Two gold, one silver and two bronze made it Donore Harriers most successful day at the Dublin juvenile cross-country championships for several years. The highlight of the Dublin Juvenile Even Age Group cross-country championships was the Boys under 16s race over a 4km, 2-lap course. Fathi Aden took the pace through the opening 3 kilometres before Louis O’Loughlin put ‘on the burners’ and sped away to win by some 40 metres. Aden was a comfortable 2^nd with Sekeriye Ahmed making it a clean sweep in 3^rd position. The team prize was not so clear cut! Clonliffe Harriers closed 4 runners in the top ten, but a magnificent run by Jack Raftery over the final 500 metres proved to be crucial. Raftery gained several places to cross the line in 17^th positon. It was good enough to get a one point win for the team as Donore Harriers scored 23 against 24 for Clonliffe Harriers. Ruairi Fitzgibbon and Jack Connolly were the non-scoring members of the team.

O’Loughlin, Aden, Raftery and Connolly were all stepping-up an age group and will be competing in the Under 15s championships next Sunday week.

Another athlete stepping-up was Lucy McCann. McCann, also running over 4km, held 4^th position until the final 150 metres when she out-sprinted her opponent for the bronze medal. Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh placed 6^th in the same race.

In the Boys under 18s race over 6km Michael Gibbs fell back over the final 2km circuit after making an over ambitious start. Gibbs placed 17^th, with Gabhan O’Tighearnaigh 25^th, Sean Creagh 26^th and Paul O’Neill 27^th. The team placed 4^th.

Other notable performances came from Honor Lynch 20^th in the Girls under 10s race over 1,000m, Michael Barry and Sean Kinsella who came 23^rd and 25^th in the Boys under 12s race over 2,000m – and Joe Kinsella 25^th in the Boys under 10s race.

Later in the day there were strong performances from Michael McMahon, Niall Lynch and others in the Athletics Ireland Autumn Open Cross races in the Phoenix Park. In the 8km race McMahon (27.24) showed fine pace judgement and gained to 18^th overall in a very competitive field. The second-season club member placed 3^rd in the M35 category. With this race being part of the selection process for the Irish team to run in the forthcoming British & Irish Masters Cross Country Championships (takes place at Santry on 14/11/15) McMahon can expect his first call-up to the national team. Niall Lynch should also be in contention for another Irish vest after he placed 36^th overall and 4^th in the M40 age class. Lynch also paced himself well and gained several places over the final 2 kilometres lap. Ciaran McCarthy M40 (28.50) placed 45^th overall whilst Emmet O’Briain M35 (30.23) came 86^th.

In the 5km race an in-form Karla Doran had to withdraw due to not feeling well, whilst Kim Hickey (20.18) put in a very determined performance to place 32^ndoverall and 10^th in the F35 category. Barbara Murray (21.14) was next club athlete home in 50^th spot and 12^th in the F40 age class. Florence Curley (22.26) placed 67^th and Karen Behan (23.01) was 74^th.

Terry Mee (24.10) and Jim McNamara (24.50) placed 90^th and 94^th respectively to win the M70 and M75 categories.  Barry Potts (21.18) placed 4^th in a separate M65 race.

On Saturday morning the cross-country action took place on the grounds of Castleknock College as the Business Houses Athletics Association began their winter programme with the Teachers 4km and 2km races. Donore Harriers athletes were very much to the fore. In the women’s 2km race Ide (12.35) and Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill (13.09) placed 2^nd and 4^th. The other club athletes were – Janette Strickland F40 (15.00) who came 19th, Caren Crowley F40 (15.46) 33^rd, Catherine McKeon F35 (17.06) 49^th and Mary McDermott F45 (17.10) 51^st.

Eric Keogh (20.45) placed 2^nd in the Men’s 4km race with Lee Van Haeften (20.51) and Aogan MacDomhnaill (20.58) crossing the line in 3^rd and 4^th positions. The remainder of the field included Peter Nugent M45 (26.01) in 62^nd, Tom Fagan M45 (26.20) in 67^th and Ian Redican M40 (26.56) in 74^th.

Colin Morrissey (3.03.37) ran a personal best in the Amsterdam Marathon. In theChicago Marathon Alma Hanevy ran an excellent 3.26.49 despite a recurrence of a injury from the mid-race point. New member Bernie Moloney posted a time of 3.40.45 and is a fine prospect for future Donore teams.

Other recent results include Gavin Byrne’s (4.00.44) 2^nd place in the Killarney Adventure Race. The race including a hill-run, run, bike, kayak, hill-run and run.

There were also Parkrun series wins for Declan Fahy M40 (17.19) at Griffeen Park on the 10^th of October and by Daragh Fitzgibbon (16.59) on the 17^th of October. At the Donadea 10km Trail Race (10/10/15) Lee Van Haeften (32.44) placed 3^rd.

