HIGHLIGHTS: Barbara Cleary won the W35-49 race in the ROI vs NI MASTERS XC INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE. Sorcha Loughnane 12th in same race, with Gavin Keogh 40th in the men’s race. Abdel Laadjel 27th & 4th scorer for the Providence Friars in the NCAA DIV 1 XC NE REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. Donore men’s team, led home by Daragh Keegan, 3rd in the DUBLIN NOVICE 5km ROAD RACE, as 16 club members competed in the TALLAGHT 5km.

 
REPORT: Barbara Cleary scored an outstanding overall win in the REPUBLIC OF IRELAND vs NORTHERN IRLAND MASTERS CROSS-COUNTRY INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE at the Queens Playing Fields in Belfast on Saturday (13.11.2021). The international match replaced the British & Irish Masters Cross-Country Championships which was cancelled due to covid restrictions. Cleary (21.22) had three seconds to spare over her much younger Irish teammate Claire McGuigan W35 (Lifford Strabane AC) after 6 kilometres of racing. Sarah Jane Cook (21.54) representing Northern Ireland came 3rd. Cleary was 1st in the W45 grade. Sorcha Loughnane (23.02) continues to improve as a masters athlete and came home in 12th place, 5th in the W45 category. In the men’s race over 8km Gavin Keogh (28.49) came 40th overall and 11th in the M40 grade. The race was won by John Craig M35 representing Northern Ireland in 25.28.
Donore Harriers was well represented at the TALLAGHT 5km ROAD RACE on Sunday morning. The race incorporated the DUBLIN NOVICE ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS. First-season athlete Daragh Keegan (16.36) knocked a couple of seconds of his previous best time for the distance to close in 21st place. He was closed followed by Kevin Nolan (16.49) in 30th. Nolan will be happy with his performance as he continues to improve following a long injury lay-off. Team captain Craig Scott was just 4 seconds further back in 35th place. The novice team was closed out by M50 athlete Donal Iremonger (17.34) in 58th. With the quartet scoring 9th, 13th, 17th and 30th in the novice championship, their final tally of 69 places them 3rd behind Tallaght AC (18) and Crusaders AC (61) – result to be confirmed. Under 17 Oliver Hopkins (17.33) finished just in front of Iremonger in 54th place. Hopkins struggled in the latter part of the race having started out too strongly. He came 4th in the junior men’s category. Neil Hand (18.16) came 84th with an improving Peter Brennan (18.31) in 98th. Barbara Murray (20.03) was first Donore Harriers woman home placing 149th overall and 17th woman. She came 3rd in the W45 category. Tony Kynes also ran 20.03 to place 151st and 2nd in the M65 grade. Next home was Dean Fullston (20.46) in 163rd.
Treasa Boylan (22.12) placed 200th and 38th woman, followed by Louise Kelly (22.16) in 204th/40th, then Suzie Henley-Willis (23.00) in 217th/47th and Angela Eustace (23.19) in 224th/50th. Claudia Redmond (24.01) had a solid race to place 238th overall and 4th in the junior women’s category. The Donore Harriers team was closed out by Lee Chambers (24.24) who came 240th and 60th woman.
Abdel Laadjel had another fine run Stateside finishing 27th from 242 starters in the NCAA XC NORTH-EAST REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS at Franklin Park, Boston on Friday morning (12.11.2021). This was the first time that Laadjel raced the 10km distance, so he wisely made a conservative start. Representing the Providence University Friars team he reached the first time check – 9.33 @ 3.1km – in 51st. He then started to move up the field reaching the halfway mark in 32nd place in a time of 15.37. By 8 kilometres he gained to 28th in 25.05. He closed out the 10,000m route in 27th position in 31.09. The conditions were described as “rainy and muddy”. Laadjel said afterwards: “I am really happy with that. I never lost a spot from start to finish, only gaining places – and that was my first time to do a 10km cross-country race”.
The race was won by 24 years-old Canadian international Ehab El Sandali (30.02) representing Iona University. The ‘Friars’ finished 4th of 35 teams and narrowly failed to progress to the NCAA Div. 1 National Championships.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Lee Van Haeften (35.02) came 10th in the CLANE GAA 10km ROAD RACE and Des Tremble (1.21.10) was 10th in the RUN KILLARNEY HALF-MARATHON.
In the IRISH UNIVERSITIES ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION ROAD RELAY CHAMPIONSHIPS at Maynooth on Saturday afternoon five Donore Harriers athletes competed in the colours of Trinity College Dublin. Louise Murray (12.45) and Rachel Smyth (14.23) both ran 2-mile legs with their respective ‘D’ and ‘E’ teams placing 18th and 26th. Jack Byrne (5.32) ran the opening one-mile leg and Matt Fabbro (17.15) the 3-mile stage for the Men’s ‘C’ team that placed 15th. Michael Ryan (5.35) ran the first leg for the ‘D’ team that came in 18th place.
In the IMRA POWERSCOURT RIDGE RACE on the 6th of November Rory Burke (1.27.42) came 8th and Aideen Burke (1.53.37) placed 78th overall and 6th woman. The race, with a total climb of 690 metres, was over a 16km course that went up Maulin, then over and up to the summit of Djouce, before returning to Crone Wood via the Wicklow Way.
Juvenile member Dylan McKenna (19.26) and M50 athlete Peter Nugent (21.19) came 1st (Waterstown) and 3rd (National Sports Campus) respectively in the PARKRUN series. Other parkrun results below.
—————————————————-
NCAA DIV. I CROSS-COUNTRY NORTH-EAST REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS at Franklin Park, Boston, MA (12.11.2021)
MEN’S 10KM XC: 27th Abdel Laadjel (31.09)
234 finishers
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND vs NORTHERN IRELAND MASTERS CROSS-COUNTRY CHALLENGE MATCH
WOMEN’S W35-49 6km RACE: 1st Barbara Cleary W45 (21.22), 12th Sorcha Loughnane W45 (23.02)
87 finishers
MEN’S M35-49 8km RACE: 40th Gavin Keogh M40 (28.49)
71 finishers
CLANE GAA 10km ROAD RACE (13.11.2021)
10th Lee Van Haeften (35.02)
101 finishers
RUN KILLARNEY HALF-MARATHON (13.11.2021)
10th Des Tremble (1.21.10)
625 finishers
IRISH UNIVERSITIES ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION ROAD RELAY CHAMPIONSHIPS at Maynooth (13.11.2021)
WOMEN’S 1, 2, 2, 1 mile RELAY: Leg 2 for TCD ‘D’ Louise Murray (12.45) team; Leg 2 for TCD ‘E’ Rachel Smyth (14.23)
MEN’S 1, 2, 3, 2, 1 mile RELAY: Leg 1 for TCD ‘C’ Jack Byrne (5.32); Leg 3 for TCD ‘C’ Matt Fabbro (17.15); Leg 1 for TCD ‘D’ Michael Ryan (5.35)
TALLAGHT 5km ROAD RACE, inc. DUBLIN NOVICE CHAMPIONSHIPS (14.11.2021)
21st Daragh Keegan (16.36 PB)
30th Kevin Nolan (16.49)
35th & 6th M40 Craig Scott (16.53)
54th & 4th Male Junior Oliver Hopkins (17.33)
58th & 3rd M50 Donal Iremonger (17.34)
84th Neil Hand (18.16)
98th Peter Brennan (18.31)
149th, 17th woman & 3rd W45 Barbara Murray (20.03)
151st & 2nd M65 Tony Kynes (20.03)
163rd & 7th M55 Dean Fullston (20.46)
200th & 38th woman Treasa Boylan (22.12)
204 & 40th woman Louise Kelly (22.26)
217th, 47th woman & 9th W40 Suzie Henley-Willis (23.00)
224th, 50th woman & 6th W50 Angela Eustace (23.19)
238th, 59th woman & 4th Female Junior Claudia Redmond (24.01)
240th & 60th woman Lee Chambers (24.24)
303 finishers
MEN’S DUBLIN NOVICE TEAM: 1st Tallaght AC 18, 2nd Crusaders AC 61, 3rd Donore Harriers <9 Keegan, 13 Nolan, 17 Scott, 30 Iremonger> 69.
WOMEN’S DUBLIN NOVICE TEAM: 1st Dublin City Harriers 17, 2nd Crusaders AC 36, 3rd Bros. Pearse AC. Not placed Donore Harriers <24 Boylan, 25 Kelly, 31 Henley-Willis, 33 Eustace> 113.
IMRA POWERSCOURT RIDGE RACE (16km) at Glencree/Enniskerry (06.11.2021)
8th Rory Burke (1.27.42)
78th & 6th woman Aideen Burke W35 (1.53.37)
193 finishers
PARKRUNS 5km (13.11.21)
ARDGILLAN:
BUSHY: 124th Thomas Halton M65 (33.31)
MALAHIDE: 102nd Angela O’Dea W35 (25.39)
POPPINTREE: 135th Eilish Joyce W40 (34.13)
ROYAL CANAL KILCOCK: 37th Orlaith McMahon W35 (25.26), 73rd Joan McTernan W60 (31.12), 102nd Anna McMahon W35 (35.26)
SPORTS CAMPUS ABBOTSTOWN: 3rd Peter Nugent M50 (21.19). 13th Kenneth McKeon M35 (23.53)
TOLKA VALLEY: 4th Owen Robinson M35 (20.40)
WATERSTOWN: 1st Dylan McKenna M15-17 (19.26), 7th Lucas Collender M11-14 (22.24 debut 5km)

HIGHLIGHTS: Eric Keogh 5^th in the NCAA XC S-E REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS for Queens Charlotte in South Carolina. Robert Murphy 6^th in the LEINSTER SENIOR MEN’S XC CHAMPIONSHIPS. Alasdair Brown (2.56.02) PB in the BARCELONA MARATHON. Rachel Smyth, Louise Kelly and Suzie Henleywillis ran debut half-marathons in the FASTLANE CLONDALKIN HALF. Three club athletes (Barbara Cleary, Sorcha Loughnane & Gavin Keogh) selected to compete in the ROI vs NI INTERNATIONAL MASTERS XC RACE next weekend.

