Category Archives: Club News

Roads Roundup 23 Feb – 10 March

Club News, Juvenile, Results, Senior

There have been some notable wins and fine runs on the roads over the past few weeks.

On March 10 in the small Meath village of Bohermeen, the men’s team were victorious on the 2 lap course in the half marathon winning the Rennicks cup Anthony Flannery came 6th and Fergal Whitty 7th and 1st M40 with Niall lynch and Des Tremble the next scorers. The ladies were 3rd team with Florence curley in 9th Place, Elaine Verdon aced a PB too.

Full results

Anthony Flannery 72.54
Fergal Whitty 73.07
Niall lynch 74.51
Des Tremble 75.38
Shane Russell 80.31
Shane McAuley 81.55
Chris Muldoon 84.02
Florence Curley 88.47
Grace Kennedy 89.43
Anne curley 91.15
Tony Griffin 92.20
Ken Cronin 94.24
Elaine 1.40.41 PB
Marianne Dunlevy 1.41.51
Charlie O’Neill 1.48.53 2nd M60
10k – David McGrath 46.51

Up in Bundoran John Travers easily won the Cara Bundoran 10mile in 53.07
Rhona McHugh had a great run in the SSE Derry City 10 Mile 5th woman in 68.44
The same weekend in Barcelona Ciaran Ryan ran an excellent 3.08 in the marathon.

Gavin Keogh won the Adamstown CC 5k in Lucan in 17.08 in late February.
Ariana Ball was 4th in the Duleek 5k in 20.19

Report by Florence Curley

Leinster Indoor & National Master Indoor round-up

Club News, Juvenile, Results, Senior

A look back to the last few events of the indoor season in February and March where Donore athletes were in action

There was a good haul at the Leinster championships where in the junior rankings, Alex Clarkin won 60MH gold in a time of 8.10; Aoife Lynch won 200m silver in 24.70 and Lara O’Byrne won silver in the long jump with a best leap of 4.96. She also came 4th in 60MH in 9.40. Caoimhe Mackey and Clodagh Martin contested the 400m finishing in 62.54 and 62.84 respectively.

In the senior ranks Zak Higgins won 400m bronze in 51.45 with Adam halpin 53.10 in the same race.
David Campbell ran 2.04.37 in the 800m. Jona Kalemi the 1500m in 5.39.66.

At masters level Donal Iremonger won the M45 400m in 57 seconds exactly and got bronze in the 800m 2.11.95. Thrower Niall Allen won gold in the m40 weight throw with 6.88m

The national masters was a week later than usual because of the snow. Donal Iremonger repeated his feat at the Leinsters with even faster times winning the 400m in 56.84 and bronze in the 800m in 2.11.78. Anne Gormley won gold in the W50 3k walk.

Report by Florence Curley

(Donal Iremonger pictured by Sportsfile at the national masters Athlone)

Tribute to Harry Thomas (6th Jan. 1935 – 10th Feb. 2018)

Club News

Thanks to Willie Smith for this tribute to Harry Thomas (6th Jan. 1935 – 10th Feb. 2018)

It was with sadness and regret that the death was announced of Harry Thomas at the age of 83 on the 10th February,2018. While Harry joined Donore Harriers in late 1961, it was with Inchicore AC as a 16 year old in early 1951 that he commenced his athletic career. He immediately showed his promise as a runner when finishing 3rd in the Co.Dublin NACA Youth’s c-c c’hips, within 2 months of joining Inchicore. Over the next 3 years he progressed up through the grades winning individual titles in cross-country at Co Dublin & Leinster in Youths, Novice, and Junior(inter) level. Inchicore won many of these team titles .

After the track season of 1953, he joined Clonliffe Harriers which was affiliated to the Amateur Athletic Union (A A U). Harry was always trying to improve, & at 18 years of age he would have had ambitions of attaining International level. As the AAU were the recognised body by the IAAF to run athletics in the 26 counties, by joining Clonliffe Harry saw this move as a means of achieving his ambition.

