.08.44)

Other results:

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (25/12/14): 4^th Colin Morrissey M35 (21.34); 47^th Andrew Maguire M45 (28.36)

Farranfore Maine Valley 5km (26/12/14): 17^th Patrick Moriarty M35 (20.01); 22^nd Des Tremble M40 (20.14)

Streets of Wicklow 5km (26/12/14): 63^rd / 7^th woman Rhona Duane (20.16)

Kilbeggan 6km (26/12/14): 3^rd Chris Muldoon M35 (20.32)

Griffeen 5km Parkrun (27/12/14): 26^th / 4^th woman Nicola Dowdall F40 (24.33)

Tymon 5km Parkrun (27/12/14): 5^th / 1^st woman Samantha Conroy F35 (21.31)

Togher ‘Right Price Tiles’ 5km (28/12/14): 20^th / 1^st M45 Ian O’Leary (17.19)

Currohill 5km Co. Laois (28/12/14): 4^th woman Breda Mahony

Suttonians Fat Turkey 10k (28 /12 / 14): 59th Des Gill (45:12)

Race Report for Weekend 21 December 2014

December 22, 2014Club News, Juvenile, Results, SeniorMedbh Peavoy

Kolade Abiodun has been named as the Leinster Juvenile athlete of the year for 2014 by the Athletics Association of Ireland. The affable 14 years-old Donore Harriers athlete won 8 Dublin titles this year before going on to win the 60m Hurdles All-Ireland indoors championship and the 250m Hurdles All-Ireland outdoors crown. In the latter he set a new national record time of 33.81s where his run was described as “superb” by the Irish Hurdlers website.

Kolade was encouraged to take up athletics a few years ago by his former teacher Tom Clyne of the De La Salle National School. Coached by Ray O’Keeffe and Liam Brennan he has been improving year on year and his sporting ambition is: “… to become a well known Irish athlete”. Kolade is ‘sports mad’ and also represents his St. John’s Secondary School in Ballyfermot in basketball and football. He lists retired American sprinter and Olympic and World champion Maurice Greene as his favourite all-time athlete.

Kolade Abiodun has a very exciting future in athletics. Heartiest congratulations on his achievements thus far from his many friends and colleagues at Donore Harriers!

Donore Harriers held their traditional pre-Christmas Captain’s Race in the Phoenix Park on Saturday (20/12/14).On a crisp, dry morning more than 20 athletes – including 4 members of the Fit4Youth squad – competing over a 5 kilometres, 3 laps grass course near the Army grounds.

A keenly contested race was won by Garvan Smith (19.55) with Des Tremble (20.10) as runner-up and George Brady (20.24) in third. The first woman home was Anne Curley, who was fourth overall, in a time of 21.31.

After the race club members and siblings Aoife and Michael Rickard raised €350 in a charity collection for the Ebola crisis.

Elsewhere , 18 years-old Hannah Barr was the first female finisher at the Waterstown Parkrun 5 kilometres at Palmerstown in a new PB time of 24.04.

Results in brief:

Captain’s Run in Phoenix Park (20/12/14) : 1^st Garvan Smith M40 (19.55); 2^nd Des Tremble M40 (20.10); 3^rdGeorge Brady M35 (20.24); 4^th Anne Curley F40 (21.31); 5^th Joe Murphy (22.11); 6^th Barry Potts M60 (22.41); 7^thRhona Duane (22.59); 8^th Des Gill M45 (24.03); 9^th Ruth Cavanagh (24.26); 10^th Sian O’Connor F35 (25.05); 11^thCharlie O’Neill M60 (25.28); 12^th Joseph Maguire M75 (27.47); 13^th Angela Eustace F40 (27.58); 14^th Mary Kingston F50 (28.01); 15^th Catherine McKeon (28.18); 16^th Eilish Joyce (29.02); 17^th Jennifer O’Keeffe F45 (29.21); 18^th Tony Jenkins M70 (29.35); 19^th Deirdre Brennan (31.52); 20^th Matthew Lynch JUV (35.20); 21^stKate Lynch JUV (37.41); 22^nd Justin Maher JUV (37.41); 23^rd Ben Halpin JUV (NTG)

Other results:

Marlay Parkrun 5km (20/12/14): 6^th Paul Cummins (17.58)

Tymon Parkrun 5km (20/12/14); 13^th / 4^th woman Samantha Conroy F35 (20.59)

