An array of Personal Bests at two North Kildare venues on Friday evening gave another indication of Donore Harriers resurgence as a force in Irish athletics. At the Irish Milers Club / La Cheile AC event to mark the official opening of the new track at Leixlip Eric Keogh (3.50.88) ran ‘a perfect race’ to knock 3 seconds of his previous best time to record a notable win in the 1500m ‘A’ race. In the process Eric truly announced that he is a member of the top table in domestic middle distance running. Darragh Rennicks (3.52.97) of Bohermeen AC came second with Jamie Rossiter (3.53.37) of Clonliffe Harriers in third. Donore’s 3000m steeplechase specialist Ray Hynes (3.56.38) finished in the middle of the field in 9^th position.

John Travers took up the early pace in the One Mile race before falling back to fifth position. However, a strong finish saw John (4.02.87) get back up to fourth place. The race was won by Sam McEntee (3.58.41) of Australia, with his compatriot Jordy Williams (3.59.40) second.

At the same meeting Emmet O’Briain M35 came 3^rd in the ‘D’ 800m in a time of 2.03.30 and Sean O’Broin M45 (12.21) placed 7^th in the ‘C’ 100m race.

Meanwhile at the St. Coca’s 5 km road race at Kilcock  ten of the 17 Donore Harriers athletes who made the start line gained Personal Bests. The race was won by Mark Christie (14.06) of Mullingar Harriers ahead of his club colleague Martin Fagan (14.18) with Alan McCormack (15.23) of DSD in third. Soon the charge down Connacht Street to the finish at the Fair Green was a tour-de-force of black and white singlets. Michael McMahon (15.53) led the Donore Harriers ‘posse’ in 7^th place narrowly holding off the challenges of Gavin Keogh (15.54) PB in 9^th, Oisin Fitzgibbon (15.55) PB in 10^th <1^st in Junior category>, Chris Muldoon (15.56) PB in 11th and John Dunne (15.59) in 12^th spot.

Ken Norgrove admitted to being over ambitious in the early stages of the course through the Courtown Wood area but he dug deep to place 21^st in a PB time of 16.38. Ken placed second in the M45 category. Also among the prize-winners were Garvan Smith (16.40) and Des Tremble (16.47) who both recorded PBs. They placed 23^rd and 24^th respectively and in the process placed 2^nd and 3^rd in the M40 category.

Next Donore Harrier over the finish line was Will Morris (16.50) 26^th with Darren Hand (16.52) showing a return to form just one place further back.

Sam Gallagher (16.59) put in a sprint finish to achieve a “mission accomplished” by breaking 17 minutes for the first time. Sam placed 32^nd overall and placed 2^nd in the Junior category behind his club colleague Oisin Fitzgibbon.

The remaining Donore Harriers athletes were: – 36^th Tony Barry (17.19) PB; 42^nd Andrew Ledwith (17.32); 45^th Bob Blake M40 (17.33) PB; 47^th Shane McAuley (17.43); 73^rd Bernard Byrne (18.24) PB; and 178^th Terry Mee (21.54) <3^rd in M60 age group>.

For the ladies, in the midweek BHAA Trail race, Alma Hanevy ran brilliantly to finish 3rd and Maura Kearns won the 1500m in the graded meet.

Aogan MacDomhnaill (8.42.99) ran a PB when finished 4^th in the 3000m ‘A’ race at an Open Graded Meeting at Cork on Friday evening. Indeed, Aogan took 7 seconds off his previous best and has now improved his time by almost half-a-minute for the season.

At the 2014 Aviva Tailteann Schools Interprovincial held in Morton Stadium, Santry (21.06.14) Sean Lawlor of Donore Harriers and representing the Kylemore College School was the standout performer in the boy’s sprint events as he stormed to victory in the 100m and 200m events. Sean, who is aged 16, recorded a time of 10.88 in the 100m and set a new Championship Best Performance in the 200m with a time of 21.67. Sean, who is coached by Gerry Ronan, has subsequently been selected to captain the Irish schools team for the upcoming Schools International at Cardiff versus England, Scotland and Wales. Well done Sean!

At the Malahide 5 kilometres Parkrun on the 21^st June Daragh Fitzgibbon ran out a clear winner recording a PB time of 15.39. Shane McAuley (18.01) placed 5^th in the same race.

