HIGHLIGHTS Masters gold for Emmet O’Briain and Niall Allen at Leinster Indoors.  Win for Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill at Adare 10k, Ray Hynes runs 2.24.24 in Seville Marathon.  Josh O’Sullivan Hourihan qualifies for World Military XC championships.  More success at Dublin juvenile championships.

 

 

TRACK

the Leinster indoor championships took place in Abbotstown this weekend and we saw a double gold in the Masters competitions. Always impressive on the Track, Emmett OBriain had a fine win in the M40 800m after a solo race , he was hoping for a faster time but with nobody to chase and other runners not close, the time was 2.10.64 which was also faster than the M35 field. Versatile thrower Niall Allen got a best of 6.82 in the M45 WFD winning gold. Jona Kalemi was 7th in the senior women’s 800 in 2.41.07. Adam Halpin was 3rd in his heat in the 200m in 23.98 and men’s track captain David Campbell was 6th in his 60m heat  6.82.

Earlier in the week at the NIA live meet at the same venue a number of Donore athletes competed
Sean Fox men’s mile 5.04.78 7th Aidan O’Rourke did the double of 400m and 800m , coming 3rd in both in 59.96 and 2.13.59 Jona Kalemi ran the 800m in 2.41.97.

At the Dublin juvenile track championships on Wednesday night, two teams made the finals under 13 boys and under 15 girls and Romeo omazee won bronze under 15 boys shot putt, full details of all competitions to follow

ROAD

The Seville marathon attracted many top Irish runners and Ray Hynes completed the course in an excellent 2.24.24 which was an improvement on his 2.25 last October in Dublin.
In the popular Adare 10k in her native Limerick Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill had a great win, first woman in 36.41.
Juvenile coach Donal Iremonger competed in the Central Park half marathon and ran an excellent 85.37 on the 3 lap course in New York’s famous public park.

PARKRUN
Tristan Druet 17.14 1st Tymon
Charlie O’Neill 25.38 Griffeen
Karen Woods 23.45 Poolbeg
Daniel Nemeth 25.41 Brickfields
Dylan McKenna 22.01, katie Delaney 24.23 Waterstown
Dave Hudson 26.50, Joan McTernan 28.01 Castletown

CROSS COUNTRY

last Wednesday in a rainy Curragh, Josh O’Sullivan Hourihan was a comfortable winner of a trial race to select the Irish team for the World military cross country championships in Lisbon in April.  Coach Willie Smith was on hand too for support, and Josh finished well ahead of the chasing group, securing a berth for the worlds in April.
The latest BHAA race was in a new venue – Wesley College Dundrum , completing the 4 mile mixed male and female race with a 180-strong field were
Ian Redican 75th 29.38
Caren Crowley 130th 33.14
Tommy Halton 164th 38.17
Ann Woodlock 1st W80 46.38

HIGHLIGHTS: John Travers, Eric Keogh and Lee Van Haeften excel in the Barcelona Half-Marathon; Barbara Cleary 1^st woman in Enniscorthy 10km; Daragh Fitzgibbon fine performance in Armagh International 5km; Abdel Laadjel & Louis O’Loughlin individual silver in Leinster Schools XC; Paul McDermott, Aoife Lynch and Lara O’Byrne among medals in Intervarsity Indoors; 7 gold, 10 silver and 11 bronze after Day 4 of the Dublin Juvenile Indoors; Cliodhna Carthy led home DH team in final Women’s Winter League fixture.

 

John Travers was the first Irishman home in the prestigious BARCELONA HALF-MARATHON on Sunday morning (16.02.2020), as Eric Keogh and Lee Van Haeften produced PB performances to finish prominently among an international field. Using the race as preparation for the season ahead Travers covered the opening 5km in 14.57 and passed the 10km mark in 29.50. He reached the 10-mile point in 48.10 but paying the price for a strong start he covered the 15 to 20km section in 16.19. He finished 48^th overall in 1.04.42. Eric Keogh (1.05.11) came 55^th averaging 3.06 per kilometre. He was the 3^rd Irishman home and continues in his rise to the top table of Irish distance runners. Here is Eric’s strava account of the race “nightmare start in the masses… a bit too aggressive though 10k and suffered badly last 5k. It’s a big PB and another step in the right direction. Any progress is good progress”. Lee Van Haeften made it 3 sub-70-minute Donore men when placing 107^th in a time of 1.08.29, a 3 minutes PB. Also, among a field of more than 18,000 athletes were Alasdair Brown (1.21.46) in 905^th, Ciaran Ryan (1.28.53) in 2,077^th and Jennifer Hogan, who ran 2.21.24. The race was won by Victor Chumo of Kenya in 59.58.

 

At the popular ARMAGH INTERNATIONAL 5km ROAD RACE Daragh Fitzgibbon placed 56^th of 237 finishers. The race, which attracts a host of top UK athletes, was won by Adam Clarke of Team Real Runners in 13.42.

 

Barbara Cleary was 11^th overall and 1^st woman at the ENNISCORTHY 10km ROAD RACE on Sunday. She ran an excellent 36.11 in very blustery and wet conditions. Gavin Keogh (35.41), who had to endure the discomfort of a nosebleed, came 7^th of 333 finishers.

 

It was a busy week for the juvenile section with the Leinster Schools cross-country championships and Days 2, 3 and 4 of the Dublin Indoor track & field championships.

In the LEINSTER SCHOOLS XC CHAMPIONSHIPS at Santry Demesne on Wednesday last (12.02.2020) individual silver medals were won by Abdel Laaadjel (Kishoge CC) and O’Loughlin (Moyle Park College) with different tactics. Laadjel (14.46) forced the pace in the first two laps of the Intermediate Boys 4.5km race but failed to outrun Scott Fagan of Luttrellstown CC in the final 1.5km circuit.   Louis O’Loughlin (19.25) was in 6^th place with one lap to go in the Senior Boys 6km race. A ‘big push’ on the final lap saw the Donore Harriers star gain to 2^nd with winner Shay McEvoy of Kilkenny, who recently represented Ireland in the European Under 20s championships, out of reach. The ever-improving Gavin Curtin (20.41) qualified for his first national schools XC in 13^th position, with his Moyle Park College colleague Aidan Kelly placing 74^th in 24.18. Moyle Park’s Donore Four failed to close a team as Toke Olufowobi retired from the race due to illness with a lap to go. Barney Kelly (22.26) placed 47^th and will be hoping to get selection on the Belvedere College team that qualified to the ‘All-Irelands’ as the senior team winners. James Bolton (15.53) was 19^th individual and 2^nd scorer on the Belvedere College team that qualified in 3^rd place in the Intermediate grade (4.5km).

In the 3km Junior Boys race Oliver Hopkins (10.30) and Thomas Bolton (10.34) came 4^th and 5^th representing St. Declan’s School and Belvedere College respectively. The other Donore athlete to make the national final was 5^th place finisher Matei Ursachi (8.06), who had challenged for a podium place for most of the Minor Boys 2km race in the colours of St. Paul’s Raheny.

Other competing club athletes were Eleanor Hopkins (6.26) who came 46^th in the 1.5km Minor Girls race representing St. Dominic’s Cabra and Honor Lynch (9.30) who finished 29^th for Loreta St. Stephen’s Green in the Junior Girls 2km race.

Thus, the following have qualified to the All-Ireland Schools XC to take place at Santry Demense on the 7^th of March – Matei Ursachi, Thomas Bolton, Oliver Hopkins, Abdel Laadjel, James Bolton, Louis O’Loughlin, Barney Kelly and Gavin Curtin.

 

Day 2 of the DUBLIN INDOOR T&F CHAMPIONSHIPS (12.02.2020) at the National Indoor Arena at Abbotstown saw 5 Donore Harriers teams contest finals in the even-age relays. The evening event focused mostly on 4 x 200m relays and both Under 14 Boys teams qualified to the final. The quartet of James Dunne, Alex Leonard, Paddy Nolan and Ciaran O’Farrell won silver medals having qualified as runners-up in the first semi-final race in 1.55.2. A second team made up of newcomers Daniel Gleeson and Ewan Taylor, middle-distance athlete Matei Ursachi and hurdler Rory O’Farrell won their semi-final in 1.57.5 but were unable to make an impression in the final having to settle for 6^th position.

The Under 18 Girls team (1.55.5) came 5^th, but it could have been a very different story! First leg runner Sophie O’Farrell had to make a Jordan Larmour like swerve to avoid an official who was standing in her lane as she approached the baton change-over point. The team containing two step-up athletes in O’Farrell and Leonie Power had not raced together before, thus is was a very respectable performance. Robin Sweeney ran leg 2 and Sarah Tavey leg 3.

The Under 12 Boys team of Cillian McCooey, Jamie Kavanagh, Danny Colgan and closing runner Luuk Jackson were desperately unlucky not to make the podium in what was a real scramble for the line. The team came a close order 4^th in 2.05.0, having won Heat 5 in 2.07.5. In the same age-group Caolan Costello, Elliott Whelan, Daniel Browne and Eoin Mooney came 3^rd in Heat 2 in 2.17.3 and failed to progress.

The Under 12 Girls team comprising Rachel Dowling-Barnes, Julianna Broderick, Zoey Conroy and Ruby Blake also failed to reach their final when placing 4^th in Heat 1 in 2.21.7.

The Under 14 Girls team, comprising Eva Crowe, Lorraine O’Connor, Isabella Jackson and Ciaran Sammon, also came 5^th in their final after having qualified as runners-up in Heat 5.

 

Day 3 of the DUBLIN INDOOR T&F CHAMPIONSHIPS on Saturday (15.02.2020 at the NIA saw the Donore Harriers team do very well in the middle-distance and hurdles events. Emily Bolton won a competitive U13 Girls 600m final in 1.46.82 and Matei Ursachi (2.18.34) took the top spot in the U14 Boys 800m final. Three more golds were won in the 60m Hurdles through Mario Omozee in the Under 13 Boys, Rory O’Farrell in the Under 14 Boys and Eva Conroy in the Under 15 Girls. The latter was disappointed after having finished 4^th in 2019, but her dedication was rewarded with an excellent winning performance this season.

Silver medals were won by Lorraine O’Connor (2.21.02) in the Under 14 Girls 800m, Thomas Bolton (2.14.55) in the Under 15 Boys 800m and Sean Kinsella (2.04.65 PB) in the Under 17 Boys 800m. With the event running ahead of schedule Kinsella almost missed his race and arrived at the start line in his socks – albeit the officials allowed him time to put on his spikes. Two more silvers were secured in the Long Jump as Matei Ursachi jumped 4.68m in the Under 14 Boys and Romeo Omozee 4.57m in the Under 15 Boys. With Ursachi having secured the silver in the Under 14 Boys Long Jump the battle for the bronze medal was deciding in the final round of jumps. Paddy Nolan got a mark of 4.25m to jump from 5^th to 3^rd, only for a young DSDAC athlete to put in a 4.38m effort. But Rory O’Farrell had the last word with a jump to 4.41m to take the bronze. Other bronze medals went to Caolan Costello (6.57m) in the Under 14 Boys Shot Putt, Mario Omozee in the Under 13 Boys 60 metres sprint, Jennifer O’Reilly in the Under 19 Girls 200m, Luuk Jackson (1.46.84) in the Under 12 Boys 600m, and Oliver Hopkins (2.09.16) in the Under 16 Boys 800m.

There were plenty of other good performances from the young Donore Harriers athletes. In the Under 12 Boys 60m sprints Luuk Jackson, Cillian McCooey and Daniel Browne all placed 4^th in their respective semi-finals. Ewan Taylor and Liam Blair placed 5^th in Semi-Final 1 and 2 of the Under 13 Boys 60m. Roisin Kirby came 6^th in the final of the Under 14 Girls 60m Hurdles having qualified 3^rd in her heat. Three boys made the final of the Under 14 Boys 60m Hurdles. Rory O’Farrell, who specializes in the event, took the gold medal. Ciaran O’Farrell was narrowly edged out of the bronze medal position with Paddy Nolan in 5^th place. Robin Sweeney finished 4^th in the final of the Under 18 Girls 200m, whilst Sophie O’Farrell just failed to make the final when she came 3^rd in 3^rd qualifying heat of the Under 17 Girls 200m.

Other finalists included – Romeo Omozee 5^th in the Under 15 Boys 60m Hurdles, Cillian McCooey (1.50.2) 7^th in the Under 12 Boys 800m, Eva Crowe (2.25.18) 4^th in the Under 14 Girls 800m, Roisin Kirby (4.21m) 5^th in the Under 14 Girls Long Jump, Sophie O’Farrell (4.71m) 5^th in the Under 17 Girls Long Jump, and Melody Omozee (5.14m) 4^th in the Under 12 Girls Shot Putt.

New girl Laura Keegan crossed the line in agony in Heat 6 of the Under 13 Girls 60m. She was well-placed in 2^nd position with 15 metres to go, but a hip injury hampered her progress and she jogged to the line in 8^th. Other results are listed below.

 

There was a good representation of Donore Harriers athletes competing in the INTERVARSITIES INDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS at the Athlone Arena on Saturday (15.02.2020) Paul McDermott (21.67 PB), representing DCU, took the silver medal in the 200m, having won Heat 2 in 21.99. Another silver medal went to multi-eventer Lara O’Byrne with a best effort of 1.65m in the High Jump. O’Byrne, who is just getting back from a stress fracture injury, also contested the Shot Putt – placing 5^th with a 9.29m throw.

Aoife Lynch, in the colours of DCU, had a busy day! She won bronze in the 200m in 24.84 having qualified 2^nd in semi-final 2 in 25.01. She also contested the final of the 60m sprint, placing 6^th in 7.72 and was 2^nd in the third semi-final in 7.73.

Donore had two finalists in the 60m Hurdles with Eva McPartlan (DCU) 4^th in 9.55 and Caoimhe Mackey (UCD) 6^th in 9.89. Adam Halpin (AIT) came 3^rd in Heat 2 of the 200m and Ailbhe Healy (DCU) 6^th in the final of the Pole Vault with a best effort of 2.45m. Jack Byrne (2.00.75) narrowly missed qualification to the 800m final when 3^rd in his semi-final.

