With the Dublin clubs dominant the National Inter-Clubs cross country championships at Kilbroney Park in County Down  again proved to be a capital battle! Six laps over a 2 kilometres undulating course in thepanoramic setting between Slieve Martin and the Carlingford Lough was the venue as the first 4 teams in 2014 again locked horns in pursuit of cross country glory. Mick Clohisey of Raheny Shamrocks AC and Dundrum South Dublin (DSD) came as defending individual and team champions.

Donore Harriers, having ended a 21 year barren spell in the team competition by gaining bronze medals in 2014, were intent on adding to their great legacy in Ireland’s premier cross country competition.

At the end of the first circuit (2km + 150m) Clohisey had opened up a sizeable lead on Sergiu Ciobanu of Clonliffe Harriers. In the team competition Ciobanu was heading a strong Clonliffe team, obviously looking on regaining the crown that they lost in 2014. The Santry based team was leading on 33 points (places 2, 8, 10 & 13) with Raheny Shamrocks 52 (1, 12, 15 & 24) in second and then defending champions DSD 55 (5, 6, 17 & 25). Donore Harriers held 4^th place with Lee Van Haeften in 11^th position (time 6.42), Mark Dooley in 19^th (6.48), Eric Keogh in 21^st (6.49), John Dunne in 26^th (6.54), Michael McMahon in 28^th (6.55) and Caoimhin Kelly in 41^st (7.15).

After 4km the colours of Clonliffe were again prominent. They had 4 runners (2, 10, 11 & 12) in the top 12 for a score of 35. Raheny, spearheaded by runaway leader Clohisey, remained in second on 57 (1, 15, 20 & 21). However, the competition for 3^rd place intensified as Donore Harriers on 65 points held a narrow lead over DSD on 67 (5, 6, 27 & 29). Lee Van Haeften was still leading the team in 13^th place (13.06) with Keogh only a metre back in 14^th. Dooley 18^th (13.08), McMahon 22^nd (13.31) and Dunne 23^rd (13.32) were packing well behind.

Clohisey extended his lead by the halfway mark, which he passed in 18.31. Mark Dooley and Eric Keogh (both passed6km in 19.35) in 12^th and 13^th place led the Donore team. A clearly unwell Van Haeften fell back to 18^th (19.52) and retired from the race soon after. Dunne and McMahon continued to run stride for stride and were holding places 19^thand 20^th (both 19.53). In the team race Clonliffe (2, 8, 9 & 11) on 30 had an unassailable lead. Raheny (1, 14, 16 & 24) on 55, Donore Harriers (12, 13, 18 & 19) on 62 and DSD (5, 6, 27, 31) on 69 continued to battle for the silver and bronze positions.

Donore’s cause was not helped by Van Haeften’s unfortunate retirement. Nor was it helped by Brendan O’Neill of DSD gaining to 3^rd place in the latter half of the race. However, despite having 2 athletes in the top 5, the DSD team was struggling with their 3^rd and 4^th scoring runners holding positions in the 20s, whilst the Donore athletes continued to dig deep and fight for each position. Thus, at the end of lap 4 (8km mark) Clonliffe consolidated their lead on 27 points (2, 7, 8 & 10), Raheny were on 47 (1, 13, 15 & 18), Donore Harriers on 54 (Dooley 9^th in 26.03; Keogh 12^th in 26.14; Dunne 16^th in 26.35 & McMahon 17^th in 26.35) and DSD on 64 (4, 5, 25 & 30).

Race leader Clohisey passed the 10km mark in 30.44, 31 seconds clear of Ciobanu with O’Neill gaining to 3^rd. Mark Dooley (32.35) maintained 9^th, Eric Keogh (32.55) improved a  place to 11^th whilst Dunne and McMahon remained in relentless pursuit in 16^th and 17^th (both 33.15). Clonliffe led on 27 (3, 5. 9 & 10), then came Raheny on 49 (1, 14, 15, 19) with Donore (53) in 3rd and DSD (3, 5, 24 and 30) next on 62.

In the final lap Clohisey (36.53) further increased his lead and ran out a very convincing winner. Ciobanu (37.26) was a good second with the fast finishing O’Neill (37.35) in 3^rd place. The Donore Harriers team was led in by Mark Dooley (38.59) who gained a place on the last circuit to finish 8^th. Eric Keogh (39.31), a middle-distance specialist, had to dig deep on the final 2km lap to hold 13^th after he lost a couple of places during a ‘bad patch’. Michael McMahon (39.47) won out his ultimate duel with John Dunne (39.50) as they crossed the line in 16^th and 17^th places. Caoimhin Kelly (43.40) was Donore’s non-scoring runner in 52^nd position.

