Donore Fit4Life Kinvara Rock and Road (Trip) – Report

Club News, Events, Fit 4 Life, Results

Kinvara Rock and Road Report

The Fit4Life group coached by Barry Potts travelled to to the wilds of Ireland’s west in Kinvara for the Rock and Road which was rescheduled from the springtime. Thanks Barry & Jo Hughes for the report and photos.

8 of the group participated in the half and 2 in the 10k. Everyone ran very well on a trying hilly course on a hot day, and not taking anything away from fantastic and committed efforts, Sean Browne deserves a mention coming home in a great time of 1.52. 2018 it was our 2nd year to run the event.

The group went to Kinvara community centre for tea and Anne Rush’s home-made sandwiches: had them out in the sun! Then it was Sexton’s pub for rehydration and dinner at the Pier Head.

Finishers in half marathon were Barry Potts who won the M60 group too, Sean Brown (1.52.51) , Deirdre O’Reilly(1.53.03) (sister of Niamh and new friend to us all), Andrew Maguire (1.57.13), Deirdre Healy O’Brien (1.58.57), Jo Hughes(2.01.18) , Anne Rush (2.06.41), Shiofra McCarthy (2.24.43)Sinead McKiernan (2.24.34) . Finishers in 10k were Niamh O’Reilly(50.50) and Julie Gallagher (65.37).

All stayed in The Merriman Hotel and enjoyed breakfast together and a walking tour of Kinvara.

Barry is very proud to coach the group and looks forward to future races!

Donore at the Women’s Mini Marathon – Report

Club News, Events, Results, Senior

Lookback over the women’s mini-marathon on a glorious bank holiday Sunday. Hot, tough conditions for racing on the course now run the opposite way round to the original which winds its way out of the city down Leeson street to Donnybrook, the N11 and back in, finishing in Baggot Street.

Many of the ladies wore black ribbons to remember their late teammate Karen Behan who ran this many times.

First home was Sinead Lambe in 15th place and it was great to finally see Aedin Corr back racing really well in her first 10k on the road. Niamh O’Neill the youngest competitor, acquitted herself really well despite the fast start. We had 18 out in very good times, 3 in the top 30 and mini first timer Pam white got a PB. Joan Lennon had to stop to help a heatstroke afflicted runner and still did 47 minutes.

Afterwards, the group adjourned to the Hairy Lemon for rest and refreshment.

Thanks to the supporters out on the course.

Results in full

Sinead Lambe 38.22
Aedin Corr 38.34 PB
Niamh O’Neill 41.01
Amy Moriarty 42.01
Fiona Hegarty 42.26
Karla Doran 43.33
Mairead Kirby 44.40
Jill Dempsey 44.58
Julia Hackett 45.26
Nicola Dowdall 46.14
Joan Lennon 47.24
Sian O’Connor 47.42
Pam white 47.59
Mary Murphy 55.03
Michelle Dawson 55.28
Michele Murphy 58.53
Audrey 75.46
Joan McTiernan (walked) 95.30

Report: 11 Go To Edinburgh (10k)

Club News, Events, Results, Senior

A gang of 11 Donore Harriers set out for the beautiful city of Edinburgh last weekend to take part in the 10k on the Saturday of the Edinburgh Marathon Festival, a weekend of racing events to include a 5k, 10k, Half-marathon and Marathon. Unfortunately, Michelle Dawson fell ill and was unable to run but turned out nonetheless to mind the gear and give much-appreciated support to her fellow Donore Harriers.

The morning was chilly and overcast providing perfect conditions for what was a challenging and hilly course for more than 3,000 participants. The ascent towards the famous Arthur’s Seat, a former volcano, wound around the hills from which spectacular views of the city and its landmarks including Edinburgh Castle, the Scottish Parliament and Holyrood Palace opened up. Certainly the toughest part of the course was a steep and sudden incline between 8 and 9k where many struggled. From then though it was downhill all the way back through the Start Line and the 250m dash through the cheering crowds and the Finish line on Holyrood Gait.

Alan Farrell gave an impressive performance to come in at 12th overall and 2nd Male O45, closely followed by Alasdair Brown in 20th position overall. Stephen Dawson and Craig Scott were next home followed by Amy Moriarty who was the first Donore woman and 6th Female overall. There were only seconds then between Audrey Gahan and Bronagh Elliott who has just come back from injury. Audrey and Bronagh were 3rd and 4th women O40 respectively. Joe Murphy was next in followed by Joan Lennon and finally Jennifer O’Keeffe.