Paul McDermott ran the 3^rd leg on the DCU team that won gold in the 4 x 200m relay and Aoife Lynch took out the opening leg for the DCU team that won 4 x 200m relay silver. Caoimhe Mackey (UCD), Zak Higgins (TCD) and Adam Halpin (AIT) also contested the relay races. More details in the results section.

There was another busy schedule in Day 4 of the DUBLIN INDOOR T&F CHAMPIONSHIPS on Sunday (16.02.2020). Top of the bill for Donore Harriers were Oliver Hopkins (2.29.14) who build up a commanding lead to take gold in the Under 16 Boys 1,500m and Romeo Omozee who cleared 1.40m to take gold in the Under 15 Boys High Jump.

The silver medallists were Jennifer O’Reilly in the Under 19 Girls 200m, Gavin Curtin (4.28.39) in the Under 19 Boys 1,500m and Mario Omozee (1.40m) in the Under 13 Boys High Jump.

Isabella Kelly in the Under 15 Girls 60m, Annabella Omozee in the Under 10 Girls 60m, Alex Leonard in the Under 14 Boys 60m and James Bolton (4.34.35) in the Under 17 Boys 1,500m all took track bronze medals, with Mario Omozee (7.74m) taking bronze in the Under 13 Boys Shot Putt.

There were plenty of other notable performances. Sophie O’Farrell came 4^th in the Under 17 Girls 60m, Robin Sweeney 5^th in the Under 18 Girls 60m, Daniel O’Neill 7^th in the Under 16 Boys 60m, Daniel Browne (3.81m) 4^th in the Under 12 Boys Long Jump, Amber Lynch (3.61m) 5^th in the Under 12 Girls Long Jump and Leah Smith 7^th in the semi-final of the Under 16 Girls 60m.

Mark Keegan got through the heats to be able to finish 6^th in the Under 9 Boys 60m. Ruby Blake and Anna Peake both reached the semi-finals in the Under 11 Girls 60m placing 4^th and 2^nd in their respective races. There were plenty of other club athletes in this age group with Emma Jane Keegan 5^th in Heat 1, Emily Farrell 4^th in Heat 2, Elle Norton 4^th in Heat 3, Caoimhe Blair 8^th in Heat 4, Lauren Tolan 6^th in Heat 5 and Freya Ryan 5^th in Heat 8.

Dylan O’Connor came 5^th in the final of the Under 11 Boys 60m after placing 1^st in Heat 1 and 3^rd in his semi-final. In the same age group Ethan Ryan (6^th SF2) and Conor Garvey (5^th SF3) went out in the semi-finals – and Oisin O’Gorman (7^th H3) and Tom Nolan (5^th H5) contested the heats.

Roisin Kirby got through to the final of the Under 14 Girls 60m placing 7^th. She qualified 3^rd in her heat and 4^th in her semi-final. Ciara Sammon narrowly lost out on a place in the final, based on time, despite finishing 2^nd in her semi-final. Isabella Jackson also reached the semi-final stage but was eliminated 5^th in SF3.

Rory O’Farrell came 4^th in the Under 14 Boys 60m behind the winner and his clubmate Alex Leonard. He qualified as the winner of semi-final 4. Paddy Nolan 4^th in semi-final 2, Daniel Gleeson 3^rd in semi-final 3 and James Dunne 2^nd in semi-final 4 failed to progress.

Special mention to other young athletes who represented the club with distinction over the weekend, including Tara Hoare, Zoey Conroy, Olyver Whelan, Sophie Farrell, Maia Norton, Michael Delaney, Chloe Andrews… and sorry if I missed anyone!

 

There were 129 finishers in the 4^th and final WOMEN’S MEET & TRAIN WINTER LEAGUE cross-country race at Abbotstown on Sunday (16.02.2020). The race was held over 3 one-kilometre laps in very windy conditions and with some very muddy underfoot portions. Caroline McCarthy (12.43) was 1st Donore Harriers women home in 9th place, losing out on 8^th place by a few centimetres. Fiona Barrins (14.50) was next in 71st place. Sarah Ni Ruairc had her usual strong finish in 87th in 15.32. Catherine McKeon (15.57) was next in 101st and 81 years-old Ann Woodlock 125th in 19.35. The race was won by Dunboyne’s Eimear English. This was the last race of the series. The presentation of the winning teams and individuals will take place in March.

 

In the recent AAI INDOOR GAMES at the NIA in Abbotstown on Sunday 9^th February 2020 Aoife Lynch (7.72 and 7.73) came 1^st in both series 1 and 2 of the 60m sprint. Paul McDermott (7.13 and 7.09) took second place in the Men’s 60m series. Eva McPartlan ran 9.50 and placed 5^th in both heats of the Women’s 60m Hurdles. David Campbell (24.51) placed 3^rd in Heat 4 of the Men’s 200m and Michael Ryan (4.18.61) was 4^th in the second heat of the Men’s 1,500m.

 

In the PARKRUN 5km (15.02.2020) series Sam Allen (17.56) was first finisher at Naas and U15 Katie Delaney (23.26) was 9^th overall and 1^st woman at Waterstown. More parkrun results below.

 

RESULTS IN BRIEF:

<note – times for Dublin Juvenile Indoors are estimated hand-times, except for 600m, 800m and 1,500m races>

AAI INDOOR GAMES at NIA ABBOTSTOWN (09.02.2020)

Women’s 60m

Series 1 Heat 3: 1^st Aoife Lynch (7.72)

Series 2 Heat 2: 1^st Aoife Lynch (7.73)

Men’s 60m

Series 1 Heat 5: 2^nd Paul McDermott (7.13)

Series 2 Heat 3: 2^nd Paul McDermott (7.09)

Men’s 200m

Heat 4: 3^rd David Campbell (24.51)

Women’s 60m Hurdles

Series 1 Heat 1: 5^th Eva McPartlan (9.50)

Series 2 Heat 1: 5^th Eva McPartlan (9.50)

Men’s 1,500m

Heat 2: 4^th Michael Ryan (4.18.61)

NIA LIVE INDOOR MEET NO. 5 at NATIONAL INDOOR ARENA ABBOTSTOWN (11.02.2020)

Women’s 800m Heat 2

4^th Jona Kalemi (2.42.74)

LEINSTER SCHOOLS CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at SANTRY DEMESNE (12.02.2020)

MINOR GIRLS 1.5km

46^th Eleanor Hopkins <St. Dominic’s Cabra> (06.26)

MINOR BOYS 2km

5^th Matei Ursachi <St. Paul’s Raheny> (8.06)

JUNIOR GIRLS 2km

29^th Honor Lynch <Loreta Stephen’s Green> (9.30)

JUNIOR BOYS 3km

4^th Oliver Hopkins <St. Declan’s CBS> (10.30)

5^th James Bolton <Belvedere College> (10.34)

INTERMEDIATE BOYS 4.5km

2^nd Abdel Laadjel <Kishoge Community College> (14.46) SILVER

19^th James Bolton <Belvedere College> (15.53)

TEAM: James Bolton 2^nd scorer for Belvedere College (BRONZE)

SENIOR BOYS 6km

2^nd Louis O’Loughlin <Moyle Park College> (19.25) SILVER

13^th Gavin Curtin <Moyle Park College> (20.41)

47^th Barney Kelly <Belvedere College> (22.26)

74^th Aidan Kelly <Moyle Park College> (24.18)

DNF Toke Olufowobi <Moyle Park College> Illness

DUBLIN JUVENILE INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY 2 at NATIONAL INDOOR ARENA, ABBOTSTOWN (12.02.2020)

U12 GIRLS 4 x 200m Relay Qualifying Round

Heat 1 – 4^th Donore Harriers 2.21.7 <Rachel Dowling-Barnes, Julianna Broderick, Zoey Conroy, Ruby Blake>

U12 BOYS 4 x 200m Relay Qualifying Round

Heat 2 – 3^rd Donore Harriers B 2.17.3 <Caolan Costello, Elliott Whelan, Daniel Browne, Eoin Mooney>

Heat 5 – 1^st Donore Harriers A 2.07.5 <Cillian McCooey, Jamie Kavanagh, Danny Colgan, Luuk Jackson> Q

FINAL – 4^th Donore Harriers A 2.05.0 <Cillian McCooey, Jamie Kavanagh, Danny Colgan, Luuk Jackson>

U14 GIRLS 4 x 200m Relay Qualifying Round

Heat 5 – 2^nd Donore Harriers 2.00.5 <Eva Crowe, Lorraine O’Connor, Isabella Jackson, Ciara Sammon> Q

FINAL – 5^th Donore Harriers <Eva Crowe, Lorraine O’Connor, Isabella Jackson, Ciara Sammon>

U14 BOYS 4 x 200m Relay Qualifying Round

Heat 1 – 2^nd Donore Harriers 1.55.2 <James Dunne, Alex Leonard, Paddy Nolan, Ciaran O’Farrell> Q

Heat 2 – 1^st Donore Harriers 1.57.5 <Daniel Gleeson, Ewan Taylor, Matei Ursachi, Rory O’Farrell> Q

FINAL – 2^nd Donore Harriers A <James Dunne, Alex Leonard, Paddy Nolan, Ciaran O’Farrell> SILVER

U18 GIRLS 4 x 200m Relay

FINAL – 5^th Donore Harriers 1.55.5 <Sophie O’Farrell, Robin Sweeney, Sarah Tavey, Leonie Power>

ARMAGH INTERNATIONAL 5KM ROAD RACE (15.02.2020)

56^th Daragh Fitzgibbon (14.23)

237 finishers

DUBLIN JUVENILE INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY 3 at NATIONAL INDOOR ARENA, ABBOTSTOWN (15.02.2020)

U12 GIRLS 60m

Heat 1 – 8^th Zoey Conroy (10.7)

Heat 2 – 5^th Melody Omozee (9.6)

Heat 7 – 4^th Amber Lynch (9.6)

U12 BOYS 60m

Semi Final 1 – 4^th Luuk Jackson (8.8), qualified 4^th in Heat 7 (8.9)

Semi Final 2 – 4^th Cillian McCooey (9.1), qualified 2^nd Heat 6 (8.9)

Semi Final 3 – 4^th Daniel Browne (9.1), qualified 3^rd Heat 1 (9.2)

U13 GIRLS 60m

Heat 6 – 8^th Laura Keegan (11.6) hip injury

Heat 9 – 4^th Tara Hoare (9.6)

U13 BOYS 60m

FINAL – 3^rd Mario Omozee (8.35) BRONZE, qualified 2^nd SF3 (8.4), 1^st Heat 1 (8.6)

Semi Final 1 – 5^th Ewan Taylor (9.0), qualified 1^st Heat 4 (9.0)

Semi Final 2 – 5^th Liam Blair (9.2), qualified 3^rd Heat 6 (9.0)

Heat 2 – 5^th Michael Delaney (9.3)

U13 GIRLS 60m Hurdles

Heat 5 – 5^th Tara Hoare (12.8)

Heat 6 – 5^th ?? (12.6)

U13 BOYS 60m Hurdles

FINAL – 1^st Mario Omozee (9.8) GOLD, qualified 1^st Heat 1 (10.2)

Heat 2 – 4^th Liam Blair (11.1)

U14 GIRLS 60m Hurdles

FINAL – 6^th Roisin Kirby (10.3), qualified Heat 3^rd Heat 1 (10.4)

Heat 2 – 7^th Isabella Jackson (12.1)

U14 BOYS 60m Hurdles

FINAL – 1^st Rory O’Farrell (9.5) GOLD, qualified 1^st Heat 2 (9.7)

FINAL – 4^th Ciaran O’Farrell (10.1), qualified 2^nd Heat 1 (10.2)

FINAL – 5^th Paddy Nolan (10.2), qualified 5^th Heat 1 (10.3)

Heat 1 – 8^th Alex Leonard (NTA)

U15 GIRLS 60m Hurdles

FINAL – 1^st Eva Conroy (9.6) GOLD

U15 BOYS 60 Hurdles

FINAL – 5^th Romeo Omozee (10.5)

U17 GIRLS 200m

Heat 3 – 3^rd Sophie O’Farrell (27.6)

U18 GIRLS 200m

FINAL – 4^th Robin Sweeney (27.8), qualified 2^nd in Heat 1 (27.8)

U19 GIRLS 200m

FINAL – 3^rd Jennifer O’Reilly (30.0) BRONZE

U12 BOYS 600m

FINAL – 3^rd Luuk Jackson (1.46.84) BRONZE, 7^th Cillian McCooey (1.50.2)

U13 GIRLS 600m

FINAL – 1^st Emily Bolton (1.46.82) GOLD

U13 BOYS 600m

FINAL – 12^th Mario Omozee (2.02.7)

U14 GIRLS 800m

FINAL – 2^nd Lorraine O’Connor (2.21.02) SILVER, 4^th Eva Crowe (2.25.18)

U14 BOYS 800m

FINAL – 1^st Matei Ursachi (2.18.34) GOLD

U15 BOYS 800m

FINAL – 2^nd Thomas Bolton (2.14.55) SILVER

U16 BOYS 800m

FINAL – 3^rd Oliver Hopkins (2.09.16) BRONZE

U17 BOYS 800m

FINAL – 2^nd Sean Kinsella (2.04.65) SILVER

U14 GIRLS Long Jump

FINAL – 5^th Roisin Kirby (4.21m)

DNQ – Ciara Sammon (3.71m)

U14 BOYS Long Jump

FINAL – 2^nd Matei Ursachi (4.68m) SILVER, 3^rd Rory O’Farrell (4.41m) BRONZE, 5^th Paddy Nolan (4.25m)

DNQ – James Dunne (3.81m), Daniel Gleeson (NMG)