The final team score read: 1^st. Clonliffe Harriers 27 (2, 6, 9, 10); 2^nd Raheny Shamrocks 46 (1, 12, 14, 19); 3^rd Donore Harriers 54 (8, 13, 16, 17); 4^th DSD AC 59 (3, 5, 22, 29); 5^th North Belfast Harriers 101, 6^th Liffey Valley AC 141 – 10 teams closed.

This was arguably a better team result that the bronze gained in 2014. John Travers was missing due to the close proximity of the race to the European Indoors next weekend and Lee Van Haeften was forced to abandon mid-race due to illness. Thus, great credit must go to the scoring four. Mark Dooley put behind a disappointing run in the South of England championships a month ago to run his “best every race”. It was fitting that Mark should lead the team home having missed out in the 2014 race due to injury. Eric Keogh, who is gearing towards the 800m and 1500m this summer, showed real grit to place 13^th – four places higher than last year. It is hard to imagine that both John Dunne and Michael McMahon took up ‘running’ in 2012 – yes in 2012! John Dunne was again the 4^th scoring man as he was last year. He was 25^th last year and improved to 17^th this year. But what about Michael McMahon! In the 2014 event he placed 45^th in what was his second race for the club. In 2015 he placed 16^th in Ireland’s senior cross country title race. It shows what can be achieved through dedication and hard work!

This was Donore Harriers 14^th team bronze in the history of the competition, adding to an overall tally that includes 23 team gold and 13 team silver. Team member John Dunne said: “we are improving all the time and there is no reason why we can’t win the team competition over the next couple of years”. A positive attitude and a work in progress!

At the Griffeen 5km Parkrun on Saturday morning  George Brady M35 (17.39), who is preparing for the Belfast Marathon in May, recorded a good win. In the early stages he had to contend with the close attention of Michael Gibbs u/18s (18.03). 17 years-old Gibbs again lowered his personal best when finishing in 3^rd position. Jack Connolly u/15s (19.58) was competing in his first 5km race and showed the benefits of regular training when he placed 13^thoverall. Another to impress was Ciara Murphy (20.05), who was 17^th overall and the first female finisher. Ciara also recorded a new PB and continues to improve. Shona Smyth (26.58) placed 108^th and is clearly regaining her fitness level.     

Results in brief:

National Senior Cross Country Championships at Kilbroney Park, Rostrevor: 8^th Mark Dooley (38.59); 13^th Eric Keogh (39.31); 16^th Michael McMahon (39.47); 17^th .John Dunne (39.50); 52^nd Caoimhin Kelly (43.40); Lee Van Haeften DNF (ill); Heywood Richardson DNF (injured)

TEAM: 1^st. Clonliffe Harriers 27 (2, 6, 9, 10); 2^nd Raheny Shamrocks 46 (1, 12, 14, 19); 3^rd Donore Harriers 54 (8, 13, 16, 17); 4^th DSD AC 59 (3, 5, 22, 29); 5^th North Belfast Harriers 101, 6^th Liffey Valley AC 141 – 10 teams

Griffeen 5km Parkrun: 1^st George Brady M35 (17.39); 3^rd Michael Gibbs u/18s (18.03 PB); 13^th Jack Connolly u/15s (19.58 PB); 17^th / 1^st female Ciara Murphy (20.05 PB); 27^th Daniel Brady u/17s (20.56); 108^th / 17^thShona Smith u/15s (26.58)

Mondello Park 10km: 6^th Colm O’Connell (34.02)

Lismullen 10km (1/3/15): 51^st / 2^nd M60 category Terry Mee M70 (49.33)

LATE RESULT Naas 5km Parkrun (21/2/15): 9^th / 2^nd female Lucy McCann u/17s (20.10)  

John Travers of Donore Harriers stamped his authority all over the final of 1500m at the National Senior Indoors championships at Athlone Arena on Sunday (22/2/15). Running a fine tactical race Travers ran in the pack during the early stages as first Danny Mooney of Letterkenny and then Eoin Everard of Kilkelly took the pace. Travers (3.49.93) moved to the front just after the halfway mark and raced away to a comfortable win with a blistering final 300 metres covered in 39 seconds. Everard (3.51.90) came second with Joe Warne (3.52.84) of Doheny AC in 3^rd.