Results in brief  

BHAA Teachers XC at Castleknock College (17/10/15): MEN’S 4 mile – 2^ndEric Keogh 20.45), 3^rd Lee Van Haeften (20.51), 4^th Aogan MacDomhnaill (20.58), 62^nd Peter Nugent M45 (26.01), 67^th Tom Fagan M45 (26.20), 74^th Ian Redican M40 (26.56)

WOMEN’S 2 mile – 2^nd Ide Nic Dhomhnaill (12.35), 4^th Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill (13.09), 19^th Janette Strickland F40 (15.00), 33^rd Caren Crowley F40 (15.46), 49^thCatherine McKeon F35 (17.06), 51^st Mary McDermott F45 (17.10),

Athletics Ireland Open Cross at Phoenix Park (18/10/15): 5km race: 32^nd / 10^thF35 Kim Hickey (20.18), 50^th / 12^th F40, Barbara Murray (21.14), 67^th / 19^th F40 Florence Curley (22.26), 74^th Karen Behan F35 (23.01); 77^th Julia Hackett F40 (23.05), 90^th / 1^st M70 Terry Mee (24.10), 94^th / 1^st M75 Jim McNamara (24.50)

M65 5km Race: 4^th Barry Potts M65 (21.18)

8Km race: 18^th / 3^rd M35 Michael McMahon (27.24), 36^th / 4^th M40 Niall Lynch (28.20), 45^th / 8^th M40 Ciaran McCarthy (28.50), 86^th Emmet O’Briain M35 (30.23)

Chicago Marathon (18/10/15): Alma Hanevy (3.26.49), Bernie Moloney (3.40.45) debut.

Amsterdam Marathon (18/10/15): 730^th Colin Morrissey (3.03.37 PB) 1,458^thAlasdair Brown (3.15.59 PB by 8 mins)

Lisbon Marathon (18/10/15): awaiting result

Other results:

Killarney 70km <hill, run, bike, kayak, hill, run> Adventure Race (3/10/15):2^nd Gavin Byrne (4.00.44)

Donadea 10km Pop-Up Trial Race (10/10/15): 3^rd Lee Van Haeften (32.44)

Griffeen 5km Parkrun (10/10/15): 1^st Declan Fahy M40 (17.19)

Griffeen 5km Parkrun (17/10/15): 1^st Daragh Fitzgibbon (16.59)

Juvenile Results

Dublin Juvenile Even Age Groups XC Championships at Phoenix Park (18/10/15): Girls u/10s 1,000m: – 20^th Honor Lynch, 60^th Sofia Moorhouse, 62^ndRoma Moorhouse, 63^rd Melanie Abbey: Boys u/10 1,000m: – 28^th Joe Kinsella, 34^th Conor Mulcahy: Boys u/12s 2,000m: – 23^rd Michael Barry, 25^th Sean Kinsella: Girls u/16s 4,000m: – 29^th Robynn Strickland, 30^th Kate Lynch: Boys u/16s 4,000m: – 1^st Louis O’Loughlin, 2^nd Fathi Aden, 3^rd Sekeriye Ahmed, 17^thJack Raftery, 31^st Ruairi Fitzgibbon, DNF injured Jack Connolly – TEAM: 1^stDonore Harriers (23), 2^nd Clonliffe Harriers (24)

Girls u/18s 4,000m: – 3^rd Lucy McCann, 6^th Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh: Boys u/18s 6,000m: – 17^th Michael Gibbs, 25^th Gabhan O’Tighearnaigh, 26^th Sean Creagh, 27^th Paul O’Neill, DNF injured Ibrahim Mohammed.    Waterstown 5km Parkrun (10/10/15): 5^th Noah Synnott u/13s (21.10), 14^th / 1^st woman Sky-Dixie Synnott u/11s (23.57 PB), 23^rd / 3^rd woman Brooke Fagan u/11s (25.40)   

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (17/10/15): 20^th / 2^nd woman Brooke Fagan u/11s (24.56 PB)

It was another highly successful weekend for Donore Harriers! With team victories in both the Galway Bay 10km and Half-Marathon races on Saturday there were bronze medals for both the women’s and men’s team at the Dublin Novice cross-country championships hosted by the club in the Phoenix Park on Sunday. To cap a great week-end for the club there were repeated victories for Fathi Aden, Sekeriye Ahmed and Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh in the second fixture of the Dublin Juvenile cross-country league.

In the Galway Bay 10km road race (3/10/15) there were 4 Donore athletes in the top 8 finishers. Ray Hynes (32.10) led the tour-de-force in 3^rd place. Just one place behind was Michael McMahon in a new personal best time of 32.15. Eric Keogh (32.31) struggled in the later stages of the race after an ambitious start before crossing the line in 7^th place. Aogan MacDomhnaill (32.51) showed a fine return to form when placing 8^th. The race was won by Irish international David McCarthy (31.15) of West Waterford AC.

John Travers led a strong Donore Harriers team home in the Galway Bay Half-Marathon (3/10/15). Travers (1.06.31) placed 2^nd in a new personal best time behind winner Roman Prodius (1.06.04) of Clonliffe Harriers. The Donore team was completed by Mark Dooley who placed 4^th in a new personal best time of 1.09.05 and masters athletes John Dunne (1.13.35) in 5^th and Dave Heffernan (1.14.55) in 7^th.

Donore Harriers won both the 10km and half-marathon team prizes with scores of 14 and 11 respectively.

