Category Archives: Juvenile

Juvenile Race Report: O’Loughlin & Raftery A Stylish Donore 1-2 in Dublin Indoor 800m

Club News, Juvenile, Results

Report by Gerry Naughton

The Donore Harriers team had plenty to celebrate in the 2018 Dublin Indoor track and field championships at the National Arena at Abbotstown last weekend. Top of the bill was Louis O’Loughlin and Jack Raftery going head-to head in the Under 18 Boys 800m final on Sunday. O’Loughlin had already secured the 1500m title on the Saturday by front running a time of 4.05.79, whilst Jack Raftery won the 400m gold on the same day with an excellent 50.53 time.

Whilst waiting for the 800m final, Raftery jumped a personal best of 1.73m to secure gold in the High Jump. The training partners then brought the house down with two massive personal bests in a scintillating 800m race. O’Loughlin passed the first 200m in 26 seconds, with Raftery in close order. At the 400m mark the unrelenting O’Loughlin had a clear lead passing just outside 54 seconds, whilst Raftery (57 seconds) slipped back to 4th.

Something special was on when the boys reached the bell in 1.23 and 1.27 respectively. O’Loughlin had a big lead, but Raftery had already passed Cian Bolger of Clonliffe Harriers and was bearing down on Ben Jones of DSD AC. With both boys running 29 seconds for the final lap it meant a Donore Harriers gold and silver as O’Loughlin took more than 2 and a-half seconds of the personal best with a time of 1.52.24, whilst runner-up Raftery (1.56.64) took 3 seconds off his previous best mark.

Full Championships report to follow.

Race Report: National Indoor League Finals / Juvenile Indoor / AAI Games

Club News, Juvenile, Results, Senior

Donore Harriers Race Report – National Indoor Track & Field League finals at National Indoor Arena, Abbotstown (03.02.2018) / Dublin Juvenile Indoor Championships Day 1 (02.02.2018) / AAI Indoor Games (04.02.2018)

The Donore Harriers men’s team gained bronze after a close contest for the minor medal placings at the national indoor track & field league final at Abbotstown on Saturday (03.02.2018). In a similar battle, the women’s team fell just short of repeating the 3rd position of 2017 and had to settle for 5th.

The men’s team recorded 3 individual victories from the 12 events. Debutant Malcolm Duquesney (3.57.97) was a convincing winner of the 1500m with Eliot Slade (1.55.65) again dominating the 800m as he had done in the qualifying rounds. Eamon Fahey (13.15m) scored maximum points in the Triple Jump, having earlier placed 3rd in both the 60m (6.98) and High Jump (1.85m).

Team captain David Campbell, who concentrates to the 400m & 800m, took the vacant 60m Hurdles (12.99) spot and placed 4th gaining a valuable 3 points. Campbell’s leadership role was exemplified by stepping in as a late replacement for the injured Kolade Abiodun to gain another valuable point in the Long Jump (6th in 4.74m).

16 years-old Jack Raftery (50.53), gave himself a massive confidence boost ahead of next week’s Dublin Juvenile championship, by knocking 1.3 seconds of his previous best time to place a fine 4th in a competitive 400m race.

The other team members were: – Max Carey (3.30m) 3rd in Pole Vault; Jaco Oosthuysen (10.58m) 4th in Shot Putt; and Adam Halpin (23.58) 5th in 200m. The relay team of Eamon Fahey, David Campbell, Ben Iveagh and Alex Clarkin (1.33.83) came 4th in the final event of the day, thus ensuring the bronze medals.

The final team positions were: – 1st Clonliffe Harriers (61); 2nd Menapians AC (52); 3rd Donore Harriers (48); 4th Nenagh Olympic (45); 5th Galway City Harriers (33) and 6th Raheny Shamrocks (25).