In a post-race interview John Travers said that he felt: “very much in control” and to gaining: “a lot more experience and strength” prior to the European Indoor Championships to be held at Prague on the 6^th to 8^th of March. Link:http://youtu.be/EV1uaUagu8o

Junior athlete Cathal O’Brien gave a fine performance when placing 6^th in the High Jump with a best mark of 1m.85cm.

In the final Meet & Train league fixture at Cherryfield Park on Saturday (21/2/15) Donore’s Kim Hickey ran out a convincing winner and in the process took the overall individual league title. On a cold and wet morning the other Donore Harriers athletes who competed in a field of 104 finishers were: – 17^th Julia Hackett, 20^th Aisling Swaine, 29^thSian O’Connor, 43^rd Caren Crowley, 79^th Sue Lynch, and 88^th Anne Woodlock.  Donore C also finished the series in 3 place in the Bronze Division.

The 4^th and final day of the Dublin Juvenile Indoors championships at Santry on Saturday (21/2/15) saw another successful day for Donore Harriers. Lara O’Byrne made it 4 gold medals in the championships by winning the u/17s Girls 60 metres hurdles. Aoife Lynch (u/17s) added the 60m sprints title to the 200m crown that she won last week. Kolade Abiodun (u/16s) won gold in both the 60 metres and 60m hurdles, adding to his 200m title. The ever consistent Jack Rudden-Kelly made it five wins for Donore Harriers athletes when he recorded a great win in the u/17s Boys 60m hurdles.

Roisin Rynn-Cahill (u/17s) is proving to be a fine prospect at the hurdles event when she took silver in the 60mH event. One of the club’s most dedicated athletes Conor Fox was rewarded with a notable silver medal in the Boys under 19s sprint over 60 metres. Lauren Kennedy also took runner-up spot in the Girls under 17s sprint hurdles.

Suzi O’Farrell and Lauren Flaherty were very competitive when placing 3^rd in the Girls u/16s and u/17s sprints, both races having ‘photo’ finishes.

Juvenile Team Manager Leonie Newman stated: “Everyone on the team did so well! And it was great to see so many young athletes competing for the first time. They were all brilliant!”

A special mention must go to Ciaran O’Farrell. He qualified for the final of the under 9s Boys 60m and finished in 4^thplace. One to watch!

Elsewhere 17 years old Michael Gibbs was second home in the Operation Transformation 5km race in the Phoenix Park on Saturday (21/2/15). Ciara Murphy (u/17s) ran a brilliant personal best (20.50) when placing as runner-up in the Naas 5km Parkrun (21/2/15), whilst Hannah Barr (u/19s) was first woman home in the Waterstown 5km Parkrun (21/2/15). Hannah’s time of 23.59 was also a PB.

Results in brief:

National Senior Indoors at Athlone Arena (21 & 22/02/15): High Jump 6^th Cathal O’Brien JNR (1.85m); 1500m 1^st John Travers (3.49.93) and (3.55.05) 1^st in qualifying round

St. Anne’s 5km Parkrun (25/2/15): 39^th / 4^th woman Claire Morrissey F35 (21.37)

Meet & Train League at Cherryfield Park (21/2/15): 1^st Kim Hickey; 17^th Julia Hackett, 20^th Aisling Swaine, 29^thSian O’Connor, 43^rd Caren Crowley, 79^th Sue Lynch, 88^th Anne Woodlock

Operation Transformation 5km at Phoenix Park (21/2/15): 2^nd Michael Gibbs JNR. Other results not known

Wicklow Hospice 10km at Rathdrum (21/2/15): 5^th woman Rhona Duane (44.04)

Wicklow Hospice Half-Marathon at Rathdrum (26/2/15): 6^th / 2^nd in M40 Alan Farrell (1.24.59); 7^th / 2^nd M35 Colin Morrissey (1.26.00)

Barnodos/Blossom Ireland 9km at The Curragh 22/2.15): 2^nd Ian Redican M40 (37.30)

LATE RESULT St. Anne’s 5km Parkrun (18/2/15): 18^th / 2^nd woman Aoife Rickard   

Juvenile Results in brief:

Dublin Juvenile Indoor Track & Field Championships Day 4 at Santry (21/2/15)

GOLD (5): u/16s Girls 60mH – Lara O’Byrne: u/17s Girls 60m – Aoife Lynch: u/16s Boys 60m – Kolade Abiodun: u/16s Boys 60mH – Kolade Abiodun: u/17s Boys 60mH – Jack Rudden-Kelly