In the Dublin Novice cross-country championships Karla Doran ran a superb race to place 3^rd in the women’s race held over 4 kilometres. The second-season club athlete was always in the mix as she contested for the lead until the closing stages. Thus, over the final kilometre Gemma Reddin (15.19) of Crusaders AC opened up a lead ahead of Orla Bollard (15.25) of Skerries, whilst Doran (15.30) consolidated 3^rd position with gutsy determination to hold off the challenge of Helen Brouder (15.33) of Sportsworld AC.  

Aisling Swaine (16.08) in 10^th, Emer Rattigan (16.27) in 15^th and Bronagh Elliott (17.02) in 30^th joined Doran on the team scoring sheet as Donore Harriers came 3^rdteam on 59 points behind Crusaders AC (42) and Rathfarnham AC (43).

The non-scoring athletes were Janette Strickland (18.05) in 55^th and Angela Eustace (18.10) in 58^th place.

The men’s team also took 3^rd team following a review of the results. The team was led home by Ciaran McCarthy (19.33) in 7^th place. The other team scorers after the 6km race were – Emmet O’Briain (20.05) in 16^th, Luke Boland (20.13) in 19^th and Patrick Byrne (20.29) in 28^th. The team prize went to DSD on 35 points ahead of Crusasers AC (37) and Donore Harriers (70).    

The non-scoring members of the Donore team were – 29^th Rossa Hurley (20.30), 39^th Paul Cummins (20.50), 49^th Des Tremble (21.06), 50^th Andrew Wilson debut (21.15), 57^th Alan Farrell (21.42), 64^th Shane Russell (21.58), 69^th Noel Conway (22.14), 86^th Gerard McDonald (23.20) and 91^st Des Gill (23.54).

In the 2^nd fixture of the Dublin Juvenile League also held in the Phoenix Park on Sunday there were repeated wins for Fathi Aden in the under 15 Boys, Sekeriye Ahmed in the under 16 Boys and Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh in the under 17 Girls.

The club’s main interest was in the Boys under 15 race held over 2,000 metres. Fathi Aden build a lead of 30 metres over his team-mate Louis O’Loughlin. However a late rally by the fast finishing O’Loughlin proved in vain as Aden held on to win by about 5 metres. Jack Raftery placed 5^th in the same race having contested 3^rd position early on, whilst Jack Connolly continues to improve and recorded his best result to date in 13^th spot.

Sekeriye Ahmed was the convincing winner of the Boys under 16s race held over 2,500m having held off the early challenge of Mark O’Connor of MSB.

Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh won the Girls under 17s race, also held over 2,500m, with her club colleague Suzanne Masterson and Ciara Murphy placing 2^nd and 4^th.

Michael Gibbs and debutant Ibrahim Mohammed placed 3^rd respectively in the Boys under 18s and Boys under 17s races over 4km.

There were top ten finishes for the following: – Brooke Fagan 10^th in the Girls under 11s; Michael Barry 10^th in the Boys under 12s; Noah Synnott 10^th in the Boys under 13s; Roisin Brady 8^th in the Girls under 15s; Robynn Strickland 9^th in the Girls under 16s and Daniel Brady 5^th in the Boys under 17s.

Special mention also to debutants Sofia Moorhouse (38^th in u/9s), Roma Moorhouse (36^th in u/10s) and Max Hendrickson (44^th in u/11s).        

Results in brief  

Galway Bay 10km road race (3/10/15): 3^rd Ray Hynes (32.10); 4^th Michael McMahon (32.15); 7^th Eric Keogh (32.31); 8^th Aogan MacDomhnaill (32.51)

TEAM: 1^st Donore Harriers 14

Galway Bay Half Marathon (3/10/15): 2^nd John Travers (1.06.31); 4^th Mark Dooley (1.09.05); 5^th John Dunne M35 (1.13.35); 7^th Dave Heffernan M35 (1.14.55)

TEAM: 1^st Donore Harriers 11

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (3/10/15): 2^nd Ian Redican M10 (19.49)

Simon Community 5 mile road race at Phoenix Park (3/10/15): 10^th Alasdair Brown (29.58 PB); 168^th Dana Mackey (42.03); 198^th Laoise Toland (49.58)

Dublin Novice XC Championships at Phoenix Park (4/10/15): WOMEN 4km: 3^rd Karla Doran (15.30), 10^th Aisling Swaine (16.06), 16^th Emer Rattigan (16.27), 30^th Bronagh Elliott (17.02), 55^th Janette Strickland (18.05), 58^th Angela Eustace (18.10),

TEAM: 1^st Crusaders AC 42, 2^nd Rathfarnham AC 43, 3^rd Donore Harriers <Doran, Swaine, Rattigan, Elliott> 59 – there were 10 closing teams

MEN 6km: 7^th Ciaran McCarthy (19.33), 16^th Emmet O’Briain (20.05), 19^th Luke Boland (20.13), 28^th Patrick Byrne (20.29), 29^th Rossa Hurley (20.30), 39^th Paul Cummins (20.50), 49^th Des Tremble (21.06), 50^th Andrew Wilson debut (21.15), 57^th Alan Farrell (21.42), 64^th Shane Russell (21.58), 69^th Noel Conway (22.14), 86^th Gerard McDonald (23.20), 91^st Des Gill (23.54)