A young women’s team fell just short of the medals despite some excellent individual performances. Aoife Lynch (7.65) gained a personal best when winning the 60m sprint. She later placed 2nd in the 200m in a time of 24.89. Ailbhe Healy (2.50m) came 2nd in the Pole Vault and 5th (1.35m) in the High Jump. Caoimhe Mackey (10.41) placed 4th in the 60m Hurdles, whilst Robyn O’Keeffe (6.76m) was 5th in the Shot Putt. Eliza NiThighearnaigh (5.35.77) in the 1500m, Clodagh Martin (63.63) in the 400m and Jona Kalemi (2.49.70) in the 800m all placed 7th in their events.

In the last individual contest of the day Lynda Tcheudji (10.74m), who earlier placed 5th in the Long Jump with a best of 4.41m, won the Triple Jump. The maximum points gained by Tcheudji put Donore Harriers (44) team back in the hunt for team medals, being just two points adrift of Craughwell AC and Sli Cualann AC (both 46) with Dublin City Harriers well clear.

It was all down to the relay! However, a young Donore quartet of Lauren O’Flaherty, Lucy Hurley, Lucy Kirwan and Suzi O’Farrell were disqualified due to an infringement and gained no further points.

The final team tallies were: – 1st Dublin City Harriers (78); 2nd Sli Cualann AC (51); 3rd Craughwell AC (50); 4th Galway City Harriers (46); 5th Donore Harriers (44); 6th Raheny Shamrocks (35) and 7th Clonliffe Harriers (35).

In the first day of the Dublin Indoor Juvenile championships at Abbotstown on Friday evening (02.02.2018) the Donore Harriers Under 18 Boys quartet of Daragh McAuley, Ben Iveagh, Louis O’Loughlin and Jack Raftery claimed the gold medal with a convincing win.

At the AAI Indoor Games on Sunday (04.02.2018) John Travers (8.10.87) sped away from the challenge of rising junior athlete Daragh McIlhenny (8.13.80) of Bantry AC on the final lap to win the 3,000m. Eliot Slade (8.21.50) was 3rd having competed the previous day in the national indoor league final. In a competitive 1500m race Daragh Fitzgibbon (3.54.83) came 7th, with newcomer Louis Catteau 8th in 4.00.45. David Campbell (2.07.51), tired from his previous day’s effort in the national indoor league final, placed 6th in Heat 3 of the 800m, whilst debutant Javier Romero (2.11.16) was 7th in Heat 4. Adam Halpin (54.59) placed 3rd in Heat 5 of the 400m.

Race Report: Donore Juveniles Compete in Easykit CrossCup in Belgium!

Club News, Events, Juvenile, Results

RACE REPORT – EASYKIT CROSS-CUP SERIES at HANNUT in BELGIUM (21.01.2018)

Report by Gerry Naughton
Photos by Darren Kinsella

Donore Harriers sent a juvenile/junior distance-running team to compete in the Easykit CrossCup event at Hannut in Belgium last weekend. The trip was part of an athlete development programme, funded through a sponsorship deal with the 123.ie insurance group. The Easykit CrossCup is a series of 6 high-profile cross-country events, hosted in different provinces of Belgium, that attracts some of the best athletes from across Europe.

Ruby Kelly was the first Donore Harrier into action in the Under 15/16 Girls race over 2km. She completed the mud-laden route in a time of 8 minutes and 30 seconds (8:30) to place 39th. First-season athlete Abdel Laadjel, again displayed his exciting potential in the Under 15/16 Boys race. Laadjel bravely chased the lead group in the early stages of his 2.5km race, before falling back at the half-way point. But his natural strength saw him battle back in the final 250 metres and he crossed the line in an impressive 8th position. His time of 8:51 compared well
against that of the winner Tom Delrez (8:22), the top-ranked Belgium athlete. 13 years-old Sean Kinsella, the youngest team member, placed 68th in the same race.

