Category Archives: Club News

National Half Marathon and Weekend Round Up

Club News, Results, Senior

This year’s National half marathon was incorporated into the inaugural Rock n Roll Dublin half which wound it’s way through the city streets and beyond with music at every mile, and taking in some of the tougher parts of the traditional Dublin marathon course. Despite the challenges of the course along the way, there were some brilliant runs by Donore participants. Fergal Whitty took a gamble on the early pace but it paid off, he smashed his PB to finish a superb 14th overall in 71.23. Ken Norgrove was second home in an excellent 73.54 and then Darren Hand in 74.48. Six more Donore men John Dunne 75.26, Niall Lynch 75.33, Fred Kiernan 77.12, Graham Hopkin 77.37, Philip Hennessey 78.39 and George Brady 79.11 finished in the next 4 minutes of the race with many PBs in there. Next were Tony Dunne 84.04, Shane McCauley 84, Stephen Dawson 87.00, Tony Griffin 90.28, Charlie O’Neill 91.07 and Des Gill. This was a super effort from the men who targeted this race as a team and although full championship results are not yet available, they have surely come in for medals.

The women’s team was depleted by injuries and unfortunately Anne Curley had to pull out after two miles with a recurring leg injury. Florence Curley suffered from an early fast pace but still did a solid 87.28. Alma Hanevy had a great run and was delighted with a 93.12 PB, Fit 4 Life runner Elaine Verdon ran a super 1.44.08, Angela Eustace got another PB in 1.46.42 and first time half marathoners Suzanne McCarthy 1.47 and Lorraine O’Shea 1.47.02 did fantastically well on their debuts, Laura Murray completed the team in 2.07. The hardworking Donore stewards provided great support in the early stages of the race and there were plenty more familiar Donore faces dotted along the way. Well done to all.

Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill continues to knock spots off her 5K time and went under 18 minutes for the first time in the Michael Fearon 5k organised by Glenmore AC in scenic Waterford. She ran a fantastic 17.57 and was 2nd woman, beaten only by the back in form Fiona Reid of Dunboyne. Barbara Murray is racing her way back into good form and did 20.14. Their coach Jim McNamara was the 1st M70 in 22.02. Down in her native Wexford Sinead Lambe won the women’s title in the hilly Ballymurn 4 mile. There was success for the women in the Griffeen 5k Parkrun where Nicola Dowdall 22.00, Michelle Ruddy 22.35 and Joan McTernan 23.03 took the first three female placings and Terry Mee ran 22.41. Caren Crowley was a delighted 1st placed female in the Rush Festival 10k.

Overseas at the Flanders Cup in Ghent Belgium, Eamonn Fahey won the Long Jump event in an international field with a best of 7.20 metres and also ran in the 100m heats. John Travers ran 3.55 in the 1500m.

Fit4Life May-August Update

Club News, Fit 4 Life, Meet & Train, Results

What a fantastic way to start of the summer season, weather we could only have dreamed off, I’m now calling it warm weather training without the cost!! Once again the Fit4Life gang are doing fantastic since April, more races, more challenges and lots of new PB’s.

There were a number of races in May and a few stood out for some of the gang. The women’s Meet & Train set the pace for 3 girls, Janette & Kim Strickland and Lavinia Kirwin where all 3 set PB’s for the 5k race in Irishtown. David Wogan added a new PB of 18:45 to his record for the Lucan 5k (which is not surprising) James McCabe got himself a PB of 1:01:02 in the Maynooth.

June brought its own little surprises too with Robert Coogan doing a fantastic race in the Docklands 10k and bagging himself a PB of 38 mins!! Nice one Robert!  Lavinia Kirwin setting the standard for herself once again with another 10k PB of 58:00 mins in the women’s mini marathon and Janette Strickland‘s PB of 45:00 mins for the Dunshaughlin 10k.

July saw some great running from Ann Rush who took a chunk of 6 mins of her half marathon time in Achille. Well done Ann.

August brings us to date and the first race of the month kicked off with the Rock-n-Roll half marathon. Elaine Verdon who is in training for the Dublin City Marathon is in flying form and done a fantastic time for her half marathon in 1:44:06 (I should mention Elaine is doing super this year and has done PB’s in every race so far) keep it up. Laura Murray did a great job also and came in at 2:07:10 great job Laura.

Well done to you all and keep up the training and great running. As always a big thanks to coach Barry Potts who is always there to put us through our paces.