SILVER (3): u/17s Girls 60mH – Roisin Rynn-Cahill: u/18s Girls 60mH – Lauren Kennedy: u/19s Boys 60m – Conor Fox

BRONZE (3): u/16s Girls 60m – Suzi O’Farrell: u/17s 60m – Lauren Flahery; u/17s Boys 60m – Jack Rudden-Kelly
Naas 5km Parkrun (21/2/15): 13^th / 2^nd woman Ciara Murphy u/17s (20.50 PB)

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (21/2/15): 14^th / 1^st woman Hannah Barr u/19s (23.59 PB)

Donore Harriers had a return of 33 medals from the first weekend of the Dublin Indoor Track & Field championships for juvenile athletes (13-15/2/15). It was an action packed weekend with the competition held on Friday evening and Saturday at Santry Stadium and at Tallaght track on Sunday. Multi-event specialist Lara O’Byrne proved to be the star performer with 3 golds (High Jump, Shot Putt & Pole Vault) and a silver (Long Jump) in the under 16s age group. The club’s leading young sprinters struck gold as Aoife Lynch (u/16s), Kolade Abiodun (u/16s) and Sean Lawlor (u/19s) all excelled.

The club’s growing reputation for producing excellent young throwing event athletes was again evident. Ashling Read (Girls u/14s), the aforementioned Lara O’Byrne, Lauren O’Keeffe (Girls u/17s) and Oran O’Brien (Boys u/18s) made it four golds in the Shot Putt.  With the pole vault being introduced to the competition for the first time it was great the see Donore Harriers to the fore as Lara O’Byrne and Albhe Healy (Girls u/18s) vaulted to gold.

Clodagh Read (Girls u/17s) won three individual silver medals in the Long Jump, Shot Putt and Triple Jump. Lucy McCann (5.14.21) had to fend off a strong challenge from her team-mate Eliza NiThighearnaigh (5.14.9) to take silver in an exciting 1500m race.

Special mention must go to some of the club’s emerging young athletes. Rian Carey (u/13s Boys Shot Putt), Sekeriye Ahmed (u/16s Boys 1500m), Martina Hughes (u/18s Girls 200m), Lucy Hurley (u/16s Girls High Jump), Peace Onakoya (u/13s Girls Shot Putt) and Caoimhe Mackey (u/17s Girls Long Jump) were all new to the podium. Carey and Ahmed won silver medals with the remainder taking bronze.

The Donore relay teams were also very competitive with 2 silver and 4 bronze medals.

At the Leinster Schools Cross Country championships at Santry Demesne (11/2/15) Donore athletes Lucy McCann, Fathi Aden and Sekeriye Ahmed all qualified to compete in the national finals due to take place at Clongowes on the 7^th of March. McCann (Scoil Mhuire, Clane), competing in the Girls intermediate race, made a careful start and worked her way through to 15^th and the final qualifying position. Ciara Murphy (also Scoil Mhuire), who is relatively new to the sport, gave more indication of her emerging talent when placing 23^rd.

Fathi Aden and Sekeriye Ahmed (both Synge Street) worked their way through to 6^th and 8^th in the Junior Boys race. Both lost ground in the melee at the start and will hopefully gain from the experience.

Niamh O’Neill (Castleknock CC) put in a big challenge on the first lap to hold 7^th place, but she lost ground on lap 2 and fell back to 23^rd in the Senior Girls race over 2.5km. A very strong field in Senior Boys made it tough going for Sam Gallager (Lucan CBS) and Stephen Gavin (Salesians). They eventually had to settle for 20^th and 26^th placings. Gabhan O’Tighearnaigh (CUS) came 80^th, but was stepping-up an age group.

On a quiet weekend for the senior athletes the exploits of Garvan Smith (16^th in 3.35.59) and Sean Fox (17^th in 3.38.28) took centre stage. Both competed in the Donadea 50km road race on Saturday (14/2/15). Over the 10 laps course the two men ran side by side until the penultimate lap. Fox ‘hit the wall’ somewhere between 40km and 45 km, but made a good recover on the final lap and actually gained on his teammate over the final 5km circuit.

