Highlights: Louis O’Loughlin retained his National Junior 800m title with a championship record time. Abdel Laadjel took a super silver in the Junior 3,000m as Gavin Curtin ran a fine tactical race to place 2^nd in the B final. Strong running by Donore Harriers athletes in the International Charleville Half-Marathon with 3 men in the top 20 – and Ide Nic Dhomhnaill 1^st senior woman and newcomer Sorcha Loughnane 2^nd in the W40 category. An unfortunate Lara O’Byrne was forced to withdraw due to injury whilst leading the national senior heptathlon championship. The club’s juvenile members ran a well-organized marathon relay to honour the achievement of Willie Dunne’s 1960 Rome Olympic marathon run.

Report: Louis O’Loughlin stormed his way to the gold medal in the 800m final at the National Junior track and field championships at Santry on Sunday. The Boot Road Bullet set out his intentions early on by going into the lead at the 200m mark. However, the reigning champion did not have things his own way. Jake Bagge of Ferrybank AC kept close pursuit of O’Loughlin as they passed the 400m mark in 56 seconds and then the 600m in 1.23. The two race leaders opened a gap on the remainder of the field, with the Donore Harriers man only gaining a clear advantage over his rival in the closing 30 to 40 metres. O’Loughlin winning time of 1.50.89 broke the championship record set as far back as 1999. Runner-up Bagge recorded a PB time of 1.51.85, with Dylan McBride of City of Lisburn AC 3^rd in 1.57.24. O’Loughlin qualified to the final earlier in the day by winning Heat 2 in 2.01.45.

40 athletes contested the 3,000m with 20 each in the A and B finals. Gavin Curtin (9.05.66) set a new personal best when placing 2^nd in the B final behind Oisin Murray (9.04.91) of An Riocht AC. Curtin matched all the early moves in the race as the front group whittled from six down to just two contenders as the race reached its conclusion. However, a final finishing kick from Curtin was matched by the Kerry runner in the race to the line. James Bolton (9.26.30), who has 3 years remaining in the grade, placed an excellent 5^th from a field of 20.

In the medals race Abdel Laadjel (8.39.72) took the silver gong, only conceding to Tadgh Donnelly (8.34.15) of Drogheda & District AC over the final 400 metres. Laadjel ran in the middle of the pack during the early stages of the race, and then gradually made his way to the front to challenge the pre-race favourite. As the two leaders passed the 2km mark in 2.44 (Donnelly) and 2.45 (Laadjel) the Donore Harriers man, knowing that his rival was two years older and possessed superior finishing speed, made a bid for glory – but was unable to open a wide enough gap to claim the top honour. Thus, Donnelly’s final lap of 63 seconds compared to Laadjel’s 68, proved the difference between gold and silver. Fathi Aden, making a comeback to competitive running, placed 18^th in 9.47.67 from a field of 20 starters.

In Saturday’s National Combined Events championships Lara O’Byrne was leading the senior women’s heptathlon by 269 points after 3 of 7 disciplines. Then, prior to the 200 metres a sudden and painful leg injury forced her to withdraw from the contest. The fear is that the injury may be a recurrence of a stress fracture injury that kept her side-lined for several months in 2019. The competition was won by Karen Dunne of Bohermeen AC.

The North Cork Athletics Club assembled strong fields to contest the International Charleville Half-Marathon on Sunday morning. The race, which followed a gently undulating course towards the town of Kilmallock before returning to Charleville, was won by international marathon runner Mick Clohisey (1.05.08) of Raheny Shamrocks AC. First home for Donore Harriers was Ray Hynes (1.09.57) in 10^th place, with new member Robert Murphy (1.10.19) just two places further back. Josh O’Sullivan-Hourihan admitted that he found the windy conditions on the second half of the race to be tough, but nevertheless secured a fine personal best of 1.11.33 and 20^th position overall.

Ide Nic Dhomhnaill (1.18.36) placed 55^th overall and was 1^st in the senior women’s category, finishing well clear of runner-up Mary Mulhare (1.19.51) of Portlaoise AC. Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill (1.21.31) came 67^th overall and 4^th senior woman. Club newcomer Sorcha Loughnane (1.20.48) proved that she has fine potential as an athlete as she placed 65^th overall and 2^nd in the W40 category, behind Irish international athlete Breege Connolly (1.17.28) of Derry Spartans AC.

In the Morton Live Event at Santry on Friday Emmet O’Briain ran 4.42.85 to come 4^th in the Men’s Mile, with Donal Iremonger (5.06.02) placing 9^th.

In the Avondale Sports Day 5km at Wicklow on Thursday evening 10^th September 2020 masters over 65 athlete Tony Kynes came 34^th in a time of 20.49 over a tough, hilly course.

A group of 31 juvenile club athletes took part in the Willie Dunne Relay on the club track on Sunday (13.09.2020). The event organised by the LTAD Juvenile Distance coach Graham Hopkins saw the athletes try to replicate the time ran by Willie of 2.33.08 in the 1960 Rome Olympic Marathon. The boys and girls with an age-range from 10 to 17 completed the task in a very respectable 2 hours and 42 minutes. Most of the runners ran a leg of One Mile, whilst some ran legs of half that distance. Those who took part were: – Oliver Hopkins, Amber Lynch, Honor Lynch, Liam Morris, Lorraine O’Connor, Alex Phelan, Luuk Jackson, Hannah Eustace, Sebastian Ursachi, Tara Hoare, Ava Hoare, Ruby Kelly, Claudia Redmond, Ruairi Kirby, Eva Crowe, Daniel Hughes, Katie Delaney, Liam Blair, James Dunne, Sam Inverarity, Tom Nolan, Emily Bolton, Matei Ursachi, Anabel Omozee, Melody Omozee, Dylan McKenna, Laura Nunan, Eleanor Hopkins, Joe Kinsella, Sean Kinsella and Mario Omozee.

Unfortunately, Willie Dunne – who will be 87 years old on the 15.09.2020 – was unable to attend due to illness. We all wish him a speedy recovery!

Another with the marathon in his focus was popular club member Stephen Dawson. Stephen was due to run the 2020 Boston Marathon, but the event normally held in the month of April, was postponed until September and then due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions in the USA was cancelled. Thus, Stephen donned his running shoes and did a ‘virtual’ marathon by completing 44 laps of the Polo Grounds in the Phoenix Park on Saturday morning (12.09.2020). With his training colleagues offering verbal and paced support, he completed the distance in 3 hours and 29 minutes.

LINK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NDU1kk37_E Louis 800m @ 6.30.00 Gavin & James 3,000m @ 7.24.00 Abdel & Fathi 3,000m @ 7.41.00

Results in brief:

AVONDALE SPORTS DAY 5km at WICKLOW TOWN (10.09.2020)

34^th Tony Kynes M65 (20.49). 66 finishers.