This was a well-organized and well-supported race in beautiful surroundings on a crisp May morning, the perfect excuse for a great weekend in the city of Edinburgh.

Report by Jennifer O’Keeffe

Return of the Track: JT PB in Oordegem, EK 3K Victory, Dublin Graded & AAI Games.

Results, Senior

IFAM Oordegem

John Travers smashed his 5000m PB today at the IFAM meet in Oordegem in Belgium, where a number of Irish athletes competed today. He won the 5000m B race in a brilliant 13.43. Such is the scintillating standard to qualify for the European championship, he still missed the required time but this was a great run and no doubt he will continue to chase the qualifying time for Berlin in August in the weeks to come, we’re all behind you John!

IMC Belfast

Another impressive race from Eric Keogh, and a fantastic victory in a stacked field, this time at the IMC Belfast meet at the Mary Peters track. Eric ran from the front for the entire second half of the race and won the men’s 3000m by a near 9 second margin in 8.22.68. Also in Belfast, John Neill got a PB in the 800 C race in 2.01.76

Graded Meet 3 Tallaght & AAI Games

The Dublin graded series continued last Wednesday in Tallaght. Notable was a win for Jack Raftery in the 400mA and Maura Kearns was delighted with a win and an 800m PB in the women’s A race. We had three representatives in the Dublin 10,000m championship where runners tackled a gruelling 25 laps of the track. There was also unusually a 2000m steeplechase which saw one of our juvenile runners Gavin Curtin in action

Full results

Maura Kearns 1st 800m A 2:20
David Campbell 800mB 2:07.56
Donal Iremonger 2:11.12
Jack Raftery 1st 51.12 400M
Adam Halpin 55.14
Gavin Curtin 2000m Steeple 7:15.02
Anthony Flannery 34:24 10000
Des Tremble 35:08 10000
Des Gill 41:26 10000

At the AAI games in Santry, David Campbell was in action again over 400m in a time of 54.23 and Emmet Ó Briain ran 2:06.32 in the 800m.

(10000m photo by Gerry Flaherty)

Report by Florence Curley

Results Round-Up: On the Roads, On the Beaches & Up the Mountains

Results, Senior

Sportsworld Terenure 5 mile

Round up of the past fortnight’s senior results starts with a highly successful Sportsworld Terenure 5 mile race, with 15 runners out and where the ladies bagged the senior team prize.

Great to see Aedin Corr back in the black and white after a long layoff and she led the ladies Home on a hot day in Dublin followed by Kim Hickey 3rd F35, Karla Doran, Fiona Hegarty and Amy Moriarty. First over the line for Donore on the day was Ken Nugent in 8th, Chris Muldoon 19th and 3rd M40, Gavin Keogh 22nd and Alan Farrell 38th, the senior men’s team finished in 2nd Place.

    Full Results

Ken Nugent 25:57
Chris Muldoon 27:45
Gavin Keogh 27:55
Alan Farrell 28:56
Paul Cummins 29:46
Aedin Corr 31:06
Kim Hickey 31:17
Karla doran 32:05
Fiona Hegarty 32:59
Amy Moriarty 33:17
Audrey Gahan 34:33
Barry Potts 34:49 1st M65
Frank McNally 35:24
Joan Lennon 37:08
Mary Murphy 41:14

Bob Heffernan 5k Johnstownbridge

This 5k race run by Na Fianna AC is always known for fast times and has long been a happy hunting ground for Donore runners. This year Eric Keogh had an excellent race finishing 3rd in 14.54. Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill was 2nd woman in 17.38. Altogether there were 11 Donore runners in action with 4 men in the top 25 and 6 men under 17 minutes. Fastest 5k in 4 years too from Frank McNally.

