Category Archives: Results

Jumbo Senior Results Round-Up: from National Novice XC to a World Record Attempt via Waterford & the Captain’s Race…

Club News, Meet & Train, Results, Senior

National Novice XC Dundalk Report

It was another incredibly competitive day at this year’s National Novice championships in Dundalk IT – this race attracts one of the biggest fields in the cross country calendar and has grown over the years.

The women’s race consisted of 2 x 2k laps and had 136 finishers- a fair course with some steep hills nonetheless and underfoot conditions were quite good. Alma Hanevy made her customary steady start working her way up through the field to finish in 39th which was an excellent placing in a field of 136 – she finished around runners who were top 10 in last year’s national masters giving an idea of the standard here. Barbara Murray was next in 67th though only 38 seconds separated her and Alma such was the volume of runners coming over the line. Bronagh Elliott was next 8 seconds later in 70th, Amy Dodd is growing in stature with every race and finished in 84th position. Julia Hackett is delighted to be running championship cross country again and finished in 107th and Medbh Peavoy also made a comeback in 120th. The team finished 10th out of 18th and will build on this for the races coming up in 2017.

The men’s teams were missing a few key people on the day unfortunately but we still had 10 runners out. Niall Lynch was delighted with his 31st placing in a 176 strong field in the 6k race – and he had been on site from early on supporting at the juvenile races. Rossa Hurley 2nd in the Dublin Intermediate last week was feeling the effects of a cold so took a while to find his feet but he still battled well and had a very fast finish in 33rd, in next were Eoin Hannon 75th and Des Tremble 87th (Fergal Swaine was forced to retire). The Donore A team finished 9th out of 19 teams. Donore B team featured a mix of experience and some new runners in their first cross country season for Donore: Andrew Wilson 116th, Alan Farrell 121st, Fergal Roche 132nd, Rob Clougher 169th and Des Gill 176th were 17th. The full complement of the team will be back for the Masters and Intermediate races in January and February.

Thanks to the supporters who travelled down (and tent builders who now have it down to a fine art!)

Road Round-Up

It’s not just all cross country racing at this time of the year…Donore runners have recorded some fine runs on the road in the past few weeks.

At the Waterford Half marathon, Eric Keogh followed up his impressive showing at the National Senior cross country by breaking the 70 minute barrier at this sold-out fixture in Waterford town. He finished in 5th place in a time of 69.30. Four other Donore runners were there – suffering the effects of a cold Breda Mahony still finished in 98.40, Nicola Dowdall ran 1.40.25, not far off her lifetime best, Marianne Dunlevy had to stop mid-race but finished in 1.41.57 and Elaine Verdon was delighted with a PB of 1.42.30 – reaping the benefits of her Dublin marathon at the end of October. Later that day the ladies even got to meet Waterford’s own athletic legend Thomas Barr so a great finish to the weekend.
Rhona McHugh is coming back into good form with two 10 mile races lately – she finished in 73.04 at the Stook 10 mile in Kilkenny a testing race with a notorious hill in the middle. She followed this up with a PB in the Ballyroan Abbeyleix 10 mile in 69.30.
Meanwhile back in Dublin, Shane McAuley recorded an impressive 36.38 at the Aware 10k and Peter Nugent 39.56 in the same race.

Captain’s Race

This “cake race” club tradition usually happens on the last Saturday before Christmas after all the championship fixtures have finished for the year. A chance for various endurance groups to come together and race including the youngest runner 16year old Zak Ahmed – it is held over a three lap course which starts close to the army training grounds, up the horse gallop and back down at the stone bridge, 5k in all (and slightly more) Willie Smith marked the course, President Iain Morrison started the runners and captains Florence Curley and Rossa Hurley were there – injury prevented Rossa from running. First home was Eoin Hannon and first lady home was Barbara Cleary – Zak our youngest runner was 2nd overall. Afterwards, the runners gathered for mince pies and tea/coffee back at the clubhouse. Each runner brings a prize so everyone got to take home a festive gift. Results as follows:

1 Eoin Hannon 18.42
2 Zakariya Ahmed 19.08
3 Barbara Cleary 19.35
4 Neil McGettigan 19.41
5 George Brady 19.50
6 Andrew Wilson 19.52
7 Neil Hand 20.22
8 Donal Iremonger 21.44
9 Stephen Dawson 21.45
10 Des Tremble 22.39
11 Karen Behan 22.42
12 Rhona Duane 23.04
13 Bronagh Elliot 23.05
14 Craig Scott 23.28
15 Florence Curley 23.39
16 Des Gill 24.02
17 Angela Eustace 24.11
18 Sinead Graham 24.29
19 Aine Mahony 24.44
20 Ariana Ball 26.25
21 Sian o’Connor 27.03
22 Dana Mackey 27.33
23 Jennifer O’Keeffe 31.37
24 Eilish Funston 31.37

