Eric Keogh took to the track on Saturday 14th at the British Milers Meet in Sportcity, Manchester. Eric ran the 5,000m (C) race and finished 2nd in 14:31:31, taking a whopping 20 seconds of his previous best. Congratulations to him and coach John Downes.
Unfortunately Eric’s luck ran out the following day as he travelled to Old Trafford to watch his beloved Manchester United take on Bournemouth. The match was abandoned for security reasons.
Sean Lawlor ended his Leinster schools athletics career in style when he won both the senior 100m and 200m at the second day of the Glo Health Leinster Schools Track and Field Championships in Santry representing Kylemore College.
In the 100m, Lawlor beat old rival Eoin Doherty of Drimnagh Castle to win in 10.83 secs. His time in the 200m was 21.86 secs. It is a great result for Sean who has been itching to get back after a lengthy lay off with injury.
Lauren O’Keeffe (Loreto Balbriggan) won the inter girls’ hammer with a throw of 56.34, improving on her own record from last year. There was also a record for Lara O’Byrne (St. Joseph’s Lucan) in the Inter girls pole vault with 2.80m.
Louis O’Loughlin continued on his winning ways with a great win in the Junior Boys 800m for Moyle Park.
Day 2
Inter Girls
100m Cara Brennan 4th
200m Cara Brennan 5th
Long Jump Andie Maguire 2nd
Pole Vault Lara O’Byrne (New Leinster Record 2.80) 1st
Shot Putt Lauren O’Keeffe 3rd
Javelin Rebecca Power 2nd
Hammer Lauren O’Keeffe (New Leinster Record 56.24) 1st, Beth Kirwan 4th
400m Hurdles Caoimhe Mackey 4th
Senior Girls
100m Aoife Lynch 2nd
200m Aoife Lynch 1st
Hammer Aoife Simm 5th
Inter Boys
400m Hurdles Max Carey 2nd
Long Jump Kolade Abiodum 3rd
Hammer Ian Darrack 4th
Senior Boys
100m Sean Lawlor 1st
200m Sean Lawlor 1st, Paul McDermott 3rd
Day 1
Junior Girls
Hammer Ashling Reid 5th, Ciara Simms 6th
Inter Girls
100m Hurdles Lara O’Byrne 3rd, Angie Gonia 8th
Relay Lucy Kirwan 1st
Senior Girls
Steeplechase Suzanne Mstetson 6th
Minor Boys
800m Louis O’Loughlin 1st
U/16 Boys
1500m Faith Aden 6th, Jack Raftery 8th, Sekeriye Ahmed 9th
Senior Boys
100m Hurdles Alex Clarkin 1st, Jack Rudden Kelly 3rd
The 2nd meeting of the graded series in Tallaght stadium was a very successful one for the club with a number of race wins. Darragh Fitzgibbon won the 1500 (A) race in 4.03.2 and Ide Nic Dhomhnaill had an impressive win in the women’s (A) race in 4.48.85. Karla Doran won the 1500 (B) race in 5.00.08.
We had a great representation particularly in the middle distance events.
200m (B) Adam Halpin 23.78
200m (C) Sean o’broinn 25.93
1500m (B) men Emmet O’Briain 3rd 4.14.06
1500m (C) men Donal Iremonger 4.37.38
5000m Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill 18.22 3rd
5000m Rossa Hurley 16.19.44
Sam Allen 16.22.27
1500m (A) 3rd Sinead Lambe 4.53.07
Maura Kearns 5.04.57
At the British Milers Club meet in Manchester Eric Keogh was 2nd in the 5000m in 14.31.
On the roads, the big race of the week was the Terenure 5 mile on a flat two lap course on a sunny day. First home was Tony Barry 29.25. Our ladies team retained the winning masters team prize. Barry Potts and Terry Mee were 1st and 2nd in the W65 category.
Full results
Tony Barry 29.25
Colin Morrissey 29.43
Declan Lynch 31.04
Florence Curley 32.16
Alma Hanevy 33.56
Barry Potts 34.34
Rhona McHugh 35.08
Karen behan 35.29
Caren crowley 36.17
Mary Murphy 37.14
Terry Mee 37.20
Kevin English came 9th in the Simon Cumbers 6k race in Navan in 20.29.