U15 GIRLS Long Jump

DNQ – Honor Lynch

U15 BOYS Long Jump

FINAL – 2^nd Romeo Omozee (4.57m) SILVER

U17 GIRLS Long Jump

FINAL – 5^th Sophie O’Farrell (4.71m)

U12 GIRLS Shot Putt

FINAL – 4^th Melody Omozee (5.14m)

DNQ – Amber Lynch

U14 BOYS Shot Putt

FINAL – 3^rd Caolan Costello (6.57m) BRONZE

INTERVARSITIES INDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS at ATHLONE ARENA (15.02.2020)

WOMEN’S 200m

FINAL – 6^th Aoife Lynch (DCU) 7.72, qualified 2^nd Semi Final 3 (7.73)

WOMEN’S 60m Hurdles

FINAL – 4^th Eva McPartlan (DCU) 9.55; 6^th Caoimhe Mackey (UCD) 9.89

WOMEN’S 200m

FINAL – 3^rd Aoife Lynch (DCU) 24.84 BRONZE, qualified 2^nd Semi-Final 2 (25.01)

WOMEN’S High Jump

FINAL – 2^nd Lara O’Byrne (TCD) 1.65m SILVER

WOMEN’S Pole Vault

FINAL – 6^th Ailbhe Healy (DCU) 2.45m

WOMEN’S Shot Putt

FINAL – 5^th Lara O’Byrne (TCD) 9.29m

MEN’S 200m

FINAL – 2^nd Paul McDermott (DCU) 21.67 SILVER, qualified 1^st Heat 2 (21.99)

Heat 2 – 3^rd Adam Halpin (AIT) 23.82

MEN’S 800m

SEMI-FINAL – 3^rd Jack Byrne (TCD) 2.00.75

RELAYS 4 x 200m

Caoimhe Mackey 2^nd leg UCD 3^rd team in Semi-Final 1 (6^th overall)

Aoife Lynch 1^st leg (DCU) 2^nd team in Semi-Final 2 (2^nd overall – SILVER)

Paul McDermott 3^rd leg DCU 1st team in Semi-Final 1 (1^st overall – GOLD)

Zak Higgins 1^st leg TCD 4^th team in Semi-Final 1 (6^th overall)

Adam Halpin 1^st leg AIT 5^th team in Semi-Final 2 (9^th overall)

BUSINESS HOUSES AA ALSAA CROSS COUNTRY RACES at ALSAA (15.02.2020)

MEN’S 5 MILE

54^th Ian Redican M45 (41.15)

111 finishers.

BARCELONA HALF-MARATHON (16.02.2020)

48^th John Travers MS (1.04.42)

55^th Eric Keogh MS (1.05.11)

107^th Lee Van Haeften MS (1.08.29)

905^th Alasdair Brown MS (1.21.46)

2077^th Ciaran Ryan MS (1.28.53)

17,020^th Jennifer Hogan WS (2.21.24)

18,568 finishers

ENNISCORTHY 10km ROAD RACE (16.02.2020)

7^th Gavin Keogh (35.41)

11^th & 1^st woman Barbara Cleary (36.11)

333 finishers

DUBLIN JUVENILE INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY 4 at NATIONAL INDOOR ARENA, ABBOTSTOWN (16.02.2020)

U9 GIRLS 60m

SEMI-FINAL – 5^th Sophie Farrell (10.6), qualified 2^nd Heat 1 in 10.6

Heat 2 – 4^th Maia Norton (10.8)

Heat 3 – 6^th No. 546 (11.3)

U9 BOYS 60m

FINAL – 6^th Mark Keegan (10.7), qualified 2^nd Heat 2 in 10.7 and 4^th Semi-Final 2 in 10.6

U10 GIRLS 60m

FINAL – 3^rd Annabella Omozee (9.9) BRONZE, qualified 1^st Heat 6 in 10.0 and 2^nd Semi-Final 3 in 10.0

U10 BOYS 60m

Heat 7 – 3^rd Olyver Whelan (10.4)

U11 GIRLS 60m

SEMI-FINAL 1 – 4^th Ruby Blake (9.9), qualified 2^nd Heat 7 in 9.9

SEMI-FINAL 2 – 2^nd Anna Peake (9.8), qualified 3^rd Heat 6 in 10.1

Heat 1 – 5^th Emma Jane Keegan (10.3)

Heat 2 – 4^th Emily Farrell (10.2)

Heat 3 – 4^th Elle Norton (10.2)

Heat 4 – 8^th Caoimhe Blair (10.8)

Heat 5 – 6^th Lauren Tolan (10.7)

Heat 8 – 5^th Freya Ryan (10.4)

U11 BOYS 60m

FINAL – 5^th Dylan O’Connor (9.6), qualified 1^st Heat 1 in 9.4 and 3^rd Semi Final 1 in 9.4

SEMI-FINAL 2 – 6^th Ethan Ryan (10.0), qualified 3^rd Heat 2 in 9.9

SEMI-FINAL 3 – 5^th Conor Garvey (9.8), qualified 1^st Heat 4 in 9.9

Heat 3 – 7^th Oisin O’Gorman (10.2)

Heat 5 – 5^th Tom Nolan (9.9)

U14 GIRLS 60m

FINAL – 7^th Roisin Kirby (9.1), qualified 3^rd Heat 8 in 9.1 and 4^th Semi-Final 1 in 9.0

SEMI-FINAL 2 – 2^nd Ciara Sammon (9.0), qualified 2^nd Heat 3 in 8.9

SEMI-FINAL 3 – 5^th Isabella Jackson (9.2), qualified 3^rd in Heat 7 in 9.1

U14 BOYS 60m

FINAL – 3^rd Alex Leonard (8.2) BRONZE, qualified 2^nd Semi-Final 1 in (8.1)

FINAL – 4^th Rory O’Farrell (8.3), qualified 1^st Semi-Final 4 in (8.3)

SEMI-FINAL 2 – 4^th Paddy Nolan (9.0)

SEMI-FINAL 3 – 3^rd Daniel Gleeson (8.9)

SEMI-FINAL 4 – 2^nd James Dunne (8.8)

U15 GIRLS 60m

FINAL – 3^rd Isabella Kelly (8.3) BRONZE, qualified 2^nd Semi-Final 3 in 8.3

SEMI-FINAL 1 – 5^th Eva Conroy (8.6)

U15 BOYS 60m

Heat 1 – 4^th Romeo Omozee (8.2)

U16 GIRLS 60m

SEMI-FINAL 2 – 7^th Leah Smith (9.1)

U16 BOYS 60m

FINAL – 7^th Daniel O’Neill (8.8)

U17 GIRLS 60m

FINAL – 4^th Sophie O’Farrell (8.4), qualified 4^th in Semi-Final 2 in 8.5

U18 GIRLS 60m

FINAL – 5^th Robin Sweeney (8.5)

U19 GIRLS 60m

FINAL – 2^nd Jennifer O’Reilly (8.7) SILVER

U16 BOYS 1,500m

FINAL – 1^st Oliver Hopkins (4.29.14) GOLD

U17 BOYS 1,500m

FINAL – 3^rd James Bolton (4.34.35) BRONZE

U19 GIRLS 1,500m

FINAL – 7^th Chloe Andrews (5.21.93)

U19 BOYS 1,500m

FINAL – 2^nd Gavin Curtin (4.28.39) SILVER

U12 GIRLS High Jump

DNQ – Amber Lynch & Melody Omozee

U12 Boys High Jump

DNQ – Luuk Jackson

U13 BOYS High Jump

FINAL – 2^nd Mario Omozee (1.40m) SILVER

U15 BOYS High Jump

FINAL – 1^st Romeo Omozee (1.40m) GOLD

U12 GIRLS Long Jump

FINAL – 5^th Amber Lynch (3.61m)

DNQ – Zoey Conroy & Melody Omozee

U12 BOYS Long Jump

FINAL – 4^th Daniel Browne (3.81m)

U13 BOYS Long Jump

DNQ – Liam Blair (3.65m), Mario Omozee (3.55m) & Michael Delaney

U13 GIRLS Shot Putt

DNQ – Tara Hoare

U13 BOYS Shot Putt

FINAL – 3^rd Mario Omozee (7.74m) BRONZE

MEDAL COUNT:

Gold 7 – U13 60mH Mario Omozee; U14 60mH Rory O’Farrell; U15 60mH Eva Conroy; U13 600m Emily Bolton, U14 800m Matei Ursachi, U16 1,500m Oliver Hopkins, U15 HJ Romeo Omozee

Silver 10 – U14 Boys 4 x 200m Relay; U13 60m Mario Omozee; U19 200m Jennifer O’Reilly, U14 800m Lorraine O’Connor; U15 800m Thomas Bolton; U17 800m Sean Kinsella; U19 1,500m Gavin Curtin, U13 HJ Mario Omozee, U14 LJ Matei Ursachi; U15 LJ Romeo Omozee

Bronze 11 – U12 60m Annabella Omozee, U13 60m Mario Omozee, U14 60m Alex Leonard, U15 60m Isabella Kelly, U19 200m Jennifer O’Reilly; U12 600m Luuk Jackson; U16 800m Oliver Hopkins; U17 1,500m James Bolton, U14 LJ Rory O’Farrell; U13 SP Mario Omozee, U14 SP Caolan Costello

WOMEN’S MEET & TRAIN WINER LEAGUE (MEET 4 – 3KM) at ABBOTSTOWN (16.02.2020)

9^th Cliona Carthey (12.43)

71^st Fiona Barrins (14.50)

87^th Sarah Ni Ruairc (15.52)

101^st Catherine McKeon (15.57)

125^th Ann Woodlock (19.35)

129 finishers

PARKRUNS (15.02.2020)

Castletown: 55^th David Hudson M60 (27.08), 66^th Joan McTernan W60 (28.46)

Naas: 1^st Sam Allen (17.56)

Royal Canal, Kilcock: 10^th & 3^rd woman Sinead O’Reilly (22.20)

Waterstown: 9^th & 1^st woman Katie Delaney U15 (23.26)

HIGHLIGHTS: Men’s team win a fantastic gold at the National Intermediate XC Championships, women’s team only one point away from bronze. Barbara Cleary runs a course record at the Lees Road Parkrun in Ennis. Plenty of good results on 1st day of Dublin Juvenile Indoors.

 

 

NATIONAL INTERMEDIATE CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS: Good team packing ensured team gold for the Donore Harriers men’s team in the Intermediate Grade at Avondale Park in Rathdrum on Saturday (08.02.2020). The team was led home by Josh O-Sullivan-Hourihan in 7^th place, with Dublin intermediate champion Matthieu Proffitt next in 16^th spot. The scoring 4 was completed by Eoin Durkan in 23^rd with Rossa Hurley just one place back. The Donore Harriers finished on 70 points, just 2 ahead of Leevale AC with Clonliffe Harriers 3^rd on 91. Matthieu Proffitt and Rossa Hurley were members of the Dublin County team that won gold in the inter-county championship. The non-scoring team member was Rory Burke, who placed 33^rd in a field of 85 finishers. The 8km race was won by Conor O’Mahony of Riocht AC.

The women’s intermediate (5km) team (97) just missed out on bronze medals, finishing just one point behind 3^rd placed Raheny Shamrocks AC (96). Maura Kearns (20.52) ran her best cross-country race of the season to place 7^th. The scoring team was completed by Audrey Gahan (22.32) in 26^th, Aoife Ni Thuathail (22.44) in 30^th and Barbara Murray (23.19) in 34^th. Caroline McCarthy (23.44) came 39^th from 50 finishers. The team competition was won by Crusaders AC (63), who had the runaway winner in Niamh Allen (18.58).

 

NATIONAL MASTERS CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS: Niall Lynch (26.24) in 31^st place was first Donore athlete home in the 7km men’s race. Next came marathon specialist Fergal Whitty (26.36) in 35^th with Danny O’Sullivan (26.48) in 41^st and Gavin Keogh (27.00) in 53^rd completing the scoring 4. The M35 team (160) came 6^th of 22.

The M50-64 team was led home by Phil Hennessy (29.07) in 125^th place. Peter Nugent and Peter Gaffey were separated by just one-second as they closed in 168^th and 169^th, with Tom Fagan (31.25) the 4^th team scorer in 198^th. The quartet came 5^th on a score of 660. Raheny Shamrocks AC (428) were 1^st of 11 competing teams. Hennessy and Gaffney were the 3^rd and 6^th scorers on the Dublin M50+ team that came 2^nd in the inter-county competition behind Donegal.

The other Donore Harriers athletes in the field of 258 finishers were Des Tremble (27.04) in 57^th, Alan Keogh (28.41) in 104^th, Tony Griffin (33.40) in 238^th, Des Gill (34.33) in 244^th and Frank McNally (36.36) in 253^rd.  The highest placed age-category finisher was Niall Lynch, who came 6^th in the M45 class.

In the 4km master women’s race that incorporated the Men’s 65 and plus age categories Barry Potts (21.10) placed 151^st overall and 4^th in the M70 class. Sinead O’Reilly (18.13) led the Donore women’s team home in 19^th place with Ariana Ball just one-second and one-place behind. Claire Mulligan (19.02) came 91^st as Cliodhna Carthy (19.24) filled 100^th position. This scoring four came 11^th (of 15) on 322 as Galway City Harriers (106) took team gold. The non-scoring Donore athlete was Mary McDermott (22.37) in 172^nd and 24^th in the W50 class.

Here is an insightful account of the day from Ann Curley, who took on a spectator role: Great day of racing today at the National Masters and Intermediate in Rathdrum, one of the toughest cross country courses there is: the fittest people in the country from young to old pushed themselves to exhaustion scrapping it out with rivals and producing some outstanding performances, some were happy, others disappointed, medals were won and lost… athletes discussed the usual race post-mortem with the wisdom that comes after the event… should’ve trained harder, should’ve rested up more, shouldn’t have gone out so hard… many of the new running boomers would be oblivious to the action in Rathdrum today where the true spirit of our sport showed it’s far from dead… Highlight of the day was the performances of our gold winning intermediate men Josh, Mattheu, Eoin, Rossa and Rory. Our girls Maura, Audrey, Aoife, Barbara and Caroline just missed bronze by one agonizing point, that’s the way it goes…. Our master runners Sinead, Arianna, Clare, Cliodhna and Mary were fantastic as were our men Barry P, Niall, Fergal, Danny, Gavin, Des T, Peter G, Philip, Alan K, Peter N, Tom, Tony, Des, and Frank.