REPORT: Eric Keogh came 5^th in the NCAA XC SOUTH-EAST REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS at Spartanburg, South Carolina on Saturday. Prior to the race his Queens North Carolina team webpage described Keogh’s impact to the team: ‘Eric Keogh has had a remarkable freshman campaign finishing fourth at the Queens City Invite, 11^th at the USC Upstate Invitational, and 7^th at the SAC Championships. Keogh was rewarded for his efforts with First Team All-Conference and SAC All-Freshman team accolades’.

Keogh (31.00) was the 2^nd scorer on the Queens team that placed 2^nd behind Wingate University (NC) after 10,000m. His excellent run was described as: ‘another great race’ on his team webpage. Eric described his effort: “It was a good solid run and an improvement again on conference. Each week I am getting back to my best, but still some way to go”.

Robert Murphy was the club’s sole competitor in the LEINSTER SENIOR CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at Avondale Forest Park on Sunday. Murphy (33.42), who is aiming to run a sub 2-20 marathon in the spring, showed excellent form when placing 6^th in the senior men’s race contested over 10 kilometres. The front of the race was dominated by Raheny Shamrock AC athletes, with an in-form Daniel Stone (32.36) being the winner.

Alasdair Brown improved his marathon time to 2.56.02 when placing 426^th out of more than 9,000 competitors in the BARCELONA MARATHON on Sunday morning.

Rachel Smyth (1.48.25), Louise Kelly (1.49.40) and Suzie Henleywillis (1.49.59) came 201^st, 210^th and 214^th overall in the FASTLANE CLONDALKIN HALF-MARATHON on Sunday. All were making their debut for the half-marathon distance. They placed 25^th, 28^th and 30^th in the women’s category. In the simultaneous FASTLANE CLONDALKIN 10km ROAD RACE Tony Kynes (42.37) placed 52^nd, with Angela Eustace (48.52) in 125^th position (34^th woman) and Lee Chambers (50.30) placing 141^st and 39^th woman from a field of 368 finishers. The half-marathon race was won by John Weldon (1.14.05) of Newbridge AC and Kate Purcell (1.18.23) of Raheny Shamrocks AC. The 10km winners were Dylan Wright (32.53) of Lucan Harriers and Debbie McConnell (39.40) of Lisburn Running Club.

Julia Hackett (14.20) competed in the 130^th edition of the CLONLIFFE 2-MILE. The race is the oldest continuous road race in Ireland dating back to 1891. This year the race started and finished on the Santry track.

Sian O’Connor, now based in Hong Kong, ran the HONG KONG HALF-MARATHON on the 24^th of October. She placed 258^th and 19^th woman in a time of 1.36.10.

Next Saturday (13.11.2021) three Donore Harriers athletes will be competing in the REPUBLIC OF IRELAND vs NORTHERN IRELAND INTERNATIONAL MASTERS XC RACE in Belfast. Barbara Cleary and Sorcha Loughnane will contest the W45 age category, whilst Gavin Keogh will line up in the M35 class. Congratulations on being selected and the best of luck to all 3!

Fergal Whitty (Hartstown), Sinead Lambe (Castleblaney), Sinead O’Reilly (Kilcock), Laura Nunan and Oliver Hopkins (both National Sports Campus) were all first finishers in PARKRUNs, with Dylan McKenna 2^nd at Waterstown.

Results for the IMRA Powerscourt Ridge race with Rory Burke and Aideen Burke competing are not available. They will be included in next week’s report.

<<with thanks to Florence Curley, Donal Iremonger and Iain Morrison for helping collate this report>>

—————————————————-

NCAA DIV. II CROSS-COUNTRY SOUTH-EAST REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS at Spartanburg, South Carolina (06.11.2021)

MEN’S 10KM XC: 5^th Eric Keogh (31.00)

161 finishers

LEINSTER SENIOR CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at Avondale Forest Park, Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow (07.11.2021)

MEN’s 10KM: 6^th Robert Murphy (33.42)

84 finishers

BARCELONA MARATHON (07.11.2021)

426^th & 82^nd M35 Alasdair Brown (2.56.02 PB)

9,126 finishers

FASTLANE CLONDALKIN HALF-MARATHON (07.11.2021)

201^st & 25^th woman Rachel Smyth (1.48.25)

210^th & 28^th woman Louise Kelly (1.49.40)

214^th & 30^th woman Suzie Henleywillis (1.49.59)

373 finishers

FASTLANE CLONDALKIN 10km ROAD RACE (07.11.2021)

52^nd Tony Kynes (42.37)

125^th & 34^th woman Angela Eustace (48.52)

141^st & 39^th woman Lee Chambers (50.30)

368 finishers

CLONLIFFE 2-MILE ROAD RACE at Santry (07.11.2021)

Julia Hackett (14.20)

Earlier results

HONG KONG HALF MARATHON (24.10.2021)

258^th & 19^th woman Sian O’Connor (1.36.10)

Missing result from last report

DUBLIN UNEVEN AGE JUVENILE XC CHAMPIONSHIPS at Trinity Sports Ground, Santry (31.10.2021)

U/9 GIRLS 800m: 37^th Anna Garry

64 finishers

PARKRUNS 5km (06.11.21)

ARDGILLAN: 41^st Joe Murphy M40 (26.55)

BUSHY: 119^th Thomas Halton M65 (32.23)

CASTLEBLANEY: 1^st & 1^st woman Sinead Lambe W35 (19.35)

CORKAGH: 15^th Eoin Mooney M11-14 (21.58), 25^th Frank McNally M55 (23.57), 30^th Liam Morris M11-14 (25.13)

HARTSTOWN: 1^st Fergal Whitty M45 (17.47)

MARLAY: 11^th Patrick Moriarty M45 (19.04), 343^rd Anna McMahon W35 (35.21)

POPPINTREE: 112nd Eilish Joyce W40 (33.20)

ROYAL CANAL KILCOCK: 10^th & 1^st woman Sinead O’Reilly (20.43)

SPORTS CAMPUS ABBOTSTOWN: 1^st Oliver Hopkins M15-17 (17.39), 4^th Owen Robinson M35 (20.38), 8^th & 1^st woman Laura Nunan W11-14 (21.50), 10^th Daniel Hughes M11-14 (22.11), 12^th & 2^nd woman Eleanor Hopkins W11-14 (23.37),

WATERSTOWN: 2^nd Dylan McKenna M15-17 (19.05)

HIGHLIGHTS: Gavin Curtin won a silver medal in the DUBLIN JUNIOR MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP. Under 18 athlete James Bolton placed an excellent 5^th in the same race. Barbara Cleary and Kane Collins were leading Donore Harriers athletes in the DUBLIN SENIOR XC CHAMPIONSHIPS. Cillian McCooey (U/13), Lorraine O’Connor (U/15) and the Under 15 Girls team were victorious in the DUBLIN UNEVEN AGES CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS. Abdel Laadjel (Providence Friars) had another fine race to place 24^th in the BIG EAST XC CHAMPIONSHIPS in Indiana. Barbara Murray 2^nd in the W45 category in the ARMAGH 10-MILE ROAD RACE.

REPORT: Gavin Curtin has finally arrived onto the podium! Two years ago, Curtin placed a distant 6^th in the Dublin under-18 cross-country championship. On Sunday he ran his best race to date to place 2^nd in the DUBLIN JUNIOR CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at the Trinity Sports Ground in Santry. Curtin gave early chase to the pre-race favourite Scott Fagan of Metro St. Bridget AC. As the race progressed Fagan, who is an Irish underage international and a winner of the Celtic U/17 International XC, opened a gap on Curtin – who in turn put some distance between himself and 3^rd placed runner Adam Condon of Raheny Shamrocks AC. The order stayed the same for the remainder of the 6km course, with Fagan (18.20) the winner, ahead of Curtin (18.35) and Condon (18.47). Now a student at the Athlone IT, the Donore Harriers athlete is well respected by his coaches and peers for his sheer dedication to training and his racing tenacity. Curtin said afterwards: “I am happy with that run. Scott is a great athlete, so to finish 15 seconds behind him is a good benchmark to reaching the next level”. Not too far behind the front 3 was 17 years-old James Bolton (19.10) in 5^th position – and 4^th in a very competitive Under-19 contest. Bolton was stepping-up an age-group and has two years left in the junior category.

In the SENIOR WOMEN’S RACE, also over 6km, Barbara Cleary (21.23) came 10^th. Cleary, a W45 athlete, held 7^th place with just 200 metres remaining – but she didn’t have the natural leg speed to counter the late challenges from younger athletes. Ultra-distance Irish international Sorcha Loughnane (22.31), another masters athlete, came 22^nd in a field of 47 finishers. The race was won by Meghan Ryan (20.27) of DSD AC.

Donore Harriers also had two competitors in the SENIOR MEN’S 10km RACE. Kane Collins (32.23), running in only his 2^nd cross-country competition, came 13^th and is another athlete who continues to make steady progress. Masters’ category athlete Emmet O’Briain (36.52), who had a recent injury lay-off, put in a steady performance to finish 52^nd in a field of 65. The flat course with sticky underfoot conditions and tight corners made it a stern test for all the athletes. The race was won by Sergiu Ciobanu (30.52) of Clonliffe Harriers.

Earlier in the day the DUBLIN JUVENILE UNEVEN AGES CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS were held at the same venue. The race of the day was surely the Under 13 Boys over 2,500m. Exciting talent Cillian McCooey took an early lead, only to be caught by a Lucan Harriers athlete at mid-race. As the race reached the closing stages the two front runners were being chased hard by an athlete from Blackrock AC. Then with 200 metres remaining the young Donore Harriers athlete put in a sprint finish to win by about 20 metres, with the Blackrock AC athlete gaining to finish in 2^nd. Newcomer Conor O’Neill came 37^th.

