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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In the last day of the national juvenile track and field competition in Tullamore, we had another national medal, this time by our U18 girls relay team of Roisin Rynn Cahill, Lauren Flattery, Ailbhe Healy and Aoife Lynch.  This was a great achievement for a new team so lots more to come from this group.  The U16 girls team of Robyn OKeeffe , Suzi OFarrell, Cara Brennan And Lucy Hurly were just outside the medals in 4th.  We had 2 U17 teams who finished 7th and 8th respectively.

In the Schools International track and field in Grangemouth stadium Scotland, Jack Rudden Kelly represented Ireland in the 110H and finished 6th in 13.92; he helped the Irish team to the overall silver medal, well done Jack.

We also wish the very best of luck to 16 year old Hammer thrower Lauren O’keeffe who represents Ireland this week at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Tiblisi Georgia.  Hopefully it will be the first of many Irish vests for Lauren.

Round 2 of the national league took place in Santry today and once again the ladies were able to cover every event thanks to our budding juvenile team, some of who competed in Tullamore the day before.  Maximum points were scored by Ailbhe Healy in the pole vault and earlier she came 4th in the 100 hurdles.  The ever consistent Anne Gormley was 2nd in the 1500k walk.  Late call-up Karla doran had an excellent 1500m finishing 2nd in her 3rd race in 7 days.  It was great to see Barbara Cleary back on form and putting it up to Teresa McGloin to finish 2nd in the 3000m.  Orlaith Read finished 3rd in the shot,  clodagh Read 3rd in the hammer and Aoife Lynch 3rd in the 200m.  We had  4th and 5th placed finishes in other events – some athletes were feeling the effects of other races, doubling up and holiday breaks but the important thing is g getting the team out.  While the points tally isn’t official yet, the ladies finished 5th in the Santry pool with 89.5 points on what was a competitive day – we anxiously await the official results and totals of both pools to see if it is enough to reach the final !

On the roads we had some podium finishes this week.  Karla Doran finished 3rd lady in the BHAA Dcc 5k in Irishtown in 19.19.  Colm O Connell finished 6th man in 16.25.
Breda Mahony was 2nd lady in the Mullingar 10 mile in 67.53.

Ken Norgrove was 1st M45 in the Fingal 10k swords in 34.30.  Grace Kennedy  finished 5th lady in 39.13 and Florence Curley 7th lady in 39.36.

Full results

BHAA DCC 5k
Colm Oconnell 6th 16.25 Karla doran 3rd lady 19.19 des gill 20.30 Julia Hackett 21.49 ann woodlock 1st W75 27.53

St James hospital 6k

Colin Moore 25.48 Lauren Brady 27.46 Emer fogarty 29.33 Aisling Hannon 30.05

Mullingar 10 mile

Dave Heffernan 20th 60.14 Derek O’Neill 64.23 Breda Mahony 2nd 67.53

Fingal 10k
Ken Norgrove 1st M45 34.30 Patrick moriarty 35.50 Patrick Byrne 37.15 Michael Gibbs 38.18 grace Kennedy 5th 39.13 Florence Curley 7th lady 39.36 Ariana ball 45.32 Catherine McKeon 49.55

Graded meet 7
100m B Ailise keating 13.55 3rd
100m C Sean Obroinn 12.17 1st
400m A David Campbell 54.16 5th
400mB Conor Fox 53.51 6th
400m C1 Zak Higgins 53.26 1st
400m C2 killian OHora 56.84 2nd
1500m Stephen Gavin 4.20.4 12th
1500m B1 Darragh Fitzgibbon 3.59.06 1st
1500m B2 Luke Boland 4.16.51 3rd

Park runs
Griffeen 1st George Brady 17.58
Waterstown 2nd Michael Barry 21.37 5th Noah Synott 22.04 Michael Barry Jr 22.37
Naas 7th Ian Redican 20.31

John Travers had to overcome a huge emotional hurt as he lined out for the final of the 1.500 metres at the World University Games in Gwangiu, South Korea last Friday (10/7/15). Having qualified for the final two days earlier by placing 2^nd in heat 3 in a fine time of 3.44.48 John had an outside chance of making the podium. Less than 48 hours to the final and the news from home was that his father Stephen had passed away following a long-term illness. John, who described his father as “a truly great friend and the most inspirational person in my life”, could not be faulted for sheer determination in the final.

The fast pace throughout the race did not suit John’s usual tactic of relying on his lightning finishing speed. The leaders passed the 800m mark in 1.58.16 with John in fourth place. However, a continued fast pace saw Travers slip to 9^th, before he rallied again in the closing stages to place 8^th in a fast time of 3.42.63. The race was won by Russian athlete Aleksei Kharitonov (3.39.13).

In the Irish Milers Club / GV Ryan track meeting at Santry on Saturday (11/7/15) Eamonn Fahey (48.78) placed 2^nd in the 400 metres, as he continues to progress in the event having moved up from the shorter sprint distances this season. In the 3,000m both Michael McMahon (8.55.46) and John Dunne (8.56.16) recorded personal bests as they placed 10^th and 11^th. In front of them Lee Van Haeften battled hard in blustery conditions to come home 4^th in 8.36.41. Eric Keogh (3.53.75) came 7^th in a competitive Ronnie Delany 1.500m race.        

With one race remaining in the Irish Mountain Running Association Leinster League Donore’s Niall Lynch is guaranteed of a top 2 placing following his latest good result in the series. Lynch (53.17) placed 2^nd in the penultimate race over a 12 kilometres course, with a total climb of 490 metres, at Ballinastoe near Roundwood (8/7/15).

George Brady (3.06.17) continues to be a prolific marathon runner as he placed 5^th in the Marathon Des Escargot at Portarlington.

The women’s section also had some encouraging results in the last week. A much improved Karla Doran (25.32) recorded a fine win in the women’s category of the Dunleer 4 mile road race; Ide Nic Dhomhnaill (26.02) was 3^rd woman home in theDrumcollogher 4 mile road race in County Limerick; and an ever improving Ashling Swaine (19.08) recorded yet another personal best when she placed 4^th woman in the Kinnegad 5km road race, with Emer Rattigan (19.50) in 5^th place.    

Day 2 and 3 of the National Juvenile Track & Field Championships took place at Tullamore over the weekend of 11^thand 12^th July. Donore Harriers gained 3 more medals; two in an exciting under 15 Boys 1,500m race. Thus, Louis O’Loughlin and Fathi Aden were back in action following their 1^st and 3^rd placings in the 800 metres competition on the previous weekend.  The tempo of the 1,500 metres final was high from the start. Ben Jones of Greystones AC set the early pace, before first O’Loughlin and then Aden took turns at the front. With 400 metres remaining it was the two Donore lads at the front with Jones and Conor Maguire of Monaghan Phoenix in hot pursuit. The final 200 metres was frantic! O’Loughlin (4.17.95) used his superior kick finish to reach the line as the clear winner, but the other 3 athletes were involved in a photo finish. After a long wait the result matched that of the 800m, as Ben Jones (4.20.17) came 2^nd and Fathi Aden (4.20.44) got the verdict for 3^rd spot. A fast finishing Conor Maguire (4.20.45) missed out by just one-hundred of a second. Both Louis and Fathi knocked over 8 seconds of their previous best times.

Donore’s other medal winner was Ailbhe Healy who took bronze with a personal best of 2.75m in the under 18 Girls Pole Vault.

Stephen Gavin (9.20.0) also recorded a PB when 5^th in the under 19 Boys 1,500m. Adam Maher could not improve on his second round throw of 41.27m in the under 16 Boys Hammer and had to settle for 5^th place, whilst Oran O’Brien was also just out the medals in the Boys under 18 age group. Oran placed 4^th in the Shot Putt with a 3^rd round throw of 11.69m and 5^thin the Discus with 36.23m. Rebecca Power (27.00m) came 6^th in the under 16 Girls Javelin.

A number of track athletes displayed their emerging talent. Conor Fox reached the final of the under Boys 400m with a heat time of 55.12, but had to settle for 8^th overall in a time of 55.51. Ailise Keating (13.32) came 6^th in the final of the under 19 Girls 100m. Other results are listed below. It should be noted that the under 17 Girls 1,500m race was run in torrential rain. As the officials and spectators all found cover 17 rain soaked athletes, including Donore’s Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh and Ciara Murphy, took to the start line and ran the whole race in a downpour. Eliza placed 12^th and Ciara 15^th.  

World University Games at Gwangju, South Korea (10/7/15) – Men’s 1,500m Final – 8^th John Travers (IRL) 3.42.63;(8/7/15) – Men’s 1,500m Heat 3 – 2^nd John Travers (3.44.48)

Drumcollogher 4 mile road race, Limerick (6/7/15): 24^th / 3^rd woman Ide Nic Dhomhnaill (26.02)

Irish Mountain Running Association Leinster League at Ballinastoe, Roundwood -distance 12km, climb 490m (8/7/15):2^nd Niall Lynch M40 (53.17), 16^th Gavin Byrne (58.13), 139^th Sarah Ni Ruairc F35 (1.47.18)

Kinnegad 5km Road Race (9/7/15): 34^th / 4^th woman Ashling Swaine (19.08 PB); 50^th / 5^th woman Emer Rattigan (19.50); 77^th Des Gill M40 (21.04); 130^th Jim McNamara M60 (23.19)

Irish Milers Club / GV Ryan Meet at Santry (11/7/15): Men’s 400m ‘A’ – 2^nd Eamonn Fahey (48.78), 6^th David Campbell (52.71); Men’s 400m ‘B’ – 7^th Adam Halpin JNR (55.69); Ronnie Delany 1,500m – 7^th Eric Keogh (3.53.75); Men’s 1,500m ‘C’ – 6^th Luke Boland (4.21.93); Men’s 3,000m ‘A’ – 4^th Lee Van Haeften (8.36.41), 10^th Michael McMahon (8.55.46 PB), 11^th John Dunne M35 (8.56.16 PB); Men’s 3,000m ‘B’ – 7^th Sam Allen (9.29.56)   

Marathon Des Escargot, Portarlington (11/7/15): 5^th George Brady M35 (3.06.17)

Griffeen 5km Parkrun (11/7/15): 6^th Derek O’Neill M45 (18.52)

Dunleer 4 mile road race (12/7/15): 35^th / 1^st woman Karla Doran (25.32)

LATE RESULT: BHAA / Irish Prison Service 5km at Phoenix Park (23/6/17): 44^th Alma Hanevy F35 (19.41), 45^th Noel Conway M40 (19.42), 46^th Ian Redican M40 (19.46), 50^th John Gleeson (20.01), 68^th Des Gill M45 (20.37), 111^th Terry Mee M70 (22.26), 208^th Ann Woodlock F75 (28.39)

National Juvenile Track & Field Championship Day 2 at Tullamore (11/7/15).