 

DUBLIN JUVENILE INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS Day One of at the Indoor Arena in Abbotstown on Wednesday (05.02.2020) focused on the 600m/800m event. Large numbers meant that most age-grades were qualifying races based on winners only and then best times.

Cillian McCooey and Luuk Jackson both qualified as winners from their Under 12 600m heats, with Eoin Mooney just missing out as runner-up in Heat 2. Double national cross-country champion Emily Bolton dominated her race in the first heat of the Under 13 Girls 600m. Mario Omozee qualified as the winner of Heat 2 in the Under 13 Boys 600m, with newcomer Liam Morris just losing out when 2^nd in Heat 1.

Donore Harriers had 3 impressive winners in the Under 14 age-group over 800m, as Eva Crowe, Lorraine O’Connor and Matei Ursachi qualified to next Saturday’s (15.02.2020) finals. Joining them will be Thomas Bolton who won his Under 15 Boys heat, Oliver Hopkins who qualified 2^nd in his heat of the Under 16 Boys, and Sean Kinsella who had a close-call to hold on to 3^rd and last ‘automatic’ place in the Under 17 Boys. Chloe Andrews (3.03.52) contested the final of the Under 19 Girls 800m placing 9^th. Remainder of club contestants are listed in the results section.

 

FLY HIGH LILY REMEMBRANCE 5km RUN: 13 years old Honor Lynch (21.50) was 17^th overall and 3^rd woman in this race held in the Phoenix Park on Saturday morning (08.02.2020). Caoimhe O’Regan (22.11) came 20^th and 4^th woman, with Samuel Heaney-Clancy (28.25) 109^th of 425 finishers. The race remembered 7 years old Lily Daly, a student at Gaescoil Inse Chor (Inchicore) who died last year due to sudden complications associated with hydrocephalus. The run raised funds for Spina Bifida Ireland.

 

PARKRUNS. In the 5km (08.02.2020) series :

Barbara Cleary ran a new course record of 17:58 at the Lees Road Parkrun in Ennis. Paul Cummins (18.35) came 2^nd at Brickfields. This was his 5^th consecutive runner-up position at Brickfields in 2020, all run in 18 something. More parkrun results below.

 

RESULTS IN BRIEF:

DUBLIN JUVENILE INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY 1 at NATIONAL INDOOR ARENA, ABBOTSTOWN (05.02.2020)

QUALIFYING ROUND

U12 Girls 600m

Heat 3 – 3^rd Melody Omozee

Heat 4 – 5^th Rachel Dowling-Barnes

Heat 5 – 5^th Amber Lynch

Heat 6 – 10^th Zoe Conroy

U12 Boys 600m

Heat 1 – 4^th Danny Colgan

Heat 2 – 2^nd Eoin Mooney

Heat 3 – 1^st Cillian McCooey Q

Heat 4 – 4^th Elliot Whelan

Heat 5 – 6^th Caolan Costello

Heat 6 – 1^st Luuk Jackson Q

U13 Girls 600m

Heat 1 – 1^st Emily Bolton (1.47) Q

Heat 2 – 9^th Ellie Ryan

Heat 3 – 4^th Abigail Tolan, 8^th Claire O’Hanlon

Heat 4 – 11^th Ava Hoare

Heat 5 – 9^th Tara Hoare

U13 Boys 600m
Heat 1 – 2^nd Liam Morris

Heat 2 – 1^st Mario Omozee 1.59 Q
Heat 3 – 5^th Liam Blair

Heat 4 – 7^th Liam O’Donoghue

U14 Girls 800m

Heat – 1^st Eva Crowe Q

Heat – 1^st Lorraine O’Connor Q

Heat – 8^th Eleanor Hopkins (hamstring injury)

5^th Katie Delaney

U14 Boys 800m

Heat – 1^st Matei Ursachi Q

U15 Girls 800m

Heat – 5^th Honor Lynch

Heat – 5^th Katie Delaney

U15 Boys 800m

Heat – 1^st Thomas Bolton Q

Heat – 9^th Joe Kinsella

U16 Boys 800m

Heat – 2^nd Oliver Hopkins (2.16) Q

U17 Boys 800m

Heat – 3^rd Sean Kinsella (2.07) Q

FINAL

U19 Girls 800m

Final – 9^th Chloe Andrews (3.03.52)

NATIONAL INTERMEDIATE & MASTERS CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at AVONDALE PARK, RATHDRUM (08.02.2020)

INTERMEDIATE WOMEN 5km

7^th Maura Kearns (20.52)

26^th Audrey Gahan (22.32)

30^th Aoife Ni Thuathail (22.44)

34^th Barbara Murray (23.19)

39^th Caroline McCarthy (23.44)

50 finishers

TEAM: 1^st Crusaders AC 63, 4^th Donore Harriers <Kearns, Gahan, Ni Thuathail & Murray> 97. 5 teams

INTERMEDIATE MEN 8km – <no times given>

7^th Josh O’Sullivan-Hourihan

16^th Matthieu Proffitt

23^rd Eoin Durkan

24^th Rossa Hurley

33^rd Rory Burke

85 finishers

TEAM: 1^st Donore Harriers <O’Sullivan-Hourihan, Proffitt, Durkan & Hurley> 70, 2^nd Leevale AC 72, 3^rd Clonliffe Harriers 91. 12 teams.

MASTER WOMEN & MASTER MEN M65+ 4km

65^th & 19^th W35 Sinead O’Reilly (18.13)

66^th & 20^th W35 Ariana Ball (18.14)

91^st & 33^rd W40 Claire Mulligan (19.02)

100^th & 17^th W45 Cliodhna Carthy (19.24)

151^st & 4^th M70 Barry Potts (21.10)

172^nd & 24^th W50 Mary McDermott (22.37)

206 finishers.

TEAM W35: 1^st Galway City Harriers 106, 11^th Donore Harriers <O’Reilly, Ball, Mulligan & Carthy> 322, 15 teams.

MASTER MEN 7km

31^st & 6^th M45 Niall Lynch (26.24)

35^th & 13^th M40 Fergal Whitty (26.36)

41^st & 16^th M35 Danny O’Sullivan (26.48)

53^rd & 19^th M35 Gavin Keogh (27.00)

57^th & 12^th M45 Des Tremble (27.04)

104^th & 33^rd M40 Alan Keogh (28.41)

125^th & 21^st M50 Phil Hennessy (29.07)

168^th & 41^st M50 Peter Nugent (30.28)

169^th & 42^nd M50 Peter Gaffney (30.29)

198^th & 51^st M50 Tom Fagan (31.25)

238^th & 13^th M60 Tony Griffin (33.40)

244^th & 68^th M50 Des Gill (34.33)

253^rd & 33^rd M55 Frank McNally (36.36)

258 finishers.

TEAM M35-49: 1^st Rathfarnham AC  87, 6^th Donore Harriers <Lynch, Whitty, O’Sullivan & G.

Keogh> 160. 22 teams.

TEAM M50: 1^st Raheny Shamrocks AC 428, 5^th Donore Harriers <Hennessy, Nugent, Gaffney

& Fagan> 660. 11 teams.

FLY HIGH LILY REMEMBRANCE 5km RUN at PHOENIX PARK (08.02.2020)

17^th & 3^rd woman Honor Lynch U15 (21.50)

20^th & 4^th woman Caoimhe O’Regan (22.11)

109^th Samuel Heaney-Clancy (28.25)

425 finishers

PARKRUNS (08.02.2020)

Brickfields: 2^nd Paul Cummins (18.35)

Bushy: 230^th Tommy Halton M60 (28.38)

Castletown: 65^th Helaine Kelly W45 (26.35), 78^th David Hudson M60 (27.09), 95^th Joan McTernan W60 (28.11)

Corkagh: 6^th Aidan Kelly JNR (20.01), 45^th Nicola Dowdall W45 (24.53)

Lees Road : 1^st Barbara Cleary (17:58)

Tolka Valley: 7^th Owen Robinson M35 (21.31)

HIGHLIGHTS: Eric Keogh 2^nd in Trim 10 in 49.28. Lee Van Haeften 5^th in 52.20. Rossa Hurley 3^rd in BHAA Garda 4-mile XC. Juvenile Luuk Jackson sprint double at 4^th NIA Live Meet.

 

 

 

Eric Keogh (49.28) achieved a personal best and 2nd place in the TRIM 10-MILE ROAD RACE on Sunday morning (02.02.2020). The race was won by Ethiopian native Yared Derese of Carrick Aces in 48.00. 29 years-old Celbridge man Keogh, continues to build on his 2.18.31 marathon in Frankfurt in late October, finished well-clear of 3^rd placed Hugh Armstrong (50.22) – who was runner-up in the highly competitive Raheny 5 mile a week earlier. Keogh targets to break 2.16 for the marathon in 2020. Lee Van Haeften (52.20) came 5^th and club captain Craig Scott M40 (1.06.46) placed 168^th.

 

Fergal Whitty (55.28) was the club’s lone competitor in the DUNGARVAN 10-MILE ROAD RACE, also on Sunday morning (02.02.2020). He finished 36^th overall and 9^th in the M40 age group. The race was won by Mick Clohissy (48.16) of Raheny Shamrocks AC.

 

In the BUSINESS HOUSES AA GARDA CROSS-COUNTRY RACES in the Phoenix Park on Saturday (01.02.2020) Rossa Hurley (22.28) came 3^rd in the Men’s 4-mile race. Also, among the 195 finishers were Des Tremble M45 (24.02) who placed 12^th and Tommy Halton M60 (38.04) who was 159^th over the line. In the Women’s 2-mile race Mary McDermott W50 (16.57) came 31^st, whilst the evergreen Ann Woodlock W80 (22.24) was 154^th of 332 finishers.

 

At the 4^th NIA LIVE INDOOR MEET at the National Indoor Arena in Abbotstown on Tuesday evening (28.01.2020) a small contingent of Donore Harriers juveniles returned some positive results. Luuk Jackson (9.15 and 31.30) had a double victory in the Under 12 Boys 60m and 200m. Alex Leonard (8.21 and 38.33) was runner-up in both the Under 14 Boys 60m and 200m. Ruby Blake (33.14) came 2^nd in the Under 14 Girls 200m and 4^th in the 60m in 9.67. The other Donore competitors were all in the Under 14 category as Paddy Nolan came 3^rd in the 200m (28.47) and 5^th in the 60m (9.06); James Dunne (8.97 and 29.86) 4^th in both the 60m and 200m; and Isabella Jackson (32.52) 4^th in the 200m. Jack Byrne (2.00.18) won the first heat of the Senior Men’s 800m at the NIA live event, narrowly failing to break the 2-minutes target achieved in his 2 previous races.

 

Best 5km PARKRUN (01.02.2020) results came from Sinead O’Reilly (20.57) 3^rd in Kilcock, Kate Cleary (22.21) 2^nd at Poppintree, Paul Cummins (18.32) 2^nd at Brickfields and Aidan Kelly (19.34) 3^rd at Corkagh. More results below.

 

RESULTS IN BRIEF:

NIA LIVE INDOOR MEETING No. 4 at NATIONAL INDOOR ARENA, ABBOTSTOWN (28.01.2020)

SENIOR RESULTS

Men’s 800m Heat 1: 1^st Jack Byrne (2.00.18)

JUVENILE RESULTS

U12 Boys 60m Heat 2: 1^st Luuk Jackson (9.15)

U12 Girls 60m Heat 1: 4^th Ruby Blake (9.67)

U14 Boys 60m Heat 1: 2^nd Alex Leonard (8.21), 4^th James Dunne (8.97), 5^th Paddy Nolan (9.06)

U12 Boys 200m Heat 1: 1^st Luuk Jackson (31.30)

U12 Girls 200m Heat2: 2^nd Ruby Blake (33.14)

U14 Boys 200m Heat 1: 2^nd Alex Leonard (28.33), 3^rd Paddy Nolan (28.47), 4^th James Dunne (29.86)

U14 Girls 200m Heat 1: 4^th Isabella Jackson (32.52)

BHAA GARDA CROSS-COUNTRY RACES at PHOENIX PARK (01.02.2020)

WOMEN 2 MILES

31^st Mary McDermott W50 (16.57)

154^th Ann Woodlock W80 (22.24)

332 finishers

MEN 4 MILES

3^rd Rossa Hurley MS (22.28)

12^th Des Tremble M45 (24.02)

159^th Tommy Halton M60 (38.04)

195 finishers

TRIM 10 MILE ROAD RACE (02.02.2020)

2^nd Eric Keogh (49.28 PB)

5^th Lee Van Haeften (52.20)

168^th Craig Scott M40 (1.06.46)

1,526 finishers

JOHN TREACY DUNGARVAN 10 MILE ROAD RACE (02.02.2020)

36^th & 9^th M40 Fergal Whitty (55.28)

2,498 finishers

PARKRUNS (01.02.2020)

Brickfields: 2^nd Paul Cummins (18.32), 57^th Daniel Nemeth M35 (29.10)

Corkagh: 3^rd Aidan Kelly JNR (19.34), 87^th Mary Murphy W45 (27.32)

Griffeen: 58^th Charlie O’Neill M65 (25.11)

Poppintree: 8^th & 2^nd woman Kate Cleary W45 (22.21), 73^rd Eilish Joyce W35 (28.39)

Porterstown: 6^th Kenneth McKeown (21.03)

Royal Canal Kilcock: 13^th & 3^rd woman Sinead O’Reilly W35 (20.57), 53^rd Sarah Ni Ruairc W35 (26.20)

Waterstown: 21^st David Hudson M60 (26.16), 30^th Joan McTernan W60 (26.48)

 

HIGHLIGHTS: Jack Raftery and Paul McDermott gold and silver in National Junior/U23 Indoor Championships. National Indoor League teams finished 6^th (men) & 8^th (women) with wins from Aoife Lynch, Paul McDermott, Louis O’Loughlin and the 4 x 200m quartet with a new club record 1.30.25. Donore Harriers senior men’s team of John Travers, Eric Keogh & Lee Van Haeften 2^nd in the Raheny 5 Mile. Barbara Cleary 1^st in W45 grade. Thomas Bolton gold with Matei Ursachi, Oliver Hopkins, Abdel Laadjel & Louis O’Loughlin all silver in the Leinster Regions Schools XC. Donore young guns dominant at Raheny juvenile road races.