There was plenty for Donore Harriers to cheer about in the Under 15 Girls race over 3,500m. Lorraine O’Connor and Emily Bolton ran stride for stride thru the open 2,000m. O’Connor then gained the advantage over Bolton – who was stepping up in age-grade. O’Connor went on to record a fine victory, with Bolton placing 3^rd. Eva Crowe pulled away from her pursuers after one kilometre and ran on to finish in 4^th position. With 3 in the top 4 it was down to Eleanor Hopkins to ensure team gold in 20^th place. It was a tight call! Donore Harriers scored 28, with Lucan Harriers just two-points behind. The other team members were Ava Hoare who placed 39^th and Hannah Eustace who came 42^nd.

In the Under 11 Boys race Olyver Whelan narrowly failed to make the top 3 after 1,500m. Whelan, another good prospect, timed his sprint too early. He got up to 3^rd but was unable to keep pace and had to settle for 4^th. Mark Nunan came 18^th in the same race, with Leo Garry 44^th, Max Henleywillis 52^nd and Alan Maddox 79^th.

In the Under 11 Girls race (1,500m) Annabella Omozee came 18^th, Siun Costello 51^st, Tess O’Donohue 62^nd, Robyn McCluskey 80^th and Hannah Kelly 89^th. The team finished outside the medals.

Liam Morris, the Under 14 champion, stepped up an age group to place 6^th in the Under 15 Boys 3,500m race. His team-mates Lucas Collender and Aaron Callanan came 42^nd and 54^th respectively.

Thomas Bolton and Oliver Hopkins contested in a front group of 9 athletes in the opening 2 kilometres of the Under 17 Boys race over 5,000m. Bolton, stepping up in age, eventually came home in 6^th place with Hopkins two places further back. Dylan McKenna, who was also stepping up in age group, came 21^st.

Special mention to Lily Clarke-Hanrahan in the Under 13 Girls and Cadel Senyk in the Under 9 Boys. Both are newcomers to the sport and got caught in the fast start melee in their respective races. Lily eventually came 56^th in her race and Cadel came 55^th. Both young athletes will have learned from the experience and will become key members of team Donore. Apology, but I don’t have a result for Anna Garry in the Under 9 Girls race.

Abdel Laadjel stepped up in class and distance to line out for the Providence Friars team at the BIG EAST CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at Carmel, Indiana on Friday last (29.10.2021).

The Donore Harriers man finished the 4 laps, 8-kilometre race in 24^th place from a field of 87 starters, almost all being older and more seasoned athletes. Overnight rain meant that the undulating course was soft underfoot with pools of water adding to the toughness of the race. Laadjel made a good start and was well placed in 16^th spot after 3 kilometres, but the 18 years-old freshman found it increasingly difficult to stay the pace as the race progressed. He later commented: “8 kilometre is so much different than 6K in cross. I need more time to adjust to the longer distances”. His race time of 25.25.8 was almost a minute and a half behind winner Simon Berard (23.58.6) of Butler University. Abdel was the 4^th scorer on the Providence Friars team that placed 4^th of 9 teams.

The US TRACK & FIELD and XC COACHES ASSOCIATION named Abdel Laadjel the NCAA DIVISION I MEN ‘Athlete of the Week’ (w-end 24.10.2021). Here’s what they posted on their website…

Providence Freshman | Lucan, Ireland.

Abdel Laadjel didn’t take long to top the podium.

Running in only his second collegiate meet this past weekend, Laadjel picked up the win at the CCSU Mini Meet. He covered the 5k course in 14:41.1, nearly 11 seconds faster than his next closest competitor, and helped the Friars finish third in the team standings.

This is the first time in program history that a male athlete from Providence has been named National Athlete of the Week during the cross-country season.

We reported in the aftermath of the NATIONAL MARATHON CHAMPIONSHIPS (03.10.2021) that team and age-grade medals would not be awarded due to the race having a limited number of entries. An announcement by Athletics Ireland on the 28.10.2021 confirmed that senior team medals will be given to the top three men’s and women’s team. The short announcement read: Following the recent National Senior Marathon Championships which took place in conjunction with Belfast City Marathon, Athletics Ireland has confirmed that Senior men’s and women’s teams will be awarded the respective National Senior Marathon Championship medals for first, second, and third place. So, congratulations to the Donore Harriers women’s team of Sorcha Loughnane, Anne Curley and Grace Kennedy-Clarke on winning team silver – official! See result below.

In Sunday’s ARMAGH 10-MILE ROAD RACE Barbara Murray (1.07.33) placed 85^th from more than 300 starters. Murray was 6^th woman overall and came 2^nd in the W45 category.

In this week’s PARKRUNs Sinead Lambe (19.07) was first overall finisher at Navan.

—————————————————-

BIG EAST CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at Carmel, Indiana (29.10.2021)

MEN’S 8KM XC: 24^th Abdel Laadjel (25.25.8)

87 finishers

DUBLIN JUVENILE UNEVEN-AGES CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at the Trinity Sports Grounds, Santry (31.10.2021)

U/9 GIRLS 800m: Anna Garry result not to hand

U/9 BOYS 800m: 55^th Cadel Senyk

U/11 GIRLS 1,500m: 18^th Annabella Omozee, 51^st Siun Costello, 62^nd Tess O’Donohue, 80^th Robyn McCluskey, 89^th Hannah Kelly

U/11 BOYS 1,500m: 4^th Olyver Whelan, 18^th Mark Nunan, 44^th Leo Garry, 52^nd Max Henleywillis, 79^th Alan Maddox

U/13 GIRLS 2,500m: 56^th Lily Clarke-Hanrahan

U/13 BOYS 2,500m: 1^st Cillian McCooey, 37^th Conor O’Neill

U/15 GIRLS 3,500m: 1^st Lorraine O’Connor, 3^rd Emily Bolton (step-up), 4^th Eva Crowe (step-up), 20^th Eleanor Hopkins, 39^th Ava Hoare, 42^nd Hannah Eustace: TEAM 1^st Donore Harriers <O’Connor, Bolton, Crowe, Hopkins) 28, 2^nd Lucan Harriers 30.

U/15 BOYS 3,500m: 6^th Liam Morris (step-up), 42^nd Lucas Collender, 54^th Aaron Callanan

U/17 GIRLS 4,000m: No competitor

U/17 BOYS 5,000m: 6^th Thomas Bolton (step-up), 8^th Oliver Hopkins, 21^st Dylan McKenna (step-up)

U/19 MEN 6,000m: 4^th James Bolton (step-up)

DUBLIN SENIOR & JUNIOR CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at Trinity Sports Ground, Santry (31.10.2021)

JUNIOR MEN 6,000m: 2^nd Gavin Curtin (18.35), 5^th James Bolton U18 (19.10) – 32 finishers

SENIOR WOMEN 6,000m: 10^th Barbara Cleary (21.23), 22^nd Sorcha Loughnane (22.31) – 47 finishers

SENIOR MEN 10,000m: 13^th Kane Collins (32.23), 52^nd Emmet O’Briain (36.52) – 65 finishers

ARMAGH 10-MILE ROAD RACE (31.10.2021)

85^th, 6^th woman & 2^nd W45 Barbara Murray (1.07.33) – 313 finishers

NATIONAL MARATHON CHAMPIONSHIPS at Belfast (03.10.2021)

WOMEN’s SENIOR TEAM RESULT: 1^st North Belfast Harriers (8.36.50), 2^nd Donore Harriers <Sorcha Loughnane 2.52.52, Anne Curley 3.07.33, Grace Kennedy-Clarke 3.18.33> (9.18.58), 3^rd Brothers Pearse AC (9.21.01) – 40 teams

PARKRUNS 5km (30.10.21)

BUSHY: 128^th Thomas Halton M65 (34.56)

MARLAY: 316^th Anna McMahon W35 (33.23)

NAVAN: 1^st & 1^st woman Sinead Lambe W35 (19.07)

TOLKA VALLEY: 20^th Owen Robinson M35 (25.19)

WATERSTOWN: 6^th Paul Graham M55 (21.09)

HIGHLIGHTS: With a racing void left in the bank holiday weekend action due to the cancellation of the Dublin Marathon the main highlights this week were from our athletes in the USA. Abdel Laadjel (Providence Friars) scored a notable win at Conneticut, whilst Eric Keogh continues to impress with high placings at XC meets in North & South Carolina. We also had excellent runs from Ciaran Ryan and Anne Curley in the Rotterdam Marathon.

REPORT: Just two months into his dream American scholarship and Abdel Laadjel has already made a huge statement in respect of his future in athletics. Last Friday (22.10.21) he competed in his second race Stateside where he recorded a notable victory in the 18^th CCSU (Central Connecticut State University) ANNUAL CROSS-COUNTRY MINI-MEET at Shanley Quarter Park in New Britain, Conneticut.

Representing the Providence University Friars team Laadjel (14.41) won comfortably having eleven-seconds to spare over runner-up Richard Sturtevant (14.52) of Yale University after the 5 kilometres race. He described his effort: “I felt comfortable in the race. I was out on my own and it felt more like a tempo run. I raced in flats because the course had stones beneath some of the grass and there was one longish hill”. His Providence University coach Ray Treacy sent this message: “… Abdel won very easily in 14.41 only 5 seconds off the course record held by a Kenyan that ran for American International University. It was the fastest time anyone from Providence has ever run at the course. Looking for him to be in our top 5 next week…”  The Providence team placed 3^rd of 12 teams with a score of 64, behind Yale (47) and Central Conneticut (55). The Lucan native and former student at Kishoge Community College is hoping for selection on the Irish Under 20s team for the European Cross-Country championships due to be held at Abbotstown on the 12^th of December. He’ll be back in action on Friday in the more competitive Big East Cross-Country Championships at Carmel, Indiana. A good result in Indiana will advance his claim for selection.