Waterstown Parkrun 5km (20/12/14): 6^th Paul O’Neill u/17s (21.04); 16^th / 1^st woman Hannah Barr u/19s (24.04 – PB); 27^th James McDonagh u/14s (26.01); 38^th Shona Smyth u/14s (29.11)

Annual Awards Night

December 17, 2014Club NewsMedbh Peavoy

Donore Harriers held their Annual Awards Evening at the Spa Hotel in Lucan on Friday evening (12/12/14). The main guest was Professor Ciaran O’Cathain, the President of the Athletics Association of Ireland and a former member of the club.
The awards celebration brought together the various sections of the club and was a wonderful tribute to the club’s individual and team successes in 2014. It was also a chance to award emerging athletes under the ‘most improved’ categories.

Thomas Byrne, the club’s President, made the opening and closing addresses and thanked all the coaches and volunteers for their continued dedicated work in promoting the club and the athletes. Again a special mention must go to Linda McDonnell who was the chief organiser of the event and gave great attention to detail so as to ensure a wonderful event.
The award winners for best athlete and most improved athlete in the various squads are as follows:
Track and Field Squad ages 8 to 14 (Coached by Ray O’Keeffe & Liam Brennan)
Best Athlete: Kolade Abiodum

Kolade won 8 Dublin titles including the Dublin League. He won the national indoors title for the 60m hurdles and the national outdoors gold in the 250m hurdles. He also won the national combined events title.

Most Improved Athlete: Cara Brennan & Robyn O’Keeffe

Cara and Robyn medalled at the Dublin indoors and outdoors track and field championships and were an integral part of the relay squad that took national bronze.

Sprints Squad ages 8 to 13 (Coached by Philip Martin)

Most Improved Athlete: Brooke Fagan

Distance Squad ages 8 to 13 (Coached by Oana Onofrei)

Most Improved Athlete: Alan Reid

Track and Field Squad ages 13 to 19 (Coached by John Geoghegan and Paul Clarkin)

Best Athlete: Jack Rudden Kelly

Jack is a very versatile, multi-event athlete. Some of his achievements in the last year include a bronze medal in the Shot Pull and silver medal in the Hurdles at the National Indoor championships. He won gold in the Leinster Schools competing in his favoured 100m Hurdles event (PB of 13.71) and then went on to win a silver medal at the All Ireland Schools. He also took a silver medal in the Leinster Schools championships in the High Jump.

Jack represented Ireland in the Schools International Combined event at Glasgow last December and during the summer he was on the Ireland team that competing in the Celtic Games at Santry against the other home countries.

Most Improved Athlete: Alex Clarkin

Alex won a silver medal in the All Ireland combined events and following an injury recovered to win silver in the Leinster Schools combined event achieving 3 personal bests.

Long Term Development Distance Squad ages 13 to 19 (Coached by Gerry Naughton)

Best Athlete: Fathi Aden

Fathi won the Dublin under 14s cross country championship and then became the first Donore Harriers athlete since John Travers to win a national juvenile cross country title when he won the under 14s championship recently at Dundalk. He won gold and silver medals in the under 14s and under 15s inter-county cross country championships representing Dublin.

Most Improved Athlete: Suzanne Masterson

Suzanne won the Dublin cross country league in the under 16s category and was a member of the Dublin team that won gold medals at the national inter-county cross country championships.

Senior Track and Field Squad (Coached by Gerry Ronan)

Best Athlete: Sean Lawlor

Sean won the under 17s national indoor 200m championship and the All Ireland schools in both the 100m and 200m. He went on to win the Tailteann Games setting games records in both the 100m and 200m. He captained the Irish schools team at an international meeting in Glasgow and was captain again when he represented Ireland at the Celtic Games in Santry

Most Improved Athlete: Lauren O’Keefe

Lauren became the Leinster Schools hammer throwing champion adding 8 metres to the previous school record. She went on to win silver in the All Ireland schools and was also a silver medallist in the Under 16s National Juvenile Track & Field championship in her specialist Hammer event. She improved her personal best by an astonishing 23 metres this year.

Senior Women (Coached by Jim McNamara and Florrie Curley)

Best Athlete: Anne Curley

Winner of the Derry Marathon in 2.57.51, she then recorded a time of 2.58 in the Berlin Marathon – her 10^th marathon, all run in sub 3 hours. She was a scoring member of the Donore Harriers team that won silver medals in the Dublin senior cross country championships. Anne recently represented Ireland in the British & Irish Masters at Nottingham.