In the NATIONAL JUNIOR AND UNDER 23 INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS at the Athlone Arena on Saturday (25.01.2020) Jack Raftery and Paul McDermott produced excellent performances to win gold and silver respectively. Raftery was involved in one of the most exciting races of the event as he traded places with his Irish relay team colleague Ciaran Carthy of Dundrum South Dublin AC in the final of the Junior Men’s 400m. It all came down to the final five meters as Raftery (48.87) used his strength to edge out Carthy (48.98) and clinch the gold medal, with Aaron Keane (50.61) of Tullamore Harriers in 3^rd place. Raftery had earlier won his Heat in 50.37. An unfortunate Daragh McAuley, more familiar with hurdles races, pulled up with 50 metres remaining in Heat 2 of the 400m qualifying round with a hamstring injury. Paul McDermott continues his path towards the higher echelons of Irish sprinting. A keenly contested final of the Under 23 Men’s 200m had all five contestants in close order after 150 metres. The race was decided round the top bend as Mark Smyth (21.36) of Raheny Shamrocks AC opened a gap on McDermott (21.84), who himself put distance from the remainder of the field with David McDonald (22.14) of Menapians AC taking the bronze medal position. McDermott, who qualified by winning Heat 3 in 22.07, recorded a new indoor personal best of 21.84 in the final, being three-hundredths of a second quicker than the mark he set in the Irish Universities Championships last February. Eva McPartlan also achieved a personal best of 9.66 when finishing 6^th in the final of the Under 23 Women’s 60m Hurdles.

 

In the 2^nd and final round of the ATHLETICS IRELAND NATIONAL INDOOR LEAGUE at Athlone Arena on Sunday (26.01.2020) both Donore Harriers’ teams put in sterling performances after a disappointing opening round. Men’s captain David Campbell explained “we were unfortunate in the first round with injuries and so many of your young athletes doing exams”. The club heroes on the day were Aoife Lynch (25.05) and Paul McDermott (21.99) who won their respective 200m races. The other individual winner on the day was Louis O’Loughlin (4.04.56), who scorched a 26-seconds final lap to reel-in Matthew Hayes (4.08.53) of Ratoath AC. The 4 x 200m relay team of Alex Clarkin, Zak Higgins, Jack Raftery and Paul McDermott set a new club record of 1.30.25 to finish more than 50 metres clear of Ratoath AC (1.38.30). In the men’s division Zak Higgins (52.77) came 4^th in the 400m, Alex Clarkin (1.65m) 6^th in the High Jump and Sean Chan (10.85m) 9^th in the Triple Jump. The team came 6^th overall on 57 points behind winners Clonliffe Harriers on 94.5. The women’s team came 8^th on 57 points with Dublin City Harriers the winners on 125. The team included Jona Kalemi (1.16.28) 6^th in the 400m, Lucy Hurley (1.50m) 5^th in the High Jump, Roisin Rynn-Cahill (8.61m) 8^th in the Triple Jump and the 4 x 200m team of Lauren O’Flaherty, Aoife Lynch, Lucy Hurley and Sarah Latiff who came 3^rd in 1.49.87.

A flat course, a cool dry day with little or no wind and a start line laden with colourful Nike ‘Vaporfly’ running shoes meant it was a day of personal bests in the 36^th AXA RAHENY 5 MILE ROAD RACE on Sunday (26.01.2020). John Travers, who won the 34^th version of the race in 23.39, took the pace for the first 2 miles only for his feet to become uncomfortably hot due to his new Vaporfly shoes. He explained later “It was only my second time to wear the shoe and my foot became overly hot”. He stopped to remove a sock and losing 15 to 20 seconds he was out of contention. However, he gamely stuck to his task and outsprinted Olympic Games marathon runner Mick Clohissy (Raheny Shamrocks AC) in the finishing strait to place 8^th in a new personal best time of 23.15. Eric Keogh (23.21) also got a PB and finished 10^th overall. Lee Van Haeften (24.27) placed 22^nd and closed out the Donore Harriers senior men’s team in 2^nd place on a score of 40. Dundrum South Dublin AC (17) won the team event with Clonliffe Harriers (53) 3^rd. Next Donore athlete home was Eoin Durkan (26.13) in 58^th place. Behind him Gavin Keogh (27.22) was also having problems with his new Vaporfly shoes, with two shoelace stops hampering his attempt to break 27 minutes. He settled for 97^th, just 4 places ahead of 15 years-old James Bolton (27.29) who continues to impress at road races. He finished as 4^th Junior behind older, more experienced athletes.

Barbara Cleary (27.34), who was the women’s winner in 2017, was 104^th overall – being 7^th woman overall and the winner of the W45 category. Alasdair Brown (27.58) placed 118^th and was a few seconds shy of his previous best time. M40 athlete Kevin Odgers (29.47) came 253^rd, with Liam Keane (31.28) next home in 398^th. Audrey Gahan, who had a fine cross-country season, placed 465^th and 11^th in the W40 age grade. Gahan (32.31) was delighted with her effort “when I turned the last corner and saw the clock was reading 32 minutes, I knew it was a PB”. The other Donore Harriers finishers were – Guillaume Nolan MS (32.44) in 487^th, Patrick Farrell MS (32.44 PB) in 490^th, Owen Robinson MS (32.59) in 530^th, Ian Redican M45 (34.18) 645^th, Frank McNally M55 (36.21) in 961^st, Dean Fullston M55 (37.03) 1,077^th, Club President Charlie O’Neill (40.08) 1,404^th and 6^th M65, Niamh Gaudin W40 (43.03) 1,828^th, Tommy Halton M60 (43.05) 1,828^th, Mary Murphy W45 (43.39) in 2,135^th, Rory Gaudin MJ (45.30) in 2,331^st and Frank Greally M60 (1.01.43) in 3,837^th.

 

The schools’ athletics season for 2020 began at Avondale Park in Rathdrum with the EAST LEINSTER SCHOOLS CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS on Tuesday (21.01.2020). Honor Lynch placed 11^th in the Minor Girls 2km race and helped Loreta Stephen’s Green to 2^nd place.

 

Two days later the WEST LEINSTER SCHOOLS took place at its usual venue next to the Papal Cross in the Phoenix Park. There was a Donore Harriers one-two in the Junior Boys 3.5km race as Thomas Bolton (Belvedere College) and Oliver Hopkins (St. Declan’s) took gold and silver respectively. In the Intermediate Boys race Kishoge CC student Abdel Laadjel had to settle for 2^nd place behind national Under 17 cross-country champion Scott Fagan of Luttrellstown College. It was a mammoth contest between two very talented athletes, with Fagan gaining an advantage over the Donore Harriers athlete in the final kilometre. Just 10 metres separated the two after the 5 kilometres duel. James Bolton (Belvedere College) came 5^th and Sean Kinsella (Colaiste Cois Life) 61^st. A quartet of Donore Harriers athletes helped Moyle Park College to team silver in the Senior Boys race over 5 kilometres. Louis O’Loughlin, on his comeback pathway following a 3-months injury layoff, ran a fine tactical race to finish 2^nd behind Daniel Stone of Belvedere College. Gavin Curtin held off his pursuers to finish 5^th. The team was completed by Toke Olufowobi in 16^th place and Aidan Kelly in 19^th. Club member Barney Kelly placed 14^th and was part of the winning Belvedere College team. In the first race of the day Laura Nunan (Mount Sackville) showed improved form to place 4^th in a field of more than 150 starters. Katie Delaney (St. Joseph’s Lucan) came 16^th and Sarah Tolan (Castleknock Community College) was 31^st.

 

Donore Harriers were the dominant club in the AXA RAHENY JUVENILE ROAD RACES held prior to the RAHENY 5. The 2019 double national cross-country champion Emily Bolton won the Girls 8 to 12 years-old 800 metres race. Eva Crowe outsprinted Katrina Almeida (unattached) to take 2^nd place. Julie Cleary, with a parkrun and a football match in her legs from the previous day, came 5^th and an improving Eleanor Hopkins took 11^th spot. In the Boys 8 to 12 years-old race, also over 800m, Matei Ursachi ran out the convincing winner having 30 metres so spare over his nearest rival. His younger brother Sebastian (Ursachi) came 9^th, with James Dunne 18^th and Philippe Gaudin 57^th. Sean Kinsella (4.20) challenged for the lead in the Boys 13 to 16 years-old one-mile race, before having to concede to Adam Condon (4.15) of Raheny Shamrocks AC over the final 300 metres. Oliver Hopkins (4.35) came 5^th and Thomas Bolton (4.36) was 6^th.Katie Delaney (5.43) ran a very fine race to place 4^th in the Girls 13-16 one-mile race, with Rebecca Horan (7.04) in 12^th place.

 

The most notable of the club’s PARK-RUNNERS this week was 12 years-old Julie Cleary (19.45) at Waterstown. Julie placed 3^rd overall and was the 1^st woman finisher. Her time was the 6^th fastest ever by a female for the tough Waterstown course. Elsewhere Niall Lynch (17.31) was first home at Poolbeg, Paul Cummins 2^nd at Brickfields in 17.50 and 17 years-old Barney Kelly (18.10) 3^rd at Castletown in Celbridge. More results below.

 

RESULTS IN BRIEF:

EAST LEINSTER SCHOOLS CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at AVONDALE PARKM RATHDRUM (21.01.2020)

MINOR GIRLS 2km

11^th Honor Lynch (Loreta Stephen’s Green)

WEST LEINSTER SCHOOLS CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at PHOENIX PARK (23.01.2020)

MINOR GIRLS 2km

4^th Laura Nunan (Mount Sackville), 16^th Katie Delaney (St. Joseph’s Lucan), 31^st Sarah Tolan

(Castleknock Community College)

JUNIOR BOYS 3.5km

1^st Thomas Bolton (Belvedere College), 2^nd Oliver Hopkins (St. Declan’s)

INTERMEDIATE BOYS 5km

2^nd Abdel Laadjel (Kishoge Community College), 5^th James Bolton (Belvedere College), 61^st Sean Kinsella (Colaiste Cois Life)

SENIOR BOYS 5km

2^nd Louis O’Loughlin (Moyle Park College), 5^th Gavin Curtin (Moyle Park College), 14^th Barney Kelly (Belvedere College), 16^th Toke Olufowobi (Moyle Park College), 19^th Aidan Kelly (Moyle Park College)

NORTH LEINSTER SCHOOLS CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at PHOENIX PARK (23.01.2020)

Minor Girls 2km

11^th Eleanor Hopkins (St. Dominic’s Cabra)

Minor Boys 2.5km

2^nd Matei Ursachi (St. Paul’s Raheny)

ATHLETICS IRELAND NATIONAL JUNIOR & U.23 INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS at ATHLONE ARENA (25.01.2020)

JUNIOR MEN’S 400m FINAL

1^st Jack Raftery (48.87) – qualified 1^st in Heat 1 in 50.37

Also: Daragh McAuley DNF in Heat 2 due to hamstring injury

U.23 WOMEN’S 60m HURDLES FINAL

6^th Eva McPartlan (9.66 PB)

U.23 MEN’S 200m FINAL

2^nd Paul McDermott (21.84 PB) – qualified 1^st in Heat 3 in 22.07

NATIONAL INDOOR TRACK & FIELD LEAGUE 2 at ATHLONE ARENA (26.01.2020)

WOMEN’S DIVISION

200m: 1^st Aoife Lynch (25.05)

400m: 6^th Jona Kalemi (1.16.28)

1500m: No competitor

4 x 200m Relay: 3^rd Donore Harriers <Lauren Flaherty, Aoife Lynch, Lucy Hurley, Sarah Latiff> 1.49.87

High Jump: 5^th Lucy Hurley (1.50m)

Triple Jump: 8^th Roisin Rynn-Cahill (8.61m)

TEAM POINTS: 1^st Dublin City Harriers 125, 8^th Donore Harriers 57

MEN’S DIVISION:

200m: 1^st Paul McDermott (21.99)

400m: 4^th Zak Higgins (52.77)

1500m: 1^st Louis O’Loughlin (4.04.56)

4 x 200m relay: 1^st Donore Harriers <Alex Clarkin, Zak Higgins, Jack Raftery & Paul McDermott> 1.30.25 new club record

High Jump: 6^th Alex Clarkin (1.65m)

Triple Jump: 9^th Sean Chan (10.85m)

TEAM POINTS: 1^st Clonliffe Harriers 94.5, 6^th Donore Harriers 57.