Eric Keogh, who also went Stateside a couple of months ago, is also making his mark in the colours of Queens University (Charlotte) of North Carolina. On Saturday he placed 7^th in the SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS over 8kmat McAlpine Creek Park in North Carolina. Keogh (24.08) was the 2^nd scorer on the Queens team that placed 2^nd of 13 teams. The race was won by his team-mate Jan Lukas Becker in 23.50. In the previous week (16.10.2021) Keogh (26.20) placed 11^th of 158 finishers in the USC UPSTATE INVITATIONAL (8km) at Spartanburg, South Carolina. His Queens team placed 6^th from 17. Keogh will return to Spartanburg on the 6^th of November to compete in the NCAA Division 2 XC South-East Regional championship.

The ROTTERDAM MARATHON took place on Sunday 24 October, delayed from its usual April slot. Two Donore runners took to the start line of this popular marathon known for its flat course. Ciaran Ryan was delighted to get a time of 2.52.59 a 2-minute PB. In her second marathon in 3 weeks Anne Curley got a time of 3.07.38 following a 3.06 in Belfast earlier this month. She was 1st W50 in the race. The race attracted a top-class field and was won in 2.03.35 by Olympic bronze medallist Bashir Abdi of Belgium in a new European record and Kenya’s Stella Barsosio in 2.22

Club results for the DUBLIN EVEN-AGES CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS are listed below. The team picked up 3 gold, two silver and a bronze on the day. Individual gold went to Emily Bolton in the Under 14 girls, Liam Morris in the Under 14 boys and Lorraine O’Connor who stepped up an age group to win the Under 16 girls. Liam Morris was involved in a real tussle with David Coakley of Lucan Harriers, before a final sprint got him the verdict in a photo finish.

Thomas Bolton took silver in the Under 16 boys’ race behind talented Sean Cronin of Clonliffe Harriers, with his brother James also claiming silver in the Under 18 boys’ race. The Under 14 boys team led home by Liam Morris claimed bronze thanks to good packing from Liam Blair, Daniel Hughes, and Eoin Mooney.

A special mention to Rosie-May Morris who came 22^nd in the Under 12 Girls race. Rosie-May picked up a hip injury in the latter half of her 2,000m race, but battled on bravely to reach the finishing funnel. Her injury required some hospital treatment, but happy to report that she is now fine.

In 5km PARKRUNs David McConn was first home at Waterstown and Sinead O’Reilly was first woman finisher at Kilcock. Juvenile athletes Laura Nunan and Dylan McKenna came 3^rd at the Sports Ireland Campus and Waterstown Park respectively.

—————————————————-

CENTRAL CONNETICUT STATE UNIVERSITY 18^th ANNUAL MINI-MEET at Shanley Quarter Park, New Britain, CT (22.10.2021)

MEN’S 5KM XC: 1^st Abdel Laadjel (14.41)

91 finishers

SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at McAlpine Creek Park, North Carolina (23.10.2021)

MEN’S 8KM XC: 7^th Eric Keogh (24.08)

101 finishers

USC UPSTATE INVITATIONAL at Spartanburg, South Carolina (16.10.2021)

MEN’S 8KM XC: 11^th Eric Keogh (26.20)

158 finishers

ROTTERDAM MARATHON (24.10.2021)

Ciaran Ryan (2.52.59 PB)

1st W50 Anne Curley (3.07.38)

DUBLIN JUVENILE EVEN-AGES CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at Abbotstown (17.10.2021)

U/10 GIRLS 1,000m: 6^th Anna Whelan, 45^th Lola Blake, 59^th Robyn McCluskey, 60^th Lola Nagle-Mullaly, 63^rd Ciara Jackson, 65^th Cliodhna McMahon – TEAM 8^th.

U/10 BOYS 1,000m: 33^rd Alan Maddox, 38^th Jedd Fanning, 40^th Cillian O’Farrell, 67^th Daniel Maddox – TEAM 9^th.

U/12 GIRLS 2,000m: 22^nd Rosie-May Morris, 34^th Annabella Omozee, 54^th Ruby Blake, 68^th Saoirse Jackson, 74^th Petra Cunningham – TEAM 11^th

U/12 BOYS 2,000m: 23^rd Michael Dillon, 38^th Daniel Lynch, 67^th Dylan O’Connor

U/14 GIRLS 3,000m: 1^st Emily Bolton

U/14 BOYS 3,000m: 1^st Liam Morris, 17^th Liam Blair, 23^rd Daniel Hughes, 42^nd Eoin Mooney, 53^rd James Murphy – TEAM = 3^rd

U/16 GIRLS 4,000m: 1^st Lorraine O’Connor (step-up), 5^th Eva Crowe (step-up), 26^th Eleanor Hopkins, DNF Laura Nunan (ill)

U/16 BOYS 4,000m: 2^nd Thomas Bolton, 14^th Dylan McKenna

U/18 BOYS 5,000m: 2^nd James Bolton, 12^th Oliver Hopkins

PARKRUNS 5km (23.10.21)

ARDGILLAN: 42^nd Joe Murphy M40 (26.12)

BUSHY: 109^th Thomas Halton M65 (32.19)

MALAHIDE: 121^st Angela O’Dea W35 (25.52)

POPPINTREE: 107^th Eilish Joyce W40-44 (34.05)

ROYAL CANAL KILCOCK: 5^th & 1^st woman Sinead O’Reilly W40-44 (19.59)

SPORTS IRELAND CAMPUS: 16^th & 3^rd woman Laura Nunan W11-14 (22,16)

WATERSTOWN: 1^st David McConn M35 (16.53), 3^rd Dylan McKenna M15-17 (19.37 PB)

HIGHLIGHTS: Barbara Cleary, 4^th master woman overall, won the W45 category in the AUTUMN INTERNATIONAL OPEN CROSS. There were impressive wins for Emily Bolton (U/14), Liam Morris (U/14) and Lorraine O’Connor (U/16) in the DUBLIN JUVENILE XC EVEN AGE CHAMPIONSHIPS. Also among the medals were brothers Thomas (U/16) and James Bolton (U/18) who won individual silver – and the U/14 Boys team who placed 3^rd.

REPORT: Donore Harrier Barbara Cleary (22.25) continues her impressive journey in athletics. The 48 years-old Clare native placed 4^th overall in the women’s masters race in Sunday’s AUTUMN INTERNATIONAL OPEN CROSS at Abbotstown. In the process she won the W45 category with a minute to spare over runner-up Caroline Donnellan (23.24) of Edenderry AC. The result would have guaranteed Cleary a place on the Irish team for the British & Irish Masters cross-country championships which was due to take place in Santry in November. However, the race was cancelled back in August due to “uncertainties” around ongoing Covid-19 restrictions and guidelines.

Also, in the master women’s race Sorcha Loughnane (23.49) put in another impressive performance to place 12^th overall and 5^th W45.

The 4,500m race was won by Annmarie McGlynn (20.58) of Letterkenny AC, who was awarded with the Jim McNamara Golden Shoe trophy.

The master men’s race over 6,000m was won by Tim O’Donoghue (23.36) of East Cork AC, who also picked up a Golden Shoe award. The Golden Shoes were presented to the winners by Jim’s son James McNamara. This was the 5^th year of the awards in memory of the Late Donore Harriers athlete and coach who competed in the 1976 Olympic Games marathon in Montreal.

In the same race Gavin Keogh (27.51) finished 30^th and 8^th in the M40 class, and Des Tremble (28.32) who came 40^th and 5^th M50.

The club had two competitors in the senior men’s race over 7,500m. Daragh Fitzgibbon (25.16) made a strong return to competition to place 22^nd, with Kane Collins (25.29) just three places further back.

Treasa Boylan (29.52) came 37^th in the senior women’s race over 6,000m.

The was the final event on the Abbotstown course before the European Cross-Country Championships is held there on the 12^th of December.

Earlier on Sunday morning the DUBLIN JUVENILE EVEN-AGES CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS were held at the same venue. Donore Harriers athletes were among the medals with Emily Bolton winning the Under 14 Girls race, Liam Morris the Under 14 Boys race, with Lorraine O’Connor victorious in the Under 16 Girls. The latter was stepping up to the group. Thomas Bolton came 2^nd in the Under 16 Boys race, with his brother James also 2^nd in the Under 18 category. The Under 14 Boys team of Liam Morris, Liam Blair, Eoin Mooney, Daniel Hughes and James Murphy came 3^rd.

There were strong performances from Eva Crowe, who stepped-up to place 5^th in the Under 16 Girls – and Anna Whelan who placed 6^th in the Under 10 Girls competition. More detailed results to follow.