Roisin Brady (13:37) took 26th position in the Under 17/18 Girls race over 2 circuits of the 1.5km course. The Under 17/18 Boys race over 4.5km had 4 Donore athletes on the start line. The fast and frantic start saw all 4 badly boxed-in as the melee of athletes sprinted the first 200 metres towards the bend that led onto a narrow and dangerously-sloped part of the course. Louis O’Loughlin had to battle his way from the middle of the pack to gain ground on the leaders. He eventually settled into 6th position but found himself detached from the lead group of 4 athletes. As the race progressed, he put in a big effort to close the gap, but he had to succumb to the demands of the soft underfoot terrain and the constant tight turns of the meandering course and settled for 6th position. The race was won by Abdullah Dubad (15:42), with O’Loughlin (16:25) in 6th, middle-distance specialist Jack Raftery (18:08) putting in a solid effort to place 41st, Barney Kelly (18:12) stepping up an age-group placed 43rd, with Keenan McDonnell (19:02) in 61st.

In the Junior women’s race over 4.5km, Suzanne Masterson (21:42) came a very creditable 12th, with Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh (22:33) in 18th and Ciara Murphy (25:52), in her first club race after a long injury lay-off, in 21st. Sekeriye Ahmed (23:30) led the early stages of the Junior Men’s race over 6km, but the quality athletes soon came to the fore as Ahmed struggled to maintain a steady pace. He eventually had to settle for 20th position, whilst an improving Daniel Brady (25:17) ran his best-ever cross-country race to take the 37th spot.

Gerry Naughton, the team coach, described the weekend: “as a great opportunity for young athletes to experience cross-country running at a European level – and to, hopefully, feel inspired to give a long-term commitment to athletics”

Photo by Darren Kinsella

Photo by Darren Kinsella

Photo by Darren Kinsella

Photo by Darren Kinsella

Round-Up: National Indoor Combined Events & BHAA Eir XC

Club News, Juvenile, Results, Senior

On the 20th January, there was a couple of impressive Donore results at the national combined indoor championships in Athlone.

Lara O’Byrne won silver in the junior women’s pentathlon with a 3188 points total. She ran 9.24 for 60m hurdles, a 1.61m high jump, 8.73m shot put, 4.70m long jump and 2:33 800m. Max Carey won silver in the junior men’s competition with 9.10 for the 60m hurdles, a 5.66m long jump, 1.76m high jump and 3:10 for 1000m.

At the BHAA cross-country Eir race in Cherryfield, Maura Kearns was 4th in the women’s race and Kieran Beausang 44th in the men’s 4mile.

Donore Harriers Juvenile Development Programme in Partnership with 123.ie

Club News, Juvenile

Over the course of the club’s long history, Donore Harriers has always endeavoured to help our younger athletes give full expression to their talent. Whether it’s a 60m sprint or a javelin throw or a mucky cross-country race in the depths of winter, we see the positive difference that participation in athletics can make to young people’s lives and how much it contributes to the well-being of our juvenile members.

With this tradition in mind, we are delighted to announce the launch of the Donore Harriers Juvenile Development Programme in partnership with 123.ie, dedicated to the coaching of emerging and developing juvenile athletes.

The Juvenile Development Programme will provide additional resources for the coaching of athletes with the potential to challenge for national honours and international representation, including exposure to higher levels of competition in Britain and Europe, as well as more professional preparation through group training camps.

We are very proud to have a number of juvenile athletes at Donore Harriers with the talent and desire to compete at national and international level and, ultimately, to progress into senior global competition. The aim of this Programme is to assist such athletes in fulfilling their potential, as well as to encourage their peers and other younger athletes to emulate their dedication and success.

None of this would be possible without the generous support of 123.ie.

123.ie’s support will help many hard-working young athletes to increase the opportunities available to them through their participation in sport, and to achieve the sporting outcomes they deserve. Over the coming year, we will be sharing the experiences of the Juvenile Development Programme athletes as they prepare for competition – and glory!

Photo credit: Darren Kinsella

Louis O’Loughlin Achieves QT for the 2017 European Youth Olympics Festival

Club News, Juvenile, Results, Senior

15 year-old Louis O’Loughlin takes Dublin Senior 800m title and runs qualifying time for the 2017 European Youth Olympics Festival.