GUEST RACES:

Men’s 200m Race 2: 1^st Adam Halpin (23.96)

Men’s 200m Race 4: 3^rd David Campbell (24.51)

36^th AXA RAHENY 5 MILE ROAD RACE (26.01.2020)

8^th & 7^th MS John Travers (23.15 PB)

10^th & 9^th MS Eric Keogh (23.21 PB)

22^nd & 21^st MS Lee Van Haeften (24.27)

58^th & 47^th MS Eoin Durkan (26.13)

97^th & 78^th MS Gavin Keogh (27.22)

101^st & 4^th MJ James Bolton (27.29)

104^th, 7^th woman & 1^st W45 Barbara Cleary (27.34)

118^th & 91^st MS Alasdair Brown (27.58)

253^rd & 45^th M40 Kevin Odgers (29.47)

398^th & 215^th MS Liam Keane (31.28)

465^th & 11^th M40 Audrey Gahan (32.31 PB)

487^th & 250^th MS Guillaume Nolan (32.44)

490^th & 253^rd MS Patrick Farrell (32.37 PB)

530^th & 266^th MS Owen Robinson (32.59)

645^th & 71^st M45 Ian Redican (34.18)

961^st & 23^rd M55 Frank McNally (36.21)

1077^th & 28^th M55 Dean Fullston (37.03)

1404^th & 6^th M65 Charlie O’Neill (40.08)

1828^th & 125^th W40 Niamh Gaudin (43.03)

1834^th & 31^st M60 Tommy Halton (43.05)

2135^th & 87^th W45 Mary Murphy (43.39)

2331^st & 32^nd MJ Rory Gaudin (45.30)

3837^th & 71^st M60 Frank Greally (1.01.43)

4,062 finishers

TEAM SENIOR MEN: 1^st Dundrum South Dublin AC 17, 2^nd Donore Harriers <Travers, E. Keogh, Van Haeften> 40, 3^rd Clonliffe Harriers 53. 73 teams

TEAM SENIOR WOMEN: 1^st Dundrum South Dublin AC 41, 18^th Donore Harriers <Cleary, Gahan, Gaudin> 505. 71 teams.

TEAM M40: 1^st North Belfast Harriers AC 266, 28^th Donore Harriers <Odgers, Redican, McNally> 1630. 53 teams.

TEAM W40: 1^st Dundrum South Dublin AC 154, 12^th Donore Harriers <Cleary, Gahan, Gaudin> 505. 55 teams.

AXA RAHENY JUVENILE ROAD RACES (26.01.2020)

GIRLS 8-12 YEARS OLD 800m

1^st Emily Bolton, 2^nd Eva Crowe, 5^th Julie Cleary, 9^th Eleanor Hopkins

BOYS 8-12 YEARS OLD 800m

1^st Matei Ursachi, 9^th Sebastian Ursachi, 18^th James Dunne, 57^th Philippe Gaudin

GIRLS 13-16 YEARS OLD 1 MILE

4^th Katie Delaney (5.43), 17^th Rebecca Horan (7.04)

BOYS 13-16 YEARS OLD 1 MILE
2^nd Sean Kinsella (4.20), 5^th Oliver Hopkins (4.35), 6^th Thomas Bolton (4.36)

PARKRUNS (18.01.2020)

Brickfields: 2^nd Paul Cummins (17.50)

Bushy: 212nd Tommy Halton M60 (30.01)

Castletown: 3^rd Barney Kelly U19 (18.10) 72^nd Helaine Kelly W45 (25.12 PB)

Poolbeg: 1^st Niall Lynch M45 (17.31), 77^th Karen Woods W40 (23.10)

Royal Canal Kilcock: 13^th & 2^nd woman Sinead O’Reilly W35 (21.32), 48^th David Hudson M60 (25.40), 57^th Joan McTernan W60 (26.27)

Tyrellstown: 12^th & 2^nd woman Nicola Dowdall W45 (23.56)

Waterstown: 3^rd and 1^st woman Julie Cleary U14 (19.45), 9^{th &} 3^rd woman Kate Cleary (22.04), Dylan O’Connor U11 (44.59)

 

HIGHLIGHTS: Caroline McCarthy 5^th in 3^rd WOMEN’S MEET & TRAIN LEAGUE. Jack Byrne 800m PB in NIA LIVE. Some excellent performances from juvenile athletes at the same venue. Tristan Druet and Rossa Hurley top 10 in BHAA EIR XC race.

 

 

 

A field of 155 athletes, including new-breed running clubs, shows the rising popularity of this important development league. Club Captain Florence Curley described the WOMEN’S MEET & TRAIN WINTER LEAGUE as “grassroots running at its best”. Sunday’s 3^rd fixture at Cherryfield Park (19.01.2020) over a 2-laps, 2 miles race saw 11 Donore Harriers team members on the start line. An improving Caroline McCarthy (13.17) was first home in 5^th place, being edged out of 4^th by Elaine McLoughlin of Clonliffe Harriers. Cliodhna Carthy (13.51) put in another solid performance to place 18^th before Treasa Boylan (15.07) finished strongly to cross the line in 55^th position. Fiona Barrins, making a welcome return to competition after an injury lay-off, placed 72^nd in 15.32. Mary McDermott (15.36), running her 2^nd race of the weekend, came 76^th. Sarah Ni Ruairc (16.13) put in a sprint finish to take 98^th, with Mary Murphy (17.39) and Michelle Dawson (17.43) in 132^nd and 133^rd respectively. Sue Lynch (19.10), who helps organise every league race and has been instrumental in its growing success, placed 147^th. The biggest cheer of the day was saved for W80 athlete Ann Woodlock (20.58) as she raced to the line in 154^th position, a demonstration of the great respect in which the Donore Harriers master’s superstar is held within the sport. The race was won by Irish international master’s athlete Niamh Fitzgerald of Lucan Harriers.

 

In the BUSINESS HOUSES ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION EIR CROSS-COUNTRY races at Cherryfield Park on Saturday (18.01.2020) Tristan Druet (26.55) and Rossa Hurley (27.10) placed 6^th and 8^th, with M45 runner Ian Redican (34.57) in 87^th from 151 finishers. In the Women’s race over 2 miles Mary McDermott W45 (15.07) came 23^rd of the 43 finishers.

 

In the third NIA LIVE MEETING at the National Indoor Arena at Abbotstown on Tuesday evening (14.01.2020) senior athlete Jack Byrne (1.58.82) broke the 800m two-minutes barrier for the 2^nd time within a space of 4 days. His new personal best time of 1.58.82 saw him finish a close 2^nd behind Aaron Shorten (1.58.39) of St. Laurence O’Toole AC. Some of our juvenile athletes were back on the boards with the highly talented Luuk Jackson (1.51.31) winning the Under 12 Boys 60m, after having posted a time of 9.30 to take 3^rd spot in the 60m. Other notable performances came from Roisin Kirby who won her Under 14 Girls 60m race in 9.01 and then placed 2^nd in the 200m (29.63); Ciaran O’Farrell (8.90) who won his Under 14 Boys 60m sprint; Paddy Nolan winner of the Under 14 Boys 200m in 29.32 and 6^th in the 60m sprint in 9.50; Tom Nolan 3^rd in both the Under 10 Boys 60m (10.21) and 200m (35.38); and Isabella Jackson who came 2^nd in the Under 14 Girls 60m (9.41) and 4^th in the 200m (31.49). Recent Willie Dunne Shield winner James Dunne recorded 19.42 to take 2^nd place in his 200m Under 14 race and was 4^th in the 60m in 8.94.

 

Among the park-runners this week (PARKRUNS 18.01.2020) were Paul Cummins (18.30) 2^nd at Brickfields Park and Owen Robinson (20.14) 5^th at Tolka Valley. Helaine Kelly (25.17) posted a new personal best at Castletown Estate, with juveniles Dylan McKenna (22.12) and Katie Delaney (23.35) placing 8^th and 12^th at Waterstown Park. More results below.

RESULTS IN BRIEF:

NIA LIVE INDOOR MEETING No. 3 at NATIONAL INDOOR ARENA, ABBOTSTOWN (14.01.2019)

SENIOR RESULTS

Men’s 800m Heat 2: 2^nd Jack Byrne (1.58.82 PB)

JUVENILE RESULTS

U10 Boys 60m Heat 2: 3^rd Tom Nolan (10.21)

U12 Boys 60m Heat 1: 3^rd Luuk Jackson (9.30)

U14 Boys 60m Heat 1: 1^st Ciaran O’Farrell (8.90 – Heat 2: 4^th James Dunne (8.94), 6^th Paddy Nolan (9.50)

U14 Girls 60m Heat 1: 1^st Roisin Kirby (9.01), 2^nd Isabella Jackson (9.41)

U10 Boys 200m Heat 2: 3^rd Tom Nolan (35.38)

U14 Boys 200m Heat 1: 2^nd James Dunne (29.42) – Heat 2: 1^st Paddy Nolan (29.32)

U14 Girls 200m Heat 1: 4^th Isabella Jackson (31.49) – Heat 2: 2^nd Roisin Kirby (29.63)

U12 Boys 600m Heat 1: 1^st Luuk Jackson (1.51.31)

BHAA EIR CROSS-COUNTRY RACES at CHERRYFIELD PARK (18.01.2020)

WOMEN’S 2 MILE RACE

23^rd Mary McDermott W45 (15.07)

43 finishers

MEN’S 5 MILE RACE

6^th Tristan Druet MS (26.55)

8^th Rossa Hurley MS (27.10)

87^th Ian Redican M45 (34.57)

151 finishers

WOMEN’S MEET & TRAIN WINTER LEAGUE (RACE 3 – 2 MILES) at CHERRYFIELD PARK (19.01.2020)

5^th Caroline McCarthy (13.17)

18^th Cliodhna Carthy (13.51)

55^th Treasa Boylan (15.07)

72^nd Fiona Barrins (15.32)

76^th Mary McDermott (15.36)

98^th Sarah Ni Ruairc (16.13)

112^th Catherine McKeon (16.52)

132^nd Mary Murphy (17.39)

133^rd Michelle Dawson (17.43)

147^th Sue Lynch (19.10)

154^th Ann Woodlock (20.58)

155 finishers

TEAM RESULT TO FOLLOW

PARKRUNS (18.01.2020)

Brickfields: 2^nd Paul Cummins (18.30), 142^nd Daniel Nemeth M35 (58.21)

Bushy: 157^th Tommy Halton M60 (28.49)

Castletown: 74^th Helaine Kelly W45 (25.17 PB)

Poppintree: 131^st Eilish Joyce W35 (31.13)

Tolka Valley: 5^th Owen Robinson W35 (20.14)

Waterstown: 8^th Dylan McKenna U15 (22.12), 12^th & 2^nd woman Katie Delaney U15 (23.35)

HIGHLIGHTS: Cathal McCarron and Paul Cummins 1^st and 3^rd in the WORLD HALF-MARATHON FESTIVAL at Donadea. Women’s and men’s teams had difficult opener in the NATIONAL INDOOR LEAGUE. Masters teams both sixth in LEINSTER CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS.

 

 

The first round of the NATIONAL INDOOR TRACK & FIELD LEAGUE took place in ABBOTSTOWN on Saturday (11.01.2020). There were some good performances from Donore Harriers athletes, many of whom were late call-ups due to key athletes being missing due to illness, injury and exams. In the women’s competition Caoimhe Mackey, who is a 400m hurdles specialist, tackled the 60m high hurdles finishing a very creditable 3^rd in 10.10. Eva McPartlan rushed from her exam desk to line up in the 60 metres sprint, placing a fine 4^th in 8.22. Jona Kalemi (2.46.99), on her way back from injury, finished 6^th in the 800m.

Juvenile athlete Sophie O’Farrell contested the Long Jump for the first time with her 4^th and final effort of 4.57m earning 9^th spot. Emily Geoghegan (7.95m) placed 6^th with a PB final throw in the Shot Putt. Donore Harriers came 10^th of 12 teams. Team captain Leonie Newman said afterwards: “we were unfortunate with injuries and exams, but it was a great performance from the women out there today”.

The men’s team also had a tough day in the Arena. Jack Byrne, a late replacement for Elliot Slade, broke the two-minutes barriers for the first time with a 1.59.7 in the 800m to finish in 4^th place. Conor Fox ran 7.48 to finish 6^th in the 60m sprint and Sean Chan jumped 5.55m to place 7^th in the Long Jump. Club newcomer Darren Weldon (7.77m) came 8^th in the Shot Putt and captain David Campbell (15.50) was 5^th in the 60m Hurdles. The team came 7^th from 9.

 

Donore Harriers fielded two teams in the LEINSTER MASTERS CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at Gowran in Co. Kilkenny on Sunday (12.01.2020). Athletes were greeted by clear skies after heavy overnight rain. Just a week after an excellent 3^rd place in the Dublin Masters cross-country the women’s Over 35 team came a fine 6^th after a keenly contested 3km race. Audrey Gahan (17.37) was 17^th home, with Ariana Ball and Barbara Murray (both 18.05) outsprinting two other athletes to place 24^th and 25^th respectively. The non-scoring team member was Mary McDermott (21.10) in 63^rd position.Karen Costello of Dunleer AC was the individual winner with Sli Culann AC winning the team.

The Men’s Over 50 team competition was incorporated into the main master’s race over 6km. Peter Gaffney (25.29) led the team home in 67^th place, with Peter Nugent (25.57) and Tom Fagan (26.44) being the other scorers in 72^nd and 83^rd. With Gaffney, Nugent and Fagan placing 21^st, 25^th and 34^th respectively in the M50+ category their overall team score of 80 points was good enough for 6^th position with Mullingar Harriers winning on 32. Tony Kynes (27.14) was the team’s first non-scoring team member in 93^rd place. Kynes finished just outside an individual medal with 4^th place in the M60 category. Tony Griffen (28.48) was 108^th overall and 6^th in the M60 class and Des Gill (30.00) came 111^th. Eoin Flynn of Rathfarnham WSAF was the overall winner of the masters’ race and Des Kennedy of Raheny Shamrocks AC first Over 50.
Paul Cummins (1.24.28) came 3^rd of 121 competitors in the WORLD HALF-MARATHON FESTIVAL at Donadea Forest Park on Saturday afternoon (11.01.2020). Cummins was in 5^th place after the smaller opening lap. After completing 3 of 4 larger laps through forest trails he had gained to 4^th. A strong last lap edged Cummins ahead of Richard Numan, but he was unable to close the 100 metres gap on runner-up David Browne (1.24.09) of Newbridge AC. The race was won by Stephen Conroy (1.22.09) of Celbridge AC.