He immediately made an impact, finishing 4th in the AAU novice and 3rd in the Junior(Inter) c-c c’hips 53/54 c-c season. Over the next 4 years he gained many honours with Clonliffe, including a member of their winning teams in the 1955 AAU Junior(Inter) and Senior c-c c’hips.He was also a member of the Clonliffe team that finished 2nd behind Donore in the IAAB All-Ireland senior c-c, in 1957. He was also making his mark on the track , road relay races, and club c-c races.

He moved back to Inchicore in 1958, and over the following 4 years won many individual and team titles on the track and c-c at Dublin, Leinster , and All-Ireland level. 1958 & 1959 were golden years for Harry. He was 3rd in the 1958 Dublin c-c c’ship, but was successful in 1959. Also in 1958 he was 2 mile champion in the Dublin, Leinster, and All-Ireland c’ships, and was successful in the Leinster 880yds, 1500m and 3 miles c’ships. In 1959 he won the All-Ireland 880yds in Iveagh grounds. He was 3rd behind another stalwart (Harry Gorman) in the All-Ireland 10miles in Belfield. In 1961 on the grass track in Belfield, he ran one of his best races when finishing 2nd in the 2miles in 9mins 12.8secs, behind Kevin Gormley(9-09.2). Both were inside the NACA record.

In late 1961 Harry joined Donore Harriers, and once again made an immediate impression with his new club. In Jan ’62 he finished 6th in the IAAB All-Ireland Junior(Inter) c-c c’ship. With Mick Neville in 1st place, Donore with 6 to score were comfortable team winners. He followed this performance with 8th place in the AAU senior c-c, with Donore again team winners.He was a member of the Donore teams that made a clean sweep of the Spring road relays.

During the 1962 track season he helped Donore win the G. V. Ryan T & F team trophy for the first time, when finishing 3rd in the one mile. Also at this meeting he was a member(along with his former club-mate in Inchicore, Basil Clifford) of the Donore 4x880yds team that set an Irish club record 7mins46.6secs.

His highlights over the next 3 years with Donore were;
1963: 4 x 880yds 7-45.4, Irish club record.
IAAB All-Ireland 4x880yds Donore Gold.
IAAB = 4X One mile = Gold. Irish club record 17mins 20.8secs.

On all of the above 4 track relays Basil Clifford and Jim McNamara were teammates!

Harry was a member the Donore teams that won the 61mile 12-stage Lagan Valley road relay in 1963, ’64, & ’65. On each occasion Donore set course records, with him recording fast times on each of his stages. The above is a snapshot of Harry’s athletic career. Over 15 years he competed in a huge number of races over track, road and cross-country. He was a stylish runner who ran with distinction with Inchicore, Clonliffe, and Donore, and was a valued member of those clubs.

In Oct 2012, Donore celebrated the 50th anniversary of the 1962 Opening cross-country Run. As Harry was in that Opening run, he was delighted to be contacted, and enjoyed renewing old friendships at the Reunion. He took a keen interest in the club’s activities, especially the under age juveniles. He subsequently attended further reunions. Donore Harriers wish to extend our condolences to his wife, Terry, and children, Harry, Linda, Yvonne, Mark, and David.

We also thank Terry and David for access to Harry’s scrap book.

John Travers sub 4 at AIT Grand Prix

Club News, Results, Senior

John Travers became the first Irishman to run a sub-4 indoor mile on Irish soil when he finished 3rd at the AIT Grand Prix tonight.

In an exciting race in an atmospheric and packed AIT featuring Olympian and Australian national record holder Ryan Gregson, John was in the mix from the start and when Gregson piled on the pressure in the last 2 laps, Travers was on his tail, only tying up in the home straight when the Polish runner Gregor Kalinoski pipped him. His finish time was 3.59.40, just 2 seconds off winner Gregson.

In the post race interview on TG4, John expressed his satisfaction with the race, it comes after a hectic week with the Armagh 5k, then winning the National 3k indoors.