Competing in the Dublin Senior 800m championship race last Wednesday, Louis achieved the qualifying time for the European Youth Olympics Festival to be held in Gyor, Hungary at the end of July, leading from gun to tape to cross the line in 1.55.28, thus dipping inside the qualifying mark of 1.56.

On a balmy evening at the Tallaght Track, the championship race was incorporated in the 5th Dublin Open Graded meeting of the season. Louis was given a favourable middle lane, based on his recent 1.56.50 time when winning the Dublin Under 17 title. He was quickly into the lead and passed the 400m mark in about 56.5 seconds. Holding strong through the third-quarter he kicked on in the home straight to the cheers of his family and club supporters to gain the qualifying time and win his first senior title. A very fine achievement considering that he is still 15 years-old!
Cillian Doherty (1.58.22) of Rathfarnham AC placed 2nd, with James Nolan (2.00.19) of Drogheda & District AC in 3rd place.
Louis will make his debut for the Donore Harriers senior team when he competes in the 800m in the National Track & Field League at Tallaght this Sunday. He will not be daunted by the opposition! Well done this evening Louis!

~ Report by Gerry Naughton

Race Roundup Feb 15-24 inc. Dublin Juvenile Indoor Champs Report

Club News, Juvenile, Senior

After the excitement of the national senior indoors last week, we won’t forget the various other events from over the last couple of weeks.

AIT Grand Prix

There were Olympians and world class athletes aplenty at this meet which is now a firm favourite in the Irish athletics calendar. Just a few days before John Travers won the national indoor 1500m in a tight finish, his duel with Paul Robinson started here – John contested the mile race and was the first Irishman home, 5th in 4.02.54 (he went through 1500m in 3.46.09) to Robinson’s 4.02.77.

Enniscorthy 10k

Good runs here from Eoin Durkan 10th in 33.25, Anthony Flannery 11th 33.50 and Kieran Beausang 91st in 39.36

BHAA Cross Country ALSAA

Ann Woodlock was 1st W70 in the women’s race in 17.34 over 2 miles. In the 4 mile race, good to see men’s captain Rossa Hurley back after injury – he finished 8th and 2nd M35. Raj Puchon was 53rd (not long after doing the Donadea 50k in 4.25.16) , Barry Potts 61st and 1st M65, Joseph Maguire 88th, Terry Mee 107th and 1st M70 and Tom Halton 119th.

Wicklow Hospice Half-Marathon

This half marathon is on a tough course in Avondale/Rathdrum with a lot of hills so well done to one of our newer recruits Roisin Harkin who ran an excellent 95.17 (6th lady) and Rhona McHugh 1.41( 7th lady)

Duleek 5k

Well done Ken McKeown 18.45 and Ariana Ball 23.42

Scottish National Senior Cross Country Championship Falkirk

One of our newer members Fiona Hegarty ran for her Scottish club Edinburgh AC in this very tough race with a huge field and finished in 109th place

Spring Throws Event Dunboyne

Last weekend we had two athletes compete in the open springs throws in Dunboyne AC, in horrendous weather conditions. Lauren O Keeffe in the women’s hammer took 3rd place 47.57 in an international field with the Swedish athlete taking 1st place, Lauren’s brother Ryan opened his outdoor season competing in the discus with 25.25 for the 1.5kg discus.

Report from Day 2 of the Dublin Juvenile Championships and Medal round up by Leonie Newman

Another super day full of semi finals , finals, PBS and medals. Our first track medal this morning from Fathi Aden taking the under 17 1500m title Jack Raftery was 6th in the under 18 Zakariya Ahmed was 4th.

In the under 19 girls, Suzanne Masterson was 2nd and Eliza Ní Thighearnaigh 4th. In under 19 boys Graham Gilshinan and Daniel Brady was 6th .The 400m was also on with Clodagh Martin and Lara O’Byrne making it to the finals.