Bronze = u/18 Girls Pole Vault – 3rd Alibhe Healy (2.75m PB)
Other results: – u16 Girls 100m Heat 1 – 6th Suzi O’Farrell (13.09); u16 Girls Javelin – 6th Rebecca Power (27.00m); u17 Girls 100m Heat 1 – 7th Lauren Flaherty (13.51); u19 Girls 100m Final – 6th Ailise Keating (13.32); u16 Boys Hammer – 5th Adam Maher (41.27m); u16 Boys 3,000m – 10th Sekeriye Ahmed (10.24.67); u18 Boys Shot Putt – 4th Oran O’Brien (11.69m); u19 Boys 100m Heat 1 – 6th Sean Classman (11.74); u19 Boys 400m Heat 1 – 4th Conor Fox (55.12 Q): u19 Boys 400m Final – 8th Conor Fox (55.51); u19 Boys 3,000m – 5th Stephen Gavin (9.20.0 PB)

National Juvenile Track & Field Championships Day 3 at Tullamore (12/7/15).
Gold – u/15 Boys 1500m – 1st Louis O’Loughlin (4.17.95 PB)
Bronze – u/15 Boys 1500m – 3rd Fathi Aden (4.20.44 PB)
Other results – u/16 Girls 200m Heat 2 – 8^th Robyn O’Keeffe (28.48); u/17 Girls 300m Hurdles Heat 2 – 5th Roisin Rynn-Cahill (51.60); u/17 Girls 1500m Final – 12th Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh (5.21.93), 15th Ciara Murphy (5.35.17) run in torrential rain; u/18 Girls Triple Jump – 8th Leanne Brosnan (9.23m); u/18 Boys 1500m Heat 2 – 10th Michael Gibbs (4.32.63); u18 Boys Discus – 5th Oran O’Brien (36.23m)Discus – 5^th Oran O’Brien (36.23m); u/19 Boy 200m Heat 1 – 5^th Conor Fox (24.29)

The front running of Donore Harriers pair Louis O’Loughlin and Fathi Aden in the Boys 800m under 15s category was one of the highlights of Day 1 of the National Juvenile Track & Field championships at Tullamore last Saturday (4/7/15). Both boys won their respective heats with Louis recording a time of 2.11.39 and Fathi 2.12.55. In the final the tactic was for Fathi to take up the pace so as to burn out the opposition and set the race up for his team-mate. With 200 metres to go Fathi Aden led with Louis and Ben Jones of Greystones AC in close pursuit. The remainder of the field were out the back door, being some 20 metres further back. In the final 100 metres Louis (2.04.92) again displayed his finishing kick to win his first national title in the black and white of Donore Harriers. Fathi (2.09.90) faded and had to give way to Ben Jones (2.07.2), settling for a bronze medal. Louis and Fathi both recorded personal best times.

Donore’s other medal winners were Jack Rudden-Kelly (15.34) who placed 2^nd in the u/17 Boys 100m Hurdles – and newcomer Keri Noonan who won the bronze medal in the u/14 Girls Hammer with her sixth and final throw of 29.10 metres.

Other notable performances came from 4^th placed Beth Kirwan (33.94m) who was just 13cm short of a medal in the u/15 Girls Hammer; Suzanne Masterson (8.28.73) who came 5^th in the 2,000m Steeplechase beating her previous best time by 8 seconds; an improving Robyn O’Keeffe (21.28m) who placed 8^th in the u/16 Girls Discus; and Lucy McCann (2.29.26) who broke the 2.30 barrier for the first time when placing 12^th in the u/17 Girls final. Whilst Conor O’Ceallaigh may not have reached the final of the Boys u/14s 800m, his personal best time of 2.21.63 when placing 7^th in the semi-final augurs well for his future in athletics.

In the 6^th Dublin Open Graded Track & Field meeting of the summer at Tallaght (1/7/15) Eamonn Fahey (49.04) showed good form ahead of the national league and championship races by winning the 400m ‘A’ race. Track captain David Campbell (53.02) won the 400m ‘B’ race ahead of club colleague and junior category athlete Conor Fox (54.59). Other junior athletes showed good form as Karen Hughes (66.41) and Caoimhe Mackey (66.46) placed 3^rd and 4^th in the women’s 400m ‘B’ race; Stephen Gavin (9.23.01) knocked almost 12 seconds off his previous best time in the 3,000m ‘A’ race placing 11^th; and Oran O’Brien (10.88m & 33.71m) placed 3^rd in the Shot Putt and 2^nd in the Discus.

In the National u/23 Track & Field championships at Tullamore on Sunday (5/7/15) Daragh Fitzgibbon (4.03.72) and Sam Allen (4.22.33) placed 6^th and 11^th respectively in a competitive 1,500 metres race.   

In the latest Irish Mountain Running Association Leinster League race at Trooperstown last Wednesday Niall Lynch (42.46) came 2^nd, with Graham Hopkins 5^th in 44.09. The race was run over a distance of 9 kilometres with a total climb of 430 metres. Lynch leads the competition with just two races remaining in the series. 

In the Ironman European Triathlon Championship at Frankfurt (5/7/15) Andy Kinane came an excellent 230^th overall with a total time of 10.26.01 and Niall J. O’Reilly placed 809^th in a field of 2,200 plus competitors with a total time of 11.51.03.

In the South O’Hanlon 5km road race near Navan (1/7/15) Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill (19.05) placed 36^th overall and 4^thwoman home, with Jim McNamara (23.31) in 93^rd spot claiming 2^nd prize for the over 65s.

There were Saturday morning (4/7/15) Parkrun 5km series wins for Ken Nugent (17.00) at Tymon Park; Gavin Byrne (18.02) at Waterstown; and Barbara Murray (19.51) at St. Anne’s Park.

In the Achill Half-Marathon on Sunday (5/7/15) Alma Hanevy (1.30.51) had a fine run, placing 42^nd overall and 4^th in the over 35 class just 3 seconds short of 3^rd place.                                                                                        

Dublin Open Graded Meeting No. 6 at Tallaght Track (1/7/15): 400m ‘A’ – 1^st Eamonn Fahey (49.04); 400m ‘B1’ – 1^stDavid Campbell (53.02), 2^nd Conor Fox JNR (54.59), 4^th Killian O’Hora (54.81); 400m ‘C1’ – 6^th Sean O’Broin M45 (58.41); Women’s 400m ‘B2’ – 3^rd Karen Hughes JNR (66.41), 4^th Caoimhe Mackey JNR (66.46); 3,000m ‘A’ -11^th Stephen Gavin JNR (9.23.01 PB): 3,000m ‘C1’ – 1^st Paul Cummins (9.49.53); Women’s 3,000m ‘A’ – 11^th Ide Nic Domhnaill (10.50.43); Men’s Shot Putt – 3^rd Oran O’Brien JNR (10.88m); Men’s Discus – 2^nd Oran O’Brien JNR (33.71m)   

South O’Hanlon 5km Road Race at Senchelstown, Navan (1/7/15): 36^th / 4^th woman Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill (19.05), 93^rd/ 2^nd M65 Jim McNamara (23.31)

IMRA Leinster League at Trooperstown Hill 9.00km with climb of 430 metres (1/7/15): 2^nd Niall Lynch M40 (42.46), 5^th Graham Hopkins M40 (44.09) 

Achill Half-Marathon (4/7/15): 42^nd / 4^th F35 Alma Hanevy (1.30.51)

Clontarf Half-Marathon (4/7/15): Nicola Dowdall (1.48.54), Laura Murray (1.55.54 PB)

Clontarf 5 Mile (4/7/15): Bob Blake (32.09), Julia Hackett (36.55)

Clarisford 5km Parkrun (4/7/15): 16^th / 4^th woman – Angela O’Dea (24.29)

Griffeen 5km Parkrun (4/7/15): 3^rd George Brady M35 (18.32)

St. Anne’s 5km Parkrun (4/7/15): 11^th / 1^st woman Barbara Murray F40 (19.51)

Tymon 5km Parkrun (4/7/15): 1^st Kenneth Nugent (17.00)

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (4/7/15): 1^st Gavin Byrne (18.02), 3^rd Colin Morrissey M35 (19.54)

National Junior & u/23 Track & Field Championships at Tullamore (5/7/15): u/23 1,500m – 6^th Daragh Fitzgibbon (4.03.72), 11^th Sam Allen (4.22.33)

Ironman European Triathlon Championship at Frankfurt (5/7/15): 230^th Andy Kinane = Swim (1.06.42), Bike (5.25.47), Run (3.40.55), Overall (10.26.01: 809^th Niall J. O’Reilly = Swim (1.29.27), Bike (6.05.42), Run (4.04.22), Overall (11.51.03)

Donore Harriers star junior athlete Sean Lawlor teamed up with Tallaght AC pair Eoin Doherty and Joseph Ojewumi and Zak Irwin from Sligo AC on the Irish team (40.89) that came 5^th in the 4 x 100m relay at the Mainheim Junior Gala last weekend (27&28/6/15). Running in the 3^rd leg Sean played his part in helping the team achieve the qualifying standard for the European Junior Championships to be held in Sweden next month.