    Full Results

Eric Keogh 14:54
Chris Muldoon 16:12.29 (12th)
Sean Fox 16:15.84 (14th)
Fergal Whitty 16:34 (23rd)
Phil Hennessy 16:47.71
Ken Norgrove 16:53.11
Neil Hand 17:26.40
Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill 17:38.02
Ken McKeown 18:20.03
Frank McNally 21:48.36
David McGrath 21:45

Maynooth 5k/10k, Spar Streets of Dublin 5k, Moy half-marathon & Navan 6k

Gavin Keogh is coming right back into good form this summer and he recorded a win at the Maynooth 5k which starts at the university and finishes at the entrance to Carton House. He clocked 16:44. In the 10k race, the improving Joe Maguire ran an excellent 41:46 and Sian O’Connor 47:26

The Spar 5k around Dublin’s Docklands was a popular event but was beset by timing problems. Nevertheless Ariana Ball is getting closer to that sub 20 with a 20:02. Patrick Byrne was first home for Donore in 18:49, Mary McDermott 25:04 and Deirdre brennan 27:13

Over in Ballina Fiona Barrins was delighted with a 1:40.12 PB in the Moy half marathon.

Sinead Lambe was first woman in the Simon Cumbers Paddy Hyland 6k Navan in 22.05

IMRA & Beach Races

Roisin Harkin has been finishing well up in the ladies standings in the weekly IMRA Wednesday evening Leinster league in various locations in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains and other locations. She was 4th twice and 5th in the May races over varying distances at Bray, Scalp and Glasnamullen

The BHAA annual Beach race on twice a 2.5k loop on Sandymount strand saw Tom Fagan finish in 21:18 and Ann Woodlock now back racing and she finished in 31:56

Report by Florence Curley

Limerick Marathon – Grace Kennedy finishes 3rd!

Club News, Results, Senior

In 1976, longtime Donore women’s coach Jim Mcnamara qualified for the Olympic marathon in the trial which is staged in Limerick that year. So in 2018, it was good to see a Donore Harriers female on the marathon podium in Limerick. It was a hot day for the BSH great limerick run which incorporates 4 events. Grace Kennedy ran a perfectly paced race and gradually got herself into 3rd position where she finished strongly in 3.09.01. It’s a first podium finish for Grace, more to come from this tough competitor who is making her mark on the marathon! Florence Curley finished in 3.28.30, unfortunately forced to jog and walk the last 6 miles with quad problems.

There was also Donore success in the 6 mile event. John Travers was the winner in 29.40 ahead of Kevin Maunsell. Ide Nic Dhomhnaill was 2nd woman in 36.37 and twin Sorcha 3rd in 37.19 following on from their 2, 3 at the Clonliffe 2

Fergal Whitty was 7th in the half marathon event in 74.19 and Pat Egan finished in 1.40.12

Track Round-Up: IUAA T&F, Graded No.1, IMC Greystones

Club News, Juvenile, Results, Senior

IUAA T&F Championships 2018

Lookback to the IUAA track and field championships in Belfast where there were some great results for our athletes competing for their colleges

Darragh Fitzgibbon UCD took home one of the most keenly-fought titles, when he became the national 5000m IUAA champion in a time of 15.22 – a super achievement!
There were many other stand-out performances: Ailbhe Healy DCU won the Pole Vault in a best vault of 2.90. Aoife Lynch DCU was silver in the 200m (24.93) and helped her relay 4 x 100 team to silver. Niamh O’Neill UCD ran an excellent 5000m in a Pb of 18.34. Jona Kalemi DCU was 10th in the 1500m in 5.38. Louis Catteau TCD ran 4.07.89 in the 1500m, while Caoimhe Mackey UCD ran 65,98 in the semi-final of the 400m and 72.04 to finish 8th in the 400mH.

West Leinsters Track & Field School – Santry April 2018

It was the last schools for some of our athletes and for Robyn O’Keeffe it was the first time she qualified for the Leinsters after she won gold in the Discus and then went on to win gold in the Senior Girls 100m. It was a clean sweep in the 100m for the Donore girls with Ciara O’Donnell taking silver and Suzi O’Farrell bronze. Lara O’Byrne also completed a double with gold in the Senior Girls 100m Hurdles and High Jump.

Alex Clarkin won the Senior Boys Hurdles, Max Carey took gold in the Senior Boys Pole Vault and silver in the High Jump. Another double gold was Abdel Laadjel in the Junior Boys 800m and 1500m, Jack Raftery won gold in the Senior Boys 800m and also took silver in the 400m. Darragh McCauly won the senior Boys 400m hurdles

There were plenty more medals won over all age-groups, plus relays.