We had very few in field events today but still came away with medals .Sean Kinsella finished 3rd in boys under 14 high jump. Kolade Abidoun got gold and Lara O’Byrne took gold in the under 18. In the long jump Oliver Hopkins under 13 was unlucky to finish in 4th just outside the medals.

Our biggest entries were for the sprints and for a lot of our athletes it was their first time to race for the club . From under 9 to 19 our youngest medal came from under 10 Adam Clement in the 60 m winning gold – next up was his big brother Emmanuel who won silver in the boys under 15, Lucy Kirwan was 4th in the under 16 girls and Ben Iveagh was 4th boys under 17. Suzi O’Farrell won the under 18 60m title with 3 other Donore athletes making the final. Aoife Lynch continued her winning streak taking the under 19 title with Rebecca Slattery taking the silver .

It should be noted that we had a lot of athletes making semi finals today especially from the younger age groups many of whom had raced on Friday night.They showed great determination and lots of potential.
Amber Lynch under 9 , Cillian Mc Cooey under 9 ( first race for club ) both made it to finals, Leah Nunann and Roise Tavey under 10 made it to the semis
Full medal tally from the weekend as follows: 16 gold , 13 silver, 4 bronze

Under 9 girls
Amber Lynch 600m 2nd

Under 10 boys
Adam Clement 60m 1st

Under 11 boys
Matei Ursahi 600m 2nd
4×100 relay boys 1st

Under 14 girls
Denisa Ursu shot putt 1st

Under 14 boys
Sean Kinsella high jump 3rd 60m hurdles 3rd

Under 15 boys
Emmanuel Clement 60m 2nd

Under 16 girls
4 x200 relay 3rd

Under 17 boys
Jack Raftery 800m 2nd
Fathi Aden 1500 1st
Ryan O’Keeffe shot putt 2nd

Under 18 girls
Suzi O’Farrell 60m 1st 200m2nd
Ciaria O’Donnell 60mh 2nd
Lucy Hurly high jump 2nd
Jennifer Threadwell shot putt 2nd
Lara O’Byrne 1st in pole vault , high jump . Shot putt , and long jump

Under 18 boys
Kolade Aboduim 1st in long jump 60m h and 2nd in 60m

Under 19 girls
Suzanne Masterson 1500 2nd
Lauren O’Keeffe shot putt 1st
Roisin Rynn 60mh 1st
Aoife Lynch 60m 1st 200m1st
Rebecca Slattery 60m 2nd 200m 3rd
Relay 4×200 2nd

Under 19 boys
Iain Darragh shot putt 1st

Report by Florence Curley & Leonie Newman
Thanks to David Campbell for picture

Donore Seniors & Juveniles Impress at Dublin XC Championships

Club News, Juvenile, Results, Senior

It was a memorable and poignant day in Santry Demesne last Sunday at the Dublin XC championships, which started with success in the juvenile and junior races, including team medals in the U17 girls and U17 boys (both bronze). Individual juvneile highlights included another title for Louis O’Loughlin (stepping up an age group in u17), once again demonstrating his class on the country, as well as excellent 4th places for Fathi Aden (also stepping up in u17) and Barney Kelly in the u15 boys and a top 10 for Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh, who finished 8th in the u19 girls. Both medal-winning teams had several members stepping up an age group, which makes the achievement even more impressive. Full results below…

The successes continued at senior level; an individual bronze by Barbara Cleary was backed up by team medals in both men’s (silver) and women’s (bronze) races to make it a great day for the club.

This was a wonderful result for Donore Harriers’ women on a very emotional day in the first Dublin Seniors championships without Jim McNamara. But his girls are keeping his legacy going: a great third place for Barbara Cleary who is back on the scene with a bang, followed by super runs by Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill, Karla Doran, Sinéad Lambe, Aislinn Nic Dhomhnaill, Aisling Swaine and Florence Curley secured team bronze and, in the final results, the women were just 7 points off silver.