Most Improved Athlete: Elaine Verdon

Only two years in the sport, Elaine lowered her marathon PB to 3.53 and her half-marathon time to 1.42.50 this year. She also won her first championship medal when she won bronze on the Donore Harriers team in the Dublin 10 mile masters race.

Women Masters (Coached by Jim McNamara and Florrie Curley)

Best Athlete: Ann Woodlock

76 years old Ann is an inspirational figure in Irish athletics. This year she won a W75 3000m silver medal and a W75 1500m bronze medal at the European Masters championships at Budapest. She recently represented Ireland at the British & Irish maters cross country at Nottingham.

Meet and Train Squad (Coached by Jim McNamara & Sue Lynch)

Best Athlete: Emer Rattigan

Emer won the 4 mile event in the Meet & Train road league in the Phoenix Park last summer and recorded 2^nd and 3^rd placings in other league fixtures. She has also competed well for the club at novice and intermediate cross country championships.

Fit for Life Squad (Coached by Barry Potts)

Best Athlete: Ann Rush

Ann regularly competes in road and mountain races; her exploits included an Alpine race this year. She also lines out annually in the Achill half-marathon and her commitment to training and encouragement to other squad members make her a worthy winner.

Most Improved Athlete: Deirdre Brennan

Since joining the squad two years ago Deirdre has lowered her personal best time for 5 kilometres from 45 minutes to 26 minutes – a true mark of her dedication!

Senior Men (Coached by John Downes, Iain Morrison & Mick Bourke)

Best Athlete: John Travers

John represented Ireland in the 1500m at the European senior Track & Field championships in the summer. This followed his spine tingling performance in the Morton Mile at Santry Stadium with a massive personal best of 3.55.44; and then his bronze winning run in the national 1500 metres that ensured his qualification to the Irish team.

John was a key man in Donore Harriers Track & Field League team that won promotion, doubling up to score crucial points in the 1500m and 800m in the League final at Tullamore. His strong team/club ethos was also prominent when he placed 4^th in the National Senior Inter-Club cross country championship and in the process led the Donore Harriers team to bronze medals. He recently placed 2^nd in the Dublin senior cross country championship and won the University athlete of the season award.

Last week John set a new course record (14.05) when winning the Jingle Bells 5km race in the Phoenix Park.

Most Improved Athlete: Lee Van Haeften

Lee was the second scorer on the Donore team that won bronze medals at the National Inter-Club cross country championships. He improved his 5km PB to 14.41 at a British Milers club meet at Manchester and placed 7^th in the national 10.000m on the track with 31.25 PB time.

Junior Men (Coached by John Downes)

Best Athlete: Oisin Fitzgibbon

Oisin placed 4^th in the National under 17s 3000m in a time of 9.00.04, taking more than 30 seconds off his previous best time. He improved his 5km time from 17.23 to 15.55 when winning the junior category at the Kilcock road race in the summer.

Most Improved Athlete: Sam Gallagher

Sam ran a personal best of 16.49 when winning a 5km race in Central Park, New York in the summer. He was second junior in the Kilcock 5km in a time of 16.59. He shows great aptitude and knows no fear when it comes to racing.

Masters Men (Coached by John Downes, Iain Morrison and Mick Bourke)

Best Athlete: John Dunne

John won the Dublin Masters Championship in 2014 and finished 3^rdOverall in the National Masters Cross Country and led the Donore team to Gold in the Dublin team Masters and bronze in the National team Masters Cross-Country. He was the key 4^th scorer when securing the bronze medal for the club in the national inter-club cross country championships.

John earned his first Irish vest finishing 3^rd scorer on the Irish M35 team that won silver medals in the British & Irish cross country championship at Nottingham. On the road he anchored our masters relay team to second place medals in the M35 class. John improved his PBs to 16.05 for 5km and 33.29 for 10km. More recently he was the runaway winner of the Dublin intermediate cross country championship.

Most Improved Athlete: Niall Lynch

Niall won the Leinster Masters cross country championship having dominated the race at Avondale. He led the Irish team, finishing 8^th, to silver medals in the British & Irish Masters championships at Nottingham, having previously won the Irish M40 trial at the Phoenix Park. He won the gold medal in the Dublin M40 category and was a part of the Donore Harriers gold medal team in the M35-49 class.