Senior Girls 100m
1st Robyn O’Keeffe
2nd Ciara O’Donnell
3rd Suzi O’Farrell

Senior Girls 100m Hurdles
1st Lara O’Byrne
2nd Ciara O’Donnell

Senior Girls Discus
1st Robyn O’Keeffe

Inter Girls 800m
4th Ruby Kelly

Inter Girls 1500m
2nd Roisin Brady

Inter Girls 3000m
3rd Roisin Brady

Junior Boys 800m
1st Abdel Laadjel

Senior Boys 1500m
1st Abdel Laadjel

Senior Boys 110m Hurdles
1st Alex Clarkin

Senior Boys 400m Hurdles
1st Darragh McCauly

Senior Boys Pole Vault
1st Max Carey

Senior boys High Jump
2nd Max Carey

Senior Boys 800m
1st Jack Raftery

Senior Boys 400m
2nd Jack Raftery

Dublin Graded Series: Meet 1 & IMC Greystones

The senior outdoor track season is now underway. The traditional start of the season in Dublin is usually the first Dublin Graded meet and this took place in very unspring-like conditions at a cold and blustery Santry stadium.

In the sprint events, Aoife Lynch came 2nd in the 100m A race in 12.10. Javier Romero did an unusual double, the 100m and the 800m and clocked 12.54 for the shorter race.

800m and 3000m were the endurance events on the night. Maura Kearns had a very good season opener 2.22.32 in the 800m A and she is sure to knock spots off that over the summer. Jona Kalemi ran 2.55.59 in the B Race.

There were two 800m men’s A Races and Elliott Slade won the 2nd one in an impressive 1.54.19. Louis Catteau ran 1.57.74 in that race. Michael Ryan ran 2.04.52 in B, Javier Romero ran 2.07.63 in C.

Louis and Michaeldoubled up, running the 3k too. Louis ran 9.32.36 and Michael Ryan 10.00.12. Des gill finished in 11.52.

Meanwhile, much sunnier conditions greeted the runners at the Charlesland complex in Greystones on May bank holiday Saturday for the first Irish Milers Club event of the season.

Louis Catteau and Malcolm Duquesney both aced PBs in the 1500m A Race, Louis 3.54.12 and Malcolm 3.55.25. Michael Ryan ran 4.12.72 in the C race and Emmet Ó Briain 4.15.70 in the D. There were big fields in both 5000m races and Ray Hynes finished 10th in the B race in 15.18.59

Roads, Marathons & Mountains! Results Roundup (April 22nd – 2nd May)

Club News, Results

There has been lots of wins and podium finishes for Donore runners in the last few weeks.

The long-running Clonliffe 2 mile race had its 127th outing in Santry on April 28th. There was a Donore ladies 2nd and 3rd placing for Ide and Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill in 10.52 and 11.05 respectively, not far off each other. Well done ladies!

Guillaume Nolain was 34th out of 1200 finishers in the very tough Connemara half marathon in 93.23, while Niall Lynch ran an excellent 34.27 and 1st M45 in his native Cavan at the Run With Catherina 10k.

Sean Fox was a clear winner of the St Andrews AC Ashbourne 10k in 34.27 and Kevin Nolan was 3rd in the 5k race in 17.03. Gavin Keogh won the Colaiste Cois Life 5k in 17.28.

On the mountains at Glen of the Downs in Wicklow, Niall Lynch was in action again at the IMRA Leinster League and came 2nd in that race 30.46 with Alasdair Brown running 33.03.

Running for their workplaces, many of our runners were out in force at the BHAA Bristol Myers Squibb 5k in Mulhuddart, a new race on the BHAA calendar run around the internal roads of the BMS business campus. The trio of Fergal Whitty 16.18, Chris Muldoon 16.23 and Philip Hennessy 16.45 were 3rd, 4th and 5th overall in the race.