—————————————————-

DUBLIN JUVENILE EVEN-AGES CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at Abbotstown (17.10.2021)

U/10 GIRLS 1,000m: 6^th Anna Whelan – results to follow for Robyn McCluskey, Lola Nagle-Mullaly, Cliodhna McMahon, Lola Blake

U/10 BOYS 1,000m: results to follow for Cillian O’Farrell, Alan Maddox, Daniel Maddox, Jedd Fanning

U/12 GIRLS 2,00m: results to follow for Annabella Omozee, Rosie-May Morris, Lauren Tolan, Beth O’Connor, Ruby Blake, Ciara Jackson, Saoirse Jackson, Petra Cunningham

U/12 BOYS 2,000m: results to follow for Michael Dillon, Daniel Lynch, Dylan O’Connor, Sam Inverarity

U/14 GIRLS 3,000m: 1^st Emily Bolton – results to follow for Amber Lynch, Claire O’Hanlon, Hannah Eustace, Ava Hoare, Lily Clarke-Hanrahan, Kate O’Connor

U/14 BOYS 3,000m: 1^st Liam Morris – results to follow for Liam Blair, Eoin Mooney, James Murphy, Daniel Hughes; TEAM came 3^rd (subject to clarification)

U/16 GIRLS 4,000m: 1^st Lorraine O’Connor (step-up), 5^th Eva Crowe (step-up) – other results to follow Laura Nunan, Eleanor Hopkins, Katie Delaney

U/16 BOYS 4,000m: 2^nd Thomas Bolton – results to follow for Dylan McKenna

U/18 BOYS 5,000m: 2^nd James Bolton, 12^th Oliver Hopkins

AUTUMN OPEN INTERNATIONAL CROSS-COUNTRY at Abbotstowns (17.10.2021)

SENIOR WOMEN 6,000m: 37^th Treasa Boylan (29.52)

SENIOR MEN 7,500m: 22^nd Daragh Fitzgibbon (25.16), 25^th Kane Collins (25.29)

MASTER WOMEN 4,500m: 4^th & 1^st M45 Barbara Cleary (22.25), 12^th & 5^th M45 Sorcha Loughnane (23.49)

MASTER MEN 6,000m: 30^th & 8^th M40 Gavin Keogh (27.51), 40^th & 5^th M50 Des Tremble (28.32)

PARKRUNS 5km (16.10.21)

BRICKFIELDS: 67^th Anthony Ferns M55 (42.11)

BUSHY: 144^th Thomas Halton M65 (33.31)

MARLAY: 143^rd Orlaith McMahon W35 (25.07), 307^th Anna McMahon W35 (32.41)

HIGHLIGHTS: Sorcha & Aislinn Nic Dhomhnaill among the medals in the MANCHESTER ELITE MARATHON. Excellent start by Abdel Laadjel stateside in the NEW ENGLAND INTERCOLLEGIATE XC CHAMPIONSHIPS. DH men’s team 3^rd in the DUBLIN NOVICE XC CHAMPIONSHIPS. Five wins for DH athletes in Fixture 2 of the DUBLIN JUVENILE XC LEAGUE.

REPORT: Excellent performances by Donore Harriers athletes in the UK and the USA. Sorcha and Aislinn NicDhomhnaill finished 4^th and 5^th respectively in the MANCHESTER ELITE MARATHON women’s race on Sunday. Sorcha, competing in the marathon for the first time, ran a super 2.46.22 to win a bronze medal as the 3^rd senior – whilst Aislinn (2.48.19) improved on her previous best time set in Dublin two years ago. She took the gold medal in the W40 category. The sisters placed 26^th and 28^th overall.

Abdel Laadjel competed in his first Stateside race on Saturday when he lined up in the NEW ENGLAND INTERCOLLEGIATE CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at Franklin Park in Boston, MA on Saturday afternoon. He completed the 8km course in 25.08 to place 13^th in a field of 161 finishers. Laadjel was the 2^nd scorer for Providence University Friars that placed 5^th from 24 closing teams. He described his race: “I was 4^th with 500 metres to go but blew up on the last hill. 8 kilometres cross-country is a different game. The course was harder than Abbotstown with a lot of hard gravel and little grass. I am happy with that as my opener”. Abdel is due to compete in the Nuttycombe Invitational XC at Madison, Wisconsin on Friday.

Eric Keogh placed 52^nd from a field of 359 in the recent LOUISVILLE CROSS-COUNTRY CLASSIC in Kentucky (02.10.2021). Eric’s time was 24.24 for the 8km course. He was 2^nd scorer on the Queen’s North Carolina team that came 14^th of 36 closing teams.

Elliot Slade (29.37) also made a return to competition after illness, placing 39^th in the SACREMENTO INVITATIONAL CROSS-COUNTRY RACE at Rocklin, California (01.10.2021).

The DUBLIN NOVICE CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS were held at Tymon Park on Sunday afternoon. Donore Harriers had 6 athletes line up in the women’s race over 3 laps (4km) on an undulating, but firm course.

Louise Murray (15.36) was first home in 12^th spot. Next came Claire Mulligan (16.54), making a welcome return to competition after an injury lay-off, in 44^th place. The scoring team was completed by Katherine Marsh (17.36) in 58^th and Aisling Kirby (17.44) in 64^th. The team came 6^th of 11, with the non-scoring athletes being Louise Kelly (17.51) in 65^th and Suzie Henleywillis (18.18) in 73^rd.

The men’s team came 3^rd on 81 points, narrowly ahead of Clonliffe Harriers on 84 after the 6km race. There is little doubt that the result switched in favour of Donore Harriers on the 4^th and final lap. Louis O’Loughlin (18.56) moved from 9^th place at the bell to cross the line in 4^th. Second-scorer Kevin O’Boyle (20.26) put in a massive effort to maintain 19^th spot ahead of a chasing group. An improving Daragh Keegan gained several places on the last circuit to finish 26^th in 20.37, with Michael Ryan (20.54) closing the scoring in 32^nd place. Crucially, Ryan finished 5 places in front of Clonliffe’s 4^th man. Next home was newcomer Matthew Fabbro (20.59), who had an encouraging race to cross the line in 34^th. Then came Kevin Nolan (21.15) in 42^nd, Neil Hand (22.04) in 59^th, Peter Brennan (22.45) in 76^th and Gavin White (23.01) in 78^th.

One hundred athletes closed the women’s race and 135 in the men’s contest.

It appears that the Donore Harriers women’s team of Sorcha Loughnane, Anne Curley and Grace Kennedy-Clarke placed 2^nd in the last week’s BELFAST MARATHON, which incorporated the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. However, an announcement from Athletics Ireland following the event said: ‘Due to the limited number of places available to national championship entries (100 men and 100 women), there was only provision to present national senior individual championship titles for 2021’. Thus, the Donore Harriers team will not be presented with championship medals. Nor will medals be given to Sorcha Loughnane and Anne Curley who have claims of being among the top 3 finishers in their respective age-grades. The ruling seems unfair! 490 Athletics Ireland registered men and 233 AI registered women completed the marathon. The athletes were not informed of the decision prior to the event; and the national governing athletics body gave out a full set of medals on the same day for the National Road Relays despite that event clashing with the national marathon which meant some athletes not being available to compete.

In a twitter feed Sorcha Loughnane announced her feelings: “This was my first time competing in any championships for Donore Harriers … as far as I could see, I was in silver position for the W45 category, and it looked like the Donore ladies were in silver medal position behind an incredible North Belfast team and ahead of Brothers Pearse AC. I was absolutely chuffed. Possibly 2 national medals in my first national championships … What doesn’t make sense is when, why or how the national champs would only be for the top 3 finishers…”

In a FB comment Anne Curley praised her team-mate in the aftermath of the race: “I also have to mention Grace Kennedy-Clarke here who finished the marathon in Belfast after getting a knee injury mid race while braking suddenly to avoid a runner colliding with her coming up to a drinks station. Her courage and pain threshold in actually finishing the race is unique. I passed her at 17 miles, and she was struggling bad – just stopping and starting. If we win a team medal it’s down to her resilience, grit and team spirit…” Alas! No team medals!

The club has submitted an objection and the matter will be discussed by the Athletics Ireland competition committee in early November.

The 2^nd fixture of the DUBLIN JUVENILE CROSS-COUNTRY LEAGUE took place in Tymon Park on Sunday morning hosted by Sportsworld AC. The sun came out and there was a feast of good competitive under-age races. Donore Harriers had 5 winners on the day. Annabella Omozee used her sprinting speed to outrun a host of chasers to narrowly win the Under 9 girls race over 900m. In the Under 14 Girls race over 1,500m it was a gun to tape win for Emily Bolton, who finished with 40 metres to spare over her nearest rival. Liam Morris won a thrilling duel with a Lucan Harriers athlete to win the Under 14 Boys race – also over 1.5km. In the same race Liam Blair came 10^th, with Daniel Hughes 16^th and Aaron Callanan in 29^th. The Under 15 Girls race (2km) was dominated by Donore Harriers – with victory going to Lorraine O’Connor ahead of her teammate Eva Crowe. Then came Julie Cleary, returning from injury, in 5^th – followed by Eden Branagan in 11^th, Eleanor Hopkins in 14^th and Hannah Eustace in 29^th. Thomas Bolton made it five wins for the DH team when he won out a duel with a Lucan Harriers athlete in the Under 16 Boys race over 2.5km. Dylan McKenna gained two places in the latter half of the race to gain to 5^th. There were a number of other encouraging performances, not least Lucas Collender who placed 11^th in the Under 15 Boys race over 2km in only his second race – and Rosie-May Morris who raced to 18^th spot in the Under 12 Girls (1.2km). Other top 20 finishers were Anna Whelan 13^th in the Under 10 Girls, Bobby Farrell 15^th in the Under 9 Boys, Alan Maddox 17th in the Under 10 Boys, and Mark Nunan 18^th in the Under 11 Boys. Laura Nunan, an Under 16 athlete, raced in the 2.5km Junior Women’s category against older athletes finishing a very fine 15^th overall. All juvenile results are listed below – as are the results from the 1^st fixture of the XC LEAGUE at Ballyboughal held on the 26^th of September.

Sean Kinsella M15-17 (18.14) was first home in the Waterstown PARKRUN on Saturday morning. His younger brother Joe M11-14 (22.44) came 12^th. Mary McDermott W50 (24.33) came 8^th overall and 3^rd woman at Russborough.

—————————————————-

MANCHESTER ELITE MARATHON (10.10.2021)

26^th, 4^th woman & 3^rd senior Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill (2.46.22 PB)

28^th, 5^th woman & 1^st W40 Aislinn Nic Dhomhnaill (2.48.19 PB)

LOUISVILLE CLASSIC CROSS-COUNTRY at Tom Sawyer Park, Louisville (02.10.2021)

MEN’s 8km RACE: 52^nd Eric Keogh (24.24)

355 finishers

SACREMENTO STATE INVITATIONAL CROSS-COUNTRY at Rocklin, CA (01.10.2021)

MEN’s 8km RACE: 39^th Elliot Slade (29.37)

NEW ENGLAND INTERCOLLEGIATE CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at Franklin Park, Boston, MA (09.10.2021)

MEN’s 8km RACE: 13^th Abdel Laadjel (25.08)

161 finishers

DUBLIN NOVICE CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at Tymon Park (10.10.2021)

WOMEN’S 4km RACE:

12^th Louise Murray (15.36)

44^th Claire Mulligan (16.54)

58^th Katherine Marsh (17.36)

64^th Aisling Kirby (17.44)

65^th Louise Kelly (17.51)

73^rd Suzie Henleywillis (18.18)

100 finishers

TEAM: 1^st Dublin City Harriers (24), 6^th Donore Harriers <Murray, Mulligan, Marsh, Kirby> (178). 11 teams.