Inspirational Running quote for the month…

“In running, it doesn’t matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say, ‘I have finished.’ There is a lot of satisfaction in that.” -Fred Lebow

Results:

May

Tallaght 5k 
Nicola Dowdall: 22:00

Dublin Bay 10k
Eva Campion: 47:38 (PB)

Women’s Meet & Train 5k (2nd race summer league) 
Janette Strickland: 20:54 (PB)
Kim Strickland: 23:21,
Lavinia Kirwin: 27:56

Lucan 5k
Dave Wogan: 18:45 (PB)

Mayo 10K
Deirdre Healy: 53:34

Maynooth 10K
James McCabe: 1:01:02 (PB)
Lavinia Kirwin 59:44 (PB)

Women’s Meet & Train 4m (3rd race summer league)
Janette Strickland: 28:09
Kim Strickland: 30:22
Lavinia Kirwin: 33:45

June

Flora Women’s Mini Marathon
Lavinia Kirwin: 58:51 (PB)

Bohermeen 5k
David Wogan: 20:20

Raheny Midsummer 5k
Janette Strickland: 22:25

Dunshaughlin 10k
Janette Strickland: 44:45 (PB of 3 mins)

Docklands 10k
Robert Coogan: 38:09 (PB)

August

Rock-n-Roll Half Marathon
Elaine Verdon: 1:44:06 (PB)
Laura Murray: 2:07:10

 

National Track and Field Championships

Club News, Results, Senior

With weather better suited to cross country, the weekend brought us to Santry for the National Track and Field Championships where we had very good performances from all of our athletes.

In the ladies, Lynda Ngankam had a very good run in the 100m to qualify for Sunday’s final. Sinead Lambe gained valuable experience in the 5,000m in her first national track championships.

We had a good increase in men competing for the club at the Championships.Pride of place went to Eamon Fahey who won a top class, tight, long jump competition with a winning jump of 7m 20cm, a big improvement on his previous best of 7.09m. This was Eamon’s first outdoor national title and he also ran brilliantly in the 100m to qualify for the final, where he was out of the medals but ran very well. Simon Taggart was leading for much of the 110m hurdles. Despite hitting a hurdle late in the race he finished a close second. The 1500m was a race John Travers could have won but on a flooded track inexplicably adopted front running tactics against good opposition and paid the price for adopting the wrong tactics, finishing out of the medals. In the 5,000m Eric Keogh had a great run getting a superb pb and finishing an excellent 6th. Lee Van Haeften and Darren Hand also had good runs against top class competition.

Fingal 10K and Success in Tullamore

Club News, Juvenile, Results, Senior

The club’s juvenile athletes did us proud again at the second weekend of the National championships in Tullamore. Our U14 4×100 boys team of Kolade Abidoun, Max Carey, James & Louise McDonagh and Jack Raftery won silver. Our U14 4×100 girls ran great and just missed out on a medal to finish 4th but Suzi O’Farrell won a bronze on the Dublin county U15 4X100 team. Kolade, Jack Rudden Kelly and Max Carey then went on win bronze on the Dublin U15 4×100 team. Our U15 boys also made it to the 4×100 final. Congrats to all.

In the individual events well done to
Suzi O’Farrell U14 200M 28.03
Sam Allen 9th U19 1500 4.27.45
Kolade Abidoun 7th U14 200m 26.92
Stephen Gavin 17th U17 1500M 4.23.64
Adam Halpin U18 200M 25.87

Back on the roads, The Dublin race series Fingal 10k which started and finished in Swords Village had a big Donore contingent taking part. The predicted high temperatures didn’t materialise which made running conditions more bearable for the near 2500 runners. First home for the club was the on form John Dunne in 33.52 and not far behind was Niall Lynch 34.07 and Ken Norgrove 34.08 – all three made the top 30 and Sean Fox ran 35.21. Florence Curley was the first Donore lady home in 14th and 1st W35 in 39.44. Then we had Gerard Morris 41.03, Terry Mee 44.33 (1st M65) Aine Grogan 45.08, Nicola Dowdall 45.56, Gary Newsome 48.24, Peter Daly 47.58, Lee Chambers 49.35, Eimear Kearney 51.51, Hilary O’Connor 54.16, Sheila Casey 55.14

Travers PBs Again at Morton Games and Mid-Week Round Up

Club News, Results, Senior
The annual Morton Games in Santry always promises a feast of great races with international competition and John Travers delivered again in the Albie Thomas 3000m.  After a stellar 5k performance on this track a week ago, he ran a supremely confident race powering through the 7.5 laps and gaining in speed – he finished the first Irishman of this international field in 6th place and a great new PB of 7.58.51.  Earlier in the evening Eamonn Fahey ran an impressive 11.06 in the 100m.  Both athletes will be back in action at Morton Stadium very soon at the National T&F championships.
The same night the BHAA Dublin City Council 5k took place on the paths of Irishtown Park – competing there was Ian Redican who came home in 19.56, Frank McNally 20.46, Terry Mee 22.15 and 2nd M65, Michelle Ruddy in 23.15.  The St James Hospital Liberties 6.5k was run around the streets of Dublin 8 on a very hot night and Giovanni Borza finished in 23.00 with John Gleeson running 24.34, Emer Fogarty 28.30 and Edel O’Dea finishing in 29.00

National Track and Field League Round 2

Club News, Results, Senior

Our men’s and ladies teams travelled to Cork Institute of Technology’s impressive venue for a tough assignment with lots of confidence. Our men recorded 9 individual wins, which was fantastic and at the end of the competition topped the table of 9 clubs with 118 points from Limerick A. C. with 112 points. Overall it was a great team performance, with tremendous support from coaches, parents and club administrators.