Sean (21.93) finished 5^th in the semi-final of the 200m at the same meeting.

At the British Milers Club Grand Prix meeting at Watford on Saturday (27/6/15) Lee Van Haeften (14.28.65) ran a personal best time when placing 8^th in a very competitive 5,000m ‘B’ race. At the same event Eric Keogh (3.50.44) came 9^th in the 1.500m ‘D’ race, being two seconds short of his previous best time for the distance.

There was a good turn-out of Donore athletes in the Irish Runner 5 mile road race in the Phoenix Park on Saturday (27/6/15). Graham Hopkins (27.58) was the first clubman home placing 25^th overall and 3^rd in the M40 category. Other notable performances came from – Phil Hennessy (28.11), who crossed the line in 28^th position and won M45 class; Grace Kennedy (31.30) who came 105^th overall and 3^rd in the senior women’s race; Florence Curley (32.54) who was 3^rd in the women’s over 40 category when she was the 165^th athlete home; and Terry Mee (37.35) who won the M70 age group placing 510^th overall. Special mention for Laura Murray who got a new personal best of 38.54.

At the St. Coca’s 5km road race on Friday evening (26/6/15) Chris Muldoon (16.04) won the M40 category, placing 17^th overall. Sinead Graham (20.30) was the 17^th senior woman over the line as she placed 139^th overall.

Regular marathon runner George Brady (2.59.24) came 13^th overall in the Viking Waterford Marathon on Saturday (27/6/15). Newcomer Michael Barry (20.37) continues to improve gaining a new PB when he placed 3^rd overall at the Poppintree 5 kilometres Parkrun(27/6/15).     

After a marathon time-out Niall Lynch returned to his mountain running exploits and ran out the winner of the latest round of theLeinster Mountain Running league at Brockagh, near Laragh last Wednesday (24/6/15). Niall covered the 10.43km route with a total climb of 424 metres in 49.39. Niall remains 2^nd overall in the league series but has a ‘run in hand’. Sarah Ni Ruairc (1.05.34) lies 27^thoverall in the women’s series after placing 74^th at Brockagh.

In the Austria Ironman Triathlon event on Sunday (28/6/15) Kim Hickey recorded a time of 10 hours and 26 minutes placing as the 5^th woman in her age category, whilst Medbh Peavoy finished 12th in her category in 12 hours 50 minutes.

The Donore Harriers juvenile team has been boosted by the news that Hammer thrower Lauren O’Keeffe u/17s has been selected to compete in the forthcoming Youth Olympics in Tbilisi.   

At the St. Coca’s 5km road race six athletes from the juvenile distance squad competed with 4 gaining personal bests. Under 15s athlete Fathi Aden (16.43) came 25^th overall in the race and was the 2^nd junior home. Despite making a big effort at the start of the race he held on to gain a PB by just one second. Michael Gibbs (17.14) and Nahom Alem (17.31) both under 18s achieved new best times when placing 44^th and 52^nd overall (4^th and 6^th in the Junior category). Ciara Murphy u/17s (19.52) deserved just reward for her dedication in training to break the 20 minutes barrier for the first time. She placed 126^th overall and was the 3^rd junior girl.  

In the Parkrun 5km series Michael Barry u/12s (22.25) came 10^th at Poppintree and Noah Synnott u/13s (21.25) was also 10^th atWaterstown.

In the National Juvenile Combined Events championships at Tullamore (27/6/15) Lucy Hurley u/16s, a newcomer to this kind of competition, performed admirably placing 7^th overall with 2161 points. Her best effort in the 5 disciplines competition came in her favoured High Jump when she cleared 1.55m.

In the Children’s Games Team championships at the same venue Donore Harriers had just one pair of competitors as under 11s Brooke Fagan (2.04.96) and Grace Raftery (2.03.78) teamed up to place 11^thin the 600 metres race in a combined time of 4.08.74.     

IMRA Leinster League at Brockagh, Laragh 10.43km with climb of 424 metres (24/06/15): 1^st Niall Lynch (49.39), 74^th Sarah Ni Ruairc (1.05.34) 

St. Coca’s 5km at Kilcock (26/06/15): 17^th / 1^st M40 Chris Muldoon (16.04), 139^th / 17^th SenF Sinead Graham (20.30)

Viking Waterford Marathon (27/06/15): 13^th George Brady M35 (2.59.24)

Irish Runner 5 mile at Phoenix Park (27/06/15): 25^th / 3^rd M40 Graham Hopkins (27.58), 28^th / 1^st M45 Phil Hennessy (28.11), 81^st / 36^th Sen Patrick Byrne (30.34), 89th / 10^th M40 Alan Farrell (30.55), 105^th / 3^rd SenF Grace Kennedy (31.30), 136^th / 21^st M40 Ian Redican (32.20), 160^th / 3^rd Jnr Michael Gibbs (32.25), 165^th / 3^rd F40 Florence Curley (32.54), 231^st / 18^th M45 Peter Nugent (34.01), 253^rd/ 5^th F35 Alma Hanevy (34.19), 357^th / 110^th M35 Gerard Morris (35.44), 506^th / 30^th SenF Ariana Ball (37.26), 510^th / 1^st M70 Terry Mee (37.35), 655^th / 39^th SenF Laura Murray (38.54 PB), 792^nd / 58^thM45 Marc Gibbs (40.24), 825^th / 44^th F35 Catherine McKeon (41.11), 2107^th / 170^th F40 Leigh Miller (47.01)

British Milers Club Grand Prix at Watford (27/06/15): Men’s 1,500m ‘D’ – 9^th Eric Keogh (3.50.44); Men’s 5,000m ‘B’ – 8^th Lee Van Haeften (14.28.65 PB)

Poppintree 5km Parkrun (27/06/15): 3^rd Michael Barry (20.37 PB)

Malahide 5km Parkrun (27/06/15): 7^th Donal Iremonger M40 (19.08)

Hartstown 5km Parkrun (27/06/15): 9^th Tom Fagan M45 (21.05)

Mannheim Junior Gala (27&28/06/15): 200m Semi-Final – 5^th Sean Lawlor u/19s (21.93); 4 x 100m – 5^th Ireland <leg 3 Sean Lawlor> (40.89)
LATE RESULT: BHAA Trinity Track Races (10/06/15): Women’s 1,200m ‘B’ – 10^th Ann Woodlock F70 (6.26.0): Men’s 1,200m ‘A’ – 6^th Luke Boland (3.27.5), 9^th Will Morris M40 (3.36.1): Men’s 1,200m ‘B’ – 1^st George Brady M35 (3.45.3): Men’s 1,200m ‘C’ – 13^th Des Gill M45 (4.17.2), 20^th Terry Mee M70 (4.44.9)

NOTE: Results of BHAA 5km series not yet available

St. Coca’s 5km at Kilcock (26/06/15): 25^th / 2^nd Jnr Fathi Aden u/15s (16.43 PB); 36^th / 4^th Jnr Michael Gibbs u/18s (17.14 PB); 44^th/ 6^th Jnr Nahom Alem u/18s (17.31 PB); 52^nd / 7^th Jnr Sekeriye Ahmed u/16s (17.50); 126^th / 3^rd JnrF Ciara Murphy (19.52 PB); 126^th / 12^th Jnr Paul O’Neill u/18s (20.13)

National Juvenile Combined Events at Tullamore (27/06/15): u/16 Girls – 7^th Lucy Hurley 80mH 14.23 / 545pts; Long Jump 4.43m / 411pts; High Jump 1.55m / 678pts, Shot Putt 6.61m / 310pts, 800m 3.17.95 / 216pts = 2161pts

Children’s Games Team Events at Tullamore (27/06/15): u/11 Girls Team – 600m 11^th Donore Harriers (4.08.74 – Brooke Fagan 2.04.96 and Grace Raftery 2.03.78)

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (27/06/15): 10^th Noah Synnott u/13s (21.25)

Poppintree 5km Parkrun (27/06/15): 10^th Michael Barry u/12s (22.25)

John Travers helped Ireland to gain 6^th position from 12 teams in theEuropean Team Athletics Championships (First League / 2^nd Tier)at Heraklion in Crete on Sunday (21/6/15). Competing in an eventful 3,000m Travers relied on his big finishing ‘kick’ to gain from 9^th to 3^rd position in the final 200 metres. The early stage of the race was slow and Travers settled into the main group in about 4^th or 5^thposition. When Heliu Gomes of Portugal took up the lead at the halfway mark he was closely followed by Travers. However, the front group of 9 runners remained closely bunched and a lack of concentration saw the Donore Harriers athlete slip back to 9^th position with only half a lap remaining. There was much for John to do to rally to Ireland’s cause and moving out to lane 3 coming into the home straight he charged towards the line gaining to 3^rd and added a valuable 10 points for the national team score. Halil Akkas of Turkey won in 8.12.00 with Dennis Licht (8.12.28) of Netherlands next, Travers (8.12.76) ran a season’s best for the distance with Heliu Gomes (8.12.88) of Portugal in 4^th place.