MEN’S 6km RACE:

4^th Louis O’Loughlin (18.56)

19^th Kevin O’Boyle (20.26)

26^th Daragh Keegan (20.37)

32^nd Michael Ryan (20.54)

34^th Matthew Fabbro (20.59)

42^nd Kevin Nolan (21.15)

59^th Neil Hand (22.04)

76^th Peter Brennan (22.45)

78^th Gavin White (23.01)

135 finishers

TEAM: 1^st Raheny Shamrocks AC (24), 3^rd Donore Harriers <O’Loughlin, O’Boyle, Keegan & Ryan> (81). 13 teams.

DUBLIN JUVENILE CROSS-COUNTRY LEAGUE 2 at Tymon Park (10.10.2021)

U/9 Girls (500m): 29^th Mae O’Gorman – 55 finishers

U/10 Girls (700m): 13^th Anna Whelan, 37^th Lola Blake, 55^th Ciara Jackson, 57^th Robyn McCluskey, 59^th Lola Nagle Mullaly – 72 finishers

U/11 Girls (900m): 1^st Annabella Omozee, 47^th Siun Costello, 73^rd Tess O’Donohoe – 100 finishers

U/12 Girls (1.2km): 18^th Rosie May Morris, 42^nd Ruby Blake, 47^th Lauren Tolan, 60^th Saoirse Jackson

U/13 Girls (1.2km): 40^th Lily Clarke-Hanrahan

U/14 Girls (1.5km): 1^st Emily Bolton

U/15 Girls (2km): 1^st Lorraine O’Connor, 2^nd Eva Crowe, 5^th Julie Cleary, 11^th Eden Branagan, 14^th Eleanor Hopkins, 29^th Hannah Eustace

U/16 – U/20 Junior Women (2.5km): 15^th Laura Nunan U16 (age category result to follow)

U/9 Boys (500m): 15^th Bobby Farrell, 22^nd Michael McCarthy Jnr, 45^th Alex Murphy – 63 finishers

U/10 Boys (700m): 17^th Alan Maddox, 63^rd Daniel Maddox – 64 finishers

U/11 Boys (900m): 18^th Mark Nunan, 46^th Elliott Reilly, 51^st Max Henleywillis, 61^st Leo Reid – 69 finishers

U/12 Boys (1.2km): 37^th Dylan O’Connor, 43^rd Oisin O’Gorman, 62^nd Sam Inverarity

U/13 Boys (1.2km): 21^st Liam Collins

U/14 Boys (1.5km): 1^st Liam Morris, 10^th Liam Blair, 16^th Daniel Hughes, 29^th Aaron Callanan

U/15 Boys (2km): 11^th Lucas Collender

U/16 Boys (2.km): 1^st Thomas Bolton, 5^th Dylan McKenna

PREVIOUS RESULT

DUBLIN JUVENILE CROSS-COUNTRY LEAGUE 1 at Ballyboughal (26.09.2021)

U/9 Girls (400m): 26^th Mae O’Gorman, 35^th Anna Garry

U/10 Girls (600m): 21^st Anna Whelan, 35^th Lola Blake, 40^th Robyn McCluskey, 45^th Ciara Jackson

U/11 Girls (800m): 8^th Annabella Omozee, 33^rd Florence Zakrezewska, 47^th Sadhbh Hussey, 60^th Tess O’Donohoe

U/12 Girls (1km): 18^th Rosie May Morris, 35^th Ruby Blake, 60^th Saoirse Jackson

U/13 Girls (1km): 48^th Zoe Conroy

U14 Girls (1.2km): 1^st Emily Bolton, 22^nd Abigail Tolan

U/15 Girls (1.5km): 2^nd Lorraine O’Connor, 3^rd Eva Crowe, 9^th Eden Branagan, 12^th Eleanor Hopkins

U/16 Girls (2km): 6^th Laura Nunan

U/9 Boys (400m): 24^th Bobby Farrell, 46^th Alex Murphy, 54^th Michael McCarthy Jnr

U/11 Boys (800m): 9^th Olyver Whelan, 10^th Mark Nunan, 41^st Max Henleywillis

U/12 Boys (1km): 42^nd Oisin O’Gorman, 47^th Sam Inverarity

U/13 Boys (1km): 16^th Eoin Mooney, 19^th Liam Collins

U/14 Boys (1.2km): 3^rd Liam Morris, 11^th Daniel Hughes, 29^th Tadhg O’Baoill

U/15 Boys (1.5km): 8^th Lucas Collender

U/16 Boys (2km): 1^st Thomas Bolton

U/17 Boys (3km): 6^th Oliver Hopkins

PARKRUNS 5km (02.10.21)

WATERSTOWN: 1^st Sean Kinsella M15-17 (18.14 PB), 12^th Joe Kinsella M11-14 (22.44 PB)

RUSSBOROUGH: 8^th & 3^rd woman Mary McDermott W50 (24.33)

HIGHLIGHTS: Gold for M50 team in the NATIONAL ROAD RELAYS, with the women’s W35 team claiming bronze. A young senior men’s team came 4^th. Several DH athletes completed the BELFAST/NATIONAL MARATHON with Ray Hynes and Sorcha Loughnane first man and first woman home for the club. Club newcomers Katherine Marsh and Peter Brennan claim the club NOVICE XC HANDICAP CHAMPIONSHIPS (i.e., Eddie Hogan and Slater Cups). Juvenile runners Dylan McKenna and Laura Nunan were first finishers at Waterstown & Porterstown PARKRUNs.

REPORT: The NATIONAL ROAD RELAY CHAMPIONSHIPS returned with a much-delayed date for the 2021 version. With the 2020 scheduled event cancelled due to the first Covid-19 lockdown, this year’s version had the normal last Sunday in April date replaced by the first Sunday in October as the sport of athletics catches up with its calendar of events. The Raheny venue remained the same.

Donore Harriers fielded 6 teams, four in the master men’s categories. The M50 ‘A’ team of Phil Hennessy, Des Tremble and Donal Iremonger secured gold with strong running from all three. Hennessy opened with a solid mile leg (lap is just over a mile) in 5.30. Clonliffe Harriers had opened a sizeable lead with their opening athlete David Dunwoody returning a time of 5.12. On the longer 2-mile leg Des Tremble (11.01) kept the team in contention, before Donal Iremonger (5.20) turned a 33-seconds deficit into a 3-seconds advantage over Clonliffe on the final one-mile circuit. Thus, Donore Harriers (21.51) took gold over Clonliffe (21.54) and 3^rd placed Sportsworld AC (23.08). Iremonger has the rare distinction of medalling in the National Road Relays at three different age grades, having previously picked up awards as a senior in 2004 and as an M35 master in 2011.

The M50 ‘B’ team, consisting of Tom Fagan (6.08), Peter Nugent (12.27) and Frank McNally (7.01) came 9^th.

The two club M35 teams came 7^th and 9^th. The ‘A’ team consisted of Kevin Nolan (5.02), Liam Keane (11.18) and Aidan O’Rourke (5.17) – and the ‘B’ team were Craig Scott (5.24), Chris Muldoon (11.18) and Tony Barry (5.32).

The club’s other medal on the day was bronze won by the Women’s over-35 team. The opening leg saw Sinead O’Reilly (5.42) hold 4^th place, before tagging on to Barbara Cleary. Cleary (11.13) ran the fastest 2-mile leg and overtook Emma Boland of Newbridge AC to take 3^rd position. Team captain Florence Curley (6.07) took the final leg. Curley, who would be more comfortable doing a marathon than a mile, certainly stepped up to the mark. She gained 10-seconds on 2^nd place Kay Byrne of Finn Valley AC but fell just short of gaining the silver podium position by two seconds. The final placings were 1^st Raheny Shamrocks AC (22.41), 2^nd Finn Valley AC (23.00) and 3^rd Donore Harriers (23.02).

Donore Harriers fielded a young team in the senior race over legs of 2 miles, a mile, 3 miles and 2 miles. Gavin Curtin, a 19 years-old student at Athlone IT, ran the opening 2-mile leg in a very fine 10.06 to hand over to James Bolton in 4^th place. Curtin had the misfortune of a shoelace becoming loose mid-race and later admitted that the discomfort prevented him from maintaining the gap he had built over the chasing athletes when holding 4^th position. James Bolton, still only 16, ran a sensational one-mile leg to consolidate 4^th place. Indeed, he was the 2^nd faster ‘miler’ on the day, with only Gavin Eccles (4.33) of the winning Raheny Shamrocks AC team being quicker. Josh O’Sullivan-Hourihan (15.31), just one week after completing the Charleville Half-Marathon, ran a good stage to maintain 4^th – although the gap to the front 3 became wider. Louis O’Loughlin (9.49) closed out the team with a strong run over the final 2-mile leg.

The senior men’s race was won by Raheny Shamrocks AC (38.12), following by Clonliffe Harriers (39.04) and Rathfarnham AC (39.30). Donore Harriers timed 40.08 for 4^th spot. Only O’Loughlin from the DH quartet had previously raced in the event, being the one-miler on the 2019 team that claimed silver medals.

Twelve club athletes completed the BELFAST MARATHON on Sunday. The race incorporated the NATIONAL MARATHON CHAMPIONSHIPS. On a blustery morning the course was over a tough meandering route that started at Stormont Estate and finished in Ormeau Park taking in the four corners of the city.