This result means that our men lead the overall points total with 241 points from Co.Kildare in 2n place with 240 points, so competition in the final on 14 August will be very serious. However, our team are up for it and have only one thing on their mind, winning the National title. Well done to this young team and in particular to Dave
Campbell, our track and field captain for his work during the summer.

Our ladies team with a weakened team performed very well despite the depleted team with 2 individual wins. They went into the second Leg with a good chance of qualifying but at the end of the day with a combined total of 160 points, this wasn’t enough to get into the final. However, this was our first time in this event for many years and the experience has been very positive our ladies have every reason to feel confident about the future, particularly with several young members coming through from juvenile ranks. Well done to all our athletes and of course our coaches.

On a hot morning at the Clontarf 5 Mile on Saturday Lee Vanhaeften performed will to win in 28:34 with Des Tremble finishing in an impressive third place in 29:22, the ladies were represented by Hilary O’Connor 45:28.

Excellent PB by Travers and a great Donore turnout at the 6th Dublin Graded Meet

Club News, Results, Senior
John Travers posted a brilliant PB on Wednesday night last in Morton stadium when he dipped below the 14 minute barrier for the first time. Travers tucked in behind the early leader, Joe Sweeney (DSD), for the first 3K as they detached themselves from the remainder of the 15 man field with a series of 69 second laps. With about 6 – 7 laps to go Travers moved ahead and gradually increased the tempo to finish with a highly impressive 63.39. After the race a delighted Travers, referring to missing out on a qualification time for the U23’s Euro Champs, commented: ‘it’s a pity it came a couple of weeks too late but better late than never”.
It was a perfect night for track running and great to see so many Donore vests over the graded 5,000m and 800m races. Results were as follows:

Men’s 5000 m A Race:
1st Travers, John 13.56.99

Men’s 5000 m A(II) Race:
3rd Van Haeften, Lee 15.37.70
8th Fitzgibbon, Daragh 16.01.21
10th Hand, Darren 16.08.39
12th Dunne, John16.12.54
14th Keogh, Gavin 16.23.34
16th Lynch, Niall 16.29.44

Men’s 5000 m B Race:
4th Daly, Jonathon 16.45.05
6th Fox, Sean 17.07.35
8th English, Henry 17.18.00
10th Blake, Bob 18.24.96
11th Cummins, Paul 18.42.82
12th Gill, Des 20.02.64
14th Mee, Terry 21.48.10
15th Mc Namara, Jim 22.16.31

Men’s 800m:
2nd Keogh, Eric 1.55.21
4th Gavin, Stephen 2.09.52
6th Fitzgibbon, Oisin 2.09.75
7th Boland, Luke 2.11.29
16th Doherty, Aidan 2.27.62

Medals at Tullamore and Success on Track and Road

Club News, Juvenile, Results, Senior

The first weekend of the National Juvenile T&F championships took place in a sunny Tullamore. Jack-Rudden Kelly did a great double – silver in the U15 80M hurdles in 12.11 and in the high jump. Sam Allen had a super run In the U19 3000m winning silver in a time of 9.10.15. Suzi O’Farrell just missed out on a medal in the U14 girls 80m in 10.73 and Kaladay Abidoun was 4th in the U14 hurdles in 12.13.

Results in full:
Adam Halpin 8th U18 400
Oisin Fitzgibbon 11th U16 3000M
Max Carey 14th U14 Long Jump and 10th in javelin
Alex Clerkin 6th U15 discus
Ian Darroch 8th U15 discus
Claire O’Connor 7th U18 800M
Ryan O’Keeffe 11th U13 shot put
Jack Rafferty U13 600M 1.53.26
Lauren O’Keeffe 5th U15 hammer

Well done everybody and thanks to the parents, coaches and supporters who travelled down both days – more to come in a fortnight’s time!

Over in the west, it was rain rather than sun at the gruelling Achill half marathon – Anne Curley made the trip and finished 2nd lady in 85.03 – very good time on a punishing course.