In the Michael Manning 10km road race at Dunshaughlin on Saturday (20/6/15) Chris Muldoon (34.04) led home a large contingent of Donore Harriers athletes when he crossed the finish line in 31^st place. A consistent Colm O’Connell (34.29) was next home in 35^th position, whilst Philip Hennessy (34.39) – showing a good return to form – came 38^th and took the runner-up prize in the M45 category. Further down the field two evergreen Donore athletes continue to hold back the years as Terry Mee (45.26) and Jim McNamara (47.02) came 3^rd and 4^th in the M60 class despite both men being in their 70s.

In the Dublin Open Graded Meeting at Santry on Wednesday (17/6/15) Lee Van Haeften took up the front running task in the Men’s 1,500 metres ‘A’ race after a slow opening lap. However, he was overtaken in the final stages of the race and had to settle for 4^thplace in a time of 4.04.14. In the 1,500m ‘B’ race junior athlete Stephen Gavin (4.14.43) lowered his personal best when placing 3^rd. The 5,000m race, which incorporated the Dublin championship, had 3 Donore Harriers athletes in a competitive field. Michael McMahon (15.32.68) came 8^th – with M35 athlete John Dunne (15.41.47) in 12^thand Aogan MacDomhnaill (15.49.99) in 14^th.

It was another busy week for the club’s juvenile section and not least u/17s Hammer thrower Lauren O’Keeffe. Chasing a qualifying mark for the European Youth Olympics Lauren took part in 3 events in the space of 5 days. Her best effort came in the Dublin Open Graded contest when she threw the 3kg Hammer a winning distance of 55.88m, an agonising 12cm short of the qualifying standard!  Another under 17s athlete Clodagh Read came 3^rd in the same contest with a best throw of 49.08m, whilst Orlaith Read (32.88m) came 1^st in the women’s over 40 category.

In the Tailteann Games at Santry on Friday (19/6/15) the under 17 Boys 100m Hurdles contest saw a one-two for Donore athletes as Jack Rudden-Kelly (13.85) edged out Alex Clarkin (14.00) in an enthralling contest. The season head-to-head between the two lads is now 2 to 2 with the National Juvenile competition up next.

There were two silver medals for Donore athletes in the Leinster Juvenile Track & Field championships at Tullamore at the weekend (20&21/6/15). In the under 17 Girls 200m final Aoife Lynch (26.14) smashed her previous personal best time, having qualified with time of 26.69. A competition fatigued Lauren O’Keeffe (49.08) had to settle for 2^nd place in the under 17 Girls Hammer with a best of 49.08m.

The final part of the Dublin Juvenile Track & Field championshipstook place at the Tallaght track on Friday evening (19/6/15) with the Even-Age group relays. Donore Harriers had 7 teams competing and finished with a return of two silver medals. The first came in the under 16 Girls 4 x 100m as Cara Brennan, Rebecca Power, Robyn O’Keeffe, Suzy O’Farrell recorded a time of 53.24. The other silver came in the under 18s Girls 4 x 100m with Ailbhe Healy, Roisin Rynn-Cahill (stepping-up), Lauren O’Flaherty (stepping-up) and Aoife Simm recording a time of 53.46. The club finished with a record total of 58 medals in the Dublin Juvenile championships.

Dublin Open Graded Track & Field Meeting at Santry (17/06/15):

Women’s 200m ‘A’ – 4^th Aoife Lynch JNR (26.52), 5^th Karen Hughes JNR (27.89): Men’s 200m ‘B’- 2^nd Conor Fox JNR (24.26), 4^th Adam Halpin JNR (24.77): Men’s 200m ‘C1’- 6^th Darren Hughes (26.13): Men’s 200m ‘C2’ – 3^rd Killian O’Hora (25.17), 4^th Sean O’Broin M45 (25.30): Men’s 1,500m ‘A’ – 4^th Lee Van Haeften (4.04.14): Men’s 1,500m ‘B1’ – Sam Allen (4.17.0): Men’s 1,500m ‘B2’ – 3^rdStephen Gavin JNR (4.14.43 PB): Men’s 5,000m ‘A’ inc. Dublin Championship – 8^th Michael McMahon (15.32.68), 12^th John Dunne M35 (15.41.47), 14^th Aogan MacDomhnaill (15.49.99): Men’s 5,000m ‘B’ – 3^rd Luke Boland (16.40.4), 6^th George Brady M35 (17.27.89): Women’s Hammer – 1^st Lauren O’Keeffe JNR (55.88m 3kg), 3^rd Clodagh Read JNR (49.08m 3kg), 8^th / 1^st F40 category Orlaith Read (32.88m 4kg).

IMRA Leinster League at Djouce Woods 9.80km with climb of 580 metres (17/06/15): 140^th Sarah Ni Ruairc (1.47.21)  

Docklands 5km (18/06/15): 34^th / 5^th M40 Shane McAuley (17.41 PB). 92^nd / 1^st F40 Florence Curley (19.14), 101^st Alma Hanevy (19.22), 332^nd Colin Moore M45 (22.13)

Shannon Runway 5km Run (19/06/15): 2^nd woman Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill (18.15), ?? Ide Nic Dhomhnaill (18.45)

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (20/06/15): 3^rd Gavin Byrne (17.31), 10^thMichael Barry Snr (21.33)

Poppintree 5km Parkrun (20/06.15): 1^st Graham Hopkins M35 (17.10)

Michael Manning 10km at Dunshaughlin (20/06/15): 31^st / 5^th in M40 Chris Muldoon (34.04), 35^th Colm O’Connell (34.29), 38^th / 2^ndin M45 Phil Hennessy (34.39), 64^th Will Morris (35.55), 73^rd Paul Cummins (36.19), 85^th George Brady (36.39), 132^nd Bernard Byrne (38.16), 135^th / 31^st in M40 Fred Kiernan  (38.22), 152^nd Colin Morrissey (38.47), 178^th Niall O’Reilly (39.35), 201^st Rossa Hurley (39.54). 236^th / 6^th in M55 Tony Griffin (41.14), 259^th Emer Rattigan (42.03), 287^th Rhona Duane (42.50), 309^th Grainne Nolan (43.41), 368^th / 3^rd in M60 Terry Mee (45.26), 423^rd / 4^th in M60 Jim McNamara (47.02), 431^st Bernie Maloney (47.13), 466^th / 34^th in M45 (47.46), 501^st / 26^th in F40 Mary Murphy (48.21), 634^th Eilish Joyce (52.42)

Castleknock 5km (21/06/15): 99^th Colin Moore M45 (22.42), 301^stHilary O’Connor F35 (27.50), 414^th Declan Raftery M40 (30.41)

With only the even age-groups relays remaining the Donore Harriers juvenile team can boast a record tally of 56 medals in the Dublin Juvenile Track and Field championships held over 4 days recently at both the Santry and Tallaght tracks.  The medals haul includes 20 gold, 22 silver and 14 bronze.

The most encouraging aspect of the team’s overall performance is the emergence of several very talented athletes that bodes well for the club’s future progress and success.

The new middle-distance star Louis O’Loughlin made his club debut and recorded a fine double in the under 15 Boys 800m and 1,500m. The All-Ireland schools 800m silver medallist was made to work hard in the latter race by his club-mate Fathi Aden. Aden, the Irish under 14 cross country champion from 2014, was also competing in his first track championship for the club. At the mid-way point Aden picked up the pace and opened up a lead of more than 10 metres by the bell. O’Loughlin (4.26.07) gradually gained ground on his training partner and then used his superior speed to kick home in the final 150 metres with Aden (4.28.37) a clear runner-up. O’Loughlin, thus, achieved a fine double having earlier won the 800m in personal best of 2.05.3.

Other first-season athletes to win gold medals included Peace Onakoya (8.40m) and Kerri Noonan (23.64m) in the under 13 Girls Shot Putt and Hammer; Rian Carey (9.45m) in the under 13 Boys Shot Putt; Ciara Simm (6.82m) and Beth Kirwan (27.97m) in the under 15 Girls Shot Putt and Hammer; Adam Maher (38.78m) in the under 16 Boys Hammer; Suzanne Masterson (5.35.47) in the under 17 Girls 2,000m Steeplechase; David Keenan (5.57m) in the under 18 Boys Long Jump; and Leanne Brosnan (4.05m) in the under 18s Girls Long Jump. Brosnan (9.71m) also got a silver medal in the Triple Jump.

Newcomer Aoife Simm, another of coach Gerry Ronan’s field event protégées, won 3 medals in the ‘field’ events. Simm (30.63m) placed 2^nd behind her club colleague Clodagh Read (40.26m) in the under 18 Girls Hammer – and she took a silver medal in the Javelin (23.16m) and a bronze in the Pole Vault with a best of 2.30m.

With many of the established juvenile members unable to compete due to exams, injury, etc it was left to the competing regulars to impress. Cara Brennan (21.86m), Eleanor Ronan (25.79m) and Rebecca Power (29.93m) showed Donore dominance in the throwing events by respectively winning the under 16 Girls Discus, Hammer and Javelin. Kolade Abiodun took 4 individual medals, winning the 100m Hurdles in 15.26s and placing as runner-up in the 100m (11.9), 200m (24.77) and High Jump (1.70m). Aoife Lynch narrowly missed a double in the under 17 Girls category when winning the 100m in 13.0s and placing second in the 200m in 26.93s. Oran O’Brien also had a one, two! He won the under 18 Boys Shot Putt (12.06m), but had to settle for second spot in the Discus (35.69m). The improving Sean Young also had a good championship. The Drimnagh Castle student won 2 silvers in the Shot Putt (9.87m) and Hammer (22.97m) and a bronze in the Discus (25.51m).

One of the club’s most dedicated athletes Conor Fox also obtained a gold and silver set. He won the under 19 Boys 100m in 11.5s and was second in the 200m in a time of 25.72s.