In the Clonliffe 2 mile on a very wet night in Santry new member Colm Mullen ran 12.52 and Terry Mee did 14.29
Ann Woodlock took in the Loughrea 5k series on a trip to the west and ran 29 minutes.
John Travers was in action last Saturday night in a rain soaked Belfast where he took on the 3,000m at the IMC meet at Mary Peter’s Track. Conditions weren’t exactly ideal in the wet but Travers still managed to post a quick season opener to win in 8.03.69. John was also awarded athlete of the meet.
On the previous weekend the first of the Irish Milers Club meetings took place at the Shoreline track in Greystones on Saturday afternoon. A number of the Donore girls were in action on the track and in the 1500m Ide Nic Dhomhnaill showed she is back in good form with a 4,50.08 followed by Sinead Lambe ran 4.52.95. Maura Kearns won the 800mB in a tight finish in 2.23.64. David Campbell won the men’s 200mB in 23.98.
The first Dublin graded meet of the season took place in Santry on Wednesday April 20th with some impressive performances.
100m (B) Cian O’Reilly ran 11.85 finishing 7th. Adam Halpin was 8th in 11.91 and in the men’s
100m (C) Sean Ó Broin finished 6th in 12.57.
800mA Sinead Lambe ran 2.22.26 in the 800m (A) with Karla Doran posting 2.24.57. In the 800m (B) Maura Kearns was the winner in a time of 2.22.10. Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill was 5th with 10.37 in the 3000m and in the Hammer Clodagh Read threw 37.4m and Orlaith Read 29.94.
At the recent IUAA championships on April 15th at Santry stadium Lynda Ngakam (DCU) won the National triple jump bronze with a best jump of 11.30m. Rolus Olusa (NUIM) competed in the combined events and finished 8th.
Some of our Juveniles were in action yesterday at schools athletics in Santry and the 2nd Dublin graded meet took place in Taillight last night. Updates will be posted soon.
The Leixlip 5k road race, hosted by Le Cheile AC, took place on Saturday May 7th. Fergal Whitty finished 9th in a time of 16.24. Aisling Swaine was 2nd in a PB of 18.34, Sinead Graham was 4th woman in 19.48 and Laura Murray ran 23.24. Laura also took part in the Wings for Life race the following day where she ran 10 miles.
At the Tallaght AC 5k on Sunday, may 1st, the Donore women won silver in the Dublin novice road championship led home by Caren Crowley 22.07, Mary Murphy 22.46 Catherine McKeon 24.19 and Jenny O’Keeffe 25.44. First Donore man home was Rossa Hurley in 16.39 and Terry Mee ran 22.40.
There was a big turnout on a wet and windy day at the National 10k/Great Ireland Run. The men’s masters team was 5th, the women’s seniors 7th and the masters team 12th on a competitive day- full results:
| Fergal Whitty | 33.58 | 3 M40 |
| Ciaran McCarthy | 34.09 | |
| Rossa Hurley | 34.47 | |
| Des Tremble | 35.24 | |
| Phil Hennessey | 35.37 | |
| Andrew Wilson | 37.13 | |
| George Brady | 38.10 | |
| Barbara Murray | 40.47 | |
| Tom Fagan | 40.57 | |
| Barry Potts | 43.06 | |
| Sinéad Graham | 43.05 | |
| Amy Moriarty | 43.16 | |
| Aine Mahony | 44.43 | |
| Elaine Verdon | 46.51 | |
| Terry Mee | 46.57 | |
| Catherine McKeon | 50.11 | |
| Dana Mackey | 53.30 | |
| Jennifer O’Keeffe | 53.40 | |
| Michelle Dawson | 53.58 |
The previous day at the fast and popular K Club BHAA 10k around the environs of Straffan saw the following finishers:
| Patrick Moriarty | 36.03 | |
| Ian Redican | 41.24 | |
| Breda Mahony | 41.49 | |
| Rhona McHugh | 43.34 | |
| Alma Hanevy | 45.05 | |
| Caren Crowley | 46.06 | |
| Dave Hudson | 50.28 | |
| Ann Woodlock | 57.38 | 1st W75 |
There were no chipped results available at the Dublin Remembers 5k, a 1916 commemorative event held on April 24th but lots of Donore runners finished, with Eoin Durkan and Aisling Swaine the first Donore man and woman home.