4 x 1 Mile World Record Attempt

Congratulations to our own John Travers who was part of the 4 x 1 mile relay indoor world record attempt at the Believe & Achieve meet in the Athlone Indoor arena – the culminating event of a development meet organised by Dermott McDermott of Corran AC and the Believe and Achieve team. The record has stood for 23 years 1993 at 16.16. John along with Kieran Kelly, Eoin Everard and Joe Warne (a late replacement for Paul Robinson) all made a great crack at it and John had the fastest split of the four at 4.04. Unfortunately, the team didn’t break the mark on this occasion, just missing it by 6 seconds but by all accounts it was a super event and thanks to the Donore supporters who also travelled down for an exciting evening of athletics. Earlier in the day at the same event, Sam Allen finished 5th in 9:06.9 in a high-class 3000m won by Alberto Sanchez in a 8:00.72 – well within the 8:05 qualifying standard for the 2017 European Indoor Championships in Belgrade.

Meet & Train Cross Country Report

The first two rounds of the long running Meet and Train Women’s Cross Country league took place on November 27th in Dunboyne and on 18th December in Tymon Park.

Always run in a competitive but friendly atmosphere, Donore Harriers own Sue Lynch has long been the mainstay of the league. It has always been a springboard for those new to cross country running and a great team event. Each race is 2 miles in length over various cross country courses around Dublin/Meath

Round 1 in Cowpark Dunboyne – a tough enough course on bumpy terrain had 11 Donore runners competing in a field of 112 runners

20th Audrey Gahan 14.31
28th Mairead Kirby 14.56
52nd Mary Murphy 15.45
60th Linda Curtin 16.21
62nd Mary Murphy 16.24
65th Ruth Chambers 16.31
68th Michelle Dawson 16.40
76th Teresa Brophy 17.03
80th Jennifer O’Keeffe 17.13
90th Sue Lynch 18.35
92nd Ann Woodlock 19.06

Round 2 took place on a sunny morning on Tymon Park on a new course the far end of Tymon which was also used for the Dublin Intermediate, this time 134 finished the race – results as follows:

12th Audrey Gahan 13.06
45th Michelle O’Hagan 14.02
60th Lee Chambers 14.31
68th Mary Murphy 14.48
83rd Linda Curtin 15.27
85th Lauren Brady 15.29
92nd teresa Brophy 15.47
93rd Sarah Ni Ruairc 15.52
103rd Jennifer O’Keeffe 16.23
106th Michelle Dawson 16.46
110th Sue Lynch 17.19
117th Ann Woodlock 18.01

Great running and good to see some making a return to cross country and others like Audrey in their first season. Thanks Sue Lynch and to Mary Murphy for her sterling work in organising teams!

~ Florence Curley

Weekend report: Schools Combined Indoors, Masters International, Leinster Senior & Remembrance Run

Club News, Results, Senior

National Schools Combined Indoors

Well done to Lara O’Byrne and Roisin Rynn Cahill who competed in Athlone arena at the weekend for their school St Joseph’s in Lucan. Roisin finished in 4th place in the senior girls, just off the medals. Lara finished in 5th place in a very competitive inter competition just 14 points off 4th which would have seen her compete on the Irish team. She also got 3 personal bests today in long jump shot put and 800m . Both girls still have the national combined events to look forward to in the New Year.

British and Irish Masters Cross Country
The British and Irish Masters cross country was held in Tollcross Park Glasgow this year. Donore Harriers had just two competitors. Terry Mee, who competed on the Irish M70 team – a 5k race which is always ran with the masters women and was the 2nd home on the team but sadly Ireland were outside the medals coming 4th. 78 year old Ann Woodlock has competed in this race many times and she was on the W70 team finishing 4th on her team and they won a bronze medal.