Lauren O’Keeffe (54.49m) was a clear winner in the under 17 Girls Hammer. She was hoping to reach the European Youth Olympic standard of 56 metres, but narrowly failed! However, she competed as a guest in last Saturday’s Munster Juvenile championships at Waterford RSC and threw beyond the mark with a best effort of 56.40m. The qualifying rules state that O’Keeffe must throw the distance for a second time, but Lauren is upbeat about the prospect: “I’m constantly over the 50 metres mark, so it will come soon”. We are all rooting for you Lauren!

Lorcan O’Ceallaigh (2.22.75) may not have medalled in his first competitive outing in the Donore colours, but his excellent performance when placing 4^th in the under 14 Boys 800 metres final suggests that he is one to watch in the future.

Elsewhere, in the 5 kilometres Parkrun series two other young athletes impressed. Making steady progress under the coaching tutelage of Oana Onofrei under 14s athlete Michael Barry (21.10) placed 6^th overall in the Waterstown race, whilst Noah Synnott (u/15s) came 31^st overall at St. Anne’s Park in a time of 21.07. Both were competing over the distance for the first time.

In the La Cheile / Irish Milers Club International track meeting at Leixlip on Saturday (13/6/15) several Donore Harriers athletes competed at various grades. In the 1,500m ‘A’ race John Travers (3.41.43) placed second with two British runners occupying the other top 3 places as Tom Lancashire (3.40.04) won and Richard Weir (3.42.96) came 3^rd.

Junior star athlete Sean Lawlor (10.99) came 3^rd in a very competitive 100 metres behind Kieran Elliot (10.92) of North Sligo and Eanna Madden (10.97) of Carrick on Shannon AC. Another junior to fare well was Stephen Gavin (4.16.33) who lowered his personal best when placing 10^th in the 1,500m ‘C’ race.

Juvenile Results

Dublin Juvenile Track & Field Championships Days 1 -4 at Santry & Tallaght (June 2015): Medal winners and selected other results:-

Medal Tally to Date = 20 Gold, 22 Silver & 14 Bronze (total of 56)

u/10 Boys: 500m H1 – 6^th Joe Kinsella (1.47.27)

u/11 Girls: 600m H1 – 4^th Brooke Fagan (2.06.73) 600m H2 – 2^nd Grace Raftery (2.08.95)

u/12 Boys: 600m – 5^th Sean Kinsella (1.51.0); 9^th Michael Barry (1.58.26): Shot Putt – 4^th Sean Kinsella (5.78m); High Jump – 3^rd Sean Kinsella (1.20m)

u/13 Girls: Shot Putt – 1^st Peace Onakoya (8.40m); Hammer – 1^st Kerri Noonan (23.63m)

u/13 Boys: Shot Putt – 1^st Rian Carey (9.45m): 600m H1 – 4^th Noah Synnott (2.00.32)

u/14 Boys: 800m – 4^th Lorcan O’Ceallaigh (2.22.75) debut, 15^th Alan Reid (2.54.72 PB)

u/15 Girls: Hammer – 1^st Beth Kirwan (27.97m); 2^nd Aisling Read (26.18m); 3^rd Ciara Simm (23.71m): Shot Putt – 1^st Ciara Simm (6.82m), 7^th Aisling Read (5.68m)

u/15 Boys: 800m – 1^st Louis O’Loughlin (2.05.3 PB club debut); 4^th Fathi Aden (2.10.9 PB); 10^th Jack Raftery (2.26.6 – ran 2.23.66 in semi-final): 1500m – 1st Louis O’Loughlin (4.26.07 PB), 2nd Fathi Aden (4.28.37 PB), 10th Jack Raftery (5.01.44): 4 x 100m – 4th Donore H <Jack Raftery, Fathi Aden, Lorcan O’Ceallaigh, Louis O’Loughlin> (52.42)

u/16 Girls: 100m – 3^rd Suzi O’Farrell (13.0); 200m – 3^rd Robyn O’Keeffe (29.1); 4^th Suzi O’Farrell (29.7): Discus – 1^st Cara Brennan (21.86m); 2^nd Robyn O’Keeffe (18.83m); 4^th Martina Hughes (13.37m): Shot Putt – 4^th Martina Hughes (7.10m): Javelin – 1^st Rebecca Power (29.93m); 4^th Martina Hughes (12.78m): Hammer – 1^st Eleanor Ronan (25.79m)

u/16 Boys: 100m – 2^nd Kolade Abiodun (11.9); 200m – 2^nd Kolade Abiodun (24.77); 100mH – 1^st Kolade Abiodun (15.26): 800m Final – 11^th Sekeriye Ahmed (2.27.72): 1500m – 7th Sekeriye Ahmed (4.40.75): 3,000m – 2^ndSekeriye Ahmed (9.51.7 PB): Discus – 4^th Kolade Abiodun (26.63m): High Jump – 2^nd Kolade Abiodun (1.70m): Javelin – 2^nd Max Carey (27.97m): Hammer – 1^st Adam Maher (38.78m)

u/17 Girls: 100m – 1^st Aoife Lynch (13.0); 200m – 2^nd Aoife Lynch (26.93): 300mH – 2^nd Roisin Rynn-Cahill (49.5): 800m – 2^nd Lucy McCann (2.34.78); 7^th Eliza NiThighearnaigh (2.42.99); 8^th Ciara Murphy (2.44.80): 1500m – 3rd Eliza NiThighearnaigh (5.19.27), 4th Lucy McCann (5.19.94), 5th Ciara Murphy (5.23.30 PB), 7th Suzanne Masterson (5.35.47): 2,000m Steeplechase – 1^st Suzanne Masterson (8.35.65): Hammer – 1^st Lauren O’Keeffe (54.49m): 4 x 100m – 2nd Donore H <Katie Coombes, Robyn, Cara Brennan, Suzi O’Farrell> (52.2), 3rd Donore H <Lauren O’Flaherty, Eve O’Reilly, Roisin Rynn-Cahill, Rebecca ?> (52.9): 4 x 400m – 3rd Donore H <Lucy McCann 70.54, Eliza NiThighearnaigh 69.14, Ciara Murphy 74.35, Suzanne Masterson 72.82> (4.46.85)

u/18 Girls: 200m – 3^rd Karen Hughes (28.63): 100mH – 2^nd Lauren Kennedy (17.90); 3^rd Ailbhe Healy (19.90): 800m – 3^rd Claire O’Connor (2.40.03): Long Jump – 1^st Leanne Brosnan (4.05m); 2^nd Clodagh Read (3.73m): Triple Jump – 2^nd Leanne Brosnan (9.71m); 3^rd Karen Hughes (8.73m); Pole Vault – 2^nd Ailbhe Healy (2.30m); 3^rd Aoife Simm (2.30m); Javelin – 2^nd Aoife Simm (23.16m); Hammer – 1^st Clodagh Read (40.26m); 2^nd Aoife Simm (30.63m)

u/18 Boys: 800m – 9^th Michael Gibbs (2.14.45 PB), 10^th Nahom Alem (2.24.11 PB): 1500m – 7th Michael Gibbs (4.21.8 PB), 10th Nahom Alem (4.47.1 PB): Long Jump – 1^st David Keenan (5.57m): Discus – 2^nd Oran O’Brien (35.69m); 3^rd Sean Young (25.51m): Shot Putt – 1^st Oran O’Brien (12.06m); 2^nd Sean Young (9.87m): Hammer – 2^nd Sean Young (22.97m)

u/19 Girls: 4 x 100m – 4th Donore H <Lauren Kennedy, Karen Hughes, Claire O’Connor, Ailise Keating> (NTA)

u/19 Boys: 100m – 1^st Conor Fox (11.5): 200m – 2^nd Conor Fox (25.32): 800m – 3^rd Stephen Gavin (2.05.43)

Other Juvenile Results

Munster Juvenile T&F Championships at Waterford RSC (13/6/15): u/17 Girls – 1^st Lauren O’Keeffe (56.40m – European Olympic Standard) competed as guest

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (13/6/15): 6^th Michael Barry u/12 (21.10 first 5k), 36^th Robert Lynch u/12 (27.04), 53^rdMatthew Lynch u/15 (29.39)

St. Anne’s 5km Parkrun (13/6/15): 31^st Noah Synnott u/13s (21.07 first 5k)

Senior Results

IMRA Leinster League at Tibradden 11.23km with climb of 365m (27/5/15): 94^th Peter Bonnar M40 (1.04.23), 174^th Sarah Ni Ruairc (1.29.56)

IMRA Leinster League at Sorrell Hill 9.45km with climb of 392m (10/6/15): 146^th Sarah Ni Ruairc (1.16.23)

La Cheile International / IMC Meet at Leixlip (13/6/15): 1500m ‘A’ – 2^nd John Travers (3.41.43): 1500m ‘C’ – 10^th Stephen Gavin JNR (4.16.33), 11^th Sam Allen (4.16.98): 3000m ‘B’ – 8^th Luke Boland (9.26.24): 100m ‘A’ – 3^rd Sean Lawlor JNR (10.99): 200m ‘C’ – 2^nd Adam Halpin JNR (24.50): 800m ‘C’ – 8^th Daragh Fitzgibbon (1.58.03): 800m ‘F’ – 3^rd David Campbell (2.01.66 PB)

Portumna Forest, Co. Galway 50km (13/6/15): 35^th / 5^th woman Claire Morrissey (4.40.27)

Run with Sonia Euromedic 5km at Dun Laoghaire (13/6/15): 60^th Paul O’Neill u/18s (20.32), 134^th / 29^th woman Elaine Verdon (23.02), 137^th / 30^th woman Laura Murray (23.06)

Griffeen 5km Parkrun (13/6/15): 3^rd Colin Morrissey M40 (18.21 PB)

Two personal bests, a gold and a silver medal and attaining the qualifying standards for the forthcoming European Junior Track and Field Championships to be held at Eskilstuna, Sweden in July marked a great day for Donore Harriers athlete and Kylemore College student Sean Lawlor at the National Schools Track & Field Championshipsat Tullamore on Saturday (30/5/15).