Niall Allen recorded a win and a 3^rd place in the Discus (34.28m) and Shot Putt (11.18m) respectively at the Dublin Open Graded meet No. 5  at Tallaght. At the same event David Campbell (23.77) placed 2^nd in the 200m B race with Sean O’Broin M45 (24.97) 3^rd in the ‘C’ grade.

Niall Lynch M35 was involved in a tussle with Raheny Shamrocks duo Ian Conroy (40.08) and Des Kennedy (40.11) in the Irish Mountain Running Association race at Trooperstown Hill. Niall (40.10) used the downhill sections to make up ground on his competitors before finally settling for the runners-up spot. 153 runners completed the course.

Full results from the Irish Runner 5 Miles road race at the Phoenix Park on Saturday are to follow.

Donore Harriers are back in the final of the National Track and Field League following another excellent team performance at the second qualifying match at Athlone IT yesterday (22 June 2014). Wins from John Travers (800m), Ray Hynes (3000m Steeplechase) Eamon Fahey (100m & Long Jump), Conor O’Ceallaigh (200m); Niall Allen (Shot Putt & 56lb); Eoin Molloy (Hammer) and runner-up placings from Emmet O’Briain (1500m) and Rolus Osala (400m Hurdles) were the foundation for team success. The team score for the day reads:

• 1^st. Nenagh Olympic 133
• 2^nd Donore Harriers 119
• 3^rd Louth Athletics 117
• 4^th Tir Chonaill 116
• 5^th Clare County 115
• 6^th Riocht/Gneeveguilla AC 96
• 7^th Limerick AC 89
• 8^th St. Finbarrs 44

Note that there is a query regarding the official team score. The final of the league will take place on Sunday 3^rd August 2014 at Tullamore and hopefully it will prove 3^rd time lucky in terms of Donore Harriers gaining promotion to the Premier Division.

100m 1^st Eamon Fahey (11.03)

200m 1^st Conor O’Ceallaigh (23.35)

400m 3^rd David Campbell (53.24)

800m 1^st John Travers (1.51.72)

1500m 2^nd Emmet O’Briain 4.19.97

3000m S/C 1^st Ray Hynes (9.12.03)

400mH 2^nd Rolus Osala (60.44)

4 x 100m 1^st Donore Harriers (45.23)

4 x 400m 3^rd Donore Harriers (3.42.12)

Long Jump 1^st Eamon Fahey (6.38m)

High Jump 3^rd Luke Allen (1.60m)

Triple Jump 3^rd Rolus Osala (12.10m)

Shot Putt 1^st Niall Allen (11.72m)

Discus 3^rd Eoin Molloy (20.92m)

Hammer 1^st Eoin Molloy (40.19m)

56lb Weight 1^st Niall Allen (6.33m)

The ladies had a 10-strong team for round 2 of the National League with a great representation from our younger ladies who gained valuable competition experience at this level. 

It was a baptism of fire and they more than rose to the challenge.  Highlights were two event wins by Lynda Ngakam in the 100m (12.66) and the 4×100 relay team of Lynda, Emily Geoghegan, Karen Hughes and Ailise Keating who gained maximum points.  Clodagh Read did a treble in the shot, hammer and javelin (having competed in the Tailteann games the day before) – despite little experience at the javelin, her throwing prowess earned her 5th and in the hammer Clodagh was throwing above her usual weight but came third.  League stalwart Anne Gormley came 2nd in the walk and 5th in the discus. 

At middle distance, Ashling Swaine (3000m), Niamh Dowling (800m) and Florence Curley who ran in the Dunshaughlin 10k the previous evening (1500m) also picked up valuable points and later ran the 4×400 relay.  Claire O’Connor was the key to that event and ran very well to 4th in the 400m earlier on.  Ailise Keating doubled up at the long jump and relay, Karen Hughes did the triple jump, 200 and relay treble. 

It was a super effort by this new look team and alas the 80 points won combined with 65 in round 1 were not enough to get us into the final.  But hopefully next year this emerging team will make the breakthrough.

The Dunshaughlin 10k has been kind to the ladies team over the years with several wins and this year Barbara Cleary repeated her feat of two years ago when she became overall ladies winner in 34.38 – leaving the 2nd placed Ailish Malone nearly 2 minutes behind.  Barbara had designs on Lizzie Lee’s course record but wasn’t far off.  Fresh from her mini-marathon win, we will be seeing lots more from Barbara on the roads over the summer.  Ken Norgrove (34.24) and Cathal McCarron (34.49) respectively won the M45 and Junior categories, thus joining first woman finisher Barbara on the victory rostrum.