TEAM: 1^st DSD 35, 2^nd Crusaders AC 37, 3^rd Donore Harriers <McCarthy, O’Briain, Boland, Byrne> 70 – there were 12 closing teams

Athlone Three-Quarter Marathon (31.65km/19.66M) (4/10/15): 139^th Marianne Dunlevy (2.30.40 / 1.41.12 @ HM); 189^th Sinead Graham (2.41.39 / 1.47.30 @ HM); 615^th Laura Murray (3.19.03 / 2.12.11 @ HM)

Parkwest 10km Night Run (29/9/15): 5^th woman Elaine Verdon (45.48), 6^thwoman Karen Behan (46.28)

Juvenile Results

Three Counties (Kildare, Carlow & Laois) Schools XC 29/9/15): Senior Boys 3km – 9^th Michael Gibbs; Intermediate Girls 0.9km – 7^th Ciara Murphy; Junior Girls 1.8km – 3^rd Lucy McCann

Dublin Juvenile XC League Fixture 2 at Phoenix Park (4/10/15): u/9 Girls 500m – 38^th Sofia Moorhouse (debut), 46^th Eleanor Hopkins; u/10 Girls 700m – 36^th Roma Moorhouse (debut); u/10 Boys 700m – 17^th Joe Kinsella, 29^th Conor Mulcahy, u/11 Girls 900m – 10^th Brooke Fagan, 14^th Grace Raftery, 17^th Sky-Dixie Synnott; u/11 Boys 900m – 20^th Oliver Hopkins, 44^th Max Hendrickson (debut); u/12 Boys 1,200m – 10^th Michael Barry; u/13 Boys 1,200m – 10^th Noah Synnott; u/15 Girls 2,000m – 8^th Roisin Brady; u/15 Boys 2,000m – 1^st Fathi Aden, 2^nd Louis O’Loughlin, 5^th Jack Raftery, 13^th Jack Connolly; u/16 Girls 2,500m – 9^th Robynn Strickland (debut); u/16 Boys 2,500m – 1^st Sekeriye Ahmed; u/17 Girls 2,500m – 1^st Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh, 2^nd Suzanne Masterson, 4^th Ciara Murphy; u/17 Boys 4,000m – 3^rd Ibrahim Mohammed (debut), 5^th Daniel Brady; u/18 Boys 4,000m – 3^rd Michael Gibbs

The first round of the Dublin Juvenile cross-country league took place at Ardgillan Park in north county Dublin on Sunday. The picturesque course having Ardgillan Castle on one side and the Irish Sea on the other proved a testing course for the young athletes. Donore Harriers had a team of 19 runners in the various age-category races, with Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh, Sekeriye Ahmed and Fathi Aden recording notable wins.

Fathi Aden stamped his class all over the under 15s race held over 1,500m and came home with a 100 metres to spare. Jack Raftery finished a very encouraging 5^th in the same race, whilst Jack Connolly placed 15^th.

Sekeriye Ahmed also give a front-running display and came home 60m ahead of his nearing opponent in the Boys under 16s race held over 2,000m. In the Girls under 17s race, also held over 2,000m, long-term member Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh ran strongly throughout to record her first ever win in a Dublin juvenile league race. Suzanne Masterson placed 4^th.

There were top 10 finishes for Honor Lynch (9^th in the under 9s); Brook Fagan and Grace Raftery (7^th and 9^th respectively in the under 11s); Sean Kinsella and fast-finishing Michael Barry (7^th and 9^th respectively in the under 12s); Noah Synott (9^th in under 13s) and Lorcan O’Ceallaigh (8^th in the under 14s).    

In the Dublin half-marathon in the Phoenix Park on Saturday morning Ken Nugent (1.11.08) give an outstanding performance to place 4^th overall and 3^rd in the senior men’s category. He was followed home by Andy Kinane (1.13.32) in 10^th place and the winner of the M35 class. Niall Lynch (1.14.39) came 13^th and 4^th in the M40 age group. Further down the field new member Neil Hand (1.25.31) gave indication of his potential, whilst Alasdair Brown (1.25.56) knocked two and a-half minutes of his previous best time. 17 years old Michael Gibbs (1.27.34) won the Junior category on his half-marathon debut. Terry Mee (1.41.22) won the M70 class.

The club’s women section were out in force with Alma Hanevy (1.40.12) leading the team home. Laura Murray (1.51.46) recorded a personal best.     

In the popular and competitive Charleville Half-Marathon Dave Heffernan (1.13.00) placed 11^th overall, whilst Kim Hickey (1.25.44) was 7^th in the women’s race with a new personal best time. Team captain Florence Curley (1.26.54) placed 2^nd in the F40 class and finished as 9^th woman overall.     

In the Laurels Crew 10km road race at Clondalkin Grace Kennedy (39.26) was 2^nd overall and was the first woman home.