Lawlor (10.69) had to settle for second place in the Senior Boys 100m behind Zak Irwin (10.60) of Sligo Grammar. However, he turned the tables in a thrilling 200m race with a super 21.51 run edging out Irwin who timed at 21.60.

With the minor age grade being incorporated into the national championship programme for the first time the Donore Harriers attention focused on Louis O’Loughlin in the 800m. The Moyle Park student played a major part in what turned out to be a tactical and intriguing race. Several athletes vied for the lead until Ciaran McManus of St. Aidan’s CBS (2.06.52) made a big move with 250m remaining. He opened a gap of 15 metres that looked unassailable. However, a sprint finish down the home straight by O’Loughlin (2.06.56) saw the two athletes cross the line in a photo finish. The timing system showed that McManus just held out to win by just 4-hundreds of a second. A national silver in his first track season shows that Louis O’Loughlin has a very bright future in athletics!

In the Intermediate Boys 100m Hurdles there was something of an upset when Alex Clarkin edged out his school and club-mate Jack Rudden-Kelly for the bronze medal. The Castleknock Community School duo enjoy a friendly rivalry and Clarkin (13.85) reversed the order from their 1^st and 2^nd place result in the Leinster Schools Championships by  placing 3^rd behind winner Daniel Ryan (13.07) of Thurles CBS with Rudden-Kelly (14.00) having to settle for 4^thplace.

Early in the day Lauren O’Keeffe (Loreta Balbriggan) threw inside the championship best mark with a 52.08m throw in the Girls Intermediate hammer. However, she had to settle for a silver medal behind Michaela Walsh from Swinford.

Eoin Molloy, representing Belvedere College, threw a best of 48.79m in the Senior Boys hammer and missed the bronze medal by just 20 centimetres. Oran O’Brien (Belvedere College) placed 5^th in the Intermediate Boys Discus with a best throw of 38.39m. Ailbhe Healy (Castleknock CC) and Lucy Hurley (Maynooth PP) came 6^th in their respective Pole Vault and High Jump events, whilst newcomer Leanne Brosnan (Mount Sackville) and club juvenile captain Karen Hughes (Donabate CC) placed 9^th and 10^th in the Senior Girls triple jump.

In the Leinster Senior & Masters Track & Field championships held at Tullamore on Sunday (31/5/15) there were outstanding performances from Donore Harriers masters athletes. Anne Gormley won the Masters 3,000m Walk with a time of 19.44.20 and Orlaith Read, competing in her first championship event, took the gold medal in the F45 Hammer with a best throw of 30.60m. Terry Mee (78.51 & 6.22.61) won double gold in the M70 category 400m and 1,500m – and Sean O’Broin (12.57 & 25.45) won two silver medals in the M45 100m and 200m sprints. Niall Allen won 3 gold medals in the M40 category. He recorded best throws of 30.70m in the Discus, 10.96m in the Shot Putt and 6.49m in the 56lb Hammer. In the M70 class Tony Jenkins won gold with a throw of 23.25m in the Javelin and silver with an 8.04m effort in the Shot Putt. Cathal O’Brien (1.85m) took bronze in the Senior Men’s High Jump.

The VHI Women’s Mini Marathon (1/6/15) proved to be a damp affair with strong winds and rain making for testing conditions. Anne Curley (39.13) suffered a stitch at the 6km mark, but recovered well to place in 18^th position overall. Karla Doran (41.19) hung on well to finish 34^th after making a big effort in the early part of the race. Joan McTernan and Laura Murray can be well pleased with their times of 45.51 and 48.58 – the latter breaking the 50 minutes barrier for the first time.

Niall Lynch was Donore Harriers lone runner in the Cork City Marathon (1/6/15) finishing 20^th overall and 4^th in the M40 category with a time of 2 hours 48 minutes and 42 seconds.

At the British Milers Club track meet at Manchester on Saturday evening (30/5/15) Eric Keogh (3.48.83) ran a very encouraging personal best time when placing 10^th in the ‘B’ 1,500m. Lee Van Haeften (14.44.14) was just 3 seconds short of his best time when placing 8^th in the ‘C’ 5,000m. The BMC track races are very competitive attracting many of the best athletes from all parts of the British Isles and have become a standard for developing athletes to gain invaluable experience.

In the Dublin Juvenile Team Championships for u/9s – u/11s(30/5/15) at Santry on Saturday Ciaran O’Farrell and Conon Mackey won the club’s only gold medal when they out-jumped the opposition with a combined jump of 5.10m in the Boys u/9s class. Silver medals were won by Ava Hoare and Melanie Abbey (combined 15.37m) in the Girls u/10s Javelin and by Brooke Fagan and Grace Raftery (combined 4.13.54) in the Girls u/11s 600m.      Eleanor Hopkins & Olwyn Fitzgerald (12.72m) came 3^rd in the Girls u/9s Javelin.

Finally, special mention to u/17s athlete Matthew Lynch (26.27) who got a huge personal best in the Waterstown 5km Parkrun at Palmerstown on Saturday morning (30/5/15). Another u/17s athlete Ciara Murphy (21.03) finished 4^th overall in the race and was the first female home for the second week in a row.

Results in brief:

BHAA Government Services 5 mile road race at Dunboyne (26/5/15): 9^th Chris Muldoon M35 (26.42); 14^th Philip Hennessy M45 (26.56); 25^th Sean Fox M40 (27.43); 53^rd Fred Kiernan M40 (29.29); 77^th Alan Farrell M40 (30.20); 80^th Patrick Byrne (30.26); 108^thDeclan Fahy (32.01); 120^th Alma Hanevy F35 (32.14); 212nd Terry Mee  M70 (35.39)

Star of the Sea 5km road race at Stamullen (26/5/15): 3^rd Andrew Ledwith (16.49)

Women’s Meet & Train League (27/5/15): results not to hand

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (30/5/15): 3^rd Colin Morrissey M35 (20.07); 5^th David Wogan M50 (21.42); 36^th / 5^th female Janette Strickland F40 (27.35)

Naas 5km Parkrun (30/5/15): 9^th Ian Redican M40 (20.11)

British Milers Club Track Meeting at Sports City Track in Manchester (30/5/15): 1,500m ‘B’ – 10^th Eric Keogh (3.48.83 PB); 5,000m ‘C’ Lee Van Haeften (14.44.14)

Leinster U/23, Senior & Masters T&F Championships at Tullamore (31/5/15): Master Women 3,000 Walk – 1^st Anne Gormley F50 (19.44.20); Master Men 100m – 2^nd M45 Sean O’Broin (12.57); Master Men 200m – 2^nd M45 Sean O’Broin (25.45); Master Men 100m – 2^nd M70 Tony Jenkins (20.73); Master Men 400m – 1^stM70 Terry Mee (78.51); Master Men 1,500m – 1^st M70 Terry Mee (6.22.61); Master Women Javelin – 1^st F45 Orlaith Read (30.06m); Master Women Discus – 4^th F45 Orlaith Read (17.21m); Master Women Shot Putt – 3^rd F45 Orlaith Read (7.39m); Master Men Discus – 1^st M40 Niall Allen (30.70m); Master Men Shot Putt – 1^stM40 Niall Allen (10.96m); Master Men Weight for Distance – 1^stM40 Niall Allen (6.49m); Master Men Javelin – 1^st M70 Tony Jenkins (23.25m); Master Men Shot Putt – 2^nd M70 Tony Jenkins (8.04m); Senior Men High Jump – 3^rd Cathal O’Brien (1.85m)

NOTE: other results not to hand

VHI Women’s Mini-Marathon at Dublin (1/6/15): provisional results – 18^th Anne Curley F40 (39.13); 34^th Karla Doran (41.19); 103^rd Joan McTernan F50 (45.51); also Laura Murray (48.58)

Cork City Marathon (1/6/15): 20^th / 4^th M40 Niall Lynch (2.48.42)

UPDATED RESULTS:

National Track & Field League Men’s Premier Division (Round 1) at Belfast (24/5/15):

TEAM: 1^st Clonliffe Harriers 123; 2^nd Donore Harriers 102; 3^rdDSD AC 100; 4^th Raheny Shamrocks 91; 4^th Crusaders 90; 6^th North Down AC 89; 7^th Tallaght AC 76

100m – 1^st Eamon Fahey (11.04); 200m – 1^st Eamon Fahey (21.93); 110mH – 1^st Simon Taggart (15.01); 400m – 6^th David Campbell (52.63); 400mH – 3^rd Simon Taggart (59.46); 800m – 6^th Daragh Fitzgibbon (1.59.96); 1,500m – 6^th Sam Allen (4.22.98); 5,000m – 2^ndMichael McMahon (15.20.65 PB); High Jump – 4^th Cathal O’Brien (1.80m); Long Jump –  Zak Higgins JNR (4.93m); Triple Jump – 5^thZak Higgins (10.07m); Javelin – 1^st Jaco Oosthuysen (53.56m); Shot Putt – 2^nd Niall Allen (10.77m); Discus – 3^rd Niall Allen (30.17m); 56lb Hammer – 1^st Jaco Oosthuysen (4.56m); 4 x 100m 5^th Donore Harriers (45.04); 4 x 400m 5^th Donore Harriers (3.34.74)

National Track & Field League Women’s First Division (Round 1) at Belfast (24/5/15):

TEAM: 1^st Finn Valley AC 108; 2^nd = Co. Antrim 100; 2^nd = Lagan Valley 100; 4^th Donore Harriers 99; 5^th Sli Cualann 97