The GV Ryan Games in Santry stadium featured our own Susan Walsh on commentary. In the 1500m, John Travers quickly found himself in the lead, he was pushed all the way in the last 300m by Annadale’s James O’Hare but he emerged victorious in 3.47.61. David Campbell ran 52.88 in the 400m and Oran O’Brien got a best throw of 12.72 in the 4kg shot.

Last Wednesday, Sorcha Ni Dhomhnaill had a great win at the South O’Hanlon 5k in Seneschalstown Meath. She triumphed in a battle with the 2nd placed Denise Toner of Clones AC beating her by just 4 seconds in a time of 18.19, only 3 seconds off her PB on what is not an easy course. Jono Daly was first home for the club in 17.02, Shane McCauley ran 18.24 and Des Gill finished in a time of 19.48. Jim McNamara brought them home in 22.28.

On Trooperstown hill in Wicklow on the same night, Sarah Ni Ruairc did well in the latest leg of the IMRA Leinster league

National Junior and U23 Championships and Weekend Round Up

Club News, Juvenile, Results, Senior

Donore Harriers has a new national champion in Darragh Fitzgibbon who clinched the Junior 5000m title in 15.59 at the National Junior and U23 championships in Tullamore. Conditions were wet and blustery so it was tough going for our athletes but it didn’t stop Lynda Ngakam getting a new 100m PB of 12.6 seconds where she finished 5th and then won bronze in the U23 triple jump. Eamonn Fahey won the 100m U23 bronze in 10.91 and followed up with a time of 22.41 seconds in the 200m. David Campbell ran a 52.42 seconds 400m.

Two of our youngest members Sean Kinsella and Luke Walker Browning did great in the U10 500M track team competition at the National Children’s Games at Finn Valley Track in Ballybofey Donegal finishing 4th.

Back on the roads, Anne Gormley won the 3000m Masters walk at the International Grand Prix of Racewalking in St Anne’s Park Raheny.

A big Donore contingent took to the line for the Airtricity Dublin 5 mile in the Phoenix Park and were helped along by the many Donore supporters along the way. John Dunne made the top 20 and 3rd M35 spot in an excellent 27.05. Ken Norgrove is making a good return to racing and finished in 27.27 with new member Niall Lynch running 27.42. First of the ladies was Alma Hanevy in a PB of 33.43 and Angela Eustace will be delighted with her 36.12 PB and Lisa Carley not far behind in 36.23. Full results included Tony Barry 30.32, Giovanni Borza 32.23, Gerard Morris 33.27, Tom Fagan 34.07, John Gleeson 34.08, Emmanuele Ragnoli 36.59, Sarah Ni Ruairc 38.20, Emer Fogarty 38.26, Eimear Kearney 41.51, Emily Malcolm 42.07, Laura Murray 44.04 and John Powell 44.54.

Down in Waterford the irrepressible George Brady completed his 50th marathon in 2.58 and Breda Mahony ran the half marathon in 96.39

Finally Deborah Duffy ran 26.21 and Deborah Willis 31.39 at the Keith Duffy 5k fundraising run in the Phoenix Park.

Graded Meet and Midweek Roundup

Club News, Juvenile, Results, Senior

There were lots of good performances at the 5th graded meeting in Tallaght stadium particularly from some of our young up and coming athletes. Eric Keogh came 2nd in the 1500m in 3.56.98 At the same distance Sam Allen did 4.13.15, Niall Cummins 4.26.16, Luke Boland 4.29.62 and Stephen Gavin 4.32.13. Sean O’Broinn ran the 200m in 25.45 and Oran O’Brien did the shot putt and discus double placing 2nd in both with best throws of 10.75 and 37.25 respectively.

A day earlier the BHAA PRISON service 5k trail race took place in the Phoenix Park, with Kevin English finishing an excellent 2nd in 16.13 and next was Ian Redican 20.22, Frank McNally 21.24, Mary McDermott 21.46, Terry Mee 22.16, Ann Woodlock 27.19 1st W70.

Belated well done in the very hilly Run the Rock 11k in scenic Aughrim Wicklow to 3rd placed Graham Hopkins, Fred Kiernan, Tony, Cliodhna Carthy and back from injury Jill Dempsey. At Kippure mountain Sarah Ni ruairc ran the latest race of the IMRA Leinster league.

There were some terrific runs and PBs at the Friday night St Coca’s 5k race in Kilcock. 4 Donore men went under 16 minutes on this fast course with only a second separating a back on form Dave Heffernan 15.31 and Lee Van Haeften 15.32 who also both made the top 10. Then there was the duo of Fergal Whitty 15.51 and Darren Hand 15.55 who worked together the whole way. Gavin Keogh finished in 16.30 and Fred Kiernan 16.38. Tom McSweeney is back in session training and will be well pleased with his 18.37. Our sole Donore lady Karen Behan just missed a sub 21 race but in a solid time of 21.03.

Well done all!