It was an ideal morning for the 31st edition of the Jingle Bells 5k on Saturday 3rd December – quite cold but no wind or rain so it looked like it could be a day for fast times.
The course is a firm favourite with runners for being PB-friendly. Starting half way up Acres Road, through the triangle and on to Chesterfield Avenue before turning down Ordnance Survey Road and then the upper glen road with a fast mile down to the finish in front of St Mary’s Hospital. Santa Claus helped wave the field off at 930am and this year we had an impressive electric lead car courtesy of sponsors MSL Park Motors.
Up top in the early stages was a group of runners including John Travers, Paul Robinson, Jack O’Leary, Mark Milner, Mitchel Byrne, Ger Forde and Conor Duffy – a formidable selection of current Irish endurance talent. O’Leary (Mullingar AC) led in the early stages but was an unfortunately early casualty when he had to retire with a strain. The group stuck together for a while but then gradually broke up as the pace hotted up. In the last mile an epic battle developed between Paul Robinson and John Travers, the two runners both with sub 4 minute miles and impressive pedigree over track middle distance. Could the St Cocas man and track specialist have the edge here? The two runners were nip and tuck in the last mile but in the end it was the Donore Harriers man who had the edge and he created a gap of 9 seconds. John has won the race a few times but on this occasion he finished in an incredible 13.53 a new Jingle Bells course record, (and road PB) beating his old JB mark of 14.04. It was also good to see after a year of injury which included surgery and a disappointing race in the National Senior Cross Country 2 weeks ago. Robinson achieved a 14.02.
In third was Rathfarnham’s Mitchel Byrne in 14.17 who has been having a very good year. Glaslough’s Conor Duffy was just three seconds behind in 14.20. UCD AC’s Mark Milner 14.33 just pipped KCH.s Gerry Forde who ran 14.35. The rest of the top 10 Peter Arthur, Michael Murphy, Eoin Molloy and Conor Burke all broke 15 minutes and there were some PBs in that number.
A remarkable performance on the day was 15th man Declan Toal who was the first over 40 master man over the line but is in fact in the M50 category and the North East Runners man finished in 15.13
45 runners in all broke the 16 minute barrier. The clear women’s winner was Olympian Michelle Finn who goes in the European Cross country championship next week in Turin powering home in 15.47 and 39th overall. This is the fastest female time since Mary Cullen’s 15.38 in 2014.
In 28th place was first male Junior Cian Gorham of St Peter’s AC Louth in 15.29.
First M40 was West Limerick’s Niall O Callaghan in 15.31.
The next female finishers were Grace Lynch DSD in 16.08, national 800m champion Carla Sweeney Rathfarnham AC was 3rd in 16.20, beating St Abban’s Maisy O’Sullivan on gun time who finished 4th. Former JB winner Cliona Murphy DCH was next in 16.30 followed by Fiona Kenna UCD also 16.30 and Raheny’s Kate Purcell 16.33 who has had a great year.
Edel Monaghan DCH and Catherine Thornton GCH also broke the 17 minute mark.
First F40 Master was the legendary Maria McCambridge in 17.23.
In all 416 runners finished in under 20 minutes.
First of the men’s teams was home club Donore Harriers (John Travers, Darragh Keegan , Darragh Fitzgibbon) and first women’s team was DSD (Grace Lynch, Fiona Clinton and Maria McCambridge)
An array of AAI clubs from all over Ireland came to the race, some in large numbers as did many other fitness groups from around Dublin, and groups of workmates from Lisney and Eirgird. St Anne’s school in Fettercairn also make an annual trip with teachers and parents. Many repeat participants were back to fulfil what has now become an annual tradition and there was plenty of fancy dress on show. Santa Claus was on hand again at the finish to greet the younger runners (and some of the big kids too) In all , there were 1230 chipped finishers
Age group first and second below – we are in the process of getting prizes to our winners (any race results queries please contact Pop Up Races
M40
Niall OCallaghan (West Limerick) 15.31
Conor Curran (North Belfast) 15.33
M50
Declan Toal (North East Runners) 15.13
Kenny McAndrew (MSB)16.29
M60
Peter Donohoe Celbridge 18.03
Conor Nolan 18.29
MJ
Cian Gorham (St Peters) 15.29
Ben Manning Dunboyne (15.43)
Patrick Farrell
F40
Maria McCambridge DSD 17.23
Noreen Brouder Sportsworld 17.26
F50
Annette Kealy Raheny Shamrocks 17.52
Teresa O’Reilly Celbridge AC 19.26
F60
Eileen Rowland Sportsworld 22.52
Carmel Mac Dhomhnaill West Limerick 24.04
FJ
Charlotte Moore 18.40
Olivia Moore19.27
Sophie McGovern 19.34 (Brothers Pearse)
As always Pop Up races our timing partner provided impeccable service – thanks to Brian and the team. A big thanks to our sponsors MSL Mercedes Benz Park Motors on the Navan Road and Dean Fullston for facilitating.. For the 31st year in a row Dublin Civil Defence provided first aid support and we thank the Garda Siochana and the OPW for their cooperation.. Festive tunes were provided by Blanchardstown Brass band. We also thank Dunnes Stores, SL Sound-Hire.ie, Dublin Marathon Office and VitHit . An army of Donore Harriers volunteers led by race director Charlie O’Neill were out in force – thanks all
Congratulations to all our participants, we will hopefully see you all in 2023!
(Full results on Pop Up Races site and photo gallery)
https://www.popupraces.ie/race/jingle-bells-5k-2022/