Elsewhere there were encouraging results for two athletes recovering from long-term injury. Dervila Holmes (11.56) placed 2^nd in the Business Houses Garda Boat Club women’s race over 2 miles in the Phoenix Park on Saturday (14/2/15), whilst Sinead Lambe (19.30) was 12^th overall and the first woman home in the St. Anne’s 5km Parkun (14/2/15).

Results in brief:

BHAA North Farmers XC at Balheary Park, Swords (7/2/15): Men’s 5 mile = 40^th Ian Redican M40 (31.05); 126^th Tommy Halton M55 (39.54)

Donadea RC 50km (14/2/15): 16^th Garvan Smith M40 (3.35.59) 5km splits 21:58: 20:49: 20:50: 21:02: 20:58: 20:59: 21:15: 21:12: 22:24: 24:32; 17^th Sean Fox M35 (3.38.28) 5km splits 21:58: 20:50: 20:50: 21:04: 20:57: 20:59: 21:15: 21:12: 25:14: 24:10

St. Anne’s 5km Parkrun (14/2/15): 12^th / 1^st woman Sinead Lambe (19.30)

BHAA Garda Boat Club XC at Phoenix Park (14/2/15): Women’s 2 mile race = 2^nd Dervila Holmes F35  (11.56); 82^nd Ann Woodlock F75 (18.06)

Men’s 4 miles = 9^th Henry English M35 (22.41); 111^th Desmond Gill M45 (28.44); 166^th Terry Mee M70 (31.36); 186^th Joseph Maguire M75 (33.34)

Juvenile results

Leinster Schools Cross Country championships at Santry Demesne (11/2/15): – Intermediate Girls:Intermediate Girls = 15^th Lucy McCann (Scoil Mhuire Clane); 23^rd Ciara Murphy (Scoil Mhuire Clane); 33^rd Claire O’Connor (St. Louis): Senior Girls = 23^rd Niamh O’Neill (Castleknock CC): Junior Boys = 6^th Fathi Aden (Synge Street CBS); 8^th Sekeriye Ahmed (Synge Street CBS); 94^th Jack Raftery (Castleknock CC): Senior Boys = 20^th Sam Gallagher (CBS Lucan); 26^th Stephen Gavin (Salesian College); 80^th Gabhan O’Tighearnaigh <stepping up> (CUS)

Lucy McCann, Fathi Aden & Sekeriye Ahmed qualify for Irish Schools cross country finals to be held at Clongowes in Clane on the 7^th of March 2015.

Dublin Indoor T&F championships at Santry Stadium (13/2/15):

Gold (12): u/14s Girls Shot Putt – Ashling Read: u/16s Girls 200m – Aoife Lynch: u/16s Girls – High Jump – Lara O’Byrne: u/16s Girls Shot Putt – Lara O’Byrne: u/16s Girls Pole Vault – Lara O’Byrne: u/17s Girls Shot Putt – Lauren O’Keeffe: u/18s Girls Triple Jump – Karen Hughes: u/18s Girls Pole Vault – Albhe Healy: u/16s Boys 200m – Kolade Abiodun; u/17s Boys High Jump – Gabhan O’Tighearnaigh; u/18s Boys Shot Putt – Oran O’Brien: u/19s Boys 200m – Sean Lawlor

Silver (10): u/16s Girls Long Jump – Lara O’Byrne: u/17s Girls 1500m – Lucy McCann (5.14.21): u/17s Girls Long Jump – Clodagh Read: u/17s Girls Shot Putt – Clodagh Read: u/17s Girls Triple Jump – Clodagh Read: u/18s Girls 200m – Karen Hughes: u/13s Boys Shot Putt – Rian Carey: u/16s Boys 1500m – Sekeriye Ahmed (4.41.73): under 17s Girls relay: under 17s Boys relay

Bronze (11): u/13s Girls Shot Putt – Peace Onakoya: u/16s Girls High Jump – Lucy Hurley: u/16s Girls Shot Putt – Martina Hughes: u/17s Girls Long Jump – Caoimhe Mackey: u/17s Girls 1500m – Eliza NiThighearnaigh (5.14.90): u/12s Boys 600m – Sean Kinsella: under 16s Girls relay: under 18s Girls relay:  under 16s Boys relay: under 17s Boys relay: under 19s Boys relay
Under 18 Oran o brien 1st in shot putt
Under 19 Sean lawlor 1st 200
Relays
Under 16 girls 4×200 3rd
Under 17 girls 4x2002nd
Under 18 girls 4x2003rd
Under 16 boys 4x2003rd
Under 17 boys 4x2002nd
Under 19boys 4×200 3rdUnder 17 gabhan ni thighearnaigh 1st high jump
Under 18 Oran o brien 1st in shot putt
Under 19 Sean lawlor 1st 200
Relays
Under 16 girls 4×200 3rd
Under 17 girls 4x2002nd
Under 18 girls 4x2003rd
Under 16 boys 4x2003rd
Under 17 boys 4x2002nd
Under 19boys 4×200 3rd
Under 17 gabhan ni thighearnaigh 1st high jump
Under 18 Oran o brien 1st in shot putt
Under 19 Sean lawlor 1st 200
Relays
Under 16 girls 4×200 3rd
Under 17 girls 4x2002nd
Under 18 girls 4x2003rd
Under 16 boys 4x2003rd
Under 17 boys 4x2002nd
Under 19boys 4×200 3rd