Here is John with Donore’s Charlie O’Neill postrace!

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Results Round-Up: National Senior Indoors, Armagh 5k & Roads Round-Up

Club News, Results, Senior

National Senior Indoors – 3000m title for John Travers

After a fine run in Armagh on Thursday night, John Travers became the national indoor 3000m champion at the weekend. He faced down 2nd placed Eoin Everard in an exciting race, clocking a time of 8.25.21. A revelation in this race was 4th placed Darragh Fitzgibbon in 8.29.96, just a second off bronze. Darragh was in Iten Kenya earlier in January so the hard training paid off here! Eamonn Fahey reached the final of the 60m, he ran 7.06 seconds in the heats and then 7.00 in the final. In the pole vault, Ailbhe Healy finished joint 11th with a best vault of 2.70m
On the first day, David Campbell ran at 800m for the first time at national indoor and ran his heat in 2.06.05

Armagh International Race Report

The Brooks Armagh international race night has a reputation for its high class fields and fast times. This year a staggering 91 men went under the 15 minutes barrier and 2 were Donore men. John Travers was on the Irish team and finished up 17th overall in 14.16. 20 seconds behind was Eric Keogh in 47th place and he was delighted to get a new PB of 14.36. In the ladies 3k race, Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill ran an excellent 10.19.

Roads-roundup

We have had some good results over the past few weeks on the road, notably Fergal Whitty 54.55 (17th) and Ray Lonergan 55.54 (25th) who made the top 25 at the John treacy Dungarvan 10 Mile.

Gavin Keogh came 6th at the Enniscorthy 10k in 35.15. A sizeable contingent ran the Trim 10 Mile including 4th placed Anthony Flannery 55.06, Chris Muldoon 62.20, Tony Barry 63.17, Niall O’Reilly 65.15, Florence curley 67.59, Tony Griffin 71.57, Sinead Oreilly 75.25, Joseph Maguire 80.16, Deirdre Healy 84.04, Ann Rush 86.21, Jo Hughes 88.11. Finally, Dean Glennon finished 21.45 at the Esker 5k.

Reports by Florence Curley

National Masters & Intermediate XC Report: Bronze for Intermediate Women!

Club News, Results, Senior

National Masters and Intermediate Cross Country Report

Report by Florence Curley

It was a day to remember for all participants and supporters at the national masters and intermediate XC championship in Clarinbridge, principally for the amount of mud everywhere! On the bus West as blizzards gave way to blue skies and snowy fields, the course looked pleasant enough from a distance …until you stepped onto it …

After the juveniles finished, first up were the master ladies and M65+ men over 4K, 2 big laps. There were some drags and downhills but what was missing was any sight of green grass, the mud was relentless and ankle deep from the start so getting a fast pace wasn’t a priority, staying upright was! Our 5-strong team (some were on loan to the inter team and we were depleted with some injuries and absences) battled bravely, Karen Behan and Anne Curley finished 85 and 86th, Anne has been unable to compete at cross country or any shorter races due to her ongoing injury and the atrocious ground was a real test today so she was happy to finish and be part of the team again, Julia Hackett had a solid run to finish in 94th, unfortunately Florence Curley lost her left shoe twice in the muck, and slipped way back as a result eventually finishing in 127 and Angela Eustace in her third cross country race of the season in 132nd. Barry Potts unfortunately also lost a shoe and slipped a long way back so did not medal in M65 the way he frequently does.

The master men then had to tackle 7k of the now very churned up course. Thanks to Des Gill’s enthusiasm and team spirit, there was a Donore M50 team in this for the first time. First Home was Tom Fagan in 174 with Des next in 210, Frank McNally was 221st and wrote a great account of it in the Irishman’s diary in the Irish times a few days later, Lou MCCurtain though on antibiotics finished 234th and unfortunately Arthur Connick had to pull out, the team finished 9th and this team will be back on the road for the national relays.