MORTON LIVE OPEN TRACK MEETING at MORTON STADIUM, SANTRY (11.09.2020)

MEN’S MILE: 4^th Emmet O’Briain M40 (4.42.85), 9^th Donal Iremonger M45 (5.06.02). 12 finishers

NATIONAL COMBINED EVENTS CHAMPIONSHIPS at MORTON STADIUM, SANTRY (12 & 13.09.2020)

SENIOR WOMEN’S HEPTATHLON:

100m Hurdles: 1^st Lara O’Byrne 15.92 (724 pts)

High Jump: 1^st Lara O’Byrne 1.64m (783 pts)

Shot Putt: 2^nd Lara O’Byrne 9.14m (473 pts)

Overall positions after 7 events: 1^st Karen Dunne (Bohermeen AC); DNF Lara O’Byrne retired injured after 3 events

NATIONAL JUNIOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS (DAY 2) at MORTON STADIUM, SANTRY (13.09.2020)

JUNIOR MEN 800m Final – 1^st Louis O’Loughlin (1.50.93 new championship record) GOLD – qualified 1^st Heat 2 of 3 in 2.01.45

JUNIOR MEN 3,000m B Final: – 2^nd Gavin Curtin (9.05.66 PB), 5^th James Bolton (9.26.30). 20 starters.

JUNIOR MEN 3,000M A Final: 2^nd Abdel Laadjel (8.39.72 PB) SILVER, 18^th Fathi Aden (9.47.67). 20 starters.

INTERNATIONAL CHARLEVILLE HALF-MARATHON, CO. CORK (13.09.2020)

10^th Ray Hynes (1.09.57)

12^th Robert Murphy (1.10.19)

20^th Josh O’Sullivan-Hourihan (1.11.33)

55^th & 1^st Snr Woman Ide Nic Dhomhnaill (1.18.36)

65^th & 2^nd W40: Sorcha Loughnane (1.20.48)

67^th & 4^th Snr Woman: Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill (1.21.31)

Highlights: One gold (Niall Allen), six silvers (Emmet O’Briain, Fiona Smith-Keegan, Donal Iremonger, Des Tremble, Tony Kynes and Barry Potts) and a bronze (Colm Dunne) for Donore Harriers athletes in the National Masters track & field championships. Bobby Amadi and Luuk Jackson prove their fine potential in underage competitions.

Report: Donore Harriers were well represented in the National Masters Track & Field championships at Santry on Sunday (06.09.2020), achieving a return of one gold, 6 silvers and a bronze medal.

The gold medal went to Niall Allen (5.82m) who was the convincing winner of the M45 Weight for Distance 56 lb competition, having a metre to spare over runner-up Justin Lane of Trim AC.

The first Donore Harriers athlete to make the podium on a busy day of competition was Colm Dunne. Dunne (12.30), now in his second competitive season, got off to a flyer in the M45 100m final and held on for a bronze medal behind winner John Corr (11.84) of Leevale AC.

Emmet O’Briain ran a very measured race to take the silver medal in the M40 1,500m. O’Briain was one of a front group of 5 athletes at the bell, but was unable to match the finishing pace set by winner Martin Cunningham (4.22.78) of Tir Chonaill AC. However, he did manage to open a gap on the others to secure a fine 2^nd place in 4.26.52. There was also a silver medal for Tony Kynes (5.32.63) in the M65 category over the same distance. Kynes ran a consistent race only to concede to the strong running of Martin Kelly (5.27.14) of Menapians AC over the final 400m lap. It was a fine effort by Kynes, who was making his first appearance in the championship.

Another championship debutant Aidan O’Rourke ran a gutsy race in the M35 1,500m to place 9^th in a personal best time of 4.29.16.

Donore Harriers also secured 2 silver medals in the 5,000m races. Des Tremble (16.50.33) was involved in an intriguing top 3 battle over the first 4,000m of the M50 race. It was then that Vivian Foley (16.42.14) of Eagle AC opened a winning gap whilst Tremble began to put some daylight between himself and 3^rd placed Gerry Carty (17.10.83) of Galway City Harriers. Peter Gaffney and Peter Nugent finished 8^th and 9^th in the same race with respective times of 18.16.53 and 19.00.66. Barry Potts (22.50.38) took silver in the M70 class behind Richard Piotrowski (21.36.38) of Eagle AC.

In the M45 800m Donal Iremonger (2.14.38) narrowly edged out George Delaney (2.14.65) of United Striders AC to claim the silver medal behind pre-race favourite Mark O’Shea (2.02.25) of Drogheda & District AC.

In the women’s over 35 javelin Fiona Smith-Keegan won the silver medal with a 3^rd round throw of 14.91m.

Club captain Florence Curley (11.27.35) came a very creditable 6^th in the W45 3,000m. Also making her championship debut, this was Curley’s first competitive race since August 2019 due to a long-term injury.

In Day One of the National Junior Track & Field championships on Saturday (05.09.2020) 16 years-old Bobby Amadi made his club debut when he competed in the Long Jump. His 3^rd round jump of 5.83m placed him 13^th overall, just 6 centimetres short of a top 10 placing. The talented Amadi, who has 3 years remaining in the junior grade, is due to compete in the national combined events at Santry next Saturday (12.09.2020). Day 2 of the National Junior championship is due to take place next Sunday (13.09.2020).

In the Morton Live Juvenile Event for athletes aged U12 to U16 at Santry on Friday (04.09.2020) Luuk Jackson was the convincing winner of the boys under 12s 600m race in a time of 1.46.51. Fionn Kirby (1.52.39) of Kildare AC came 2^nd.

Results in brief:

MORTON LIVE JUVENILE ATHLETICS OPEN TRACK MEETING U12-U16 at MORTON STADIUM, SANTRY (04.09.2020)

U12 Boys 600m: 1^st Luuk Jackson 1.46.51

NATIONAL JUNIOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS at MORTON STADIUM, SANTRY DAY 1 of 2 (05.09.2020)

Men’s Long Jump: 13^th Bobby Amadi (5.83m)

NATIONAL MASTERS TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS at MORTON STADIUM, SANTRY (06.09.2020)

W45 3,000m: 6^th Florence Curley (11.27.35)

W35 Javelin: 2^nd Fiona Smith-Keegan (14.91m) – silver

M45 100m: 3^rd Colm Dunne (12.30) – bronze

M45 800m: 2^nd Donal Iremonger (2.14.38) – silver

M35 1,500m: 9^th Aidan O’Rourke (4.29.16 PB)

M40 1,500m: 2^nd Emmet O’Briain (4.26.52) – silver

M65 1,500m: 2^nd Tony Kynes (5.32.63) – silver

M50 5,000m: 2^nd Des Tremble (16.50.33) – silver, 8^th Peter Gaffney (18.16.53), 9^th Peter Nugent (19.00.66

M70 5,000m: 2^nd Barry Potts (22.50.38) – silver

M45 Weight for Distance 56 lbs: 1^st Niall Allen (5.82m) – gold

The 127th Annual General Meeting of  Donore Harriers will take place on Saturday October 10th 2020 at 12 noon.  The location will be announced closer to the date and will depend on the Covid 19 restrictions in force on the day. If restrictions do not allow for a physical meeting of all members in the clubhouse then the meeting will be held partially or entirely remotely over Zoom.