John Travers opened his indoor season with a fantastic win in New York. Competing in the New Balance Invitational Mile at the Armoury Centre on Saturday against a strong field of American based athletes Travers won by three metres over Chris Gowell and dipped under the magic 4 minutes barriers for the second time on the track. Travers lay in the main pack through the first half of the race and edged into the lead on lap 5 of 8. He was forced to maintain a fast pace to fend off the close attention of Chris Gowell, a Welsh international now based as a full-time athlete in Austin, Texas. Travers broke the line in 3.59.62 with Gowell second in a time of 4.00.13 and Ross Proudfoot (4.01.47) of Canada in third. Travers was understandably “chuffed” after the race as this result augurs well for the remainder of his indoor campaign. Here is a link to the race  http://www.armorytrack.com/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=45586&do=videos&video_id=131245

Three members of the Donore Harriers ‘A’ squad competed in the South of England Cross Country championship at Brighton on Saturday. The ‘Southern’ is the second largest cross country race in the U.K attracting the strongest distance club runners. The 9-miles classic usually has an array of international athletes to the fore and this year saw England’s Ben Tickner (50.21) of the host club hold on for victory from Paskar Owar (50.24) of Uganda and Belgrave Harriers. The Donore trio was led home by Eric Keogh (55.24) in an excellent 70^th place, whilst Caoimhin Kelly (59.08) and Mark Dooley (60.29) will have gained from the experience when placing 176^th and 232rd respectively.

Eoin Durkan (27.01) was the first Donore Harrier home when he placed 36^th in the AXA Raheny 5 mile road race at St. Anne’s Park on Sunday.  Master athlete Alan Farrell was the next clubman home in 176^th place in a time of 30.29. The women’s team was led home by Sinead Graham (33.31) in 432^nd spot with Aoife O’Sullivan placing 439^th (34.09). 14 club members competing amongst a field of well over 2,000 entrants.

At the National Indoor Junior & U/23s championships at Athlone Arena  Sean Lawlor (21.86) blitzed the field to win the Junior Men’s 200 metres final. A fast start gave the ‘Ballyer Bullet’ the advantage and he held on brilliantly to edge out his main nemesis Zak Irwin (21.91) of Sligo AC.  In the 1500m final middle-distance specialist Daragh Fitzgibbon (4.04.22) ran a very solid race to gain the silver medal behind Andrew Wright of Willowfield Harriers. Adam Halpin placed 4^th in the heats of the Junior Men’s 400m knocking well over a second off his previous best time. In the Junior Women’s pole vault Ailbhe Healy jumped 2.55m at her first attempt, but was unable to clear the next height of 2.70m that would have put her in contention for a medal. She had to settle for a commendable 5^thposition. Here is a link to the indoor championships http://jumping-the-gun.com/?p=2837 (Sean Lawlor’s final is at 4.25)

Results in brief:

New Balance Invitational Mile at the Armoury Centre, New York: 1^st John Travers (Donore Harriers & Ireland) 3.59.62; 2^nd Chris Gowell (Wales) 4.00.13; 3^rd Ross Proudfoot (Canada) 4.01.47

South of England XC championships (9 miles) at Brighton: 70^th Eric Keogh (55.24); 176^th Caoimhin Kelly (59.08); 232^nd Mark Dooley (60.29)

Naas 5km Parkrun: 7^th Ian Redican M40 (20.09)

Marlay 5km Parkrun: 56^th Tomas Griffin (20.19)