The intermediate women faced 5k and youngest member of the team Niamh O’Neill went out hard but held her place and tackled the gruelling course Brilliantly. Where others faded and some of the pre-race favourites dropped out, Niamh had her best ever race and finished a magnificent 8th, Maura Kearns, experienced in this race over the years first medalling in 2010, stayed off the early pace and worked through looking very comfortable throughout, and she can always rely on her withering finishing kick finishing 15th. not far behind was Kim hickey, always a tough competitor with great endurance and she finished strongly in 18th. It was looking good in the team shakeup and it was crucial that next scorer Audrey Gahan passed as many as she could, and she did that to end giving it everything to finish 30th. In only her second ever cross country race Ariana Ball ran very well into 39th again battling to the end.

After scraping off a lot of Galway mud and an anxious wait, there was jubilation when the Donore inter ladies were named bronze team, 6 points ahead of St Senan’s. After a disappointing season for this hardworking team, it was great to finally come up trumps with a national medal in the last race of season.

Coach Willie Smith was justly proud and there was welcome support too from Mary McDermott and Ann Woodlock out on the course, she will be back competing soon we hope!

Juvenile Race Report: Dublin Indoor T&F Championships 2018

Club News, Juvenile, Results

RACE REPORT – (2, 9, 10 & 11 February 2018)

Report by Gerry Naughton

The Donore Harriers team had plenty to celebrate in the 2018 Dublin Indoor track and field championships at the National Arena at Abbotstown last weekend. Top of the bill was Louis O’Loughlin and Jack Raftery in the Under 18 Boys 800m final on Sunday, which returned a Donore Harriers gold and silver as O’Loughlin took more than 2 and a-half seconds of the personal best with a time of 1.52.24, whilst runner-up Raftery (1.56.64) took 3 seconds off his previous best mark.

The highlight on Saturday was the high jumping exploits of Max Carey. Competing in the Under 19 category Carey and Kevin Byrne of Raheny Shamrocks AC were the last men standing, but the latter held the advantage by jumping the 1.75m mark before the Donore athlete. Carey then made a crucial first clearance with the bar at 1.80m, with Byrne clearing at the 2nd attempt. The bar was then put up to 1.85m and both Carey and Byrne failed with their first 2 attempts. The Raheny athlete then cleared the 1.85m to take the lead. It was last-chance- saloon for Carey! But the Donore man held his nerve and cleared the bar to record an excellent win on count-back. Carey also won a silver medal by jumping 3.40m in the Pole Vault.

Newcomer Alex Leonard had a day of mixed emotions in the Under 12 Boys 60m sprints on Saturday. He easily won his heat, but the photo-recorder did not pick up his finishing image and he was not qualified to the final. However, a successful appeal saw Leonard continue in the competition and he justified his place on the start line by winning the gold medal. Emma Stacey and Aoibheann Scott, both members of the Dublin U/14 camogie squad, qualified for the final of the Under 15 Girls 800m. The realistic expectation was for the girls to try to make the top 6. But Stacey clearly had other ideas. She quickly settled into 4th place and passing the 200m in 35 seconds, she gained to 3rd. She held that position passing laps 2 and 3 in times of 1.12 and 1.53. Down the back strait for the last time she edged into 2nd place and with a gritty determination held on to the silver medal position in an excellent time of 2.29.5. Scott also ran a very gutsy race and maintained 5th position throughout.

Gold medals were also won by Sebastian Ursachi (1.45.00) in the Under 9 Boys 500m; Ben Iveagh (23.26pb) in the Under 18 Boys 200m; Andie Maguire in the Under 19 Girls Triple Jump, Lara O’Byrne (5.01m) in the Under 19 Girls Long Jump and the Under 18 Boys (Daragh McAuley, Ben Iveagh, Louis O’Loughlin, Jack Raftery) 4 x 200m relay team. Promising under 16 athlete Abdel Laadjel picked up a double silver in the 800m (2.09.60) and 1500m (4.25.53). Matei Ursachi also won double silver in the Under 12 Boys High Jump and Long Jump, whilst the other silver medallists included Sean Kinsella (1.55m) in the Under 15 Boys High Jump, Ryan O’Keeffe (11.13m) in the Under 18 Boys Shot Putt, Suzi O’Farrell in the Under 19 Girls 60m; and the Under 19 Girls (Ciara O’Donnell, Lucy Hurley, Andie Maguire & Suzi O’Farrell) 4 x 200m relay.