The Donore Harriers women’s team of Sorcha Loughnane, Anne Curley and Grace Kennedy-Clarke are hopeful of being amongst the team medals – as we await the official results. Loughnane (2.52.50) came 97^th overall – just a few weeks are representing Ireland in the Anglo-Celtic Plate International race over 100 kilometres. Anne Curley (3.06.52 – 286^th) was “surprised and delighted” with her run after her race preparations were hampered by illness and injury. Curley described her team-mate Grace Kennedy-Clarke (3.18.20 – 449^th) as an “absolute warrior” for finishing the race despite a painful knee injury. The other female club member Michelle Dawson (4.47.42) came 2,461^st from a field of more than 5,000 starters.

The men’s team was led home by Ray Hynes (2.35.48) in 14^th place – and he was followed by David McConn (2.52.05) in 91^st and Alan Farrell (2.56.03) in 136^th. The other finishers were: – Ray Armstrong (3.08.50) in 310^th, Stephen Dawson (3.16.00) in 409^th, David McGrath (3.29.51) in 691^st, Dean Fullston (3.31.23) in 716^th and Noel Davis (3.54.01) in 1,275^th.

The CLUB NOVICE CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS took place over a 1.35km lap near the Magazine Fort on Saturday morning. The men contested the SLATER CUP over 4 laps (5.5km), with the women competing for the EDDIE HOGAN CUP over 3 laps (4.1km). The Slater Cup was presented to the club by Tommie Slater in 1921, thus this year’s race marked the 100^th anniversary.

The sealed handicap championship races were organised by coach Willie Smith, who arranged for Tony Murphy, former club elite athlete and past president, to start the race. Murphy won the event in 1960.

The event proved a low-key affair with athletes committed to other post Covid-19 lockdown catch-up of championship races. In the men’s race Kevin O’Boyle and Daragh Keegan opened an early gap on Peter Brennan and Gavin White, with O’Boyle breaking away from Keegan in the latter half of the race to complete the route in 19.46. Keegan was next over the line in 20.17, with Brennan timed at 21.41 and White at 22.18. With a 2 minutes and 15 seconds handicap advantage Brennan claimed the trophy with an amened time of 19.16, thus 20 seconds ahead of scratch athlete O’Boyle (19.46).

Katherine Marsh won the Eddie Hogan Cup in what proved to be a close contest once the handicap times were revealed. Marsh was 2^nd finisher in 19.45, but a one-minute allowance amended her time to 18.45 to claim the win. Angela Eustace (21.55) was given a 3-minutes advantage; thus, her time was reduced to 18.55 for 2^nd place. The scratch athlete Amy Moriarty (19.08) was the first woman over the finish line but came 3^rd in the handicap championship.

In PARKRUNs two of our juvenile athletes had very encouraging performances. Dylan McKenna M15-17 (19.48) was first finisher at Waterstown and Laura Nunan W11-14 (22.35) was 8^th overall and first woman at Porterstown.

Other parkrun results below.

—————————————————-

DONORE HARRIERS SLATER CUP (club novice XC handicap championship for men over 5.5km) at Phoenix Park (02.10.2021)

1^st Peter Brennan (19.26) h/cap 2min 15sec (actual time 21.41)

2^nd Kevin O’Boyne (19.46) h/cap scratch (actual time 19.46)

3^rd Daragh Keegan (19.47) h/cap 0min 30sec (actual time 21.17)

4^th Gavin White (20.18) h/cap 2min 00 sec (actual time 22.18)

DONORE HARRIERS EDDIE HOGAN CUP (club novice XC handicap championship for women over 4.1km) at Phoenix Park (02.10.2021)

1^st Katherine Marsh (18.45) h/cap 1min 00sec (actual time 19.45)

2^nd Angela Eustace (18.55) h/cap 3min 00sec (actual time 21.55)

3^rd Amy Moriarty (19.08) h/cap scratch (actual time 19.08)

NATIONAL ROAD RELAY CHAMPIONSHIPS at Raheny (03.10.2021)

MASTERS WOMEN W35-49 = 1 mile – 2 miles – 1 mile <NOTE: laps are a little over one-mile>

3^rd Donore Harriers (23.02) = Sinead O’Reilly (05.42), Barbara Cleary (11.13), Florence Curley (06.07)

MASTERS MEN M35-49 = 1 mile – 2 miles – 1 mile

7^th Donore Harriers ‘A’ (21.37) = Kevin Nolan (05.02), Liam Keane (11.18), Aidan O’Rourke (05.17)

9^th Donore Harriers ‘B’ (22.14) = Craig Scott (05.24), Chris Muldoon (11.18), Tony Barry (05.32)

MASTER MEN M50+ = 1 mile – 2 miles – 1 mile

1^st Donore Harriers ‘A’ (21.51) = Phil Hennessy (05.30), Des Tremble (11.01), Donal Iremonger (05.20)

9^th Donore Harriers ‘B’ (25.36) = Tom Fagan (06.08), Peter Nugent (12.27), Frank McNally (07.01)

SENIOR MEN = 2 miles – 1 mile – 3 miles – 2 miles

4^th Donore Harriers (40.08) = Gavin Curtin (10.06), James Bolton (4.42), Josh O’Sullivan-Hourihan (15.31), Louis O’Loughlin (09.49)

BELFAST MARATHON (03.10.2021)

14^th Ray Hynes (2.35.48)

91^st David McConn (2.52.05)

97^th Sorcha Loughnane (2.52.50)

136^th Alan Farrell (2.56.03)

286^th Anne Curley (3.06.52)

310^th Ray Armstrong (3.08.50)

409^th Stephen Dawson (3.16.00)

449^th Grace Kennedy-Clarke (3.18.20)

691^st David McGrath (3.29.51)

716^th Dean Fullston (3.31.23)

1,275^th Noel Davis (3.54.01)

2,461^st Michelle Dawson (4.47.42)

5,300 approx entrants

PARKRUNS 5km (02.10.21)

WATERSTOWN: 1^st Dylan McKenna M15-17 (19.48 PB)

PORTERSTOWN: 8^th & 1^st woman Laura Nunan W11-14 (22.35)

ROYAL CANAL, KILCOCK: 51^st & 11^th woman Sinead O’Reilly W40 (26.20)

MALAHIDE: 138^th Angela O’Dea W35 (26.48 PB)

HARTSTOWN: 13^th Mark Devine M45 (22.13)

HIGHLIGHTS: Robert Murphy posted a 2.25.47 to finish 4^th in the M40 class in the BERLIN MARATHON. Kane Collins ran a PB 1.10.14 for 5^th in the CHARLEVILLE HALF. Eric Keogh 3^rd in the QUEEN’S CITY INVITATIONAL XC at North Carolina. Maura Kearns 3^rd woman in the NAAS 10km, with Sinead O’Reilly 5^th in a new PB time. Rory Burke 15^th in the ECO TRAIL WICKLOW 80km. Ciara Fitzgibbon 4^th woman in her debut WORLD’S END TRY-A-TRIATHLON in Co. Limerick. The cross-country season kicked off with the IRISH UNIVERSITIES at Glasnevin and the first DUBLIN JUVENILE LEAGUE fixture at Ballyboughal.

REPORT: Robert Murphy (2.25.47) narrowly failed to make the top 3 in the M40 category in the BERLIN MARATHON on Sunday morning. Finishing 37^th overall he was ranked 4^th in his age class, losing out to the 3^rd placed finisher Eric Herault of France by just 8 seconds. Murphy, who has a personal best of 2.22.10 set at the same venue in 2019, was the 15^th European finisher. He passed the halfway mark in 1.11.11 but struggled over the final 7 kilometres. The race, with more than 14,000 competitors, was won by Guya Adola of Ethiopia in 2.05.45.

Sean Fox was the club’s other representative in the Berlin Marathon. Fox ran an opening half of 1.20.30 and the back half in 1.26.29 to come home 443^rd in 2.46.59. He came 44^th in the M45 age group.

Kane Collins (1.10.14) ran a personal best to secure 5^th stop in the CHARLEVILLE INTERNATIONAL HALF-MARATHON in his native county Cork on Sunday. Collins expressed himself as being “absolutely delighted” with his effort having improved by three and a-half minutes for the distance in the last year. Not too far behind was Josh O’Sullivan-Hourihan, who crossed the line in 1.14.42 for 8^th place. The race was won by Yared Derese (1.05.15) of Monaghan Phoenix AC.

Eric Keogh (24.12) placed a brilliant 3^rd in the QUEEN’S CITY INVITATIONAL CROSS-COUNTRY RACE at Charlotte, North Carolina on Friday (24.09.2021). Representing Queen’s University (North Carolina) the Donore Harriers man was 2^nd scorer on his college team that placed 2^nd from 34 closing teams. The 8km race was won by Isaac Prather (23.43) from Concord University.

Maura Kearns, Sinead O’Reilly and Treasa Boylan toed the start line in the NAAS TOWN 10km ROAD RACE on Saturday. Kearns (40.44) came home 15^th overall and was 3^rd woman behind Irish international athlete Mary Mulhare from Portlaoise AC. Sinead O’Reilly (42.03) ran a super race to record a new personal best time and finish as 5^th woman (22^nd overall). Also, among the 373 finishers was Treasa Boylan (50.30) in 89^th position.

The ever-consistent Andrew Kinane came 14^th in the AON MULLINGAR HALF-MARATHON on Saturday in a time of 1.19.08. He came 7^th in the M40 age class. There were 536 finishers.

Rory Burke came 15^th from 128 competitors in the ECO WICKLOW 80km TRAIL on Saturday. The actual race distance was 80.7 kilometres, starting at Bray Head and taking in Dublin Bay, Killruddery Gardens, the Little and Great Sugarloaf climbs, Powerscourt, Roundwood, Lough Tay and the Vartry Reservoir. The total altitude gain was 2,660 metres. Burke completed the route in 9 hours, 11 minutes, and 21 seconds.