Niall placed 5^th in the Dublin Novice cross country leading home the winning Donore Harriers team. He was second Over 35 in the National Half-Marathon and was part of the Donore team that won silver medals.

Niall ran in some of the Irish Mountain Running Association races in the summer and regularly placed in the top 5.

Team of the Year

Winner: Men’s Senior Track & Field Team (Captained by David Campbell and Managed by Maurice Ahern)

Having narrowly missed promotion in the previous two years it was a case of ‘job well done’ this season under the excellent leadership of captain David Campbell and team manager Maurice Ahern.

Having made it through to the Division One league final following strong team performances at the qualifying rounds at Sligo and Athlone it was all down to the last day at Tullamore. With the addition of some very talented junior and juvenile athletes and with a stronger throwing section developed during the winter months the team went into this year’s league final determined to win. On the day athletes like Eamon Fahey, Niall Allen, John Travers, Jaco Oostenhuven, Eoin Molly, Sean Lawlor, David Campbell, Conor Fox, Conor O’Ceallaigh, Ray Hynes and Mark Dooley all performed magnificently to ensure an 8 points victory over runner-up Nenagh Olympic with Kilkenny City Harriers four points further back. Eric Keogh (injured) and Rolus Olosu (away) were unable to compete on the day, but were integral to the team’s qualification through to the final.

Club Person of the Year:

Winner: Leonie Newman

Leonie is the Juvenile Team Manager for both Track & Field and Cross Country. In that capacity she ensures all team entries and arrangements. She also makes herself busy in supporting other club activities such as social events, fundraising and registrations. Leonie also acts as an official during competitions and represents the juvenile interests of the club at Dublin Athletics Board meetings.

Together with Juvenile Section Secretary Linda McDonnell she has been central to the growing status of the club’s juvenile squads through her organizational abilities and her care and attention to the needs of the athletes.

A very worthy and popular winner indeed!

At a special reception held at the Glashaus Hotel in Tallaght on Thursday evening (11/12/14) Jim McNamara was inducted into theEcho Sports Hall of Fame. Young sprints star Sean Lawlor was short listed in the sports star of the year category. The awards are held every year in conjunction with the South Dublin County Sports Partnership.

Donore Harriers race report for weekend 14 December 2014

December 17, 2014Club News, Results, SeniorMedbh Peavoy

Eric Keogh (16.43) was the runaway winner of the Business Houses Athletics Association 5 kilometres cross country race at Marlay Park on Sunday (14/12/14). Eric, who is getting back to form following an injury, was always in command and had over a half-a-minute to spare over his nearest rival at the finish line.

Here is a list of weekend results: –

Aware 10km at Phoenix Park (13/12/14): 41^st Colin Morrissey (40.32); 132^nd Elaine Verdon F35 (46.16); 169^th Joseph Maguire M75 (47.47); 241^st Karen Behan (49.34); 256^th Karen Crowley (48.21); 280^th Catherine McKeon (51.07)

Business Houses AA 5km Cross Country at Marlay Park (14/12/14): 1^st Eric Keogh (16.43); 29^th Tom Fagan M45 (20.08); 35^th Peter Nugent M45 (20.20); 44^th Ian Redican M40 (20.43); 58^thBreda Mahony F35 (21.18); 139^th Joseph Maguire M75 (26.24)

National Novice and Weekend Round-Up

December 10, 2014Results, SeniorMedbh Peavoy

With John Travers (14.05) setting a course record when winning the Jingle Bells 5 kilometres road race in the Phoenix Park on Saturday and the senior men’s team coming within a whisker of making athletics history in the national novice cross country championship at Santry Demesne on Sunday it was certainly a memorable weekend for Donore Harriers.

The 24^th edition of the annual Jingle Bells race, hosted by Donore Harriers, had quality competition in both the men’s and women’s fields. This well organised festive opener has something for everybody and is never short on hospitality and good racing. A group of five men took the pace through the opening stages on what was a cool and calm morning with the sun shining down on the morning’s fare. Travers from the host club was nestled among Conor Bradley (14.20) from the City of Derry club, current national cross country Mick Clohisey (14.25) of Raheny Shamrocks, Brandon Hargreaves (14.37) of Clonliffe Harriers and John Coghlan (14.50) of MSB AC. Near the half-way mark Travers moved to the front and maintained a relentless pace to gain a notable victory in front of a big home support.