Leinster Senior XC

Following her bronze medal at the Dublin Senior last week, Barbara Cleary continued her impressive form ahead of the National Senior inter-clubs in 2 weeks time, winning the Leinster Senior women’s cross country championship on Sunday in Tyrrellspass, on what was a pretty tough course. Lying 9th in the early stages, Barbara gradually worked her way up into the top 3. And despite a fall on a sharp bend, Barbara retained her lead and finished 10 seconds clear of Wexford runner and former 800m National champion Fiona Kehoe, and MSB’s Caitriona Mullen. A great run for Barbara and thanks to coach Willie smith who was there to see her victory and was able to give us a race report straight after the finish!

The presentation photo above is by Emily Wallace of Mullingar Harriers, as featured on the Athletics Leinster site, more here: http://www.athleticsleinster.org/

Remembrance Run Phoenix Park

Many Donore runners ran in remembrance of the late Jim McNamara and others who have passed. Race organiser Frank Greally was on hand after the run to present a special candle to Jim’s brother Mick and to Tommy Hayward’s son Eric. A very emotional day for “Jim’s girls” who all jogged around The Remembrance Run 5k on Sunday. The race honoured a number of great names of the Irish athletics scene who passed away this year and two of them were Jim McNamara and Tommy Hayward. Great to see all the Donore Harriers gang there: Sian O’ Connor, Rhona McHugh, Jennifer O’Keeffe, Catherine McKeon, Mary McDermott, Eilish Funston, Liagh Miller, Angela Eustace, Karen Behan, Niamh Murphy, Audrey Gahan, Pauline Dennigan and Charlie O Neill. Audrey Gahan joined us soon after Jim’s passing but she’s so one of the gang now that we forget she never had the pleasure of knowing Jim and that he never had the pleasure of knowing her! It was so good to see Pauline Dennigan who travelled up from Kerry to be with us here today, she was one of the old gang who raced many a championship race with us as we travelled the length and breadth of the country in the cross country season. Good to see Joan McTernan and Dave Hudson there too. Jim’s nephew and Ian Redican also ran today and he, Jim’s brother Mick and Tommy Hayward’s son Eric were all invited back to the VIP tent after to get a special memorial candle to both Jim and Tommy. Frank Greally who organises the race every year with AAI presented them with the candles. Mick will give this special candle to Jim’s daughter Andrea Draper. Well done to all Donore Harriers athletes that turned out today sorry if we missed you at the finish line…..

– Florence Curley

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

Donore Success at Dublin Marathon & Leinster Novice XC Report

Club News, Results

Dublin Marathon report

The headline successes of Sunday’s Dublin marathon were the women’s Senior A team of Anne Curley, Grace Kennedy and Sinéad Graham winning team silver out of 123 teams and Anne Curley’s gold in the W45 age-group in the National Marathon Championships, incorporated into the Dublin marathon.

Conditions were excellent with no wind or rain but the Dublin marathon course is not one to be trifled with – a lot of long drags in the first half can be deceptive and take their toll.

First man home was the now seasoned marathon man Fergal Whitty and he was not that far off his best time in 2.34.45 despite foot problems in the lead up to the race and he left in all on the line here. He was unlucky too to just miss out on an M40 top 3 placing, finishing 4th in his category. Sean Fox was only seconds off the PB he set in Rotterdam earlier this year in 2.47.07. Next in was Tony Barry 2.53.24 and Niall O’Reilly who did an ironman triathlon this year and smashed his PB in 2.55.31. Chris Muldoon ran 2.56.25 and Fergal Roche got a PB of 2.57.11.  Just outside the 3 hours was Declan Lynch in 3.00.45.

It’s great to see Anne Curley back doing what she does best – severely hampered by injury the past 2 years and a virus last week she still pulled out a 3.02.05 here in her 12th marathon, picking up pace in the second half and breezing past dozens in the last few miles.  Paul Cummins and Neil Hand finished in the 3.06 bracket.  Grace Kennedy got a big PB here of 3.08.02 showing the distance running flair and grit she has always had.

Stephen Dawson was next in 3.22.41.  Niall O’Reilly’s fiance Sinead Graham got it tough in the last few miles but still did a PB of 3.24.38 so a double PB going to the O’Reilly/Graham house!  Tony Griffin was well pleased with 3.26.31 and training partner Ken Cronin did really well in his debut in 3.30.33.  Kevin Odgers was next in 3.30.43.