In the final race of the WORLD HALF-MARATHON FESTIVAL weekend series on Sunday Cathal McCarron (1.22.27) reeled in runner-up Brendan Keane (1.23.17) in the 2^nd half of the race to record a notable victory. McCarron finished with the 3^rd fastest time from the 4-race event.

 

In the first Business Houses Athletics Association fixture of 2020 at Tymon Park on Saturday (11.01.2020) Tristan Druet (21.01) came 8^th after 8 kilometres of cross-country running. Rossa Hurley (21.12) was just two places further back with M60 athlete Tommy Halton (35.22) finishing 200^th from 214 finishers.

 

In the PARKRUN series (11.01.2020) Over 75 runner Terry Mee (32.25) came 146^th out of 216 finishers at Griffeen Park. More results below.

 

RESULTS IN BRIEF:

NATIONAL INDOOR LEAGUE ROUND 1 at National Indoor Arena, ABBOTSTOWN (11.01.2020)

WOMEN

60m sprint: 4^th Eva McPartlan (8.22)

60m Hurdles: 3^rd Caoimhe Mackey (10.10)

800m: 6^th Jona Kalemi (2.46.99)

Long Jump: 9^th Sophie O’Farrell (4.57m)

Shot Putt: 6^th Emily Geoghegan (7.94m)

Pole Vault: No competitor

TEAM: 10^th Donore Harriers (25 points)

MEN

60m sprint: 5^th Conor Fox (7.48)

60m Hurdles: 5^th David Campbell (15.50)

800m: 4^th Jack Byrne (1.59.7 PB)

Long Jump: 7^th Sean Chan (5.55m)

Shot Putt: 8^th Darren Weldon (7.77m)

Pole Vault: No competitor

TEAM: 7^th Donore Harriers (18 points)

WORLD HALF-MARATHON FESTIVAL RACE 2 at DONADEA FOREST PARK (11.01.2020)

3^rd Paul Cummins (1.24.28)

121 competitors

BHAA BANK of IRELAND 6KM CROSS-COUNTRY RACE at TYMON PARK (11.01.2020)

8^th Tristan Druet MS (21.01)

10^th Rossa Hurley MS (21.12)

200^th Tommy Halton M60 (35.22)

214 finishers

LEINSTER MASTERS CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at GOWRAN (12.01.2020)

MASTER WOMEN 3KM

17^th & 9^th W40 Audrey Gahan (17.37)

24^th & 6^th W35 Ariana Ball (18.05)

25^th & 6^th W45 Barbara Murray (18.05)

63^rd & 10^th W50 Mary McDermott (21.10)

73 finishers

TEAM W35: 1^st Sli Culann AC 29; 6^th Donore Harriers <Gahan, Ball, Murray> 66

11 teams

MASTER MEN 6KM

67^th & 16^th M50 Peter Gaffney (25.29)

72^nd & 19^th M50 Peter Nugent (25.57)

83^rd & 25^th M50 Tom Fagan (26.44)

93^rd & 4^th M60 Tony Kynes (27.14)

108^th & 6^th M60 Tony Griffen (28.48)

111^th & 32^nd M50 Des Gill (30.00)

120 finishers

TEAM M50: 1^st Mullingar Harriers 32; 6^th Donore Harriers <Gaffney, Nugent & Fagan> 80.

8 teams

WORLD HALF-MARATHON FESTIVAL RACE 4 at DONADEA FOREST PARK (12.01.2020)

1^st Cathal McCarron (1.22.27)

86 competitors

PARKRUN SERIES (11.01.2020)

Griffeen: 146^th Terry Mee M75 (32.25)

Poppintree: 20^th & 7^th woman Kate Cleary W45 (22.24)

Royal Canal, Kilcock: 19^th Charlie O’Neill M65 (24.53)

Waterstown: 24^th David Hudson M60 (26.57)

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

RESULTS IN BRIEF:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

772 finishers

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

10^th Patrick Farrell (42.31)

103 finishers

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

MASTERS WOMEN 35-plus 3KM

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DNF Julia Hackett (injured)

180 finishers

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

MASTERS MEN 35-plus 6KM

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DNF Lou MacCurtain

291 finishers

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

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

MASTERS MEN 65-plus 3KM

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

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

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

202 finishers

PARKRUN SERIES (01.01.2020)

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

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

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

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

PARKRUN SERIES (04.01.2020)

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

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

Bushy: 179^th Tommy Halton M60 (29.27)

Corkagh: 9^th Eoin Mooney U10 (21.59)

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

Poolbeg: 51^st Karen Woods W40 (22.41)

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

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

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

Tymon: 1^st Tristan Druet M35 (16.59)

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

Katie Delaney U15 (24.49)

 

 

 

HIGHLIGHTS: Luke Boland won the 123^rd Waterhouse Byrne Baird Shield after a dramatic finish. James Dunne became the 3^rd winner of the Willie Dunne Shield juvenile race. Niall Lynch (fastest in WBB) won the Tommy Hayward Cup. Sinead Lambe 1^st woman in the Fat Turkey 10km and Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill 2^nd in the Farranfore Maine 5km.

The 123^rd WATERHOUSE BYRNE BAIRD SHIELD (report by Iain Morrison) race saw an entry list of experienced Stephen’s day warriors and bright shiny new debutants to the event to brave the epic distance. It was fitting therefore that the race in the end came down to battle between 2 athletes from each camp. It’s list of winners runs like a calling card of many of the Donore greats…but many a fine Donore athlete has not had the rub of the green …or the mud…or the snow…. or maybe just the handicappers. This of course is as it should be as every athlete should have an equal chance of winning when they line up on December the 26^th. The vagaries of form, time of year sickness injury conditions all play their part, but the adage still endures coined by our very own late Jim McNamara – “You must use your handicap when you get it”. The field was whittled down by injuries and illness, ruling out former winner Michelle Dawson, former men’s cross and Road captain Rossa Hurley. It also saw Liz Mac Curtain. Claire Mulligan and Treasa Boylan bow out. Conditions above ground proved fair very little wind and very mild. The ground was heavy and sticky and caused several stalwarts of the race to bow out early such as Barry Potts and Dana Mackey with an Achilles problem and Patrick Farrell battled hard in his first ever cross country against an ongoing knee problem but was forced to yield after 8 miles.

Early running saw several athletes set their intent out. Catherine McKeon and Dana Mackey were paired as lead off athletes and beat out the early tempo only for Dana to pull up but Catherine undaunted kept her pace up to go through with over two, two-mile laps to spare over the scratch athletes. Julia Hackett similarly had company in Angela Eustace before Angela had to pull out and this perhaps helped these two athletes in their overall races. Neil Hand appeared to take out a fast-early lap. Luke Boland recorded the fastest lap only to be bettered by Niall Lynch with an 11min 35s first lap. Niall was paired with Ken Nugent whom between them have shared the Tommy Hayward trophy for the fastest 10 mile since its inception, so when Niall broke away from Ken in that first lap his intent was clear.
The race unfolded as the Junior Shield was run after scratch athlete Peter Sweeney former men’s road and cross country captain started. Anne Curley the defending champion was going steady, but the event is notoriously hard to win two years in a row and the momentum just didn’t seem to be with her this year. Similarly, Alan Farrell former winner after working with Sinead Lambe for nearly 3 laps seemed not to have the magic of his victory year and Sinead Lambe started to pull away from him. Two laps in another former winner Tony Griffin cast aside his gloves and appeared to have a sense that perhaps he could be a double winner of the Shield and was moving well. Two laps to go Catherine McKeon still had a long lead and as latter athletes started to unwind the head start she’d got on them it all came down to time gaps and speed on the track coming into the last lap.
Taking the bell with two miles of running to go Catherine had a minute and 40 seconds lead on Julia Hackett. Julia a veteran of the Stephen’s day race known for her canny pacing doggedness in the final stretch of any race was lapping 2 minutes faster than Catherine and she could see Catherine up the horse gallops … the race was well and truly on. Tony Griffin had a had a look of determination on his face as he passed to line going into the final lap. There had been a surge from the back of the field, Niall Lynch had appeared not to make the progress on Luke Boland as had been suggested from the early laps, but the 4^th lap was the slowest of Luke’s race with a 12 min 52. Catherine was 12 min 30 seconds ahead, so it required a low 12-minute lap to overcome the gap. Luke had also passed Gavin Keogh who was himself running well. This appeared to be where the placings would be decided.

Julia (Hackett) took Catherine (McKeon) at the back of the course after the hill and pushed on through the trees, the pink headband looking comfortably in the lead, with seemingly a long gap to the chasing men. Could there be a 3 in a row for the ladies of Donore! Momentum of course is everything on the last lap of the Waterhouse Byrne Baird. Luke (Boland) now getting a sense that the line and the lead were within touching distance seemed to eat the ground as he chased Julia around the civil service cricket ground. The gap seemed to disappear as quickly and assuredly as Julia lead had seemed to be commandingly clear minutes before. A mixture of a groan for the vanquished and a cheer for the challenger rang out as Luke took Julia up the home straight before the small bump with enough time to savour a sweet victory. Julia brilliant in second place smiled and raised her own hand as she crossed the line knowing shed come so very close. Luke had run a 12 min 14 seconds last lap. Just behind Gavin Keogh had a nearly equally storming last lap and despite nearly falling in the home straight due to the intensity of his efforts sprinted past Tony Griffin to snatch 3^rd place. Catherine the long-time leader for 9.5 miles, was passed by Niall Lynch who didn’t quite have the last lap that would have brought him right into contention but still ran fast enough to be the winner yet again of the Tommy Hayward Trophy for fastest ten mile of the day. Sinead Lambe was as predicted the fastest lady on the day but didn’t quite get enough momentum to take her through to the top 6. The day belonged to Luke in his debut on the Waterhouse Byrne Baird Shield and it caps off a great season of cross-country running. He won medals for the club team in the Dublin Novice (silver) and in the Dublin Intermediate (gold) as well as a fine run in the National Novice 2 weeks previously. It was another thrilling St Stephen’s Day duel!

Video of finishing stages https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmaE0ZF8zy0&t=125s

WBB Feedback:

Club President Charlie O’Neill: “Looks like it was a thrilling race. Well done to everyone who kept this unique tradition alive”.

Club stalwart Anne Curley: “… Luke Boland, a very worthy winner today, he’s been having a fantastic season this year and had a storming race today to finish first after starting near to last! Well done to our Julia second finisher, just unlucky to be pipped in the last 200 metres but that’s the bittersweet thrill of this very special race…”

Club member Gerard McDonald: “It was a cracking race today. Credit to the handicappers (Iain Morrison, Florence Curley, Willie Smith) too”

Club Captain Florence Curley: “It all happened in the last lap, long-time leader Catherine McKeon was overhauled by Julia Hackett and then a number of other runners, and an exciting last few hundred metres and the final straight saw Luke Boland (who has been flying this year) overtake Julia (hard luck Julia it was nearly there!) to take the win, he had a mere 2 minute handicap so this was a great achievement to pass everyone…”

Runner-up Julia Hackett: “Very honoured to be so close, very proud of my club Donore Harriers, very happy to be second, very shocked to be first woman. That’s a proper race. Well done Luke Boland”.

Coach & Race Organiser and Timekeeper Willie Smith: “Luke Boland was the 105th member to win. From available records the closest finish was 1962, when Leo Lynch got to finish less than one yard/meter ahead of the fast finishing scratch man Mick Neville … Next year will be the 100th anniversary of Davy Baird’s first win in 1920”.

Florence Curley again: “Thanks to Iain (Morrison) who hosted… and Willie (Smith) and Mick (Bourke) who were up in the park since 9 o’clock marking the course, hats off!”

 

The 3^rd WILLIE DUNNE 2-MILE HANDICAP JUVENILE SHIELD, which was run in conjunction with the WBB, added to the sense of occasion. Would the talented Bolton siblings rule the day? Or would the handicap system allow for one of the developing young athletes to get their name on the Shield? Roisin Kirby and Katie Delaney were first away, with a 4-minutes allowance on scratch runner James Bolton. 30 seconds elapsed before James Dunne was set on his way. Dunne quickly set his sight on Kirby and Delaney and passed them just before the half-way mark. Scratch athlete James Bolton (11.16) was working his way through the field – and after passing Kirby and Delaney he reeled-in his sister Emily and brother Thomas and then had his big target James Dunne in view. However, Dunne (14.32) stuck to his task and reached the finish line with about 70 metres (14 seconds) to spare over 15 years-old Bolton. 11 years-old Emily Bolton (12.28), with a handicap of one-minute, narrowly beat her 13 years-old brother Thomas (11.47) for 3^rd place. There adjusted times were 11.28 and 11.32 respectively. Roisin Kirby (15.40) and Katie Delaney (15.41) came 5^th and 6^th with adjusted times of 11.40 and 11.41. Two members of the National Under 13 XC championship team filled the next two places as Eva Crowe (13.09 & 11.54) and Eleanor Hopkins (15.06 & 12.21) came 7^th and 8^th. Honor Lynch (13.53 & 12.23) was 9^th with her younger sister and defending Shield champion Amber Lynch (15.42 & 12.42) in 10^th.

 

Two club athletes competed in the 58^th FARRANFORE MAINE AC ST. STEPHEN’S DAY 5KM RACE RACE in Co. Kerry. Des Tremble (17.02) placed 11^th overall and 1^st M45 from a field of 320 finishers. Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill (17.49) was 17^th finisher and 2^nd woman behind experienced Irish international Michelle Finn. The race was run on an undulating out-and-back route between Farranfore and the village of Firies.

 

Sinead Lambe (38.53) convincingly won the FAT TURKEY 10KM ROAD RACE organised by the Suttonians Rugby Club on the 28^th December 2019. The race was held over a hilly and scenic route that included parts of Howth. Lambe placed 14^th overall with Des Gill (47.43) 97^th among a field of 461 finishers.