100m – 4^th Ailise Keating JNR (13.03); 200m – 2^nd Aoife Lynch JNR (26.29); 100mH – 3^rd Lauren Kennedy JNR (17.73); 400m – 3^rdClaire O’Connor JNR (1.07.85); 400mH – 3^rd Roisin Rynn-Cahill JNR (1.14.81); 800m – 2^nd Maura Kearns (2.23.61); 1,500m – 5^thRhona Duane (5.33.02); 5,000m – 1^st Florence Curley (11.15.18); 1,500m Walk – 1^st Ann Gormley (9.30.27); Long Jump – 5^th Karen Hughes JNR (4.52m); High Jump – 5^th Roisin Rynn-Cahill JNR (1.30m); Triple Jump – 2^nd Linda Ngankam (10.67m); Pole Vault – 2^nd Ailbhe Healy JNR (2.60m); Javelin – 5^th Lauren O’Keeffe JNR (18.05m); Hammer – 4^th Clodagh Read JNR (35.57); Shot Putt – 5^thOrlaith Read (7.52m); Discus – 3^rd Clodagh Read (20.93); 4 x 100m – 1^st Donore Harriers <Ngankam, Lynch, Hughes, Keating> (50.65); 4 x 400m – 5^th Donore Harriers <O’Connor; Duane; Caoimhe Mackey; Kearns> (4.46.65)

Juvenile Results:

Dublin Juvenile Track & Field League Round 4 (final) at Santry (23/5/15): Leading results: – u/10 Boys 60m – 5^th Joe Kinsella; u/10 Boys 300m – 3^rd Joe Kinsella: u/12 Boys 500m – 3^rd Sean Kinsella; u/12 Boys Long Jump – 4^th Sean Kinsella: u/13 Girls Shot Putt – 1^stPeace Onakoia: u/15 Girls 80mH – 2^nd Angie Gonia; u/15 Girls High Jump – 6^th Angie Gonia: u/16 Girls 80mH – 3^rd Ciara O’Donnell, 4^thLucy Hurley, 6^th Cara Brennan; u/16 Girls 100m – 2^nd Suzi O’Farrell, 4^th Cara Brennan, 5^th Robyn O’Keeffe; u/16 Girls High Jump – 2^ndLucy Hurley, 4^th Cara Brennan; u/16 Girls Javelin – 1^st Cara Brennan, 4^th Robyn O’Keeffe: u/16 Boys 100mH – 1^st Max Carey, 2^nd Kolade Abiodun: u/16 Boys 100m – 2^nd Kolade Abiodun; u/16 Boys High Jump – 1^st Kolade Abiodun, 3^rd Max Carey; u/16 Boys Javelin – 1^stMax Carey, 5^th Kolade Abiodun

Final League position and medal winners: – u/10 Boys – 3^rd Joe Kinsella; u/11 Boys – 5^th Oliver Hopkins; u/12 Boys – 4^th Sean Kinsella; u/16 Girls – 2^nd Cara Brennan, 3^rd Robyn O’Keeffe; u/16 Boys – 1^st Kolade Abiodun, 5^th Max Carey

All Ireland Schools T&F Championships at Tullamore (30/5/15):Gold = Senior Boys 200m – Sean Lawlor (21.54 PB): Silver = Inter Girls Hammer – Lauren O’Keeffe (52.08m): Minor Boys 800m – Louis O’Loughlin (2.06.56): Senior Boys 100m – Sean Lawlor (10.69 PB):Bronze = Inter Boys 100m Hurdles – Alex Clarkin (13.85): Also: – Inter Boys 100m Hurdles – 4th Jack Rudden-Kelly (14.00); Senior Boys Hammer – 4th Eoin Molloy (48.79m); Inter Girls Pole Vault – 6th eq. Ailbhe Healy (2.40m); Inter Boys Discus – 5th Oran O’Brien (38.39m); Senior Girls Triple Jump – 9th Leanne Brosnan (9.44m), 10th Karen Hughes (8.91m); Junior Girls High Jump – 6th Lucy Hurley (1.45m).

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (30/5/15): 4^th / 1^st female Ciara Murphy u/17s (21.03); 29^th Matthew Lynch u/17s (26.27 PB); 47^th Kate Lynch u/15s (30.48); 49^th Elena Gaina u/15s (31.10); 57^th Robyn Strickland u/15s (32.24); 64^th Shannon Verdon-Byrne u/15s (35.01)

Dublin Juvenile T&F Team (u/9-11s) Championships at Santry (30/5/15): leading results = Boys u/9s Long Jump – 1^st Ciaran O’Farrell & Conan Mackey (5.10m); Girls u/9s Javelin – 3^rd Eleanor Hopkins & Olwyn Fitzgerald (12.72m); Girls u/10s Javelin – 2^nd Ava Hoare & Melanie Abbey (15.37m); Girls u/11s 600m – 2^nd Brooke Fagan & Grace Raftery (4.13.54)

Newly promoted Donore Harriers (men’s team) got their National Premier Track & Field League campaign off to a great start when the first round was contested at the Mary Peters Track in Belfast on Sunday (24/5/15). A point tally of 102 earned second place, just one point short of leaders Clonliffe Harriers and 12 ahead of Crusaders. It was an excellent result considering that many of the club’s key athletes were unavailable.

The Donore cause was helped with a splendid double win by Eamon Fahey in the 100m and 200m. Simon Taggart, back after a year out from the sport, was a convincing winner in the 110m Hurdles and then got a 3^rd position in the 400m Hurdles. Jaco Oosthuysen also had a double with wins in the Javelin and the 56lb Hammer. Others to shine included Niall Allen who placed 2^nd in the Shot Putt and 3^rd in the Discus – and Michael McMahon (15.19), lowering his personal best time for the second time within a week when placing 2^nd in the 5,000m.

In the League’s first division the women’s team came a close 4^th in what proved a very tight contest with just 5 points separating the 4 four places. One very encouraging factor is that the team was bolstered significantly by number of up and coming junior athletes. Club stalwarts Anne Gormley and Florence Curley gained wins in the 1,500m Walk and the 3,000m – with a fast finishing Maura Kearns getting up for runner-up place in the 800m. The maximum 9 points was achieved by a young 4 x 100m team comprising track and field captain Lynda Ngankam and junior athletes Aoife Lynch, Karen Hughes and Ailise Keating. Lynda Ngankam jumped to second position in the Triple jump and Aoife Lynch picked up a valuable 7 points with 2nd in the 200m. Castleknock CC student Ailbhe Healy only missed out on victory in the pole vault on count-back. Other junior athletes Lauren Kennedy in the 100m Hurdles, Roisin Rynn-Cahill in the 400m Hurdles, Claire O’Connor in the 400m and Clodagh Read in the Discus all placed in 3^rd position.

Special mention must go to Orlaith Read, Clodagh’s mother, who gained 4 points having recently took up the Shot Putt event – and to newcomer 16 years-old Caoimhe Mackey who can be well pleased with her contribution in the 4 x 400m relay.

Florence Curley, the women’s club captain, said: “This is the first time that we fielded competitors in all the events and we amassed our highest ever points tally. If we replicate this in round 2 we can make the final” She thanked Men’s manager Maurice Ahern and Men’s team captain David Campbell for their support – as well as women’s coach Jim McNamara and Juvenile Team Manager Leonie Newman for their help in putting together such a young team with enormous potential.

Donore Harriers were just one point off completing a team double at the Bob Heffernan Memorial 5km Road Race (19/5/15) at Johnstownbridge, near Enfield recently. The men’s team secured victory by placing 3 athletes in the top 17, whilst the women’s team lost out by just one point to Portlaoise despite placing 3 in the top 14 finishers.

Aogan MacDomhnaill (15.52) displayed a good return to form when placing 10^th overall. Gavin Keogh (15.58), dipping under 16 minutes for the first time, was just two places behind, whilst Chris Muldoon (16.11) closed the scoring team in 17th spot. The team tally of 39 points gave a comfortable win ahead of Celbridge AC (53) and Portlaoise AC (58). The women’s team had sisters Sorcha (18.37) and Ide NicDhomhnaill (18.52) place 8^th and 11^th – with the ever improving Breda Mahony (19.06) closing the women’s team score in 14^th place. The Donore team finished on 33 points – just one behind Portlaoise AC with Dunboyne AC 3^rd on 58.

Niall Lynch placed 2^nd for the fourth consecutive race in the 5^th stage of the Irish Mountain Running Association Leinster League (20/5/15) held at Glasmullan in County Wicklow. Running over an 8.4km route along an anti-clockwise lap of Djouce with a total climb of  440 metres Lynch (46.58) could not match the front running of mountain specialist and Irish international Mark Ryan (44.23) of Rathfarnham AC. Lynch (15) remains second overall in the league just one point behind leader Bernard Fortune (14) of Sliabh Bhuidhe Rovers.

The first running of the Basil Clifford Memorial Mile was included in the programme of the 3^rd Dublin Open Graded meeting at Santry (20/5/15). The trophy was launched by Donore Harriers as a tribute to one of the club’s former greats! Somewhat fittingly the race was won by John Coghlan – a member of the neighbouring Metro St. Bridget club and the son of former Donore member and the 1973 World 5,000m champion Eamonn Coghlan. Coghlan cut loose from the field at the start and quickly opened a sizeable gap passing the first lap in 61 seconds. He continued to widen the gap, reaching the halfway mark in 2.03, before crossing the line in a respectable 4.10.66. The most exciting part of the race was the tussle for the minor placings in the final 100 metres. Cathal Doyle of Clonliffe Harriers (4.28.19) winning out for the runner-up spot ahead of CJ Isayas (4.29.06) of AIT and Richard Lombard (4.29.25) of DCH. 13 athletes competed.