Dublin Half-Marathon at Phoenix Park (19/9/15): 4^th / 3^rd SNR Ken Nugent (1.11.08); 10^th / 1^st M35 Andy Kinane (1.13.32); 13^th / 4^th M40 Niall Lynch (1.14.39); 21^st /5^th M40 Graham Hopkins (1.16.31); 40^th / 9^th M40 Shane McAuley (1.19.02); 97^th / 36^th SNR Shane Russell (1.22.07); 98^th / 27^th M35 George Brady (1.22.14); 211st Neil Hand (1.25.31); 227^th Alasdair Brown (1.25.56); 264^th Patrick Byrne (1.26.55); 287^th Alan Farrell M40 (1.27.20); 309^th/1^st JNR Michael Gibbs (1.27.34 debut); 993^rd / 25^th F35 Alma Hanevy (1.40.12); 1057^th Gerard Morris (1.41.13); 1050^th / 1^st M70 Terry Mee (1.41.22); 1251^st / 26^th F40 Nicola Dowdall (1.43.09); 1535^th Ariana Ball (1.46.47); 1814^th / 41^st F40 Mary Murphy (1.49.42); 1934^th Peter Bonnar M45 (1.50.58); 2207^th Elaine Verdon F35 (1.47.56); 2656^th Laura Murray (1.51.46 PB); 2696^th Mary Melvin (1.52.28); 3217^th Meadbh Campbell (1.56.39); 3516^th Deirdre Healy F40 (1.58.55); 3551^st Jo Hughes (1.59.11); 4165^th Sue Lynch (2.03.55); 4592^nd Liagh Miller F40 (2.04.10); 4526^th Dana Mackey (2.03.59)

The Laurels Charity Crew 10km (19/9/15): 2^nd / 1^st woman Grace Kennedy (39.26)

Histio Warrior 5km at Curragh Racecourse (20/9/15): 5^th Ian Redican M40 (20.01)  

Charleville Half-Marathon (20/9/15): 11^th Dave Heffernan (1.13.00); 100^th / 7^thwoman Kim Hickey (1.25.44 PB); 111^th / 9^th woman / 2^nd F40 Florence Curley (1.26.54) 

Liz McDonnell 5km XC at Castletown, Celbridge (20/9/15): 7^th / 1^st M40 Bob Blake <official results not yet available>

Dublin Juvenile Cross-Country League Fixture 1 at Ardgillan Park (20/9/15): u/9 Girls – 27^th Eleanor Hopkins; u/10 Girls – 9^th Honor Lynch; u/11 Girls 7^thBrooke Fagan, 9^th Grace Raftery, 15^th Sky-Dixie Synnott; u/15 Girls – 12^th Roisin Brady; u/17 Girls – 1^st Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh, 4^th Suzanne Masterson; u/9 Boys – 14^th Ciaran O’Farrell; u/10 Boys – 15^th Joe Kinsella; u/11 Boys – 14^th Oliver Hopkins; u/12 Boys – 7^th Sean Kinsella, 9^th Michael Barry; u/13 Boys – 9^th Noah Synnott; u/14 Boys – 8^th Lorcan O’Ceallaigh; u/15 Boys – 1^st Fathi Aden, 5^th Jack Raftery, 15^th Jack Connolly; u/16 Boys – 1^st Sekeriye Ahmed

Several Donore Harriers athletes were to the fore at different events in the past week. Perhaps most notable was John Dunne’s 2^nd place in the Athlone Flatline 10km road race where he finished just 3 seconds shy of the winner David O’Connor (32.42) of Celbridge AC.

Anne Curley (31.34) was the second woman home in the Lucan 5 miles road race. She placed 30^thoverall and also took 2^nd prize in the over 40s category. Karla Doran (19.13) was 14^th overall in theMaynooth 5km and placed 2^nd in the women’s race behind Rachael Smyth (18.13) of St. Coca’s AC. At the same venue Tom Fagan (19.27) was 16^th over the line and 1^st in the M45 class.

David Heffernan (15.59) continues his comeback after a long lay-off due to injury and placed 2^nd in theRatoath 5km road race behind Brian McCloskey (15.39) of the North East Runners. In the Wild Atlantic Half Marathon at Sligo on Saturday Hugh Brosnan (1.26.29) placed an excellent 3^rd.    

The club had 3 runners in the Business Houses OPW trail race at the Phoenix Park on Saturday. Barry Potts (21.41) and Terry Mee (24.08) won the M65 and M65 categories respectively, with Sarah Ni Ruairc (27.54) the 2^nd F35 athlete.

Juvenile member Ruairi Fitzgibbon competed in his first duathlon at Donadea on Saturday. A determined Ruairi completed a 3km run, 22km cycle and then another 3km run in 68 minutes and came 2^nd in the junior category.