Angela Eustace lowered her PB yet again in 3.31.42 after a great season on the roads.  Paul Graham was next in 3.32.11.  In her first marathon for Donore, Audrey Gahan was delighted with a 3.38.06.  Michael Barry has ran a few marathons this year and did 3.40.33 today and played the good samaritan in the last stages when he and another competitor helped an exhausted fellow runner to the line.  Ariana Ball came up trumps here after a disappointing roads season and aced a PB of 3.43.05.  Giovanni Borza ran 3.48.41.  Elaine Verdon had a nightmare leadup to the marathon needing surgery a few weeks ago so getting to the start line was touch and go but she was delighted with her 3.53

One of the happiest finishers of the day was Michelle Dawson who finally broke the 4 hour mark in 3.57.26.  Peter Bonnar had one of the feats of the day when he also got a PB of 3.58.52.  2 weeks ago he ran the Amsterdam marathon in just seconds over 4 hours so he came back to fix that on the streets of Dublin.  Another marathon debutante was Linda Curtin in 4.12.13.  Laura Murray hoped to break 4 hours today but still got a big PB of 4.12.59. Arthur Connick was next in 4.14.51.  Michele Murphy was well pleased with her 4.39.54 debut.

The Fit 4 life group had a good contingent here today with Andrew Maguire 4.14.28, Anna McMahon 4.35.23, Mark Cullivan 4.45.46 and Orlaith McMahon 5.07.17

Provisional team results show the enormous number of club entries:
123 senior women’s teams with our teams 2nd and 46th.  The women’s masters had 233 teams and we were 31st and 167th. In the men’s senior competition our teams were 49th and 80th out of  215. There was an incredible 433 teams in the master event with our men 9th and 25th.

There were more than 40 Donore people – members, parents, juniors and friends of members working very hard at the Chapelizod water station, another team distributing medals at the finish line and Joan McTernan and Dave Hudson of course who have been working hard for months on the event. Support around the course by members was magnificent – missing this year was of course the late Jim McNamara who always crisscrossed the course and was ever present at the finish.  He inspired a lot of the runners out there today and was remembered in the post-marathon celebrations in O’Donoghues afterwards.

Meanwhile in Frankfurt, George Brady was first home with another sub-3 in 2:58:32, followed by Fred Kiernan in 3:19:14 and John Gleeson in 3:30.54.

Full list of DCM Finishers.

Fergal Whitty 2.34.45
Sean Fox 2.47.07
Tony Barry 2.53.24
Niall O’Reilly 2.55.31 (PB)
Chris Muldoon 2.56.25
Feargal Roche 2.57.11 (PB)
Declan Lynch 3.00.45
Anne Curley 3.02.05
Paul Cummins 3.06.06
Neil Hand 3.06.53
Grace Kennedy 3.08.02 (PB)
Stephen Dawson 3.22.41
Sinead Graham 3.24.38 (PB)
Tony Griffin 3.26.21
Kevin Odgers 3.30.43
Ken Cronin 3.30.33 (debut)
Angela Eustace 3.31.42 (PB)
Paul Graham 3.32.11
Audrey Gahan 3.38.06 (PB)
Ariana Ball 3.43.05 (PB)
Giovanni Borza 3.48.41
Michelle Dawson 3.57.26 (PB)
Peter Bonnar 3.58.52 (PB)
Linda Curtin 4.12.13
Laura Murray 4.12.59 (PB)
Andrew Maguire 4.14.28
Arthur Connick 4.14.51
Declan Raftery 4.17.46
Joe McDonnell 4.24.35
Dana Mackey 4.26.45 (PB)
Anna McMahon 4.35.23
Michele Murphy 4.39.54 (debut)
Mark Cullivan 4.45.46
Ian Redican 5.03.06
Orlaith McMahon 5.07.17

Leinster Novice XC Report

The weekend wasn’t just about the Dublin marathon – we had a large number of competitors in the Leinster Novice cross country championship today at Tyrrellspass Co Westmeath.

The course was at New Forest Golf Club – good underfoot conditions, nice weather but a lot of short sharp hills and big numbers from all corners of the province in both races.

The ladies 4k race (1 small lap, 2 big laps) had 100 finishers.  Alma Hanevy had a super run, working her way through the field with a very strong last lap and she was passing runners right to the end to finish in 9th place – this also earned her county gold on the Dublin team.  Aine Mahony ran her first cross country race and finished in 50th place with Amy Dodd in a solid run in 57th.  Jona Kalemi improved on her run in the Dublin novice to finish in 72nd with Marianne Dunlevy in a good finish in 82nd.  The ladies finished in 8th place out of 12 teams – this was one of the most competitive Leinsters in a long time.