Agenda and Important Notes regarding the AGM are outlined below.

AGENDA

• Minutes of last A.G.M.
• President’s Address.
• Secretary’s Report.
• Financial Report.
• Athletics Reports.
• Election of officers/directors and vice-presidents.
• Announcement of Coaches/handicappers.
• Motions.
• Close of Meeting.

Important Notes:

Nominations of officers/directors and Motions must be submitted for the attention of the Club Secretary by email to info@donoreharriers.com or by post to Donore Harriers, Chapelizod, Dublin 20 not less than 21 days before the AGM in accordance with Article 38 of the Articles of Association (i.e. NOT later than Saturday 19th September 2020). They both require a proposer and seconder

At the discretion of the committee motions and nominations will be considered even if they are submitted after this date but the committee reserves the right to rule these inadmissible. Nominations/ Motions can be forwarded directly for the attention of the Hon Secretary. Completed proxy forms must be deposited at the club office not less than 48 hours before the AGM in accordance with Articles 32 and 33 of the Articles of Association (blank proxy forms are available from the at the club office). Members who have paid their annual Subscription to the club for the preceding year will be considered by the Committee to be members in Good Standing.

Nominations can be just written/typed out and should state

(1) the name of the member nominated.

(2) the position s/he is nominated for

(3) should be signed by the (not less than two) members nominating him/her i.e. along the following lines is sufficient:

 We [NAME] and [NAME] hereby nominate [NAME] for the position of [President/Honorary Secretary/Honorary Treasurer/Director].

Signed:

(Name in Block capitals)

Signed:

(Name in Block capitals)

Highlights: Donore Harriers finish up with 2 senior silvers and a bronze in the National T&F championships, with an added silver and 4 bronze in the incorporated Under 23 category. The club stars on the 2^nd weekend of the championships were Eric Keogh with silver in the 10,000m; Louis O’Loughlin who took bronze in the 800m and Aoife Lynch’s fine 4^th in the 200m.

Report: The national senior track and field championships again took centre stage as the athletics calendar continues to be limited due to Covid-19 restrictions. In last Saturday’s 3^rd day of the competition, held over successive weekends at the Morton Stadium in Santry, the main Donore Harriers interest was in the men’s 10,000m. Billed as the ‘Grand National’ of the championships, the inclusion in the 31-man line-up of John Travers and Eric Keogh provided good medal prospects.

Olympic marathon athlete Mick Clohissy of Raheny Shamrocks and Donore’s leading athlete John Travers led the field thru the first 6,000m. Pre-race favourite Sean Tobin of Clonmel AC kept close order, with Eric Keogh comfortably holding a top 10 position.

As Travers fell back into the middle of the leading group of about 12 athletes with 8 laps remaining, it was Clohissy and Tobin at the front with Hugh Armstrong of Ballina AC, Paul O’Donnell of DSD AC and David McGlynn of Waterford AC close behind. Keogh continued with a measured effort, running in close order to the lead group.

As Travers stepped off the track with 5 laps remaining Tobin opened a gap on his pursuers, with Armstrong giving chase – whilst O’Donnell, McGlynn and Keogh were seemingly left to battle for the bronze medal. However, with 2 laps remaining Keogh gave chase, breaking free from O’Donnell and McGlynn, before reeling in Armstrong in the last lap. Onto the home strait and the fast finishing Keogh was quickly reducing the gap on Tobin only for the finish line to leave him with mixed feelings – he’d just won a very fine national senior silver medal, but what if he had made his big move earlier in the race! Keogh who ran 29.36.21 had closed the margin to Tobin (29.35.14) from 60 metres to just 10 on the final 400m circuit. Armstrong in 3^rd ran 29.39.74.

The club’s other senior medal went to junior athlete Louis O’Loughlin in the 800m. O’Loughlin qualified for the final by winning his heat in 1.56.80 on the Saturday, but in Sunday’s final he found himself in 9^th place with just 150 metres remaining. It was then that the ex-Moyle Park student unleashed his ‘big kick’ as he swept past several athletes to take the bronze medal in 1.53.83. O’Loughlin covered the final 200 metres in 26.5 seconds. The race was won by Harry Purcell of Trim AC in 1.52.49 with Cian McPhillips of Longford AC 2^nd in 1.52.78.

Jack Byrne (2.01.11) came 6^th in Heat 3 of the 800m qualifying and did not progress to the final.

The club’s leading sprinters also gave a good account of themselves. Indeed, Aoife Lynch was desperately unlucky not to get a senior bronze medal in the 200m final. Having qualified 1^st in Heat 2 in a time of 24.91, Lynch put in a super effort in the final to place 4^th, just two-hundredths of a second behind bronze medallist Lauren Roy (24.55) of City of Lisburn AC. The race was won by Phil Healy (23.57) of Bandon AC. Lynch had the consolation of winning a silver medal in the Under 23 category.

Paul McDermott also reached the 200m final, placing 5^th in 21.75. He progressed to the final having won the last of 6 Heats in a time of 22.06. McDermott came 3^rd in the Under 23 age-class.

Two other Donore Harriers athletes contested the 200m, as Adam Halpin placed a fine 3^rd in Heat 3 in a time of 23.59, and Conor Fox came 6^th in Heat 6 in a personal best time of 23.95.

Lara O’Byrne came 5^th in the 100m Hurdles final in 15.27, thus gaining a bronze medal in the Under 23 contest.

Ailbhe Healy made a first attempt clearance at 2.60m in the Pole Vault but was unable to improve her mark after 3 attempts with the bar at 2.80m. She also took a bronze medal in the Under 23 category.

The Donore Harriers medal count was as follows: –

Senior: silver medals were won John Travers 5,000m and Eric Keogh 10,000m; and a bronze went to Louis O’Loughlin in the 800m.