Bronze medals were won by Mario Omozee in the Under 11 Boys 60m, Matei Ursachi in the Under 12 Boys Shot Putt; debutante Eve Conroy in the Under 13 Girls 60m Hurdles; Sarah Tavel in the Under 15 Girls Shot Putt; Daragh McAuley (52.67pb) in the Under 18 Boys 400m, Lucy Hurley in the Under 19 Girls 60m; Suzi O’Farrell in the Under 19 Girls 200m, Sekeriye Ahmed (4.21.98( in the Under 19 Boys 1500m; and the Under 12 Boys (James Dunne, Matei Ursachi, Louis Wright, Ciaran O’Farrell) 4 x 100m relay team.

Whilst there are many who earned a special mention, there is none more deserving than brave James Dunne who held 3rd position for most of the Under 12 Boys 600m final, only to fade in the final 50 metres and having to settle for 6th place. Among those who qualified for the national finals, by placing 4th, were sisters Isabella Kelly in the Under 13 Girls 60m, and Ruby Kelly (2.34.6) in the Under 16 Girls 800m.

Donore’s medal tally was 11 gold, 11 silver and 9 bronze.

RESULTS IN BRIEF.
GOLD = U/9 Boys 500m – Sebastian Ursachi (1.45.0); U/12 Boys 60m – Alex Leonard (NTA);
U/18 Boys 200m – Ben Iveagh (23.26 PB); U/18 Boys 400m – Jack Raftery (50.53); U/18 Boys
800m – Louis O’Loughlin (1.52.U/18 Boys 1500m – Louis O’Loughlin (4.05.79); U/18 Boys
High Jump – Jack Raftery (1.73m PB); U/18 Boys 4 x 200m (Daragh McAuley, Ben Iveagh,
Louis O’Loughlin & Jack Raftery); U/19 Girls Triple Jump – Andie Maguire (NMA); U/19 Girls
Long Jump – Lara O’Byrne (5.01m); U/19 Boys High Jump – Max Carey (1.85m PB)
SILVER = U/12 Boys High Jump – Matei Ursachi (NMA); U/12 Boys Long Jump – Matei
Ursachi (NMA); U/15 Girls 800m – Emma Stacey (2.29.50PB); U/15 Boys High Jump – Sean
Kinsella (1.55m); U/16 Boys 800m – Abdel Laadjel (2.09.60); U/16 Boys 1,500m – Abdel
Laadjel (4.25.53); U/18 Boys 1500m – Jack Raftery (1.56.64 PB); U/18 Boys Shot Putt – Ryan
O’Keeffe (11.13m); U/19 Girls 60m – Suzi O’Farrell; U/19 Boys Pole Vault – Max Carey
(3.40m); U/19 Girls 4 x 200m (Ciara O’Donnell, Lucy Hurley, Andie Maguire & Suzi O’Farrell)
BRONZE = U/11 Boys 60m – Mario Omozee (NTG); U/12 Boys Shot Putt – Matei Ursachi
(NMA); U/12 Boys 4 x 100m (James Dunne, Matei Ursachi, Louis Wright, Ciaran O’Farrell);
U/13 Girls 60m Hurdles – Eve Conroy (NTA); U/15 Girls Shot Putt – Sarah Tavey (NMA); U/18
Boys 400m – Daragh McAuley (52.67); U/19 Girls 60m – Lucy Hurley; U/19 Girls 200m Suzi
O’Farrell (NTA); U/19 Boys 1500m – Sekeriye Ahmed (4.21.98)
Others who deserve a special mention: – U/14 Girls 800m – 7th Grace Raftery (2.44.1 won
Heat in 2.42.39); U/15 Girls 800m heat – 3rd Abbie Brennan (2.44.0 – qualified to final); U/15
Girls 60m Hurdles – 5th Aoife Sammon (NTA); 6 th Sophie O’Farrell (NTA); U/15 Boys 800m –
5th Sean Kinsella (2.21.4): U/16 Girls 1,500m – 7th Ruby Kelly (4.40.8 – race one lap short);
U/16 Boys 800m – 7th Sean Kissane (2.19.9); U/19 Girls 200m – 5th Lucy Hurley (NTA); U/19
Boys 800m – 5 th Sekeriye Ahmed (2.05.8)