National Indoor Junior & under 23s Championships at Athlone Arena : u/20s 200m Final – 1^st Sean Lawlor (21.88) gold medal; u/23s 60m Heat 1 – 7^th Darren Hughes (8.11); u/23s; 1500 Final – 2^nd Daragh Fitzgibbon (4.04.22) silver medal; u/20s 400m Heat 4 – 4^th Adam Halpin (54.77 PB); u/20s 60m Heat 1 – 6^th Conor Fox (7.64); u/20s 60m Heat 1 – 4^th Aoife Lynch (8.25); u/20s Pole Vault Final – 5^th Ailbhe Healy (2.55m)

AXA Raheny 5 mile road race at St. Anne’s Park : 36^th Eoin Durkan (27.01); 176^th Alan Farrell M40 (30.29); 432^nd Sinead Graham (33.31); 439^th Aoife O’Sullivan (34.09); 558^th Rhona Duane (35.19); 562^nd Frank McNally M50 (35.11); 696^th Terry Mee M70 (37.05); 952^nd Charlie O’Neill M60 (39.40); 953^rd Tommy Halton M55 (39.40); 994^th Catherine McKeon (39.39); 1079^th Laura Murray (39.42); 1179^th Joseph Maguire M75 (41.47); 1515^th Tony Jenkins M70 (43.58); 1915^th Michael Brophy M65 (47.45)

JUVENILE REPORT

A number of Donore Harriers juvenile athletes were in action in the opening series of the schools cross country championships. At the ‘West Leinsters’  the recently crowned national under 14s champion Fathi Aden (Synge Street) made the podium with a 3^rd place finish in the Junior Boys. Fathi lost the opportunity to challenge for the top spot due to making a slow start. However the star performance of the day came from Sam Gallagher (Lucan CBS) in the senior boys 5km race. Gallagher worked his way through to third position only to be outkicked in the final 30 metres. Whilst he had to be content with 4^th position it was, nevertheless, a very fine effort in a very competitive race. Stephen Gavin (Salesians College) showed a return to form following injury when placing 6^th in the same race.

Claire O’Connor (St. Louis) 5^th in the Intermediate Girls; Niamh O’Neill (Castleknock CC) 4^th in the Senior Girls; and Sekeriye Ahmed (Synge Street) 9^th and Jack Raftery (Castleknock CC) 12^th in the Junior Boys also qualify for the Leinster Schools final at the Phoenix Park next month.

In the North Leinster Schools Cross Country at ALSAA (23/1/15) club newcomer Nahom Alem narrowly failed to make the top 15 and qualification in the senior boys race over 5km. Eritrean born Alem represented Marino College and after a steady start worked his way through a field of older and more experiences runners to place 18^th.

Donore Harriers juvenile athletes dominated the Waterstown 5km Parkrun on Saturday. Michael Gibbs u/18s (18.17) was the first home in the race taking half-a-minute of his previous best time. Nahom Alem u/18s (18.39) placed 2^nd, an excellent run given that he competed in a schools cross country race on the previous day. Lucy McCann u/17s (20.43) was the first female home, whilst Ciara Murphy u/17s (21.49) placed an excellent 2^nd on her debut 5km race. Hannah Barr (Junior) was 5^th female with a PB time of 24.02.

Results in brief:

West Leinsters Schools Cross Country championships at Phoenix Park (21/1/15): Minor Girls – 37^th Marie Cormican (Mount Sackville); Junior Girls – 25^th Niamh Clarke (St. Joseph’s Lucan); 60^th Angelica Gonia (Maynooth PP); Intermediate Girls – 5^th Claire O‘Connor (St. Louis Rathmines); Senior Girls – 4^th Niamh O‘Neill (Castleknock CC); Junior Boys – 3^rd Fathi Aden (Synge Street CBS); 9^th Sekeriye Ahmed (Synge Street CBS); 12^th Jack Raftery (Castleknock CC); 160^th Matthew Lynch (Luttrellstown CC); Intermediate Boys – 42^nd Daniel Brady (Lucan CBS); 61^st Tadgh Fitzgibbon (Salesians Celbridge); 71^st Ruairi Fitzgibbon (Salestians Celbridge); Senior Boys – 4^th Sam Gallagher (Lucan CBS); 6^th Stephen Gavin (Salesians Celbridge)

North Leinsters Schools Cross Counry championships at ALSAA (23/1/15): Senior Boys 18^th Nahom Alem (Marino College)

Watertown 5km Parkrun: 1^st Michael Gibbs u/18s (18.17 PB); 2^nd Nahom Alem u/18s (18.39 debut); 5^th/ 1^st female Lucy McCann u/17s (20.43); 11^th / 2^nd female Ciara Murphy u/17s (21.49 debut); 17^th / 5^th Hannah Barr JNR (24.02 PB); 36^th James McDonagh u/15s (27.38); 44^th / 13^th Shona Smyth u/15s (29.17)

With the national intermediate and senior cross country championships coming up in the next few weeks some of Donore Harriers leading athletes showed good form at the Business Houses open cross country race at Cherryfield Park in Firhouse on Saturday (17/1/15), whilst Lee Van Haeften and Mark Dooley impressed at cross country races in the U.K.