Athlone Flatline 10km road race (12/9/15): 2^nd John Dunne (32.45)

Athlone Flatline Half-Marathon (12/9/15): 142^nd Ian Redican (1.32.41)

Wild Atlantic Run Half-Marathon at Sligo (12/9/15): 3^rd Hugh Brosnan (1.26.29)

Lucan 5 miles road race (12/9/15): 14^th George Brady (29.23); 30^th / 2^nd Woman & 2^nd F40 Anne Curley (31.34)

BHAA OPW Trail Race (12/9/15): 24^th / 1^st M65 Barry Potts (21.42); 45^th / 1^st M70 Terry Mee (24.08); 67^th / 2^nd F35 Sarah Ni Ruairc (27.54)

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (12/9/15): 5^th Michael Barry (20.52)

Ratoath 5km road race (13/9/15): 2^nd Dave Heffernan (15.59); 18^th Alasdair Brown (18.01); 91^st Ken McKeown (19.27)

Maynooth 5km road race (13/9/15): 14^th / 2^nd woman Karla Doran (19.27)13); 16^th / 1^st M45 Tom Fagan (19.27)

LATE RESULT: Donadea 5km series (20/8/15): 1^st Andrew Ledwith (17.09); 11^th / 6^th woman Michelle Childs (20.20)

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (12/9/15): 6^th Noah Synnott u/13s (21.26), 10^th Michael Barry u/12s (22.21)

Donadea Forest Duathlon 3k run, 22k cycle, 3k run (12/9/15): 2^nd Junior – Ruairi Fitzgibbon (1.08.00)

John Dunne may have come late to the sport of athletics, but he is certainly making his mark! Last week he represented Ireland in the World Masters Athletics championships at Lyon in France (4-8/7/15) and earned himself an individual silver medal and a team bronze in the Irish colours. Competing in the 8km cross country event the Donore Harriers man (25.21) was always to the fore before crossing the line just 4 seconds adrift of winner Michael Moissonier (25.17) of France, but well clear of 3^rd placed Vladimir Srb (25.39) of the Czech Republic. John was understandably “absolutely thrilled” after this fine achievement. The former Castleknock Celtic FC player who joined Donore Harriers in 2012 also contested the 5,000m track race and placed an excellent 8^th of 36 finishers in a time of 15.45.22. John commented after the race: “slower than I wanted, but racing in 38 degree heat is not ideal. Delighted with a top 10 finish…” John was just 8 seconds shy of his personal best time, which given the hot and humid conditions indicates that he ran to his maximum potential on the day. His coach John Downes, a former Irish senior international and the 1991 & 1996 National cross country champion, described his protégé as: “… a great team-man, totally dependable, trains smart and gives his all in competition … just wish he started in the sport 20 years earlier”.

In the over 50s Women’s 5,000m Walk Anne Gormley was forced to retire due to the searing heat.

In the National track and field championships at Santry on the weekend (8&9/8/15) Donore Harriers had a disappointing return of just two bronze medals. These came in the Men’s Javelin where Jaco Oosthuysen first throw of 58.19m proved to be good enough for 3^rd position – and in the 110m Hurdles when Simon Taggart (14.83) crossed the line behind the two big favourites Ben Reynolds (13.84) of North Down AC and Ger O’Donnell (14.05) of Carrick-on-Shannon AC.

Middle-distance specialist John Travers had a disappointing weekend on the track finishing 4^th in the 5,000m in a time of 14.36.90 and 6^th in the final of the 1,500m in 3.59.26. What was encouraging for the club was having 3 men contest the 1.500m final with Eric Keogh (4.03.89) finishing 10^th and Daragh Fitzgibbon (4.09.39) four places further back. Travers, Keogh and Fitzgibbon, who were all part of the Donore Harriers team that won the National Road Relay championship in April, qualified to the final with times of 3.59.16, 4.00.92 and 4.04.91 respectively.

Eamonn Fahey, the bronze medallist in 2014, missed out on the final of the 100m by just one-hundred of a second. Running in Heat 4 he placed 3^rd in 11.33 against a minus 3.4 wind reading. The wind reading was more favourable for the fastest loser qualifiers in the other heats, such are the fine margins in sprint races! Eamonn (11.09) took some consolation by winning the ‘B’ final.  

Barbara Cleary (17.00.75) produced a stand-out performance in the colours of Donore Harriers in the Women’s 5,000m. After a conservative start 42 years-old Barbara gained on a group of 4 athletes who were contesting 3^rd position. However, this group split up over the final 600m as the battle for bronze heated up. Barbara had to be content with 6^th position in a race won by Irish international Mary Cullen (16.07.40) of North Sligo AC.

The mother and daughter duo of Orlaith and Clodagh Read contested the Women’s 4kg Hammer; the family bragging rights going to juvenile athlete Clodagh. Clodagh impressed with a first round personal best throw of 39.36m to place 15^th, whilst Orlaith (31.24m) came 19^th in a field of 21 competitors.             

Michael McMahon (32.39.14) came 13^th in the 10,000m, Cathal O’Brien (1.75m) 6^th in the High Jump and track and field captain David Campbell (53.65) 7^th in heat 1 of the 400m.

In the Streets of Athboy 5km race on Friday evening (7/8/15) Dave Heffernan was a clear winner having 55 seconds to spare over runner-up Rory Mooney (unattached).

Finally, congratulations to Michelle Dawson on completing the 70.3 Half-Ironman race in Dublin (9/8/15) with a combined time of 6.59.02. 