The women’s team finished 3rd at the Dunboyne 4 mile, a race close to the late Jim Mc Namara’s heart and he was remembered with a moments silence at the start. Full results:
| Danny Crean | 22.20 | |
| Anne Curley | 24.48 | 1st W40 |
| Ken Cronin | 27.33 | |
| Terry Mee | 28.43 | |
| Mary Murphy | 30.17 | |
| Mary McDermott | 30.34 | |
| Florence Curley | 31.06 |
The BHAA women’s 2 mile in Raheny saw Aisling Swaine finish 2nd in 12.18, Julia Hackett 13.43 and Karen Behan 1st w35 in 13.46 and Ann Woodlock was 1st W75. The 4 mile race finishers were Fergal Whitty 6th place, Phil Hennessy 8th, Chris Muldoon 23.52, Tom Fagan 26.11, Barry Potts 26.58 1st m65, Terry Mee 1st m70 31.05 and Charlie O’Neill also competed.
The past month has aslo seen Donore runners compete at home and abroad in a range of long distance events.
On the May Bank holiday George Brady edged close to 100 marathons with a 3.03.21 in Belfast.
The day before was the Limerick marathon where we had two Donore runners. Andrew Odger ran 3.34.57 and Angela Eustace got a PB of 3.38.38. This was fitting given that nearly 40 years ago exactly, the late Jim McNamara got his marathon PB and Olympic qualification in Limerick.
A few weeks previously several runners made the trip to Rotterdam, an increasingly popular marathon conducive to good times. It didn’t disappoint, despite the sun on the day. First home in an excellent 2.40.58 and with a new PB was Anthony Flannery, Sean Fox also with a new PB of 2.46.59. In close succession were Fred Kiernan 2.56.57 and Tony Barry 2.57.07. Alan Farrell broke the 3 hour mark in 2.59.09. Florence Curley got a new PB of 3.07.39. Thanks Medbh Peavoy who couldn’t compete due to injury but provided great support around the course.
On the same day but in atrociously wet and windy conditions was the Connemarathon. Laura Murray completed her first ultra race,a gruelling 39.3 miles in 7.35. In the marathon, Niall Lynch came an excellent 3rd overall in 3.07.29, Peter Bonnar 4.29 and Claire Devanney 4.38.46. In the half marathon event Julia Hackett ran 1.42.36 and Liagh Miller 2.00.48.
Alma Hanevy clocked up another marathon major in Boston on a hot day in 3.32.39 to complete her tour of the World Marathon Majors not that long after her Tokyo marathon in February
April was a busy month for Donore’s Juvenile athletes who have been competing weekly in various competitions.
On April 3rd Eleanor and Oliver Hopskins braved the bad weather to take on the Dunboyne AC junior races. Eleanor finished in a fantastic 17th place and Oliver was 13th in their age races. On the same weekend Micheal Barry ran the Rush Junior parkrun finishing in 3rd place with a fantastic 8.49 for the 2k distance.
At the Spring Throws meet in Morton Stadium on April 9th, Lauren O’Keeffe won her 3KG hammer event with a PB throw of 58.13m, while Clodagh Read also threw a PB (37.73m) in the 4KG competition, also in the 4KG competition and just returning from injury Orlaith Read threw just short of her PB.
On April 10th, we had the Great Ireland Junior Run, despite the wet and windy weather our juveniles were out in force for these local races. In the 1.6k mini race, Eleanor Hopkins was the 13th girl home with a brilliant 7.52. Meanwhile, in the 2.5k junior race, Jack Raftery was 6th in 8.49, Oliver Hopkins was 9th with 10.08, Micheal Barry wasn’t far behind with 10.18 for 12th place, Sean Kinsella 19th in 10.44, Daniel O’Neill 33rd 11.31 and Grace Raftery was 6th female in 11.04 and Ellie Raftery was 27th in 11.37.
April 19th saw the start of the Schools Track and Field season with the West Leinsters, Lara O’Byrne made a great return to competition taking double gold in the inter hurdles and pole vault, while Sean Lawlor, just back from injury took gold in the senior 100m.
Donore Harriers athletes dominated the inter girls 100m final Cara Brennan won the gold, Suzi O’Farrell silver and Eve Reilly bronze with Robyn O’Keeffe finishing in 4th place. The inter boys 100m hurdles was another Donore dominated event With Alex Clarkin 1st, Jack Rudden 2nd, Kolade Abuidun 3rd and Max Carey 4th.