There were 9 Donore runners in the men’s 6k race – 151 finishers.  There was a powerful run from Rossa Hurley in 5th place – just 2 places off the medals and he won a gold on the Dublin team.  Next was Phil Hennessy 40th, Des Tremble 52nd, Fergal Swaine 61st, Patrick Byrne 72nd, Alan Farrell 84th, Andrew wilson 116th, Joe Murphy 143rd, Des Gill 146th, Ken McKeown  148th (he fell ill mid-race but bravely finished).  The team was 8th in a field of 22 teams -like the women’s race, a very competitive day.

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!

Autumn Open XC report & IMAA commemorates Jim McNamara with perpetual trophies.

Club News, Results, Senior

The unveiling of the new cross country course at the National Sports Campus in Abbotstown was eagerly waited today at Athletics Ireland’s Autumn open cross country race festival. The masters races also doubled as the trial for the British and Irish Masters cross country race.

First off for were the senior and masters women & M65+ men over 3 laps of 2k. 65+ women completed 2x2k laps. An undulating course which had churned up somewhat with a few days heavy rain faced the runners. First two home for the ladies were Karla Doran and Sinead Lambe. Karla and Sinead were close for a good deal of the race. In the end, just 9 seconds separated them with Karla in 37th (24.07) and 7th in the W35 category. Sinead was 39th in 24.16 and this is a great cross country comeback for her after missing a number of seasons due to injury. Karen Behan had a very impressive run in 66th (26.10). Barry Potts looks to have made the M65 team for Glasgow finishing 4th in this age-group and Terry Mee topped the M70 class booking his berth to Glasgow, as did Ann Woodlock in the W70 category.

In the men’s 8k race, first home for Donore was Eric Keogh in 20th (Lee Van Haeften unfortunately retired from the race). 7 of Donore’s master runners contested the race with M40 Niall Lynch in 75th (29.03), Philip Hennessey 91st, Ken Norgrove 93rd, masters captain Des Tremble 99th, Shane McAuley 121st in his first cross country outing and Ian O’Leary making a return after injury in 129th. Unfortunately on this occasion none of our runners in the 8k men’s race made the Irish B&I team qualification in what was a particularly competitive masters race.

At the award presentation there was a moving tribute to the late Jim McNamara. He competed in this race many times including in 2015 for the last time and he was arguably Ireland’s greatest ever masters athlete. The Irish Masters Athletics Association (IMAA) commissioned two trophies for the first master man and woman in today’s race. With the cooperation of Jim’s family, a pair of his spikes was crafted into two beautiful perpetual trophies. These were presented to Letterkenny AC’s AnneMarie McGlynn and to Slieve Gullion’s Paddy Hamilton by the IMAA and Jim’s younger brother Mick McNamara – Jim’s son James, daughter Andrea and some extended family were also present. Donore Harriers thanks the association especially Mick Fennell, Anne Gormley and Fionnuala Moore for bringing to fruition this wonderful tribute

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.

Slater Cup & Eddie Hogan Cup Races

Club News, Results, Senior

The club’s Slater Cup and Eddie Hogan Cup races were held at the magazine fort on Saturday – Alasdair Brown has a great gallery of pictures from the races on the club’s Facebook page. Thanks to Willie Smith for setting out the course today and to Iain Morrison, Joe Murphy and Willie for timekeeping and results. Thankfully, the rain showers cleared just as it got underway. The men did 5 laps of a roughly 1.2k lap and the women ran 3 laps. The Slater cup is the Donore Harriers men’s novice championship and is a sealed handicap – winner of the Slater cup was Stephen Dawson. First Novice lady was Alma Hanevy. First man over the line was novice men’s captain Rossa Hurley and first lady over the line was Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill who beat her twin sister Ide by one second!

There were also two Donore athletes in the Amsterdam marathon: Noel Davis in 3.54.08, and Peter Bonnar was just outside the 4 hours in 4.00.06, which was a big PB!

Donore double at BHAA XC in Castleknock + Results Round-up

Club News, Results

The BHAA cross country series of races kicked off in the grounds of Castleknock College on Saturday. The series is a great introduction to cross-country running for many, as well as an opportunity for club athletes looking to test their fitness ahead of the Senior season. Donore dominated both men’s and women’s races, with Ide Nic Dhomhnaill winning the women’s 2 mile race by a big margin from DSD’s Niamh Devlin, and another good run by Aisling Swaine in 6th. It was a Donore 1-2 in the men’s with Eric Keogh taking the win ahead of clubmate Lee Van Haeften and last year’s national novice winner Stephen Lawlor of St. Abban’s in third.