In the Under 23 championships: silver went to Aoife Lynch 200m; and bronze to Paul McDermott in 200m; Lara O’Byrne in 100m Hurdles; Caoimhe Mackey in 400m Hurdles; and Ailbhe Healy in the Pole Vault

Results in brief:

NATIONAL TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS at MORTON STADIUM, SANTRY DAYS 1 & 2 of 4 (22&23.08.2020)

WOMEN’S 200m Final: 4^th (2^nd in U23 category) Aoife Lynch (24.57), qualified 1^st Heat 2 (of 3) in 24.91

WOMEN’S 100m Hurdles Final: 5^th (3^rd in U23 category) Lara O’Byrne (15.27)

WOMEN’S POLE VAULT: 6^th (3^rd in U23 category) Ailbhe Healy (2.60m)

MEN’S 200m Final: 5^th (3^rd in U23 category) Paul McDermott (21.75), qualified 1^st Heat 6 (of 6) in 22.06. Also, Heat 3 (of 6) 3^rd Adam Halpin (23.59), and Heat 6 (of 6) 6^th Conor Fox (23.95)

MEN’S 800m Final: 3^rd Louis O’Loughlin (1.53.83), qualified 1^st Heat 2 (of 4) in 1.56.80. Also, Heat 3 (of 4) 6^th Jack Byrne (2.01.11)

MEN’S 10,000m Final: 2^nd Eric Keogh (29.36.21), DNF John Travers. 30 finishers

Report by Florence Curley & Gerry Naughton, photos courtesy of Charlie O’Neill & Donal Iremonger (sorry not to get images of all DH competitors)

Highlights: John Travers gallant silver in the 5,000m; Caoimhe Mackey bronze in the U/23 400m Hurdles; and an excellent 5th place by Ide Nic Dhomhnaill in the women’s 5,000m are the club’s best performances – as the 148th national track and field championships takes place despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Report: Careful planning and an elongated athletics programme to take place over 2 weekends and 9 sessions ensures that the 148th national senior track and field championships continues its illustrious history. The championships also incorporated the national under 23s. 
The first half of the championships took place at the Morton Stadium in Santry on the weekend of 22nd & 23rd of August 2020, with a good representation of Donore Harriers athletes competing.
John Travers, who won 3 national senior 1,500m titles in the last 4 years, stepped up distance to contest the 5,000m. He started into the race as the favourite, with the strongest challenge expected to come from two young rising stars in Irish athletics – Darragh McElhinney of UCD AC and Efrem Gidey of Clonliffe Harriers. And so, it proved! Travers set out his stall from the gun by running consistent 64 second laps, with McElhinney and Gidey keeping close order. The 3 frontrunners kept a regimented order thru the first 10 laps, until finally Gidey lost ground and settled for bronze. The two leaders kept order, until the 200 metres to-go-mark when Travers moved wide and allowed McElhinney take the lead, obviously with the intention to outkick the former Bantry AC man in the charge for the line. However, it was the 19 years-old who sprinted best down the home strait holding off the challenge of the Donore Harriers man. McIlhinney ran 13.56.00, with Travers timed at 13.57.11 and Gidey 14.17.89.
Caoimhe Mackey (1.09.57) placed 6th in the final of the Women’s 400m Hurdles and in the process took the bronze medal in the incorporated Under 23 championship She qualified by placing 4th in Heat 2 in 1.07.20 a PB
Aoife Lynch qualified to the final of the Women’s 100m by placing 3rd in an extremely competitive Heat 3 with a time of 12.41. She raced well in the final over the first 70-80 metres, only to lose ground in the closing stages, crossing the line in 8th place in 12.25. Eva McPartlan (13.33) came 7th in Heat 1 of the 100m, and thus failed to progress to the final.
One of the best club performances of the weekend came from Ide Nic Dhomhnaill in the final of the Women’s 5,000m. Having given birth in March, her performance to place 5th in a time of 16.52.57 was outstanding. Both Ide and her sister Sorcha ran in the leading group throughout most of the race, with Ide finally finishing less than 5 seconds short of the bronze medal position. Sorcha placed 8th of 24 starters in 17.09.55.
Multi-eventer Lara O’Byrne placed 5th in the Women’s High Jump final with a 2nd attempt clearance of 1.60m, having earlier contested the Javelin – placing 10th with a best of 27.70m.
Master athlete Emmet O’Briain (4.14.00) came 9th in the first of 4 heats in the 1,500m achieving a PB
Zak Higgins was unfortunately DQed in the opening round of the 400m.   
The 2nd half of the championships will take place at Santry next weekend.
Results in brief:
NATIONAL TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS at MORTON STADIUM, SANTRY DAYS 1 & 2 of 4 (22&23.08.2020)
WOMEN’S 100m Final: 8th Aoife Lynch (12.25), qualified 3rd in Heat 3 in 12.41. Also, Eva McPartlan 7th in Heat 1 in 13.33
WOMEN’S 400m Hurdles Final: 6th (3rd in U/23 category) Caoimhe Mackey (1.09.57), qualified 4th from Heat 2 in 1.07.20 PB
WOMEN’S 5,000m Final: 5th Ide Nic Dhomhnaill (16.52.57), 8th Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill (17.09.55). 24 starters
WOMEN’S 800g JAVELIN Final: 10th Lara O’Byrne (27.70m)
WOMEN’S HIGH JUMP Final: 5th Lara O’Byrne (1.60m)
MEN’S 400m Heat 3 of 5: DQ Zak Higgins
MEN’S 1,500m Heat 1 of 4: 9th Emmet O’Briain (4.14.00) PB
MEN’S 5,000m Final: 2nd John Travers (13.57.11), qualified 1st from Heat 1 in 15.10.26

HIGHLIGHTS: A welcome return to competition! Eric Keogh broke 30 minutes to win the Dublin Open 10,000m track championships, with Lee Van Haeften 3^rd. Aoife Lynch took silver in the 100m sprint, with Paul McDermott narrowly edged out of bronze.

REPORT: We’re back! The last weekly report dated 8^th March 2020 highlighted the All Ireland Schools cross-country, the National Masters Indoors, the Intervarsities cross-country, the Bohermeen Half-Marathon and the Kinvara road races.

Now as the world, Ireland and sport tries to recover from the harsh, but necessary restrictions to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic, we welcome the return to competitive athletics. The phase 3 return to normal society allowed the Dublin Athletics Board to host the DUBLIN OPEN GRADED TRACK MEET NO. 1 at Morton Stadium in Santry on the evening of 22^nd July 2020. In a normal season the Graded Series would have 8 events, but this was the first of 3 proposed fixtures.

Despite the limitations on the numbers of athletes and spectators the event was a major achievement that highlights the enthusiasm of volunteers and athletes to promote the sport at a grass-roots level in Ireland.