Former cross country champion athlete Mary Cullen (15.37) of North Sligo AC also set a course record when winning the women’s race. This was Mary’s first race in 10 months due to injury and it proved to be a fine return to form. She placed 14^thoverall and was pushed hard all the way by national 1500m champion Ciara Mageean (15.47) of UCD, with Irish marathon champion Maria McCambridge (16.33) of DSD AC claiming the 3^rd position.

The rules that govern the national novice competition are designed so that it is extremely difficult for a club to record consecutive wins in the team category. As defending champions Donore Harriers had to bring an entirely new team of runners to this year’s competition. On the day the main challengers were going to be Cork based Leevale AC and St. Abban’s from County Laois. With four to score every place was vital! Ben Thistlewood (20.21) of Leevale broke clear from a group of six athletes on the 4^th and penultimate lap to win the 6km race ahead of Thomas Moran (20.27) of Dunshaughlin AC. Donore were packing 5 runners between places 20 and 30 during the early stages with Leevale and St. Abbans having men placed in the top 20. Donore’s cause was helped by a determined run from Michael McMahon (21.20) who gained several places over the latter two laps to record 12^thposition. Strong running from County Monaghan native Caoimhin Kelly (21.38) got him home in 22^nd, with Colm O’Connell (21.40) just one place further back. A fast finishing Daragh Fitzgibbon (21.46) gained to 27^th to take the important fourth team scorer spot, with Leinster novice champion Niall Lynch (21.48) just missing out in 29^th.

St. Abban’s (3^rd on 118 points) challenge for team gold had diminished when one of their key men had to pull out of the race due to illness. That left Leevale! Having the winner and their second and third scoring men in 13^thand 28^threspectively meant that the outcome hung on their fourth man. Thus when Anthony Mannix (41^st position) put in a sprint finish to gain a couple of places in the closing stages he edged Leevale (83) to a one point win over a very gallant Donore Harriers (84) challenge.

Consecutive team wins has never been achieved in the national novice cross country event, but this was as close as it gets! Indeed it took the race officials almost two hours to check video recordings before verifying the result. Who says we don’t have a TMO in cross country!

Colm O’Connell and Daragh Fitzgibbon were members of the Dublin team that won silver medals in the incorporated county championship.

With 23 competitors in a field of almost 250 starters the Chapelizod based club again impressed as a force in Irish distance running.

A huge field of 133 runners contested the ladies 4k novice race on a bitterly cold day on Santry demesne. Ruth Cavanagh was unfortunately forced to pull out of the race early on after a fall in a rough and tumble start. After the race settled into 3 big laps of the park, Kim Hickey was first of the Donore ladies and ran a strong race throughout to feature in the top quarter of the race finishing in 36th. 30 seconds back, Breda Mahony was 60th in her first race since the Berlin marathon. Karla Doran had an excellent run in 81st and Rhona Duane picked off a lot of finishers in the latter stages to come 86th. Emer RATTIGAN was 92nd followed by Sinead Graham in 102nd and making her cross country debut was Martina Nolan in 114th. The team finished 11th out of 16, this was a baptism of fire for a developing cross country team at this level but valuable race experience.The day before, Anne Curley had a great result at the Waterford half marathon finishing 4th in 83.14, Mary Murphy had a super race achieving a PB of 1.44.31. There was a home win for the Donore ladies team at the Jingle bells 5k with Ide Nic Dhomhnaill in 18.06, Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill in 18.14 and Maura Kearns in 19.20, Jona Kalemi ran 21.42, Catherine McKeon 23.55, and Pauline Fagan 26.30, Roisin Mahony 27.52 whilst Samantha Conroy (20.47) and George Brady (17.36) recorded 5km parkrun wins at Tymon Park and Griffeen Park.

Results in brief: –

National Novice Cross Country Championships at Santry Demesne

Women 4km: 36^thKim Hickey (16.49); 60^th Breda Mahony (17.22); 81^st Karla Doran (17.49); 86^th Rhona Duane (17.50); 92^nd Emer Rattigan (17.53); 102^nd Sinead Graham (18.08); 114^thMartina Nolan (18.35)

Team: 1^st Dundrum South Dublin (76 points); 11^th Donore Harriers (263)