Complete results available here (https://bhaa.ie/events/teachers-cross-country-2016/) with club results as follows:

Men’s 4 mile
Eric Keogh 1st
Lee van Haeften 2nd
Rossa Hurley 12th
Ken Norgrove 23rd
Kevin Nolan 25th
Fergal Swaine 32nd
Tom Fagan 53rd (3rd M45)
Peter Nugent 54th
Joe Murphy 58th
Colm Mullen 59th (xc debut)
Colin Moore 76th
Ken McKeown 80th
Terry Mee 99th (1st M70)

Women’s 2 mile
1st Ide Nic Dhomhnaill
6th Aisling Swaine
26th Mary McDermott
28th Marianne Dunlevy

Ian Redican has a photo gallery of the race here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/red-i/albums/72157671466474544

Results Round-up
With only weeks to go until the Dublin marathon, the 3/4 marathon event in Longwood, Meath attracted nearly 1000 runners. A well-received course and good weather meant that participants were happy with their times. First home for the club in 5th place and just dipping under the 2 hour mark was Anthony Flannery in 1.59.50 with Chris Muldoon not far behind in 7th place 2.01.50. Alma Hanevy isn’t doing an Autumn marathon this year but she had a really good showing today after the novice last week and finished 3rd lady in 2.23.28. Stephen Dawson was next in 2.24.12. Michael Barry crossed the line in 2.37.09. Dublin marathon-bound Michelle Dawson finished in 3.05.06 and despite some cramping in the legs, Laura Murray ran 3.10.17.

Meanwhile, in his native Cavan Niall Lynch came 4th in the 10k Run With Catherina in 34.45, celebrating its most famous sportsperson. In Limerick Olympian Sinead Jennings was 2nd in her rowing club’s St Michael’s Urban Run in 40.58.

Dublin Novice kicks off cross country season

Club News, Results

Donore are always the traditional hosts of the opening race in the cross country championship season and the tradition is also for sunny weather on this day – this year was no different. It was poignant though that the race did not have the late Jim McNamara on the sidelines – who as Dublin Board chairman Pat Hooper remarked at the presentation afterwards – was never known to miss this race.

There was a mix of new and experienced runners in the ladies 4k novice race which consisted of one small lap and 2 x1.5k longer laps. Marathon runner Alma Hanevy used her endurance to work her way through the 74-strong field really well and finished in 6th. The youngest member of the team 19 year old Niamh O’Neill made her adult cross country debut here and ran a great race, starting off hard but maintaining the pace very well to finish in 11th place. Another two cross country debutantes were Sinead Finn finishing in 21st and Amy Dodd in a close 33rd to the line with two other runners. Jona Kalemi was next in 62nd and will build on this in future races as will Marianne Dunlevy who finished in 64th. The team were at first listed as 5th out of the 9 teams but a mistake was rectified and the team were in fact 4th – just 3 points off the bronze medal.

For the men, the disappointment of narrowly missing out on a team medal (Donore 4th – 58 & Crusaders 3rd – 51) was offset by Rossa Hurley’s tremendous run to secure an individual bronze (20.29), behind Robert Murphy of Rathfarnham AC in second (20.14) and the winner, the classy Cathal Doyle (20.09) of Clonliffe Harriers, a junior international who competed for Ireland at last year’s European Cross Country Championships.

Rossa came through over the first two laps to join the leading group of four athletes, taking the race lead at the midway point before Murphy and Doyle prevailed over the final 2k. The other team scorers Luke Boland in 14th (21.11), Phil Hennessy in 19th (21.27) who paced his race to perfection moving throughout the field over the course of the race and fourth scorer Patrick Byrne in 22nd (21.33). Next in was Ken Norgrove (25th, 21.39), Fergal Roche (34th, 21.56), Des Tremble (39th, 22.08), Kevin Nolan (42nd, 22.21), Alan Farrell (44th, 22.28), Graham Hopkins (60th, 23.05) and Des Gill (91st, 27.00).

Overall, this was a very encouraging opening race that shows Donore have squads capable of competing for Championships medals throughout the cross-country season.

One down, just the Leinster Novice, Dublin Senior, Leinster Senior, National Inter-Clubs, Dublin Intermediate, National Novice, Dublin Masters, Leinster Intermediate, Leinster Masters, National Intermediate, and National Masters left to go!