The performance of the evening came from Eric Keogh. The Donore Harriers athlete ran a scintillating 29.20.3 to emphatically win the 10,000m race, which incorporated the Dublin Open Championship. To put Keogh’s performance into context he lapped the whole field and his time was only bettered by four Irish athletes in the previous 4 years. It also ranks in the top 10 fastest 10km track times achieved on home soil.

In the same race Lee Van Haeften ran an excellent 31.04.8 to place 3^rd, in what was a keen contest for podium positions. Brian O’Kelly (31.01.3) of Crusaders AC edged home in runners-up spot, with Van Haeften holding off the challenge of Colin Maher (31.05.6) from Ballyfin AC. In the same race Danny O’Sullivan M35 (34.45.8) made his track debut and placed a respectable 17^th, and Des Tremble M45 (35.01.7) came 20^th.

In the Women’s 100m ‘A’ race, which also included the Dublin Open championship, Aoife Lynch (12.42) finished 2^nd behind Molly Scott (12.03) of St. Laurence O’Toole AC and ahead of Sarah McCarthy (12.50) of Mid Sutton AC.

In the Men’s 100m ‘A’ race 4^th placed Paul McDermott (11.06) was edged out of the bronze position by just two-hundredths of a second by Sean O’Driscoll (11.08) of Raheny Shamrocks. The race was won by Shane Howard (10.88) of Bandon AC, but McDermott had the satisfaction of finishing ahead of high-profile sprinters Marcus Lawlor of St. Laurence O’Toole AC and Mary Smyth of Raheny Shamrocks AC.

In the 1,500m races Emmet O’Briain M40 (4.17.6) placed 5^th in the B race, whilst David McConn (4.50.7) came 3^rd in the D race, with Tony Kynes M60 13^th in 5.28.2. It was Kynes’s first track race in 49 years!

In the FIGHTING COCKS 10km ROAD RACE at Rathoe in Co. Carlow on Saturday (25.07.2020) Ciaran Ryan placed 6^th in 35.33.

RESULTS IN BRIEF:

DUBLIN ATHLETICS BOARD OPEN GRADED MEETING, ‘A’ RACES INCORPORATED THE DUBLIN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS, at SANTRY STADIUM (22.07.2020)

SENIOR WOMEN 100m ‘A’ RACE

2^nd Aoife Lynch (12.42) silver medal

SENIOR MEN 100m ‘A’ RACE

4^th Paul McDermott (11.06)

SENIOR MEN 1,500m ‘B’ RACE

5^th Emmet O’Briain M40 (4.17.6)

SENIOR MEN 1,500m ‘D’ RACE

3^rd David McConn (4.50.7)

13^th Tony Kynes M60 (5.28.2)

SENIOR MEN 10,000m ‘A’ RACE

1^st Eric Keogh (29.20.3 PB)

3^rd Lee Van Haeften (31.04.8 PB)

17^th Danny O’Sullivan M35 (34.45.8 track debut)

20^th Des Tremble M45 (35.01.6)

25 finishers

FIGHTING COCKS 10km ROAD RACE at RATHOE, CO. CARLOW (25.07.2020)

6^th Ciaran Ryan (35.33)

151 finishers

May 17 Update – entering phase 1
The Club and Athletics Committees have met remotely in the past few days and are happy to confirm a limited return to activity in line with the guidelines in this announcement from Athletics Ireland. Due to restrictions on travel and age, not all groups will return during phase 1 starting May 18. The club coaches will be in contact with their individual groups to provide further details. During the first phase of return to activity :

• The clubhouse will remain closed to all
• Use of the track will be limited to coached groups and remain off limits for individuals wishing to train alone. This restriction on individuals is to allow us to gradually understand how the return to activity is going to work for us all and to allow us to implement the booking system as required by Athletics Ireland.
• The club is off limits for anyone under the age of 13 or over 70 and anyone living outside of a 5Km radius of the club.
• All club organised training groups are limited to a maximum of 4 athletes or 3 athletes plus a coach and must be logged in case contact tracing is needed at a later date.
• Please adhere to all other national and HSE guidelines around travel restrictions, hygiene, social distancing etc.
• For those who are returning to group activity, please read and adhere to the guidelines for athletes set out in above announcement from Athletics Ireland.
• Please read and adhere to the guidelines in the signs posted at the entrance to the track.

As part of the return to activity protocols, the club has a number of obligations it must adhere to, including :

• To appoint a Club Safety Officer. I’m happy to say that Club President Charlie O’Neill has agreed to take on this role. Please provide your full support and cooperation to Charlie.
• To log attendance at all sessions of both athletes and parents (for under 18s). Again, please cooperate with your coaches on this.

Please see here for further information on how we are implementing the guidelines.

March 14 Update
Due to the ongoing situation with the COVID-19 pandemic and in line with guidelines from Athletics Ireland, the committee has decided that all formal training sessions should be postponed and the club facilities closed until further notice.

Thanks for your co operation. The Committee.

HIGHLIGHTS: Oliver Hopkins and Abdel Laadjel individual gold in the All Ireland Schools XC; Barbara Cleary 1^st woman in Bohermeen Half-Marathon, with Fergal Whitty 2^nd M40; Emmet O’Briain, Niall Allen, Colm Dunne and Donal Iremonger all medal at the National Masters Indoors; Barry Potts 1^st M70 at Kinvara Half-Marathon; Eric Keogh and Lee Van Haeften one-two at Straffan 10km; Sinead Lambe 18.28 in Parkrun.

A historic day for Donore Harriers on a dry but windy Saturday afternoon at Santry Demesne (07.03.2020) for the 51^st version of the ALL IRELAND SCHOOLS CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS. Oliver Hopkins had ambitions of a top-ten finish in the Junior Boys race over 3.5km. His tactic was to make a strong start and to concede the least number of places as possible. Not on the field commentators’ favourites list the St. Declan’s student had them busy searching the event programme to check the identify of competitor no. 390. The talented young Donore Harriers athlete, carefully coached by his father Graham, elegantly strode on. Instead on getting caught, he stretched out his lead much to the delight of his onlooking family and club supporters. By the finish line Hopkins (12.47) had 6-seconds to spare over runner-up Luighaidh Mallon of Rathmore Grammar School. A race commentator announced it as “one of the bravest front running performances that I have seen in these championships for many a year”. Oliver Hopkins has arrived on the big stage! In the same race Thomas Bolton (14.02), running in the colours of Belvedere College, placed 39^th.