The winning DSD team were presented with the Jim McNamara Perpetual cup and Pat Hooper of Raheny Shamrocks, club president Iain Morrison and Jim’s brother Mick McNamara gave a great tribute speech at the presentation in the Clonliffe Bar afterwards, where Jim’s daughter Andrea Draper presented our women with their bronze medals, his son Shane presented the Crusaders girls with silver and his son James presented the gold medals to the winning DSD girls.

While it would have been great for the women to have won this Cup, it was always going to be tough in one of the most competitive races of the cross country season. Barbara’s individual bronze was an additional sweetener to the day and it is great to see her back where she belongs after a long battle with injury. It’s 2009 since the women won a silver in the Nationals and this new look squad is the best senior team in years, with great medal potential in the future, with younger and faster women coming through.

Jim would have been very very pleased with his team: Sorcha, Karla, and Sinéad packed well and are running at a new level. Sinéad hasn’t competed in this race in 3 years and it’s great to see her running so well on the cross country after a bad injury stricken few years. And a super run from Aislinn NicDhomhnaill with her first race back after having her second baby in March days after Jim’s passing. Here’s wishing Íde Nic Dhomhnaill and Maura Kearns a speedy recovery from injury. and team captain Florence Curley did great to tough it out as she’s on the comeback trail after missing months of training with injury too.

The men’s squad was missing a few key runners through injury but, despite this, put in a brilliant performance to get a well deserved team silver medal behind Raheny Shamrock who were awarded the Padraig Keane memorial cup. First home for Donore was Eric Keogh in a fantastic 4th place, followed by John Travers in 5th, Mael Lambert (8th), Rossa Hurley (23rd), Niall Lynch (34th), Ken Nugent (36th).

All attention now turns to the National Inter Clubs Championships in Abbotstown on the 27th of this month where both senior men and women will be in the hunt for medals.

RESULTS FROM THE DUBLIN UNEVEN AGES JUVENILE CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS held at SANTRY DEMESNE on 6th NOVEMBER 2016 (provisional)
U.9 GIRLS (800m) = 19th Amber Lynch (step-up)
U.9 BOYS (800m) = 33rd David Mulcahy
U.11 GIRLS (1.5km) = 19th Honor Lynch; 34th Laura Nunan; 37th Eve Conroy; 40th Emily Windsor; 41st Aobhinn McCooey
TEAM: no team result available
U.11 BOYS (1.5km) = 10th Matei Ursachi (step-up); 33rd Joe Kinsella; 42nd James Dunne (step-up)
U.13 BOYS (2.5km) = 30th Cillian Gleason; 31st Sean Kinsella; 32nd Oliver Hopkins; 41st Michael Barry
TEAM: no team result available
U.15 BOYS (3.5km) = 4th Barney Kelly; 32nd Alan Reid
U.17 GIRLS (4.0km) = 11th Roisin Brady (step-up); 22nd Emer Rynn-Cahill; 23rd Shona Smith (step-up); 26th Elena Gaina; 27th Lauryn Dunne; 28th Kate Lynch; 29th Abby Byrne (step-up).
TEAM: 1st Dundrum South Dublin AC; 2nd Clonliffe Harriers; 3rd Donore Harriers
U.17 BOYS (5.0km) = 1st Louis O’Loughlin (step-up); 4th Fathi Aden (step-up); 22nd Liam Brophy; 25th Jack Raftery (step-up); 26th Keenan McDonnell (step-up); DNF = James Murphy (illness)
TEAM: 1st Clonliffe Harriers; 2nd Dundrum South Dublin AC; 3rd Donore Harriers
U.19 GIRLS (4.0km) = 8th Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh
JUNIOR MEN (6.0km) = 23rd Sam Gallagher; 33rd Michael Gibbs

Leinster Schools Combined Indoor & WMA Champs Perth

Club News, Juvenile, Results

Leinster Schools Combined Indoor Championships

Well done to Roisin Rynn Cahill who came 3rd in the Senior girls Leinster Schools combined indoor championships on Wednesday 19th October in Athlone, she will now go to the Nationals.  Lara O Byrne (Inter girls) was lying in 2nd place with 3 new pbs when she had to pull out with an injury.