Some listed results are hand-timed and are subject to confirmation.

DH LTDP Camogie Girls Squad Members –
U/15 Girls 4 x 200m Heat 1 – 3rd Donore Harriers B in 2.02.4 (Caitriona McMahon, Ruth Fitzsimons, Leonie Power & Emma Stacey) – hand times;

U/15 Girls 4 x 200m Heat 3 – 2 nd Donore Harriers A in 1.59.3 (Sophie O’Farrell, Sarah
Tavey, Sophie McIntyre & Aoife Sammon) – hand times;
U/15 Girls 60m Heat 1 – 4th Sophie McIntyre (NTA);
U/15 Girls 60m Heat 3 – 5th Emma Stacey (NTA);
U/15 Girls 60m Heat 4 – 4th Caitriona McMahon (NTA);
U/15 Girls 60m Heat 5 – 6th Ruth Fitzsimons (NTA)
U/15 Girls 800m Heat 1 – 1st Emma Stacey (2.30.43), 5th Annabelle Timothy (2.49.0)
U/15 Girls 800m Heat 2 – 3rd Abbie Brennan (2.44.0); 6th Ruth Fitzsimons (2.49.0); 7 th
Caitriona McMahon (2.50.0)
U/15 Girls 800m Heat 3 – 5th Sarah-Louise Nolan (2.49.0), 6th Tara Coffey (2.54.0)
U/15 Girls 800m Heat 4 – 1st Aoibheann Scott (2.38.23); 8th Lily Rooney (2.56.0); DNF Leonie
Power (retired ill on last lap)
U/15 Girls 800m FINAL – 2nd Emma Stacey (2.29.50); 5th Aoibheann Scott (2.37.50)

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Juvenile Race Report: O’Loughlin & Raftery A Stylish Donore 1-2 in Dublin Indoor 800m

Club News, Juvenile, Results

Report by Gerry Naughton

The Donore Harriers team had plenty to celebrate in the 2018 Dublin Indoor track and field championships at the National Arena at Abbotstown last weekend. Top of the bill was Louis O’Loughlin and Jack Raftery going head-to head in the Under 18 Boys 800m final on Sunday. O’Loughlin had already secured the 1500m title on the Saturday by front running a time of 4.05.79, whilst Jack Raftery won the 400m gold on the same day with an excellent 50.53 time.

Whilst waiting for the 800m final, Raftery jumped a personal best of 1.73m to secure gold in the High Jump. The training partners then brought the house down with two massive personal bests in a scintillating 800m race. O’Loughlin passed the first 200m in 26 seconds, with Raftery in close order. At the 400m mark the unrelenting O’Loughlin had a clear lead passing just outside 54 seconds, whilst Raftery (57 seconds) slipped back to 4th.

Something special was on when the boys reached the bell in 1.23 and 1.27 respectively. O’Loughlin had a big lead, but Raftery had already passed Cian Bolger of Clonliffe Harriers and was bearing down on Ben Jones of DSD AC. With both boys running 29 seconds for the final lap it meant a Donore Harriers gold and silver as O’Loughlin took more than 2 and a-half seconds of the personal best with a time of 1.52.24, whilst runner-up Raftery (1.56.64) took 3 seconds off his previous best mark.

Full Championships report to follow.