Abdel Laadjel, representing Kishoge Community School, after second-place finishes in the West Leinster and Leinster qualifying races was expected to be in the mix for a top 3 finish in the Intermediate Boys race over 5km. As the race reached the 3.5km point (3 laps) Laadjel was in a front group of 4 that included the champions of Leinster, Munster and Ulster. Going into the final lap the young Donore man majestically moved to the front and stretched his lead to 30 metres by the finish line. A buoyant Laadjel (16.47), a member of the club’s Academy Squad coached by Ciaran O’Flaherty and Gerry Naughton, later explained: “I just felt so good out there today. I felt strong. I think I could have gone quicker”. Matthew Lavery (16.51) of St. Malachy’s Belfast was 2^nd and Dean Casey (16.52) of St. Flannan’s Ennis came 3^rd. James Bolton (18.20) placed 29^th and was the first scorer on the Belvedere College team that came 6^th.

Louis O’Loughlin is well established as a rising star in Irish athletics. Despite missing a lot of training due to injury and recurring blisters O’Loughlin still went into the senior boy’s race over 6km with a realistic chance of making the podium. He passed the halfway point (3km) in 12^th position and hearing a ‘last lap’ call from the side-line the Moyle Park College student ‘bombed’ the 3^rd lap and moved into 1^st place – only to find that he still had a lap to go. It was a basic mistake that cost him any chance of a medal and possibly a hat-trick of wins by Donore Harriers athletes. He slipped back to 10^th position, before making a late rally that took him back up to 6^th position in a time of 19.16. Gavin Curtin (20.14), also Moyle Park College, put in a solid performance, gaining 5 places over the final 1.5km circuit to finish in 24^th position. Barney Kelly (22.41), representing Belvedere College, came 72^nd. The dramatic race, which saw the lead change several times, was won by Michael Morgan (18.53) of Summerhill College in Sligo ahead of Conall McClean (18.59) of BMC Titanic Quarter (Belfast) and Leinster champion Shane McEvoy (19.08) of St. Kieran’s Kilkenny. McEvoy ran himself into the ground (literally) and collapsed 8 metres short of the line, before dramatically crawling to the finish line for the bronze medal.

Matei Ursachi (9.45) came 21^st in the Minor Boys race over 2.5km for St. Paul’s School in Raheny. Ursachi made a positive start, but the discomfort of a head-cold hampered his progress. He is a tremendous young athlete with a very exciting future in the sport.

Oliver Hopkins and Abdel Laadjel have been selected to represent Ireland at the Schools International Athletics Board (SIAB) cross-country championships at Falkirk, Scotland on the 21^st of March 2020.

The NATIONAL INTERVARSITIES CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS took place at the ‘Model Farm’ Currahean Road Sports Centre in Cork on Saturday (07.03.2020) with 5 club competing club members. In the men’s 8km race Matthieu Proffitt (28.47) placed 22^nd and was a scoring member on the Trinity College team that won bronze. Oisin Fitzgibbon (30.11), making a welcome return to competition after a 2-year absence, came 38^th in the colours of Athlone IT. Rory Burke (30.41) placed 42^nd representing UCD and Michael Ryan (31.13) came 51^st and was a non-scorer on the Trinity College team. Louise Murray (20.11), made a positive return after an injury lay-off, to place 32^nd in the 4km Women’s race. She helped Trinity College to team gold.

Emmet O’Briain, Niall Allen, Colm Dunne and Donal Iremonger got among the medals in the IRISH LIFE NATIONAL MASTERS INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS at the Athlone Arena on Sunday (08.03.2020). O’Briain (2.06.72) took gold in the M40 class 800m, finishing well clear of John Whirskey (2.0862) of South Galway AC. Niall Allen took gold in the M45 Weight For Distance with a best of 6.39m and silver in the M45 Shot Putt (11.16m). A delighted Colm Dunne (7.85) won bronze in the M45 60m and was 4^th in the 200m (25.27). In the M45 category 800m Iremonger (2.11.01) took bronze behind winner Mark O’Shea of Drogheda & District AC.

There was plenty of club action in road races over the weekend. It was a Donore Harriers one-two in the STRAFFAN 10km ROAD RACE on Saturday (07.03.2020), as Eric Keogh (30.05) hit the line in 1^st place with Lee Van Haeften 2^nd in 31.25.

In the BOHERMEEN MEATH SPRING HALF-MARATHON on Sunday morning (08.03.2020) Barbara Cleary was the 1^st woman home in an excellent 1.17.15 and had more than a minute to spare of runner-up Sarah McMahon of DSDAC. Cleary, who was 28^th overall, convincingly won the W45 category. Fergal Whitty (1.12.30) came 11^th and took 2^nd position in the M40 age-group. With the demise of the popular Ballycotton 10-mile road race, the friendly Bohermeen HM event has become a popular event among club members. Anne Curley explains: “The 2^nd week of March was synonymous with the Ballycotton 10 where many Donore pilgrims travelled every year. Bohermeen took over and it was a particular favourite venue of Jim Mac (the late and great Jim McNamara) and he ran his last ever half-marathon here back in 2015…”. Among this year’s club contingent were – Danny O’Sullivan (1.19.17) in 50^th, Alan Keogh M40 (1.20.41) in 69^th, Stephen Dawson (1.22.23) in 100^th, Kevin Odgers M40 (1.28.43) in 206^th, Craig Scott M40 (1.28.43) in 212^th, Anne Curley W45 (1.31.03) in 268^th, Patrick Farrell (1.31.38) in 574^th, Oliver O’Hara M40 (1.42.51) in 574^th, and Ann Ryan W45 (2.06.57) in 1,076^th. Dawson, Keogh and Farrell were among those who achieved personal bests.

Club stalwart Anne Curley was full in her praise of Barbara Cleary’s achievement when she said: “… her incredible talent at near 47 years of age burned as bright today as it did 8 years ago when she finished 2^nd in the National Half-Marathon in Athenry in a similar time. Her 77- minute run on this challenging course saw off a few heavyweights who also had their eye on the prize today…”

Club newcomer Jean Murphy (1.33.40) finished a fine 84^th overall and 6^th woman in the 26-EXTREME CARLINGFORD HALF-MARATHON on Saturday (07.03.2020). There were more than 900 competitors.

The 10^th edition of the KINVARA ROCK & ROAD RACES took place on Saturday (07.03.2020) with 6 club members lining up for the HALF-MARATHON. Setting out from the seaside village of Kinvara the race took an undulating scenic route through rural county Galway. Barry Potts placed 116^th of the 554 finishers and was 1^st in the M70 category. Niamh O’Reilly (1.51.45) was next in 247^th and 52^nd woman, followed by Orlaith McMahon (1.56.37) 318^th and 74^th, Deirdre Healy (1.59.37) 378^th and 99^th, Jo Hughes (2.09.34) 456^th and 148^th, and Eimear McMahon (2.23.37) 521^st and 186^th.