World Masters Athletics Championships at Lyon, France (4/8/15): o/35 Men 8,000m Cross Country – 2^nd John Dunne (25.21) (led Ireland to team bronze); (7/8/15): o/35 Men 5,000m Track – 8^th John Dunne (15.45.22): o/50 Women’s 5,000m Walk – DNF Anne Gormley

National Track & Field Championships at Santry (8&9/8/15): DAY 1 = Men’s Javelin – 3^rd Jaco Oosthuysen (58.19m); Men’s 10,000 Final – 13^th Michael McMahon (32.39.14), DNF Aogan MacDomhnaill; Women’s 5,000m Final – 6^th Barbara Cleary F40 (17.00.75); Men’s 100m Heat 4 – 3^rd Eamonn Fahey (11.33); Men’s 1,500m Heat 1 – 4^th Eric Keogh (4.00.92), 8^th Daragh Fitzgibbon (4.04.91); Men’s 1,500m Heat 2 – 1^st John Travers (3.59.16); Men’s 400m Heat 1 – 7^th David Campbell (53.65)

DAY 2 = Men’s 110m Hurdles Final – 3^rd Simon Taggart (14.83); Men’s 5,000m Final – 4^th John Travers (14.36.90), DNF Lee Van Haeften; Men’s 100m ‘B’ Final – 1^st Eamonn Fahey (11.09); Men’s 1,500m Final – 6^th John Travers (3.59.26), 10^th Eric Keogh (4.03.89), 14^th Daragh Fitzgibbon (4.09.39); Men’s High Jump – 6^th Cathal O’Brien (1.75m); Women’s Hammer – 15^th Clodagh Read JNR (39.36m PB); 19^th Orlaith Read F40 (31.24m)

Naas 5km Pop-Up (5/8/15): 2^nd Rossa Hurley (17.43); 10^th Ian Redican M40 (20.00)

Streets of Athboy 5km (7/8/15): 1^st Dave Heffernan M40 (16.00)

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (8/8/15): 8^th Kenneth McKeon (20.53); 10^th Michael Barry Sen. (21.05 PB)

Streets of Galway 8km (9/8/15): 79^th Alasdair Brown (30.33)

70.3 Half Ironman Triathlon at Dublin (9/8/15): Michelle Dawson (6.59.02 = 1.9km swim in 49.11, 90km cycle in 3.37.26, 13.1km run in 2.19.54)

LATE RESULT: BHAA Dublin Fire Brigade 5km (26/7/15): 31^st Ian Redican M40 (20.07), 37^th Peter Nugent M45 (20.39), 40^th Des Gill M45 (20.53), 63^rd Colin Moore M45 (22.24), 76^th Colm Nugent M50 (23.04), 78^th Keith Daly M35 (23.26), 120^th Ann Woodlock F75 (27.43)

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (1/8/15): 9^th Noah Synnott u/13 (21.02), 22^nd Michael Barry u/12 (24.12)

Despite a nervous start Lauren O’Keeffe of Donore Harriers performed with distinction in the Girls Hammer event at the European Youth Olympics at Tbilisi in the Republic of Georgia last Thursday. Lauren had a foul on her first attempt and then recorded a wonderful series of throws of 54.84m, 57.35m, 56.06m and 56.75m – with her 57.35m throw being a personal best and good enough for 7^th position. 15 years old Lauren, who is coached by Gerry Ronan, is a student at Loreta Balbriggan and is in her second season at Donore Harriers. The club’s Juvenile Team Manager Leonie Newman said of Lauren’s result: “What a fantastic performance … and no better place to get a personal best than in an international event representing your country”   

In the Rock & Roll Half-Marathon held along a route that included the city centre quays, Kilmainham and the Phoenix Park last Sunday morning the Donore Harriers contingent was led home by Ken Nugent, who placed 23^rd in a fine time of 1.13.11. This result confirms a return to form for Nugent who has been hampered by injury over the last 18 months.

With the early morning rain giving way to a fresh morning breeze the conditions were ideal for running. Garvan Smith (45^thin 1.18.15), Phil Hennessy (49^th in 1.19.08) and Sean Fox (50^th in 1.19.28) packed well to win national bronze team medals in the Men’s over 35 category. Their combined time of 3h.37m.02s was over a half-minute quicker than 4^th placed North Sligo AC. Raheny Shamrocks AC won the category in 3h.50m.42s. The women’s over 35 team fared one better winning the silver team prize – as Alma Hanevy (277^th in 1.31.58), Breda Mahony (288^th in 1.32.14) and Elaine Verdon (952^nd in (1.46.19) achieved a combined time of 4h.50m.59s. Westport AC won with 4.45.51 with Raheny Shamrocks 3^rd in 4.51.28. One of the club’s most dedicated athletes Elaine Verdon was rewarded with her first national medal. Barry Potts, 325^thoverall in 1.33.7, won the Masters Men over 65 category, whilst the aforementioned Phil Hennessy was second individual in the M45 class.     