The race was won by Martin Fagan (30.03) of Mullingar Harrier. The first Donore Harriers home was Aogan MacDomhnaill (32.22) in 8^th place among a strong field. Next for Donore was Fergal Whitty (33.21), showing a welcome return to form, placing 18th. The remaining Donore Harriers athletes included: – 21^stGavin Keogh (33.27); 29^th Chris Muldoon (33.52); 32^nd John Dunne (34.02); 49^th Garvan Smith M40 (34.52); 50^th Sean Fox (34.55); 53^rd Des Tremble M40 (35.04); 100^th Tony Barry (36.53); 154^th Tom Fagan M45 (38.45); 194^th Bernard Byrne (39.40); 196^th Stephen Dawson (39.43);  243^rd Barry Potts M60 (40.49 – 3^rd in M60 category); 341^st David Wogan M50 (43.48); 380^th Jim McNamara M60 (44.59); 408^th Terry Mee M60 (45.40). 885 finishers.

For the ladies we also had Florence Curley (39.30), Breda Mahony (40.53), Alma Hanevy (41.34), Samantha Conroy (43.03), Janette Strickland (44.29), Nicola Dowdall (45.24), Jill Dempsey (46.42), Elaine Verdon (47.17), Eilish Joyce (50.29), Michelle Dawson (52.15), Kim Strickland (52.24), Olivia Strickland (52.24), Sarah Ni Ruairc (53.06) and Aoife Lynch (73.29) The ladies did enough to finish as second team.

In the team competition Donore Harriers (76 points) placed second behind Raheny Shamrocks (49), but ahead of Sportsworld AC (101) and Celbridge AC (122). The team scorers were: – Aogan MacDomhnaill, Fergal Whitty, Gavin Keogh and Chris Muldoon. 27 teams closed.

Graham Hopkins placed an excellent 2^nd in the Portumna Forest 50km race in County Galway on Saturday 14^th June. Graham had to persist through the pain of a recurring ankle injury before finally completing the scenic course in 3 hours and 28 minutes.

John Travers (8.12.80) easily won the Irish Milers Club 3.000m race at the Crusaders GV Ryan Meet at Irishtown track on Saturday (14.06.14) finishing about 100 metres clear of runner-up Gary Murray (8.24.61) of St. Malachy’s AC.

Ray Hynes (8.27.23) came a very fine fourth in the same race and continues to show improved form. Lee Van Haeften (8.42.52) placed 8th. It was great to see the Donore Harriers vest so much to the fore in a very competitive race!  

In the 1500m ‘A’ Race Eric Keogh (3.53.71) placed a very respectable 9th in another highly competitive field.

Earlier in the week Eric Keogh also competed in an 800m Dublin Championship race incorporated into the Dublin Open Graded Series (No. 4 on 11.06.14), also at Irishtown track. Eric recorded a time of 1.55.73 to place 3rd.

In the Dublin Championship 100 metres Eamon Fahey (11.23) came 5th with 16 years old Sean Lawlor (11.28) 7th.  

In the 800m ‘B’ race Emmet O’Briain (2.03.20) came 3rd and Luke Boland (2.09.03) 8th. Zak Higgins (55.36), another 16 years old, won the 400m ‘B’ race.     

In the Dublin Juvenile Track & Field Championships at Tallaght (8.06.14) Oisin Fitzgibbon placed 3rd in the Boys under 18s 3000m in a time of 9.35.3, whilst Sam Gallagher (10.24.0) came 4th in what was his first track race. On the previous day Oisin Fitzgibbon recorded a PB of 4.20.6 when placing 7th in a keenly contested Boys u/18s 1500m race.

The girls under 15 team took gold for the 4th year in a row with, our under 15 boys with the help of super sub Louis McDonagh finished 3rd,  under 17 girls team also took gold and the boys under 19 finished the night off with a third place finish 

Also at the weekend Terry Mee ran in the Braveheart Trail 5k Niamh O’Boyle 6th lady in the Monasterevin 10K 42.09

It was a fantastic weekend of racing for Donore’s ladies as Anne Curley finished strongly to take this years Derry Walled City Marathon title on Sunday in a time of 2:57:51 for a hugely impressive 14th overall.

In Monday’s Womens Mini Marathon, Barbara Cleary finished off a fantastic weekend for our ladies by shaking off the challenges of Maria McCambridge and Catherina McKiernan to win in 34.07 finshing comfortably clear of Maria 34.29 minutes and Catherina 34.38.