In the BHAA AIB RACES at the grounds of Maynooth College on Saturday (07.03.2020) Mary McDermott W50 came 18^th in the 2-mile women’s race with Ann Woodlock W80 (22.15) placing 31^st. Peter Nugent M50 (25.49) came 28^th in the Men’s 4-mile race, and he was followed by Ian Redican M45 (27.36) in 47^th, Tom Fagan M50 (28.03) in 55^th and Des Gill M50 (29.19) in 62^nd. The women’s race had 33 finishers and there were 105 in the men’s event.

In the PARKRUN 5km (07.03.2020) races Sinead Lambe (18.28) was 5^th overall and 1^st woman home at Castlewellan in Co. Down. Sinead O’Reilly (21.05) was 8^th and 2^nd along the Royal Canal in Kilcock, as Paul Cummins (19.04) was first home at Brickfields and Aidan Kelly, a junior athlete, was 2^nd at Corkagh in 19.24. Juvenile athletes Dylan McKenna (22.23) and Katie Delaney (23.49) were 6^th and 13^th at Waterstown. More parkrun results below.

RESULTS IN BRIEF:

ALL IRELAND SCHOOLS CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at SANTRY DEMESNE (07.03.2020)

MINOR BOYS 2.5km

21^st Matei Ursachi (St. Paul’s Raheny) 9.45

JUNIOR BOYS 3.5km

1^st Oliver Hopkins (St. Declan’s Cabra) 12.47

39^th Thomas Bolton (Belvedere College) 14.02

INTERMEDIATE BOYS 5km

1^st Abdel Laadjel (Kishoge Community College) 16.47

29^th James Bolton (Belvedere College) 18.20

SENIOR BOYS 6km

6^th Louis O’Loughlin (Moyle Park College) 19.16

24^th Gavin Curtin (Moyle Park College) 20.14

72^nd Barney Kelly (Belvedere College) 22.41

IUAA INTERVARSITIES CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at CURRAHEAN ROAD SPORTS GROUND, CORK (07.03.2020)

WOMEN’s 4km

32^nd Louise Murray (TCD) 20.11

60 finishers

MEN’S 8km

22^nd Matthieu Proffitt (TCD) 28.47

38^th Oisin Fitzgibbon (AIT) 30.11

42^nd Rory Burke (UCD) 30.41

51^st Michael Ryan (TCD) 31.13

84 finishers

STRAFFAN 10km ROAD RACE (07.03.2020)

1^st Eric Keogh (30.05)

2^nd Lee Van Haeften (31.25)

112 finishers

BHAA AIB/NUIM XC EVENT at MAYNOOTH COLLEGE (07.03.2020)

MEN’S 4-mile

28^th Peter Nugent M50 (25.49)

47^th Ian Redican M45 (27.36)

55^th Tom Fagan M50 (28.03)

62^nd Des Gill M50 (29.19)

105 finishers

WOMEN’s 2-mile

18^th Mary McDermott W50 (16.37)

31^st Ann Woodlock W80 (22.15)

33 finishers

KINVARA ROAD & ROAD HALF-MARATHON, CO. GALWAY (07.03.2020)

116^th & 1^st M70 Barry Potts M70 (1.40.34)

247^th & 52^nd woman Niamh O’Reilly (1.51.45)

318^th & 74^th woman Orlaith McMahon (1.56.37)

378^th & 99^th woman Deirdre Healy (1.59.37)

456^th & 148^th woman Jo Hughes (2.09.34)

521^st & 186^th woman Eimear McMahon (2.23.37)

554 finishers

26 EXTREME CARLINGFORD HALF-MARATHON (07.03.2020)

84^th & 6^th woman Jean Murphy (1.33.40 club debut)

926 finishers

SIMON HOME RUN 5 MILE ROAD RACE at PHOENIX PARK (07.03.2020)

24^th Fred Kiernan (31.50)

57^th Owen Robinson (34.42)

1,025 finishers

IRISH LIFE NATIONAL MASTERS INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS at ATHLONE ARENA (08.03.2020)

M45 60m FINAL – 3^rd Colm Dunne (7.85) BRONZE

M45 200m FINAL – 4^th Colm Dunne (25.27)

M40 800m FINAL – 1^st Emmet O’Briain (2.06.72) GOLD

M45 800m FINAL – 3^rd Donal Iremonger (2.11.01) BRONZE

M45 SHOT PUTT – 2^nd Niall Allen (11.16m) SILVER

M45 WEIGHT FOR DISTANCE – 1^st Niall Allen (6.39m) GOLD

BOHERMEEN AC MEATH SPRING HALF-MARATHON (08.03.2020)

11^th & 2^nd M40 Fergal Whitty (1.12.30)

28^th & 1^st woman & 1^st W45 Barbara Cleary (1.17.15)

50^th Danny O’Sullivan MS (1.19.17)

69^th Alan Keogh M40 (1.20.41 PB)

100^th Stephen Dawson MS (1.22.23 PB)

206^th Kevin Odgers M40 (1.28.43)

212nd Craig Scott M40 (1.28.43)

268^th Anne Curley W45 (1.31.03)

287^th Patrick Farrell MS (1.31.38 PB)

574^th Oliver O’Hara M40 (1.42.51)

683^rd Derek McArdle M40 (1.46.22)

1,076^th Ann Ryan W45 (2.06.57)

1,244 finishers

PARKRUNS (07.03.2020)

Brickfields: 1^st Paul Cummins (19.04), 35^th Rachel Haskins (26.25), 39^th Daniel Nemeth M35 (26.39)

Castletown: 52^nd Joan McTernan W60 (NTG)

Castlewellan, Co. Down: 5^th & 1^st woman Sinead Lambe (18.28)

Corkagh: 2^nd Aidan Kelly JNR (19.24), 122^nd Meadhbh Campbell (31.51)

Poolbeg: 43^rd Karen Woods W40 (23.02)

Porterstown: 131^st Michele Murphy W55 (31.26)

Royal Canal, Kilcock: 8^th & 2^nd woman Sinead O’Reilly W35 (21.05)

St. Anne’s: 147^th Charlie O’Neill W65 (24.53)

Waterstown: 6^th Dylan McKenna U15 (22.33), 13^th & 2^nd woman Katie Delaney U15 (23.49), 32^nd Liz MacCurtain W50 (28.33), 33^rd Eugene MacCurtain M50 (28.34).

HIGHLIGHTS John Travers retains National 3k indoor title and Paul McDermott takes silver in the 200m.  Maura Kearns 2nd woman in Lusk 4 mile.  Josh Osullivan Hourihan and Grace Kennedy Clarke win club cross country championships .