The Donore Harriers women’s team contested their first ever final of the National Track & Field League Division One at Tullamore on Sunday. Whilst a very young team came last of 8 teams the fact that so many junior and juvenile athletes comprised the team augurs well for future seasons. Notable performances came from Roisin Rynn-Cahill, who placed 3^rd in the 400m Hurdles in 73.55 and 5^th in the High Jump with a best of 1.35m; Lauren Kennedy (18.05) 3^rd in the 100m Hurdles; Aoife Lynch (26.33) 5^th in the 200m; and the mother and daughter pair of Orlaith and Clodagh Read who competed in the throwing events. Orlaith took 6^th in both the Javelin and Shot Putt with throws of 17.45m and 7.64m, whilst Clodagh gained two 7^th places in the Discus and Hammer with 19.46m and 32.72m. Senior athlete Karla Doran (5.00.84) placed 5^th in a competitive 1,500m, with F40 athlete Barbara Cleary (10.08.39) settling for 4^th in the 3,00m. Lucy McCann, an under 17s athlete, made her league debut and despite finishing 8^th in the 800m recorded a new best time of 2.33.17.

The final team result saw Tipperary County (116.5 points) in 1^st place ahead of Finn Valley AC (99). Donore Harriers had to settle for 8^th on 58 points – and a promise to return next year being older and stronger for the event.     

Donadea 5km (24/7/15): 3^rd Sean Fox M40 (17.11), 5^th Fred Kiernan M40 (17.21)

Dublin Open Graded Meeting No. 8 at Tallaght (29/7/15): Women’s 200m B – 1^st Aoife Lynch JNR (27.38); Men’s 200m B1 – 6^th Conor Fox JNR (24.52); Men’s 800m B2 – 9^th Luke Boland (2.07.64); Men’s 800m C1 – 2^nd Killian O’Hora (2.08.77); Men’s Discus – 1^st Oran O’Brien JNR (29.53)

Westport 5km Parkrun (1/8/15): 12^th / 1^st woman Nicola Dowdall F40 (22.21)

Naas 5km Parkrun (1/8/15): 4^th Ian Redican M40 (20.09)

Rock & Roll Half-Marathon at Dublin (2/8/15): 23^rd Ken Nugent (1.13.11), 45^th Garvan Smith M40 (1.18.15), 49^th / 2^ndM45 Phil Hennessy (1.19.08), 50^th Sean Fox M40 (1.19.28), 86^th Eoin Hannon (1.23.30), 114^th Paul Cummins (1.25.00), 127^th Alan Farrell M40 (1.26.05), 236^th Colin Morrissey (1.30.01), 237^th Niall P. O’Reilly (1.30.02), 277^th Alma Hanevy F35 (1.31.58), 288^th Breda Mahony F35 (1.32.14 PB), 325^th / 1^st M65 Barry Potts (1.33.27), 952^nd Elaine Verdon F35 (1.46.19), 1596^th Laura Murray (1.54.59 PB), 2467^th Dana Mackey F45 (2.04.35), 2765^th Kim Strickland (2.08.13)  

National o/35 Team (incorporated): MEN 1^st Raheny Shamrocks (3.50.42); 2^nd Mayo AC (3.53.37), 3^rd Donore Harriers <Smith, Hennessy, Fox> (3.37.02); 4^th North Sligo AC (3.37.36) 44 teams: WOMEN 1^st Westport AC (4.45.51), 2^ndDonore Harriers <Hanevy, Mahony, Verdon> (4.50.59), 3^rd Raheny Shamrocks (4.51.28) 41 teams.

Women’s National Track & League Final at Tullamore (2/8/15): 100m – 8^th Lynda Ngankam (13.29); 200m – 5^th Aoife Lynch JNR (26.33); 400m – 7^th Caoimhe Mackey JNR (66.66); 800m – 8^th Lucy McCann JNR (2.33.17 PB); 100mH – 3^rdLauren Kenndy JNR (18.05); 400mH – 3^rd Roisin Rynn-Cahill JNR (73.55); 1,500m – 5^th Karla Doran (5.00.84); 3,000m – 4^th Barbara Cleary F40 (10.08.39); High Jump – 5^th Roisin Rynn-Cahill JNR (1.35m); Long Jump – 5^th Ailise Keating JNR (3.78m); Triple Jump – 3^rd Lynda Ngankam (10.75m); Discus – 7^th Clodagh Read JNR (19.46m); Hammer – 7^th Clodagh Read JNR (32.72m); Javelin – 6^th Orlaith Read F40 (17.45m); Shot Putt – 6^th Orlaith Read F40 (7.64m); 4 x 100m – 5^thDonore Harriers (53.17); 4 x 400m – 7^th Donore Harriers (4.32.27)

Team: 1^st Tipperary County (116.5 points); 2^nd Finn Valley (99); 3^rd Kerry Athletics (89); 4^th Antrim Combined (85.5); 5^thSli Culann AC (67); 6^th Lagan Valley (67), 7^th Tullamore Harriers (66); 8^th Donore Harriers (58)

DLR Bay 10km at Dun Laoighaire (3/8/15): 9^th Patrick Moriarty (36.06)

European Youth Olympics at Tbilisi, Rep. of Georgia (30/7/15): Girls Hammer Final – 7^th Lauren O’Keeffe (57.35m PB)

Griffeen 5km Parkrun (25/7/15): 9^th / 1^st woman Lucy McCann u/17 (19.48 PB)

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (1/8/15): 5^th Noah Synnott u/13 (21.01)