This year’s Dublin Novice cross country moved from its traditional Phoenix Park venue to St Anne’s Park Raheny.  It was a mild day and quite dry underfoot, earlier the Donore juvenile runners showed the way with some great runs in the juvenile league.

After a 20 minute delay the ladies 3k race got underway, and it was a debut championship cross country outing for some of our 8-strong team.  With 71 finishers and 12 teams it was a particularly competitive race this year.  Janette Strickland had the race of her life in only her 2nd championship outing moving steadily through to finish 18th overall, Marianne Dunlevy held off a number of runners at the finish in 29th place and not far behind was Rhona Duane in 33rd.  Bronagh Elliott did her first ever cross country race and was a solid 35th, Eva Campion had a fine run and was 37th with Ashling Swaine next in 40th.  Medbh Peavoy was further down the field than she would have liked in 42nd but she will bounce back as always and Cristina Gonzalez was 50th.  The girls finished 8th team so no medals this time but this team will gain in strength and experience as the season continues.

The men’s 6k race had 87 runners and 13 teams in the mix, Donore had 12 men competing. A last lap rush by Niall Lynch (8th in 19.26), Graham Hopkins (17th in 19.58) and Emmet O’Briain (22nd in 20.10) saw the Donore Harriers men’s team climb into a medal position.

The team was lying 4th at the end of lap 3 (at 4.500m), but the trio all gained places over the final 1,500 metres loop to gain bronze medals in the team competition. An independent counter had Donore on 65 points after lap 3 with Raheny Shamrocks on 60. However, Donore gained to 51 points at the end, whilst Raheny slipped to 62. The team competition went to Clonliffe Harriers on 29 points with Crusaders second on 47 points.

The Donore team was led home by Eric Keogh (4th in 19.08), who was 4th in this race last year and was aiming for a medal this time – after 2 strong laps at the top of the race Eric was in contention, the eventual winner Clonliffe’s Ian Guiden however started to stretch the field out and Eric dropped back, hampered perhaps by the effects of a cold during the week, and he finished 4th once again but still an excellent run. The other Donore team members to finish the flat 6km route in the dry and humid conditions were: – Fred Kiernan (29th in 20.25); Eoin Hannon (39th in 20.48); Fergal Swaine (46th in 21.09);  Luke Boland (51st in 21.26); Bob Blake (55th in 21.33); Padraig McGreal (60th in 22.05); and Stephen Dawson (66th in 22.33).

There was great support for the teams out there too so thanks to all who made the journey out to spectate.

On the roads, some of those training for Autumn marathons tested themselves on the Athlone 3/4 marathon and had great success.  Kim Hickey was 2nd lady in a super 2.30.29, NY marathon-bound Alma Hanevy was 3rd in 2.31.06  – and new member Liagh Miller did 3.12.53.

It was a busy weekend of races ranging from 5k to the marathon.  Anne and Florence Curley made the trip to Moone Kildare for the Jim Roche race festival 26.2k Kilomarathon event.  On a warm day and an undulating course with an uphill finish Anne showed her customary flair over the distance to finish 1st woman and 11th overall in 1.47.48 , sister Florrie finished 3rd woman in 1.54.47.

Another runner preparing for the marathon is Nicola Dowdall and she ran a very good 2.47.40 at the Eco 2 run 20 mile at Eastpoint.  Amandine Devine ran 1.48.46 in the 10 mile run simultaneously.

The big race of the weekend in Dublin was the Rathfarnham 5k with 1300 participants.  Donore had some great performances, PBs and 2nd team placing for the ladies and 3rd for the men.  Dave Heffernan was 1st home in a super 15.33, Feargal Swaine was 2nd M40 in 16.23 and Fred Kiernan next in 16.44.  Sinead Lambe probably suffered a little from an early fast pace but still ran 18.30 and finished 7th woman.  Barbara Murray is making a great comeback and will be well pleased with 19.11 and 1st W40 place.  Sinead Graham was delighted with her 20.17 PB and Karen Behan and Rhona Duane finished practically together not long after- results in full are listed below.

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Over in Berlin, 5 of our runners did us proud in one of the world’s biggest and fastest marathons with Ken Norgrove leading the way with an excellent 2:37:05, all results below.

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The Dublin Marathon race series came to a close on Saturday with the Half Marathon which had a great turnout from Donore Runners and supporters. On an unseasonably warm day, we had some fantastic performances from all our athletes. Next up for many of these athletes will be the Dublin Marathon on the October Bank Holiday Monday.

Leading the club home was John Dunne putting in another strong performance to finish 11th overall in 1:14:40, Niall Lynch was hot on his heels with 1:14:41 for, Darren Hand 1:16:57. John Dunne and Niall Lynch did well to win their respective categories. First home for the ladies was Lisa Carley in 1:39:39  and Karen Behan in her first half marathon was part of a pack of Donore ladies , finished in a fantastic 1:45:14. Full results below.

Fergal Whitty, took to the roads in Cork the next day in the increasingly popular Charleville Half Marathon and ran extremely well to finish 8th against some very tough competition with a superb 1:13:13

Well done to all.

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There were plenty of race top placings by Donore runners over the past few days.  In Kilkenny, Ken Norgrove came 2nd in the inaugural Gathering of the Gaels half marathon in 76.01.

Sinead Lambe clocked up another PB at the Bohermeen 5 mile in a time of 30.38 where she was the 2nd woman.  In the same race Jim McNamara won the M65 category in 35.15 and Ann Woodlock won the W65 category in 44.56.

Dave Heffernan was an excellent 4th at the Lakes 10k in Blessington in 33.45.  Des Tremble finished in 36.41, 3 Donore ladies also made the trip with Elaine Verdon doing 46.42, Caitriona Devaney 54.08 and Carissa Walsh 64.55.

In the last BHAA road race of the season – the Finding the Run of Ourselves 10k in Firhouse- Graham Hopkins was 4th in 34.51 and was also the 1st M40, next was Patrick Moriarty in 35.35 and the improving Frank McNally ran 42.50.

Terry Mee continued his recent run of good form in the long running Clonliffe 2 mile in Santry where he finished in 13.20.

The Dublin 10 mile championship was incorporated in last week’s Frank Duffy race and there was a great result for our Masters Men Fergal Whitty, John Dunne and Niall Lynch who won the Masters team title – this team is fast becoming a force to be reckoned with and Fergal Whitty claimed the silver M35 spot also.  Terry Mee got another medal to follow on from his National Master success and won the M70 category.  Breda Mahony won bronze in the W35 category.

Noel Conway and Seán Fox were our representatives in the Tullamore Harriers Half Marathon where Noel ran in impressive 1:28:09 and Seán Fox finished 12th with 1:29:03.

On Saturday, the Phoenix Park became a sea of colour with a few thousand taking to the road for the Great Pink Run 5k and 10k races.  Bob Blake won the 5k event in 17.59.  Robert Cogan was 14th in the 10K with 38.54 and  although carrying an injury Anne Curley ran 39.42 finishing 3rd lady.

Over in the west, Joe Murphy was 5th in the Ballycastle 10k in 41.30 on a very hilly course and in windy conditions.

In Griffeen Park, Joan McTernan was again the first lady home in the Parkrun there.

Well done to all.