 

Other Donore Harriers members who competed in Christmas season road races were – Chris Muldoon (23.10) 25^th in the KILBEGGAN 6KM; Michael Ryan who won the MOUNT LEINSTER RANGERS 5KM; and M60 athlete Tommy Halton (26.59) who was 154^th in the MORTON STADIUM XMAS CRACKER 5KM.

 

Many club athletes took park in various PARKRUN races (25 & 28.12.2019) with Lee Van Haeften (16.24) first home at Castletown (Celbridge) and Sean Fox (18.11) the winner at Limerick. Eva Crowe (20.14), aged 12, was 4^th overall and first woman at Porterstown, with Caroline McCarthy (20.17) 2^nd woman home at Malahide and Mary McDermott (24.54) 3^rd woman finisher at Naas. More results below.

 

RESULTS IN BRIEF:

THE 123^rd WATERHOUSE BYRNE BAIRD SHIELD 10-MILE (Handicap) at PHOENIX PARK (26.12.2019)

1^st Luke Boland 1.34.10 (+ 2, – 33 minutes) = 1.01.10 (11.45, 12.06, 12.13, 12.52, 12.14)

2^nd Julia Hackett 1.34.18 (+ 24, – 11 minutes) = 1.23.18 (16.32, 16.18, 16.36, 16.29, 16.39)

3^rd Gavin Keogh 1.34.51 (+ 3, – 32 minutes) = 1.02.51 (12.14, 12.28, 12.40, 12.52, 12.37)

4^th Tony Griffin 1.34.52 (+ 17, – 18 minutes) = 1.16.52 (15.42, 15.23, 15.19, 15.24, 15.04)

5^th Niall Lynch 1.35.03 (+ 1, – 34 minute) = 1.01.03 (11.35, 12.05, 12.18, 12.35, 12.30)

6^th Catherine McKeon 1.35.29 (+ 35, – 0 mins) = 1.35.29 (18.40, 19.08, 18.49, 19.31, 19.21)

7^th Neil Hand 1.35.47 (+ 8, – 27 mins) = 1.08.47 (13.27, 13.45, 14.00, 14.06, 13.39)

8^th Ken Nugent 1.35.57 (+ 1, – 34 mins) = 1.01.57 (11.41, 12.09, 12.32, 12.52, 12.43)

9^th Donal Iremonger 1.36.04 (+ 9.30, – 25.30) = 1.10.34 (14.06, 14.11, 14.16, 14.10, 13.51)

10^th Audrey Gahan 1.36.47 (+13, – 22 mins) = 1.14.27 (14.50, 14.47, 14.54, 15.08, 15.08)

11^th Sinead Lambe 1.37.41 (+ 6, – 29 mins) = 1.08.41 (13.23, 13.34, 13.37, 14.03, 14.04)

12^th Alan Farrell 1.38.42 (+ 6, – 29 mins) = 1.09.42 (13.23, 13.33, 14.18, 14.24, 14.04)

13^th Stephen Dawson 1.38.52 (+ 11, – 24 mins) = 1.14.52 (14.37, 14.47, 14.52, 15.07, 15.28)

14^th Ariana Ball 1.39.01 (+ 14, – 21 mins) = 1.18.01 (15.08, 15.25, 15.29, 15.58, 16.01)

15^th Anne Curley 1.39.24 (+ 9, – 26 mins) = 1.13.24 (14.33, 14.34, 14.37, 14.55, 14.45)

16^th Tom Fagan 1.40.01 (+ 13, – 22 mins) = 1.18.01 (16.08, 15.17, 15.00, 15.47, 15.49)

17^th Ian Redican 1.40.06 (+ 15, – 20 mins) = 1.20.06 (15.29, 15.47, 16.07, 16.21, 16.22)

18^th Peter Sweeney 1.40.10 (+ 0, – 35 mins) = 1.05.10 (12.36, 13.03, 13.09, 13.21, 13.01)

19^th Lou MacCurtain 1.40.29 (+ 19, – 16 mins) = 1.24.29 (16.08, 16.21, 16.54, 17.16, 17.50)

DNF Patrick Farrell (+ 15.30, -19.30 mins) = DNF (15.21, 16.01, 16.14, 16.20, retired)

DNF Angela Eustace (+ 24, – 11 mins) = DNF (17.12, 17.25, retired)

DNF Dana Mackey (+ 35, – 0 mins) = DNF (18.40, 19.05, retired)

DNF Barry Potts (+ 15, – 20 mins) = DNF (15.32, 15.43, retired)

DNF Joe Murphy (+ 19, – 16 mins) = DNF (16.02, 15.58, retired)

THE WILLIE DUNNE JUVENILE 2 MILES HANDICAP SHIELD at PHOENIX PARK (26.12.2019)

1^st James Dunne 11.02 (3m & 30s) actual running time 14.32

2^nd James Bolton 11.16 (scratch) = 11.16

3^rd Emily Bolton 11.28 (1 min) = 12.28

4^th Thomas Bolton 11.32 (15 secs) = 11.47

5^th Roisin Kirby 11.40 (4 mins) = 15.40

6^th Katie Delaney 11.41 (4 mins) = 15.41

7^th Eva Crowe 11.54 (1m & 15s) = 11.54

8^th Eleanor Hopkins 12.21 (2m & 45s) = 15.06

9^th Honor Lynch 12.23 (1m & 30s) = 13.53

10^th Amber Lynch 12.42 (3 mins) = 15.42

KILBEGGAN 6KM ROAD RACE (26.12.2019)

25^th & 8^th M40 Chris Muldoon (23.10)

363 finishers

58^th FARRANFORE MAINE AC ST. STEPHEN’S DAY 5KM ROAD RACE (26.12.2019)

11^th & 1^st M45 Des Tremble (17.02)

17^th & 2^nd woman Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill (17.49)

320 finishers

MOUNT LEINSTER RANGERS 5KM ROAD RACE at BORRIS, CO. CARLOW (27.12.2019)

1^st Michael Ryan (NTA)

FAT TURKEY 10KM ROAD RACE at SUTTON, CO. DUBLIN (28.12.2019)

14^th & 1^st woman Sinead Lambe (38.53)

97^th Des Gill (47.43)

461 finishers

MORTON STADIUM XMAS CRACKER 5KM (29.12.2019)

154^th & 7^th M60 Tommy Halton (26.59)

249 finishers

PARKRUN SERIES (28.12.2019)

Poppintree (21.12.2019): 10^th & 1^st woman Julie Cleary U13 (20.21), 17^th & 3^rd woman Kate Cleary W45 (22.16), 104^th Eilish Joyce W35 (29.57)

Malahide (25.12.2019) 7^th Ciaran Ryan M35 (17.38)

Waterstown (25.12.2019): 33^rd Gavin Byrne (22.20)

Castletown: 1^st Lee Van Haeften (16.24)

Griffeen: 121^st Terry Mee M75 (33.25)

Limerick: 1^st Sean Fox M40 (18.11)

Malahide: 21^st & 2^nd woman Caroline McCarthy W35 (20.17)

Naas: 40^th & 3^rd woman Mary McDermott W50 (24.54)

New Ross: 63^rd Eugene MacCurtain M50 (28.28), 64^th Liz MacCurtain W50 (28.29)

Porterstown: 4^th & 1^st woman Eva Crowe U13 (20.14), 17^th Tom Fagan M50 (22.16)

Wexford Racecourse: 7^th Owen Robinson M35 (20.44)

 

 

The 123^rd Waterhouse Byrne Baird saw an entry list of experienced Stephen’s day warriors and bright shiny new debutants to the event to brave the epic distance. It was fitting therefore that the race in the end came down to battle between 2 athletes from each camp. It’s list of winners runs like a calling card of many of the Donore greats…but many a fine Donore athlete has not had the rub of the green …or the mud…or the snow….or maybe just the handicappers. This of course is as it should be as every athlete should have an equal chance of winning when they line up on December the 26^th. The vagaries of form, time of year sickness injury conditions all play their part, but the adage still endures coined by our very own late Jim McNamara – “You must use your handicap when you get it”.

So the field was whittled down by injuries and illness, ruling out former winner Michelle Dawson, former men’s cross and Road captain Rossa Hurley. It also saw Liz Mac Curtain. Claire Mulligan and Treasa Boylan bow out. Conditions above ground proved fair very little wind and very mild. The ground was heavy and sticky and caused several stalwarts of the race to bow out early such as Barry Potts and Dana Mackey with an Achilles problem and Patrick Farrell battled hard in his first ever cross country against an ongoing knee problem but was forced to yield.

Early running saw a number of athletes set their intent out. Catherine McKeon and Dana Mackey were paired as lead off athletes and beat out the early tempo only for Dana to pull up but Catherine undaunted kept her pace up to go through with over two, two mile laps to spare over the scratch athletes. Julia Hackett similarly had company in Angela Eustace before Angela had to pull out and this perhaps helped these two athletes in their overall races. Neil Hand appeared to take out a fast early lap. Luke Boland recorded the fastest lap only to be bettered by Niall Lynch with an 11min 35s first lap. Niall was paired with Ken Nugent whom between them have shared the Tommy Hayward trophy for the fastest 10 mile since its inception, so when Niall broke away from Ken in that first lap his intent was clear.

The race unfolded as the Junior Shield was run after scratch athlete Peter Sweeney former men’s road and cross country captain started. Anne Curley the defending champion was going steady but the event is notoriously hard to win two years in a row and the momentum just didn’t seem to be with her this year. Similarly Alan Farrell former winner after working with Sinead Lambe for nearly 3 laps seemed not to have the magic of his victory year and Sinead Lambe started to pull away from him. Two laps in another former winner Tony Griffin cast aside his gloves and appeared to have a sense that perhaps he could be a double winner of the Shield and was moving well. Two laps to go Catherine McKeon still had a long lead and as later athletes started to unwind the head start she’d got on them it all came down to time gaps and speed on the track coming into the last lap.

Taking the bell with two miles of running to go Catherine had a minute and 40seconds lead on Julia Hackett. Julia a veteran of the Stephen’s day race known for her canny pacing doggedness in the final stretch of any race was lapping 2 minutes faster than Catherine and she could see Catherine up the horse gallop…..the race was well and truly on. Tony had a chance as passed through with a lap to go and had a look of determination on his face. There had been a surge from the back of the field, Niall Lynch had appeared not to make the progress on Luke Boland as had been suggested from the early laps, but the 4^th lap was the slowest of Luke’s race with a 12 min 53. Catherine was 12 min 30 seconds ahead so it required a low 12 minute lap to overcome the gap. Luke had also passed Gavin Keogh who was himself running well. This appeared to be where the placings would be decided.

Julia took Catherine at the back of the course after the hill and pushed on through the trees, the pink head band looking comfortably in the lead, with seemingly a long gap to the chasing men. Could there be a 3 in a row for the ladies of Donore. Momentum of course is everything on the last lap of the Waterhouse Byrne Baird. Luke now getting a sense that the line and the lead were within touching distance seemed to eat the ground as he chased Julia around the civil service cricket ground. The gap seemed to disappear as quickly and assuredly as Julia lead had seemed to be commandingly clear minutes before. A mixture of a groan for the vanquished and a cheer for the challenger rang out as Luke took Julia up the home straight before the small bump with enough time to savour a sweet victory. Julia brilliant in second place smiled and raised her own hand as she crossed the line knowing shed come so very close. Luke had a run a 12 min 13 seconds last lap. Just behind Gavin Keogh had a nearly equally storming last lap and despite nearly falling in the home straight due to the intensity of his efforts sprinted past Tony Griffin to snatch 3^rd place. Catherine the long-time leader for 9.5 miles, was passed by Niall Lynch who didn’t quite have the last lap that would have brought him right into contention but still ran fast enough to be the winner yet again of the Tommy Hayward \trophy for fastest ten mile of the day. Sinead Lambe was as predicted the fastest lady on the day but didn’t quite get enough momentum to take her through to the top 6.

The day belonged to Luke in his debut on the Waterhouse Byrne Baird Shield and it caps off a great season of cross-country running. He won medals for the club team in the Dublin Novice (silver) and in the Dublin Intermediate (gold) as well as a fine run in the National Novice 2 weeks previously. It was another thrilling St Stephen’s Day duel!

 

2019 Waterhouse Byrne Baird Shield Results
26^th December Start Time 11 a.m. Scratch athlete off at 11.35 a.m. handicap is from Scratch Athlete
Incorporating the Tommy Hayward Trophy for fastest 10 mile time of the Day.

Position   Name                        Race Time        Handicap        10 mile Time   Notables

1^st              Luke Boland                  94’10”                  2 min                    61’10”               Winner

2^nd             Julia Hackett                 94’18”                  24 min                 83’18”               2^nd

3^rd             Gavin Keogh                  94’51”                  3 min                    62’51”                3^rd

4^th             Tony Griffin                   94’52”                  17 min                  76’52”

5^th             Niall Lynch                     95’03”                  1 min                    61’03”   Winner Tommy Hayward

6^th             Catherine McKeon       95’29”                  35 mins                95’29”

7^th             Neil Hand                       95’47”                  8 mins                  95’29”

8^th             Ken Nugent                   95’57”                  1 min                    61’57”

9^th             Donal Iremonger          96’04”                  9 min 30s            70’34”

10^th           Audrey Gahan               96’47”                  13 min                  74’47”

11^th           Sinead Lambe               97’41”                  6 min                    68’41”                 Fastest lady

12^th           Alan Farrell                    98’42”                  6 min                    69’’42”

13^th           Stephen Dawson          98’52”                  11 min                  74’52”

14^th           Ariana Ball                     99’01”                  14 min                  78’01”

15^th           Anne Curley                   99’24”                  9 min                    73’24”

16^th           Tom Fagan                     100’01”                13 min                  78’01”

17^th           Ian Redican                    100’06”                15 min                  80’06”

18^th           Peter Sweeney              100’10”                Scratch                 65’10”

19^th           Lou Mac Curtain           100’29”                19 min                  84’29”

DNF:
Patrick O’farrell 8 miles
Dana Mackey
Barry Potts
Angela Eustace