Race Report: National Indoor League Finals / Juvenile Indoor / AAI Games

Club News, Juvenile, Results, Senior

Donore Harriers Race Report – National Indoor Track & Field League finals at National Indoor Arena, Abbotstown (03.02.2018) / Dublin Juvenile Indoor Championships Day 1 (02.02.2018) / AAI Indoor Games (04.02.2018)

The Donore Harriers men’s team gained bronze after a close contest for the minor medal placings at the national indoor track & field league final at Abbotstown on Saturday (03.02.2018). In a similar battle, the women’s team fell just short of repeating the 3rd position of 2017 and had to settle for 5th.

The men’s team recorded 3 individual victories from the 12 events. Debutant Malcolm Duquesney (3.57.97) was a convincing winner of the 1500m with Eliot Slade (1.55.65) again dominating the 800m as he had done in the qualifying rounds. Eamon Fahey (13.15m) scored maximum points in the Triple Jump, having earlier placed 3rd in both the 60m (6.98) and High Jump (1.85m).

Team captain David Campbell, who concentrates to the 400m & 800m, took the vacant 60m Hurdles (12.99) spot and placed 4th gaining a valuable 3 points. Campbell’s leadership role was exemplified by stepping in as a late replacement for the injured Kolade Abiodun to gain another valuable point in the Long Jump (6th in 4.74m).

16 years-old Jack Raftery (50.53), gave himself a massive confidence boost ahead of next week’s Dublin Juvenile championship, by knocking 1.3 seconds of his previous best time to place a fine 4th in a competitive 400m race.

The other team members were: – Max Carey (3.30m) 3rd in Pole Vault; Jaco Oosthuysen (10.58m) 4th in Shot Putt; and Adam Halpin (23.58) 5th in 200m. The relay team of Eamon Fahey, David Campbell, Ben Iveagh and Alex Clarkin (1.33.83) came 4th in the final event of the day, thus ensuring the bronze medals.

The final team positions were: – 1st Clonliffe Harriers (61); 2nd Menapians AC (52); 3rd Donore Harriers (48); 4th Nenagh Olympic (45); 5th Galway City Harriers (33) and 6th Raheny Shamrocks (25).

A young women’s team fell just short of the medals despite some excellent individual performances. Aoife Lynch (7.65) gained a personal best when winning the 60m sprint. She later placed 2nd in the 200m in a time of 24.89. Ailbhe Healy (2.50m) came 2nd in the Pole Vault and 5th (1.35m) in the High Jump. Caoimhe Mackey (10.41) placed 4th in the 60m Hurdles, whilst Robyn O’Keeffe (6.76m) was 5th in the Shot Putt. Eliza NiThighearnaigh (5.35.77) in the 1500m, Clodagh Martin (63.63) in the 400m and Jona Kalemi (2.49.70) in the 800m all placed 7th in their events.

In the last individual contest of the day Lynda Tcheudji (10.74m), who earlier placed 5th in the Long Jump with a best of 4.41m, won the Triple Jump. The maximum points gained by Tcheudji put Donore Harriers (44) team back in the hunt for team medals, being just two points adrift of Craughwell AC and Sli Cualann AC (both 46) with Dublin City Harriers well clear.

It was all down to the relay! However, a young Donore quartet of Lauren O’Flaherty, Lucy Hurley, Lucy Kirwan and Suzi O’Farrell were disqualified due to an infringement and gained no further points.

The final team tallies were: – 1st Dublin City Harriers (78); 2nd Sli Cualann AC (51); 3rd Craughwell AC (50); 4th Galway City Harriers (46); 5th Donore Harriers (44); 6th Raheny Shamrocks (35) and 7th Clonliffe Harriers (35).

In the first day of the Dublin Indoor Juvenile championships at Abbotstown on Friday evening (02.02.2018) the Donore Harriers Under 18 Boys quartet of Daragh McAuley, Ben Iveagh, Louis O’Loughlin and Jack Raftery claimed the gold medal with a convincing win.