First woman was Sinead Lambe in a super 17.54 – great win! Tom Fagan ran 20.10. And it was great to see Ann Woodlock back in BhAA action and in the year that will see her turn 80, she finished in 29.39

London Marathon

Flashback to the London marathon which took place on April 23 in freakishly hot conditions. A good number of Donore runners took part this year but the testing conditions took their toll. First home was Shane McAuley in 2.59.10 and Shane Russell ran 3.17.05. Ken Cronin toughed it out in 3.34.38. Marianne Dunlevy ran very well in the conditions in 3.41.56. Hats off to Elaine Verdon who still achieved a PB of 3.48. Tony Griffin had a tough day finishing in 3.54.46, Grainne Nolan ran 4.14.16 and Pam White 4.19.05. Unfortunately Anne Curley was forced to retire at 11 miles with a virus she was suffering from.

Well done to all our runners on a day which was tough even for the elite runners!

National Road Relays report

Club News, Results, Senior

A long overdue full report of the national road relays in Raheny. It was a poignant start to the competition on the traditional one mile loop around All Saints Road. Raheny Shamrock AC’s Pat Hooper paid tribute to Karen Behan who would have been competing in the master ladies division and led a minute’s round of applause in her memory. Her teammates and fellow club members were there in force to join in and compete in her memory. There were 3 ladies masters teams in action in the first event. Many wished to compete in Karen’s memory so for some it was their first experience of relay running.

Karla Doran finished really well up in the first mile clocking an excellent 5.52, handing over to Rhona McHugh for the 2 Mile leg 13.00 and Ariana Ball brought it home in the last mile 6.12 which brought the team to 7th. Audrey Gahan led off the 2nd team in 6.22 for the first mile, julia Hackett got the 2 mile in 14.23 and handed over to Barbara Murray who covered the last mile in 6.16 bringing them to 12th place. Relay debutante Michelle O’hagan back training with the club ran 6.46 for the mile handing over to Angela Eustace who despite carrying an injury ran 15.00 and then Michele Murphy making her relay debut in 7.54 bringing the team to 13th. A great combined team effort on an emotionally charged day.

The most exciting event of the day was the men’s masters race. The first team was under incredible pressure from the off. Emmet Ó Briain gave it everything to finish first in the mile in 4.49. This was crucial as from hereon in, Donore had to maintain this lead with other clubs literally breathing down their necks. Rossa Hurley did brilliantly to keep the lead over his 2 mile lap which he covered in 9.50. It was all then dependent on Tristan Druet’s last mile which culminated in an eyeballs out sprint finish in 4.53 and a Donore victory (our 2nd in 3 years!). Our 2nd team of Donal Iremonger 5.10, Gavin Keogh 10.52 and Alan Farrell 5.16 finished 13th. For the first time in many years there was an M50 team Des Gill 6.07, Tom Fagan 12.50 and frank McNally 6.28

In the ladies senior contest, we were missing some runners but also had some new faces this year. Niamh O’Neill had a great first mile in 5.36 and handed over to Sinead Lambe who covered the 2 mile in an excellent 11.41 and Amy Moriarty brought it home in 6.05 for the mile bringing the team to 9th. On the 2nd team, Roisin Harkin clocked 6.03 for the first mile, with fiona Hegarty who competed in a tough national 10k the week before taking on the 2 mile in 13.22 and finally Mairead Kirby bringing it home in the last mile in 6.28

Final event of the day was the senior men; with Donore silver last year and gold the year before, the pressure was on. This year’s field was also jam packed with many more internationals and Olympians. Darragh Fitzgibbon led off for the 2 mile and finished 9.55 , off the leading bunch. Ray hynes took up the mile in 4.38 and then over to John Travers for the 3 mile. The leading 3 had got ahead so it was always going to be hard for him to close that gap when they were going equally fast and in a battle. John finished the leg in 14.41 and then it was over to Eric Keogh to keep it up in the remaining 2 miles and he finished in 9.42 bringing the team to 4th. (top 3 was Raheny, DSD, KCH)

The second team of Michael Ryan 10.25, teenager Sekeriye Ahmed 4.48, ray Lonergan 16.03 and Paul Cummins 11.20 finished 19th

Karen Breen RIP

Club News

All of us at Donore Harriers are shocked and devastated by the sudden passing of longstanding and valued member Karen Breen (Behan).

Our heartfelt sympathies are with her beloved husband Joey, three children, her parents, siblings, wider family and friends. Funeral arrangements are below. We paid tribute to Karen in the clubhouse on Thursday night and will post fuller tribute shortly.

May she Rest In Peace

https://rip.ie/showdn.php?dn=352298/KarenBREEN/Clondalkin/Dublin