The Donore trio of Eric Keogh (26.57), Michael McMahon (27.17) and Colm O‘Connell (27.41) dominated the front of the Business Houses 5 miles race eventually placing 1^st, 2^nd and 4^threspectively.

At a recent North Yorkshire & South Durham cross country league (10/1/15) Lee Van Haeften placed an excellent 2^nd whilst competing as a guest runner. This was a particularly encouraging result as Van Haeften missed out on his regular training programme in the latter stages of 2014 due to injury.  Mark Dooley was first finisher in the Isle of Man senior cross country championship at Ballannette on Sunday (18/1/15). However he did not qualify for the championship title due to a residency rule. Dooley (35.32) won out on a fine race duel with local favourite Alan Corlett (35.37) of Manx Harriers.

Results in brief:

Business Houses AA 5 mile Cross Country race at Cherryfield Park (17/1/15): 1^st Eric Keogh (26.57); 2^ndMichael McMahon (27.17); 4^th Colm O‘Connell (27.41); 80^th Tom Fagan M45 (32.57); 81^st Ian Redican M40 (32.57); 146^th Des Gill M45 (37.51); 162^nd Terry Mee M70 (39.50); 171^st Joseph Maguire M75 (41.45); 173^rdTommy Halton M55 (42.08)

North Yorkshire & South Durham XC League at Hartlepool (10/1/15): 2^nd Lee Van Haeften (30.42) guest runner

Isle of Man Cross Country championship at Ballannette (18/1/15): 1^st Mark Dooley (35. 32) ineligible for title

Hartstown 5km Parkrun (17/1/15): Michele Murphy F50 (28.02)

Naas 5km Parkrun (17/1/15): 33^rd Marc Gibbs M45 (24.50)

JUVENILE REPORT

At the National Indoor Combined Events at the Athlone Arena on Saturday (17/1/15) Kolade Abiodun placed an excellent 3^rd in the Boys under 16s competition whilst Lara O‘Byrne finished in 4^th spot in the Girls under 16s. Kolade, who recently received the Dublin juvenile athlete of the year award for 2014, opened his account with a PB of 8.89s in the 60m Hurdles despite being impeded due to a mid-race tumble by a competitor. A 1.58m High Jump and a 9.61m Shot Putt kept Kolade in contention for a medal. Next came the Long Jump and his best effort of 5.38m consolidated his bronze medal placing. Kolade finished off his day with a hugely impressive 2.20.6 in the 800m. His final tally of 2953 points put him clear in 3^rd position behind winner David Ryan of Moycarkey Coolcroo AC (3426) and runner-up Tony Odubote of Ennis Track AC (2985).

Lara O’Byrne, a committed young athlete also coached by Ray O’Keeffe and Liam Brennan, gave a very encouraging early season performance when placing 4^th in the Girls under 16s category. Her figures included: 9.96 in the 60m Hurdles; 1.56m in the High Jump; 8.42m in the Shot Putt; 4.43m in the Long Jump; and 2.42.6 in the 800m earned her 2790 points – just 109 short of a medal place.

At the Naas 5km Parkrun (17/1/15) under 18s athlete Michael Gibbs placed 2^nd overall in the time of 18.56, whilst 15 years-old Lucy McCann (21.39) was the first female finisher when placing 13^th overall.

A small number of Donore athletes competed for their respective schools in the DCU Invitational schools cross country races on Wednesday 14^th January with Niamh O’Neill impressing in the Senior Girls race by placing an excellent 5^th in the colours of Castleknock Community College.

Results in brief:

National Indoor Combined Events at Athlone (17/1/15) o

Boys under 16s Kolade Abiodun

Girsl under 16s Lara O’Byrne

Naas 5km Parkrun (17/1/15): 2^nd Michael Gibbs u/18s (18.46); 13^th / 1^st female Lucy McCann u/17s (21.39)