Max Carey placed well up in the Inter boys just outside of medals in a big field of over 30, with final results not yet to hand.

Well done to everyone! It was by all accounts a very long day…

World Masters Athletics championships

Great news from the World Masters Athletics championships in Perth Australia, where Anne Gormley competed in the first of her events.
She won a team silver medal for Ireland in the W40 8k cross country race with teammates Cathy McCourt and Sue Zlany.  Anne will be back in action in two racewalking events soon.  Well done Anne and good luck with the next races!

Dublin Juvenile Even Ages XC Championships Report

Club News, Juvenile, Results

The Dublin Juvenile Even Ages XC Championships Report was held yesterday in Abbotstown. Outstanding athlete Louis O’Loughlin won the Boys under 16s race (4km) with 100 metres to spare over his nearest rival and team-mate Fathi Aden. Barney Kelly, stepping up an age group and making his Donore Harriers debut, proved to be the surprise athlete in the race by placing an excellent 9th. With Jack Raftery retiring mid-race due to illness, it was left to Keenan McDonnell to close the scoring team in 33rd position. Alan Reid, a member of the club for several years and stepping up an age group, was the non-scoring athlete and fully deserving of his first Dublin championship medal. Clonliffe Harriers closed on 22 points with Donore Harriers next on 45, ten ahead of DSD.

DSD dominated the under 18s girls race (4km) closing 4 athletes in the first 5. However, consistent running by the Donore team was good enough to gain team silvers on 52 points – just 3 ahead of Raheny Shamrocks. Suzanne Masterson led the team home in 8th place with Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh one place behind. Debutante Emma Grandgeorge had a very satisfactory run in placing 16th with Grace Hutton closing the team score in 19th. Emer Rynn-Cahill, stepping up in age group, placed 21st.

Matei Ursachi got the day off to a promising start when he repeated his fine run in the recent Dublin Juvenile League by placing 2nd in the Boys under 10s race. Matei is certainly a young athlete to watch out for in the future!

Other notable performances came from Faye Leigh-Quinn who was 12th in the Girls under 10s; from Roisin Brady 14th in the girls under 16s race; and from Grace Raftery and Honor Lynch, who placed 20th and 27th respectively in a very competitive Girls under 12s race.

5 medals – 1 gold (Louis O’Loughlin) and 4 silver (Fathi Aden, Matei Ursachi, u.16 Boys and u.18 girls).

Well done to all!

Provisional results from today’s Dublin Juvenile Even-Ages XC Championships at Abbotstown. u.10 Boys = 2nd Matei Ursachi; 30th Adam Clement; 41st Louis Wright. U. 10 Girls = 12th Faye Leigh Quinn; u.12 Girls = 20th Grace Raftery; 27th Honor Lynch; 49th Aoibhinn McCooey; 52nd Brooke Fagan; 53rd Laura Nunan; 54th Emily Windsor, 58th Emma Quigley: u.12 Boys = 44th Daniel O’Neill; 48th Fergus Johnson: u.16 Girls = Roisin Brady: u.16 Boys = 1st Louis O’Loughlin; 2nd Fathi Aden; 9th Barney Kelly (step-up & debut); 33rd Keenan McDonnell; 36th Alan Reid (step-up) TEAM = 1st Clonliffe Harriers 22; 2nd Donore Harriers 45; 3rd DSD 55: u.18 Girls = 8th Suzanne Masterson; 9th Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh; 16th Emma Grandgeorge (debut); 19th Grace Hutton; 21st Emer Rynn-Cahill (step-up) TEAM = 1st DSD 11; 2nd Donore Harriers 52; 3rd Raheny Shamrocks 55.