Indoor track – National Senior Indoor Championships.
(Thanks Iain Morrison for this report on national senior Indoors )

Travers delivers Gold again and McDermott takes superb Silver!

A fine representation of Donore Harriers competed this weekend in the national senior Indoor Championships.

John Travers aced the men’s 3000m on Sunday after fierce qualification on Saturday saw several pretenders to his title qualify in good form. John however is unbeaten in the national Indoors for the last 3 years and had all the cards once again. A healthy pace was taken on by Brian Forsyth from Derry knowing he had to make it an honest pace. John slotted back comfortably in 4th/ 5th but very quickly moved on the shoulder of second place as the pace strung out the field.  As Forsyth struggled with the temp, there was brief surge from Hiko Tonosa just before midway. John responded instantly and within a lap and half found himself at the front controlling the pace. He maintained the steady 32/33 second laps and even gestured to those behind if they wanted to take on the pace. By this time it was down to three athletes John, Hiko and young Dara McElhinney, with Eoin Everard and Pierre Murchan battling for the minor places behind. It was Dara who made a move with 400 to go but John followed and released a devastating 27 last 200m to win in some style, his fourth Indoor title in a row (1500m in 2017 and 300m now 2018, 19 and 20). It was John’s fastest time in winning any of his 3k titles (8.00.96).

The day previously, in the men’s 200m Paul McDermott re-emphasised his terrific form this year by qualifying in second position (21.85) for the 200m final. In the final he had the winner Mark Smyth outside him in lane 6. Paul ran a superb race chasing hard from the gun and rounding the second bend aggressively leaving himself well clear of third and a fine second in 21.73 marginally outside his p.b. set earlier this indoor season). He was beaten only by one of the best ever performances at Nationals by Smyth and Paul now has silver at National Under 23, University and now National senior medals behind Smyth this season.

Donore athletes featured strongly through the 2 days. Aoife Lynch finished 6th in a stacked ladies 200m final which had European leading athlete Phil Healy run and championship best and multi European medallist Rhashidat Adeleke come second. The final put Aoife in the dreaded 1st lane which hugely impedes athletes over 200m so her heat time (24.78) was significantly faster than the final time (25.22)  as expected, but such was the level of the field.

Lara O’Byrne our multi-eventer returning from injury lay off finished 10th and 7th in the high jump (1.60m) and shot putt (9.55) respectively.

Eva McPartlin made her first national senior final with a very solid performance in the 60mh finishing 8th (9.6) .

Finally our Donore ladies fielded a strong 4 x 200m team of Eva McPartlin, Emily Geoghegan, Sarah Lahiff and Aoife Lynch. Drawn in heat 2 solid runs and good changes from all our women brought them home in 6th, capping a great championships for Donore

Cross country
The club senior cross country championship took place on a bitterly cold and windy Saturday morning on the familiar 2 mile lap (set by senior endurance coach Willie Smith) used on St Stephens day for the 10 mile.  But this time it started and finished at the stone bridge near the top of the Khyber road and was very muddy in the woods section making for a challenging race. The race is also timed to be close to the Anniversary of Jim McNamara who passed away on 10 March 2016.
Club President Charlie O’Neill blew the start whistle and the men and women started together (4 miles for women, 6 miles for the men)
Josh O’Sullivan Hourihan set the early pace and built up quite a lead.  In the women’s race , Grace Kennedy-Clarke, in the club since her teens got into a group of the men and maintained her leading position finishing strongly as first woman in 28.36.  Second placed was club stalwart Anne Curley in  30.15 who was pleased that her injury-affected left leg held out in the tough conditions.  Leaving it all at the finish line in a gutsy run in 3rd was Caroline McCarthy in 30.37 who has completed her debut cross country season for Donore
Josh extended his lead over the 3 laps to be the clear winner of the Faugh-a-Ballagh cup in  34.03 nearly 2 minutes ahead of Rossa Hurley in 36.02.  New recruit Tadgh Moriarty was 3rd in his very first Cross country race in 36.42.
11 women and 16 men toed the line, most of whom completed the 4 mile or 6 mile (81 year old Ann Woodlock set off on the course early)
After the race Willie Smith started the presentation and included an excerpt from a report of the 1907 Faugh a Ballagh race which took place in Meadowbrook Dundrum and included members of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers.
Willie also recalled Jim McNamara’s winning of the trophy in 1965/66.  The top 3 male finishers were presented with medals by men’s captain Craig Scott And Former President and international runner Tony Murphy presented the Faugh A Ballagh trophy to Josh.  Tony recalled the times he competed on teams with Jim including the World XC championship in Ostend 1965(Jim’s first Irish vest) and raced him individually many times on track, road and country.
Women’s captain Florence Curley presented medals to the first 3 females and The Jim McNamara trophy was presented to Grace by Jim’s son Shane who was present with his family. Willie and Florrie recalled their memories of Jim and some memorabilia from his career including the 1976 Olympics and World Masters 1982 Gold medal was displayed .  Shane recalled the occasion he and his father ran the Faugh a Ballagh race and his father caught up with him and passed him! But was always full of encouragement for him and every athlete Full results of the races below

Ladies
1 Grace Kennedy Clarke 28.36
2 Anne Curley 30.15
3 Caroline McCarthy 30.37
4 Claire Mulligan30.47
5Margaret O’Brien 30.53
6 Cliodhna Carthy 31.25
7 Rhona Duane 32.02
8 Angela Eustace 35.35
9 Mary McDermott
Ann Woodlock
Treasa Boylan ( 2 laps)
Men
1Josh OSullivan Hourihan 34.03
2Rossa Hurley 36.02
3Tadgh Moriarty 36.42
4Danny osullivan 37.32
5Des Tremble 37.55
6Alan Farrell 39.57
7Alan Keogh 40.02
87Donal Healy 41.35
9Craig Scott 42.06
10Stephen Dawson 42.24
11David McConn 44.25
12Andrew Wilson 44.55
13Oliver O’Hara 45.35
14Ian redican 48.47
15Des Gill 53.32

Road
In the Lusk 4 mile, Maura Kearns was 2nd woman in an excellent 24.05 and Peter Gaffney ran 23:54 and 2nd over 50.
In the Naas 10 mile road race , coming 66th and 1st over 60 was Tony Griffin 1:11:08. In 108th and 3rd over 60 was Ken Cronin 1:15:48.

Parkruns
Waterstown 6th 1st female Jean Murphy 21.01
Ardgillan 49th and 5th female Sarah Ní Ruairc 28.24
Poppintree 108th, 12th woman Eilish Joyce 28.26
Tolka Valkey 55th Owen Robinson 26.49
Kilcock 13th and 2nd female Sinead Oreilly 21.39