Men 6km: 12^thMichael McMahon (21.20); 22^nd Caoimhin Kelly (21.38); 23^rdColm O’Connell (21.40); 27^th Daragh Fitzgibbon (21.46); 29^thNiall Lynch M40 (21.48); 50^th Aogan MacDomhnaill (22.13); 52^ndGraham Hopkins M35 (22.15); 57^th Darren Hand (22.19); 62^ndCiaran McCarthy M40 (22.22); 74^th Emmet O’Briain M35 (22.32); 89^thHenry English M35 (22.52); 100^th Chris Muldoon M35 (23.03); 122^ndWill Morris M35 (23.36); 131^st Paul O’Callaghan (23.44); 134^thDes Tremble M40 (23.52); 145^th Luke Boland (24.08); 166^thAndrew Cusack (25.05); 168^th Niall J. O’Reilly (25.16); 174^thTom Fagan M45 (25.27); `176^th Noel Conway (25.38); 185^th Joe Murphy (26.08); 186^th Peter Nugent M45 (26.09); 188^th Stephen Dawson (26.42)

Team: 1^st Leevale AC (83); 2^ndDonore Harriers <McMahon; Kelly; O’Connell; Fitzgibbon> (84); 3^rdSt. Abban’s AC (118); 19^th Donore Harriers B (456); 21^stDonore Harriers C (607)

Note: O’Connell and Fitzgibbon on Dublin team that won team silver behind Cork

Other results:

Jingle Bells 5km at Phoenix Park (6/12/14): 1^stJohn Travers (14.05) course record; 15^th John Dunne M35 (15.39) PB second in category; 20^th Dave Heffernan M35 (16.06); 105^th/ 14^th women Ide NicDhomhnaill (18.06); 112^th / 16^thwoman Sorcha NicDhomhnaill (18.14); 139^th Bernard Byrne (18.36); 166^thMaura Kearns (19.20); 262^nd Johnny Brady M45 (21.15); 277^thJona Kalemi (21.42); 283^rd Aoife O’Sullivan (22.05); 37^thCatherine McKeon F35 (23.55); 488^th Pauline Fagan F45 (26.30); 592^ndRoisin Mahony F40 (27.52); 597^th Robyn O’Keeffe FJ (28.18); 851^stCarmel Lawlor F45 (37.41)

Waterford Half-Marathon (6/12/14): 62^nd/ 4^th woman Anne Curley F35 (1.23.14); 136^th Colin Morrissey (1.27.35) PB; 240^th Niall P. O’Reilly (1.31.34); 605^thMary Murphy F40 (1.44.31)

Tymon Parkrun 5km (6/12/14): 5^th/ 1^st woman Samantha Conroy F35 (20.47)

Griffeen Parkrun 5km (6/12/14): 1^stGeorge Brady M35 (17.36)

JUVENILE REPORT:

Two weeks after winning the national under 14s cross country championship Fathi Aden stepped up an age group to compete in the under 15s category in the National Juvenile Uneven Age championships at Santry Demesne on Sunday (7/12/14). It proved to be a tough assignment! His cause was not helped by a cautious start that found him well adrift of the leaders at they headed out along the first of 3 laps on an undulating and mud-laden 3.5km course. Picking his way through the field of 130 starters he got up to a high of 15^th position by the end of lap two. However he paid the price for his mid-race efforts and faded to 21^stplace at the finish line.

Sekeriye Ahmed competed with distinction in the same race. After a steady start he ran with great determination to pick his way past a host of runners to place 27^thoverall. Both Fathi and Sekeriye were scoring members of the Dublin team (137 points) that placed second behind winners Cork (131) in the inter-county competition. Clare (250) came third.

Michael Gibbs, a late call-up to the Dublin team, placed 94^thin the Boys under 17s race over 5.000 metres. This was Michael’s debut at a national competition and the experience should auger well for his future in the sport.

A number of Donore Harriers juvenile members competed in the Jingle Bells 5 kilometres road race at the Phoenix Park on Saturday (6/12/14). Daniel Brady, Claire O’Connor, Roisin Brady, Elena Gaina, Taylor Robertson, Robert Lynch, Sophie O’Farrell, Sadbh Parker, Suzie O’Farrell, Alannah McCauley and Robyn O’Keeffe were joined by Ben Halpin, Shannon Verdon-Byrne, Teigan Doran and Justin Maher from the Fit4Youth group in completing the course.

Results in brief: –

National Juvenile Uneven Age Cross Country Championships at Santry Demesne (7/12/14)

u/15s Boys (3.500m): 21^st Fathi Aden (stepping up); 27^thSekeriye Ahmed (both boys won silver medals as part of Dublin team in the county championships)

u/17s Boys (5.000m): 94^th Michael Gibbs