Ciara Fitzgibbon competed in the 12^th ANNUAL WORLD’S END TRY-A-TRI at Castleconnell village in Co. Limerick on Saturday. This was her maiden triathlon, where she had to do a 175m swim, a 22km cycle, and a 5km run. The swim took place on the Shannon River in front of the local boat club, the cycle took an out and back route to Birdhill in Co. Tipperary, with the run on local Castleconnell roads. Fitzgibbon was consistent over the 3 disciplines, with a 6.19 time for the swim, 47.40 for the cycle, and 26.51 for the run. She placed 18^th overall – 4^th woman – from 60 competitors with a total event time of 1.25.22.

It seems a long time since Oliver Hopkins and Abdel Laadjel blazed to glory in the All-Ireland Schools Cross-Country – in fact, more than 18 months! Thus, a very welcome return to the cross-country scene over the weekend. The IRISH UNIVERSITIES AA CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS took place at the DCU sportsground in Glasnevin on Saturday with three members of the club in action. In the women’s race over 4km Louise Murray (22.57) placed 17^th and Rachel Smyth (26.51) 29^th. In the men’s 8km race Matthieu Proffit (29.44) came 18^th. All were representing Trinity College Dublin. The first fixture in the DUBLIN JUVENILE CROSS-COUNTRY LEAGUE took place in a new venue at Ballyboughal in north county Dublin on Sunday morning. The course described by Club President Charlie O’Neill as “a very dry bumpy stubble field that caused a few falls” proved a testing experience for the young athletes. A full report and results will follow soon.

Other recent results include Louise Kelly (38.04) 57^th and 15^th woman in the RAS GAELSCOIL EANNA 7km ROAD RACE at Navan on the 19^th of September; and Aideen Burke (1.15.17) 30^th and 3^rd woman in the IRISH MOUNTAIN RUNNING ASSOCIATION LUGGALA RACE over 9km on the 18^th of September.

In the 5km PARKRUN SERIES Maura Kearns came 6^th and 1^st woman at Naas on the 18^th of September in a time of 18.40. Other parkrun results are listed below.

—————————————————-

RAS GAELSCOIL EANNA 7km ROAD RACE at Navan (19.09.2021)

57^th & 15^th woman: Louise Kelly (38.04).

90 finishers.

QUEEN’S CITY INVITATIONAL CROSS-COUNTRY at Charlotte, North Carolina (24.09.2021)

MEN’s 8km: 3^rd Eric Keogh (24.12)

313 finishers

AON MULLINGAR HALF-MARATHON (25.09.2021)

14^th & 7^th M40: Andrew Kinane (1.19.08)

536 finishers

BERLIN MARATHON (26.09.2021)

37^th & 4^th M40 Robert Murphy (2.25.47)

443^rd & 44^th M45 Sean Fox (2.46.59)

14,276 finishers

CHARLEVILLE INTERNATIONAL HALF-MARATHON in Co. Cork (26.09.2021)

5^th Kane Collins (1.10.14 PB)

8^th Josh O’Sullivan-Hourihan (1.14.42)

327 finishers

DUBLIN JUVENILE CROSS-COUNTRY LEAGUE FIXTURE 1 at Ballyboughal (26.09.2021)

Results and report to follow

NAAS TOWN 10km ROAD RACE (26.09.2021)

15^th & 3^rd woman Maura Kearns W35 (40.44)

22^nd & 5^th woman Sinead O’Reilly W40 (42.03 PB)

89^th Treasa Boylan (50.30)

373 finishers

IRISH UNIVERSITIES CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at DCU Sportsground, Glasnevin (26.09.2021)

Women’s race: 17^th Louise Murray TCD (22.57), 29^th Rachel Smyth TCD (26.51)

Men’s Race: 18^th Matthieu Proffit TCD (29.44)

12^th ANNUAL WORLD’S END TRY-A-TRI at Castleconnell, Co. Limerick (25.09.2021)

18^th & 4^th woman Ciara Fitzgibbon W45 (1.25.22)

60 competitors

ECO TRAIL WICKLOW 80km (25.09.2021)

15^th Rory Burke (9.11.21)

128 competitors

IMRA MOUNTAIN RACES

LUGGALA 9km (18.09.2021): 30^th & 3^rd woman Aideen Burke W35 (1.15.17)

75 finishers

PARKRUNS 5km

NAAS (18.09.2021): 6^th & 1^st woman Maura Kearns W35 (18.40), 50^th & 8^th woman Mary McDermott (23.45)

ROYAL CANAL, KILCOCK (25.09.2021): 29^th & 6^th woman Sinead O’Reilly W40 (24.23)

MALAHIDE (25.09.2021): 150^th Angela O’Dea W35 (27.36)

POPPINTREE (25.09.2021): 84^th & 31^st woman Eilish Joyce W35 (33.38)

HIGHLIGHTS: James Bolton PB and 4^th place in TAILTEANN GAMES intermediate boys 3,000m. Grace Kennedy-Clarke 3^rd woman in THE LAKES 10km ROAD RACE. In the RATOATH HALF-MARATHON Des Tremble is 9^th overall and 2^nd M50, Sean Fox 11^th and Ciaran Ryan 20^th with a PB. Ray Lonergan 16^th in the 200km long KERRY WAY ULTRA-RACE. Kane Collins had the misfortune of going off route in the TRALEE 10km.

REPORT: James Bolton (8.51.10), representing Belvedere College and Leinster, placed 4^th in the TAILTEANN GAMES and in the process knocked 11 seconds of his previous best time for the 3,000m distance. The intermediate boy’s race was won by Niall Flannan (8.41.62) of St. Flannan’s College. Bolton, coached by his father Declan, continues to make steady development and will be hopeful of the strong cross-country season.

The 12^th edition of the THE LAKES 10km ROAD RACE, organised by Lakeshore Striders AC, took place on a scenic route around Blessington Lake on Saturday (11.09.2021). Donore’s lone competitor Grace Kennedy-Clarke (40.41) ran a strong race to place 36^th overall and 3^rd woman behind the DSDAC pairing of Maria McCambridge (35.49) and Niamh Devlin (37.39). A total of 69 women completed the course.

Des Tremble (1.18.13) narrowly failed to win the M50 category in the RATOATH HALF-MARATHON in Co. Meath on Saturday morning (11.09.2021). Tremble was just 9 seconds behind the category winner Eddie Newman (1.18.04) of Mullingar Harriers. It was outstanding running by the two veterans who placed 8^th and 9^th in the overall race. Not too far behind was Donore Harriers Sean Fox (1.19.26) who placed 11^th overall and 5^th in the M40 class. There were two other club competitors with Ciaran Ryan (1.22.27) in 20^th spot bagging a new personal best time – and M40 athlete Patrick Farrell 110^th in a time of 1.38.15. There 314 finishers who were set off in two waves. The overall race was won by Colin Maher of Ballyfin AC in 1.10.17. The Donore Harriers (135) quartet of competitors combined to finish 4^th in the men’s team competition behind winners’ Trim AC (60).

Ray Lonergan set out to complete the KERRY WAY ULTRA RACE from Killarney at 6.00am on Friday 3^rd of September. Following a route that went past the scenic Lough Leane and the Killarney National Park, Lonergan then took the Kerry Way route past Glencar, Glenbeigh, Waterville, and Caherdaniel – before the route overlooked the Kenmare River Estuary past Sneem, Templenoe and Kenmare. The Donore Harriers man finished his epic running journey at 10.18.54 on Saturday morning, thus equating to 28-hours, 18-minutes and 54-seconds. The epic race attracts several overseas athletes, including competitors from GB, South Africa, Poland and Hungary. Lonergan placed 16^th of 127 competitors. The race has an approximate distance of 200km over a variety of terrains and elevations.

Kane Collins described his TRALEE 10km ROAD RACE (11.09.2021) experience as “a bit of a disaster”. He got himself DQed for going the wrong way. He explains: “It was really badly signposted and there were very few stewards – and no lead bike. I went the wrong way early in the race and had to double back. I still led the race and finished in 32.26 – at least according to my watch – for about the 10.1km that I raced. I felt strong over the last two miles, so its still a good confidence booster ahead of the Charleville half-marathon”. The winners’ plaque was presented to Mark Walsh of Leevale AC who won in a time of 33.13.

The popular Saturday morning PARKRUN series returned in most areas, not Dublin, with 42 editions held on the 11^th of September. W50 athlete Mary McDermott (25.20) placed 27^th of 99 finishers at RUSSBOROUGH in Co. Wicklow.

KERRY WAY ULTRA RACE at Killarney (03 & 04.09.2021)

16^th Ray Lonergan (28.18.54) – checkpoints = Brandons (2.11.23), Glencar (3.12.33), Glenbeigh (1.42.46), Waterville (6.36.34), Caherdaniel (1.55.12), Smeen (2.50.01), Templenoe (3.32.01), Kenmare (2.46.03), Finish (3.32.21).

127 competitors.

THE LAKES 10km ROAD RACE at Blessington (11.09.2021)

36^th & 3^rd woman: Grace Kennedy-Clarke (40.41)

194 finishers

RATOATH HALF-MARATHON (11.09.2021)

9^th overall & 2^nd M50: Des Tremble (1.18.13)

11^th & 5^th M40: Sean Fox (1.19.26)

20^th & 7^th Senior: Ciaran Ryan (1.22.27)

110^th& 44^th M40: Patrick Farrell (1.38.15)

314 finishers

TEAM: 1^st Trim AC (60); 4^th Donore Harriers (Tremble, Fox, Ryan & Farrell) 135.

TRALEE 10km ROAD RACE (11.09.2021)

DQed Kane Collins (went off course)

118 finishers

TAILTEANN GAMES at Santry (11.09.2021)

Boy’s 3,000m: 4^th James Bolton (8.51.10 PB)

PARKRUNS 5km

RUSSBOROUGH: 27^th Mary McDermott W50 (25.20)