Eric Keogh put up a brave performance when finishing 3^rd in the AAI Games 3000m at Santry on Sunday. In the process he recorded a new PB time of 8.24.17, a full ten seconds off his previous best time. Eric raced conservatively through the first two kilometres before gaining to 3^rd position. At the bell he was just a couple of meters behind Colm Rooney (Raheny) who kicked on to win in 8.19.19 and runner-up Thomas Fitzpatrick (Tallaght AC) who posted a time of 8.21.56. Two notable scalps for Eric were Gary Thornton (Galway AC) in fourth and Kevin Maunsell (Clonmel AC) in fifth.

Ray Hynes, another important member of the developing Donore Harriers A squad, recently ran two 3000m Steeplechase races in France. Ray placed second in a time of 9.14.00 at Rouen on the 4^th May. On the 18^th May he set himself a target of 9.05 in a race at Limoges, but found himself isolated in 2^nd place after only 500m and in 26 degree heat struggled home in a time of 9.21.00 maintaining second position.

In the midweek Graded Meeting at Irishtown and there were some impressive performances.  In 400m, Adam Halpin and Sean O’Broinn were 1st and 2nd in their races.  Maura Kearns unleashed her trademark final sprint in the mile where there was a blanket 3-way finish and she was awarded 2nd.  Twins Ide and Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill were 1st and 2nd in their mile race and brother Aogan finished 3rd in the 5k where there some impressive runs by a number of our runners, – full results below

400m
Paul cummins 54.06
Adam Halpin 56.02
Sean O’Broinn 56.38
Zak Higgins 66.15

Mile women
Maura Kearns 5.21.57
Ide Nic Dhomhnaill 5.27.98
Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill 5.29.68
Janette Strickland 5.55.44

Men’s mile
Emmet O’Briain 4.37.53
Luke Boland 4.57.53
Jim McNamara 6.28.56 new Irish M75  record

5000m
Aodghan Nic Dhomhnaill 15.39
Michael McMahon 15.51
Gavin Keogh 15.58
Oisin Fitzgibbon 16.08
Chris Muldoon 16.11
Ken Norgrove 16.39

The day before, there were many good performances at the BHAA Government Services 5 mile race around the quiet country roads of Dunboyne on a pleasant evening, results as follows

Fergal Swaine 27.12
Sean Fox 28.01
Fred Kiernan 28.11
Tony Barry 28.25
Eoin Hannon 28.31
Florence Curley 31.20 3rd W40
Tom Fagan 32.19
Barry Potts 33.02 1st M65
Frank McNally 34.51
Nicola Dowdall 35.55 PB
terry Mee 36.10 1st M70

A total of 500 runners took to the roads around Johnstonebridge in County Kildare on Tuesday evening in pursuit of glory and personal bests. The event was the Na Fianna AC/ Bob Heffernan 5 kilometres road race. A host of Donore Harriers athletes came to the fore with Aogan MacDomhnaill (15.27) placing 3^rd overall and in the process led the Donore Harriers team to first place. John Dunne M35 7^th in 15.42 and Gavin Keogh 13^th in 15.57 ensured the team prize for Donore Harriers.

With 19 scoring teams the final result read:

1. Donore Harriers 23 points;

2. Star of the Sea AC 30;

3. Mullingar Harriers 48 

4. Dunboyne AC 89.

Other Donore Harriers athletes included: – 15^th Chris Muldoon M35 (16.13); 19^th Oisin Fitzgibbon (16.15) winner of Junior category; 30^th Fergal Whitty M35 (16.33); 32^nd Andy Kinane (16.34); 37^th Garvan Smith M40 (16.45); 41^st Ken Norgrove M45 (16.51); 48^th Sean Fox (16.58); 51^st Des Tremble M40 (17.04); 59^th & 5^th junior Sam Gallagher (17.16); 61^st Tony Barry (17.21); 70^th Bob Blake M40 (17.33); 121^st Stephen Dawson (18.34); 147^th Bernard Byrne (18.54) and 158^th Joe Murphy (19.07).  

Donore Harriers also won the women’s team competition. It was great to see Barbara Cleary back in the Donore vest (16.21) being the overall female winner whilst placing 20^th overall in the race. Barbara was supported by Breda Mahony (19.42) in 15^th place and Rhona Duane (19.57) in 17^th.

The team result was as follows: 

1. Donore Harriers 33 points;

2. Donadea RC 39

3. Portlaoise AC 54.