At the AAI Indoor Games on Sunday (04.02.2018) John Travers (8.10.87) sped away from the challenge of rising junior athlete Daragh McIlhenny (8.13.80) of Bantry AC on the final lap to win the 3,000m. Eliot Slade (8.21.50) was 3rd having competed the previous day in the national indoor league final. In a competitive 1500m race Daragh Fitzgibbon (3.54.83) came 7th, with newcomer Louis Catteau 8th in 4.00.45. David Campbell (2.07.51), tired from his previous day’s effort in the national indoor league final, placed 6th in Heat 3 of the 800m, whilst debutant Javier Romero (2.11.16) was 7th in Heat 4. Adam Halpin (54.59) placed 3rd in Heat 5 of the 400m.

Race Report: Donore Juveniles Compete in Easykit CrossCup in Belgium!

Club News, Events, Juvenile, Results

RACE REPORT – EASYKIT CROSS-CUP SERIES at HANNUT in BELGIUM (21.01.2018)

Report by Gerry Naughton
Photos by Darren Kinsella

Donore Harriers sent a juvenile/junior distance-running team to compete in the Easykit CrossCup event at Hannut in Belgium last weekend. The trip was part of an athlete development programme, funded through a sponsorship deal with the 123.ie insurance group. The Easykit CrossCup is a series of 6 high-profile cross-country events, hosted in different provinces of Belgium, that attracts some of the best athletes from across Europe.

Ruby Kelly was the first Donore Harrier into action in the Under 15/16 Girls race over 2km. She completed the mud-laden route in a time of 8 minutes and 30 seconds (8:30) to place 39th. First-season athlete Abdel Laadjel, again displayed his exciting potential in the Under 15/16 Boys race. Laadjel bravely chased the lead group in the early stages of his 2.5km race, before falling back at the half-way point. But his natural strength saw him battle back in the final 250 metres and he crossed the line in an impressive 8th position. His time of 8:51 compared well
against that of the winner Tom Delrez (8:22), the top-ranked Belgium athlete. 13 years-old Sean Kinsella, the youngest team member, placed 68th in the same race.

Roisin Brady (13:37) took 26th position in the Under 17/18 Girls race over 2 circuits of the 1.5km course. The Under 17/18 Boys race over 4.5km had 4 Donore athletes on the start line. The fast and frantic start saw all 4 badly boxed-in as the melee of athletes sprinted the first 200 metres towards the bend that led onto a narrow and dangerously-sloped part of the course. Louis O’Loughlin had to battle his way from the middle of the pack to gain ground on the leaders. He eventually settled into 6th position but found himself detached from the lead group of 4 athletes. As the race progressed, he put in a big effort to close the gap, but he had to succumb to the demands of the soft underfoot terrain and the constant tight turns of the meandering course and settled for 6th position. The race was won by Abdullah Dubad (15:42), with O’Loughlin (16:25) in 6th, middle-distance specialist Jack Raftery (18:08) putting in a solid effort to place 41st, Barney Kelly (18:12) stepping up an age-group placed 43rd, with Keenan McDonnell (19:02) in 61st.

In the Junior women’s race over 4.5km, Suzanne Masterson (21:42) came a very creditable 12th, with Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh (22:33) in 18th and Ciara Murphy (25:52), in her first club race after a long injury lay-off, in 21st. Sekeriye Ahmed (23:30) led the early stages of the Junior Men’s race over 6km, but the quality athletes soon came to the fore as Ahmed struggled to maintain a steady pace. He eventually had to settle for 20th position, whilst an improving Daniel Brady (25:17) ran his best-ever cross-country race to take the 37th spot.

Gerry Naughton, the team coach, described the weekend: “as a great opportunity for young athletes to experience cross-country running at a European level – and to, hopefully, feel inspired to give a long-term commitment to athletics”

Photo by Darren Kinsella

Photo by Darren Kinsella

Photo by Darren Kinsella

Photo by Darren Kinsella