Aoife Lynch ran brilliantly to win gold in the senior girls 100m and Ailbhe Healy continued her winning form to win the senior pole vault. The inter girls hurdles was another clean sweep for Donore athletes with Lara O’Byrne taking gold, Angie Gonia silver and Ciara O’Donnell bronze.
In the boys under 16 mile, Faithi Aden was first, Jack Raftery was 3rd and Zakariya Ahmed 4th. The senior girls hurdles had Lauren Kennedy 3rd and Róisín Rynn 4th.
On the 20th of April we had some athletes in the North Leinster. Ashline Read took gold with a throw of 28.44m in the junior hammer and Lauren O’Keeffe threw 50.77m to also take gold and Beth Kirwan silver with a throw of 32.10m and in the senior girls Clodagh Read won silver with 38.46m. Rebecca Power was second in the inter girls javelin and on the track Caoimhe Mackey was second in the 400m running a pb of 61.7 ad Eilis Darby was second in the inter steeplechase.
On the 21st Sean Lawlor and Aoife Lynch both completed the double for the week with gold medals in their respective 200m race, with Paul McDermot finishing 2nd to Sean in the senior 200m. In the inter girls 200m Cara Brennan ran brilliantly again to take silver with Andie Mcguire winning bronze and Robyn O’Keeffe in 4th place. Max Carey made his 400m hurldes debut finishing 2nd and Kolade Abiodun won gold in the boys long jump.
In the inter girls long jump Andie McGuire won gold and Eve Reilly won silver with both of the girls coming away with new pbs. Louis O’Loughlin had a brilliant win in the minor boys 800m and Niamh O’Neill won the senior girls 3k.
A number of Donore athletes also took part in the relays; Lucy Kirwin was on the Mount Sackvill minor girls winning team and Róisín Rynn and Imogen Sweeney were on the St Joseph senior girls team who won gold, while Andie McGuire won on the Kings Hospital bronze winning senior girls team. The Coláiste Cois Life inter team who finished 3rd had Robyn O’Keeffe and Suzi O’Farrell. There were plenty more athletes who competed for their schools, making finals and posting pbs. Well done to everyone.
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Tommy Hayward. At 95 years of age, Tommy was the longest surviving member of Donore Harriers having joined in 1941. He had just celebrated his 95th birthday last week on 29.03.2016. Tommy was a member of the first Donore team to win the AAU Senior Cross Country Championships circa 1943.
He was a great committee man, joining the the Donore committee in the mid 1940’s. Up to last September 2015, Tommy had attended every consecutive AGM for 75 years. He was very interested in the development of the club and influential in it’s success. In 1957 he took over as the club Secretary for almost 10 years. As part of a great trio, along with Pat Mullally (Treasurer) and Eddie Hogan (Head Coach), he oversaw the Halcyon days of Donore when the club became a powerhouse in distance running and track and field. In later years he also served as club President.
At national level he was one of the negotiators in the formation of BLE in 1967 and has always been on hand to serve at any athletic promotion where his services are required. Up until last summer Tommy was still very active in athletics, helping out with the Dublin graded track and field events. In 2010 he was honoured as official of the year at the Athletics Ireland Awards.
Tommy was also a great family man and beloved husband of his late wife Maura. Our condolences to Eric and Muriel and to his greater family and many friends.
May he Rest in Peace.
Ann Woodlock has won the W75 1500m at the European Masters Indoor Championships in Ancona, Italy. Ann dominated the race from early on, crossing the line in 7 mins 31.28 secs. The oldest woman in the field at 77, she was well clear of second placed Eva Osborne (Great Britain) in 7:45.59. That’s a second medal of the championships for Ann after taking bronze in the W75 3,000m earlier in the week.
Meanwhile Anne Gormley finished 10th in the 3000m track walk W50 on March 31.
Photo: Ann Woodlock (L) Fonnuala Britton (McCormack) (R), Courtesy of Lindie Naughton
News in from the European Masters Indoor championships in Ancona Italy.
Ann Woodlock won W75 bronze in the 3000m in 16.10.74. In a very close finish Ann was a fraction of a second off the silver medal from the British athlete Eva Osborne and well clear of the rest of the field. Ann competes later in the week in the 1500m.
Congratulations Ann.