At the same meet Michael McMahon lowered his 5km track time to 15.43 when finished 4^th in the Men’s ‘A’ race. Maura Kearns (5.24.29) placed 4^th in the women’s mile as u/17s athlete Caoimhe Mackey made her club debut with a respectable 6.11.55 and 9^th place. Luke Boland (4.44.66) claimed a personal best when finishing 6^th in the Men’s ‘B’ mile.

In the National Combined Events Championships at Templemore (23&24/5/15) Rolus Olusa won the gold medal in the Junior Men’s decathlon when he amassed a tally of 5130 points. His best marks came in his favoured 110m Hurdles and the 100m sprint.

Basil Clifford was a stalwart of Donore Harriers back in the late 50s and early 60s. A native of Inchicore (born 1939) he first came to prominence in the Irish Youths mile of 1957. He worked at the bakery of his coach Tony Farrell in Blackrock and part of his training involved running up the steps of the shop with bags of flour on his back.

Clifford (3.59.8) was Ireland’s second sub-4 minute miler, a feat he achieved when finishing 3^rd in the Emsley Carr Mile at the White City in London on the 3^rd August 1964. He only accepted the invitation after his Donore clubmate Tom O’Riordan pulled out with injury. John Whetton of England won as expected in 3.58.95, with the relatively unknown Clifford being the ‘surprise packet’ in 3^rd position.

Basil Clifford won several national titles in the vest of Donore Harriers in the period 1959 to 1965 and was a member of the Irish team that set a 4 x 880 yards European record (7.21.8) in 1961. The other members of that team were: – Derek McCleane, Ronnie Delaney and Noel Carroll – all legends of Irish athletics!

He represented Ireland in the 1964 Olympic Games placing 8^th in the first round of the 1,500m in a time of 3.54.9.

Later, Basil worked in a gun factory in Birmingham, where a tragic explosion in 1973 ended his life. He was only 34 years old!  

Sean Lawlor ran a storming 3^rd leg for the Ireland Junior team in the 4 x 100m relay at the IMAF International meeting at Oordengem-Lede in Belgium (24/5/15). The young Irish quartet had to be fast and slick in their baton changing to keep at bay a very good Dutch team. Eoin Doherty and Dean Power played their part in keeping the Irish on level terms with the Netherlands on the first two legs, before Donore star Sean Lawlor hit the burners and handed over to Joseph Ojewumi with a marginal lead. Ireland’s final runner did enough to bring the team home in first place. The team time of 41.40 was just 6 hundreds of a second faster than the Dutch, but narrowly failed to meet the 41.20 qualifying time for the European Junior championships. Belgium came 3^rd in 42.14. A link to the race is found here –https://youtu.be/8QHCUcf1Up0

Eric Keogh (3.51.08) came 4^th in a ‘congested’ 1,500m race at the same venue.

Juvenile Report

Fathi Aden u/15s (16.44) and Sekeriye Ahmed u/16s (16.48) were both inside the old course record when they placed 1^st and 2^nd in the Waterstown 5km Parkrun (23/5/15). It was a great demonstration of front running as Fathi was not allowed to relax due to the hot pursuit of his club colleague. Their club-mate Conor Ray u/16s (19.00) had a very steady run to finish in 3^rd place, whilst Ciara Murphy u/17s (20.27) was 5^th overall and the first female to reach the finish line.

Results in brief:

Bob Heffernan 5km Road Race at Johnstownbridge (19/5/15): 10^th Aogan MacDomhnaill (15.52); 12^th Gavin Keogh (15.58 PB); 17^th Chris Muldoon (16.11); 35^th / 2^nd M45 Ken Norgrove (16.41); 36^th Andrew Ledwith (16.44); 39^th Rossa Hurley (16.45) club debut; 51^st Eoin Hannon (17.14); 114^th Niall O’Reilly (18.27); 120^th / 21^stM40 Alan Farrell (38.36); 121^st / 8^th woman Sorcha NicDhomhnaill (18.37); 131^st / 11^th woman Ide NicDhomhnaill (18.52); 143^rd / 14^th woman Breda Mahony (19.06); 146^th / 16^th woman Michelle Childs (19.08); 147^th Kieran Beausang (19.09) club debut; 156^th Joe Murphy (19.13); 181^st / 26^th woman Rhona Duane; 197^th / 32^nd woman Sinead Graham

TEAM: Men = 1^st Donore Harriers <MacDomhnaill, G. Keogh, Muldoon> 39; 2^nd Celbridge AC 53; 3^rd Portlaoise AC 58

Women = 1^st Portlaoise 32; 2^nd Donore Harriers <S. NicDhomhnaill, I. NicDhomhnaill, Mahony> 33; 3^rd Dunboyne AC 58

IMRA Leinster League Round 5 (8.4km) at Glasnamullen (20/5/15): 2^nd Niall Lynch M40 (46.58)

Dublin Open Graded T&F Meeting (No. 3) at Santry (20/5/15): Women’s Mile: – 4^th Maura Kearns (5.24.29); 9^th Caoimhe Mackey u/17s (6.11.55) club debut; Men’s Mile ‘B’: – 6^th Luke Boland (4.44.66 PB): Men’s Mile ‘D’: – 6^th Des Gill M45 (5.55.07); 7^th Jim McNamara M75 (6.37.95): Men’s 5000m: – 4^th Michael McMahon (15.43.12 PB); 9^th Sean Fox M40 (16.50.51)

Basil Clifford Mile ‘A’ race inaugural trophy donated by Donore Harriers: – 1^st John Coghlan MSB (4.10.66); 2^nd Cathal Doyle Clonliffe Harriers (4.28.19); 3^rd CJ Isayas AIT (4.29.06); 4^th Richard Lombard DCH (4.29.25) 13 athletes competed

BHAA ESB Beach Race at Sandymount Strand (20/5/15): 14^th Fred Kiernan M40 (18.30); 43^rd / 2^nd female Alma Hanevy (20.23); 166^th / 1^st F75 Ann Woodlock (29.29)

National Combined Event Championships at Templemore (23&24/5/15): Junior Men Decathlon – 1^st Rolus Olusa 5130 points: 100m 11.99 = 653; LJ 5.74m = 531; SP 10.2m = 497; HJ 1.73m = 569; 400m 56.23 = 550; 110mH 15.7 = 766; DT 30.43m = 473; PV 2.90m = 333; JT 29.76 = 296; 1500m 5.17.67 = 467

The Elms 10km Road Race at Punchestown (23/5/15): 7^th Tony Griffin (42.36)

Griffeen 5km Parkrun (23/5/15): 42^nd / 1^st female Nicola Dowdall F40 (22.00)

IMAF T&F Meet at Oordengem-Lede in Belgium (24/5/15): Junior 4 x 100m – 1^st Ireland <Sean Lawlor on leg 3> (41.40); 2^nd Netherlands (41.46); 3^rd Belgium (42.14)

1,500m ‘D’ – 4^th Eric Keogh (3.51.08)

Coca Cola Foroige 5km at Blanchardstown (24/5/15): 22^nd / 4^th female Grainne Nolan (22.05)

National Track & Field League Men’s Premier Division (Round 1) at Belfast (24/5/15):

TEAM: 1^st Clonliffe Harriers 103; 2^nd Donore Harriers 102; 3^rd Crusaders 90; 4^th North Down AC 89; 5^th Raheny Shamrocks 88; 6^th DSD AC 80; 7^th Tallaght Ac 86

Leading performances: – 100m – 1^st Eamon Fahey; 200m – 1^st Eamon Fahey; 110mH – 1^st Simon Taggart; 400mH – 3^rd Simon Taggart; 1.500m – 4^th Sam Allen; 5,000m – 2^nd Michael McMahon (15.19 PB); Javelin – 1^st Jaco Oosthuysen; 56lb Hammer – 1^st Jaco Oosthuysen; Shot Putt – 2^nd Niall Allen; Discus – 3^rd Niall Allen; High Jump – 4^th – Cathal O’Brien

National Track & Field League Women’s First Division (Round 1) at Belfast (24/5/15):

TEAM: 1^st Finn Valley AC 104; 2^nd = Co. Antrim 100; 2^nd = Lagan Valley 100; 4^th Donore Harriers 99; 5^th Sli Cualann 97

Leading performances: –  1,500m Walk – 1^st Ann Gormley; 200m – 2^nd Aoife Lynch JNR; 400m – 3^rd Claire O’Connor JNR; 800m – 2^nd Maura Kearns; 1,500m – 5^th Rhona Duane; 5,000m – 1^st Florence Curley; 100mH – 3^rdLauren Kennedy JNR; 400mH – 3^rd Roisin Rynn-Cahill JNR; Long Jump – 5^th Karen Hughes JNR; High Jump – 5^thRoisin Rynn-Cahill JNR; Triple Jump – 2^nd Linda Ngankam; Pole Vault – 2^nd Ailbhe Healy JNR; Javelin – 5^th Lauren O’Keeffe JNR; Hammer – 5^th Clodagh Read JNR; Shot Putt – 5^th Orlaith Read; Discus – 3^rd Clodagh Read; 4 x 100m – 1^st Donore Harriers <Ngankam, Lynch, Hughes, Keating>; 4 x 400m – 6^th Donore Harriers <O’Connor; Duane; Caoimhe Mackey; Kearns>

Juvenile Results:

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (23/5/15): 1^st Fathi Aden u/15s (16.44) new course record; 2^nd Sekeriye Ahmed u/16s (16.48) also inside old course record; 3^rd Conor Ray u/16s (19.00) debut over distance; 5^th / 1^st female Ciara Murphy u/17s (20.27); 40^th /14^th female Shona Smyth u/16s (29.19)