John Travers finished up his American ‘tour’ of the indoor track season in the best possible way, with a new indoor PB in the 1500m.  John toed the line at the prestigious Millrose games at the New York Armory (scene of many Irish track triumphs in the 80s and 90s).  In the Armory invitational mile in a quality field, John finished 6th in another sub 4 minute time of 3.58.10.  This comes after his impressive 3000m showing the week before where he also PB’d.

Back in Ireland there were impressive runs by two Donore athletes at the popular Armagh international road races which attract many high calibre runners from abroad.  Darragh Fitzgibbon was a super 2nd in the open 3k running 8.50.81 and Sam Allen got a PB in the 5k race with a time of 16.05.51.

Sinead Lambe had another impressive 800m race, she guested in the Connacht indoors at the Athlone arena and came 4th in her race in 2.23

Back on the cross country, Fergal Whitty finished 3rd overall in the BHAA ALSAA 4 mile with Phil Hennessy 8th and 1st M45 followed by Chris Muldoon 16th, Tom fagan 48th, Peter Nugent 51st and Terry Mee 121st and 1st M70.  Ann Woodlock was 37th and 1st W75 in the ladies 2.5

The 3rd leg of the winter women’s meet and train cross country league took place in a wet and windy Dunboyne.  It was true cross country conditions in the aptly named Cowpark; results are not posted yet but first home was Caren Crowley and Mary Murphy not far behind, then Sarah Ni Ruairc and Sue Lynch.

Paul McDermott took both the 60m and 200m title in the under 19 boys, also taking double titles were Ciarán O’Farrell under 10 in 60m and long jump, Louis O’Loughlin again taking the 800m and 1500m title’s as he did in the summer just after winning the lenister cross country in the same week. 

Ailbhe Healy, under 19, took the pole vault title with a new pb of 2.90 and the 60m hurdle title. We also had success in high jump with Seán Kinsealla and Gabhan O’Thighearnaigh taking the under 13 and 18 title’s and under 16 Jack Rafferty second. In shot putt we had wins in the under 16 girls  and under 18 girls with Oran O’Brien taking the under 19 boys title. 

As a club we were very strong in the sprints and hurdles with plenty of young talent coming through the ranks . We won over 13 medals in sprints and hurdles we many athletes doubling up for two medals. Kolade Abiodun was our top athlete over the the 4 days winning both the 200m and 60m hurdles, long jump and placing 2nd in the 60m . Thanks to all the coaches for the hard work and the parents and supporters.

Juvenile Dublin Indoor Championship 2016

Girls

u/10 girls 500m – Faye O’Keeffe = 4th,1.47.8

u/16 girls  shot putt – Beth Kirwin = 1st,7.49    – Ciara Simms = 3rd,6.83

u/16 girls  60m hurdles – Angie Gonia = 2nd

u/17 girls 200m – Cara Brennan = 4th,27.3

u/17 girls shot putt – Jennifer Treadwell = 3rd,7.42

u/17 girls 4x200m relay – 2nd,1.53.14

u/17 girls 60m – Suzi O’Farrell = 3rd   – Cara Brennan = 4th

u/17 girls 60m hurdles – Ciara O’Donnell = 2nd

u/18 girls 60m – Aoife Lynch = 3rd   – Lauren Flaherty = 4th

u/18 girls 60m hurdles – Róisín Rynn = 1st

u/18 girls 800m – Lucy McCann = 3rd,2.35.4

u/18 girls 200m – Aoife Lynch = 3rd,27.1

u/18 girls 1500m – Eliza Ní Thighearnaigh = 2nd,5.15.3

u/18 girls long jump – Eve Reilly = 3rd,4.31

u/18 girls shot putt – Lauren O’Keeffe = 1st,10.54

u/18 girls 4x200m relay – 2nd,1.53.4

u/19 girls shot putt – Aoife Simms = 3rd,6.95

u/19 girls shot putt – Clodagh Reid = 2nd,8.80

u/19 girls pole vault – Ailbhe Healy = 1st,2.90

u/19 girls 60m hurdles – Ailbhe Healy = 1st

u/19 girls 4x200m – 3rd = 1.54.4

Boys

u/10 boys  long jump – Ciarán O’Farrell = 1st,3m30

u/10 boys 60m – Ciarán O’Farrell = 1st

u/12 boys  shot putt – Oliver Hopkins = 4th,3m13

u/13 boys 600m – Séan Kinsella = 2nd,1.51.5

u/13 boys high jump – Séan Kinsella = 1st,1.35

u/16 boys 800m – Louis O’Loughlin = 1st,2.08.0

u/16 boys 1500m – Louis O’Loughlin = 1st,4.30.3    – Faithi Aden = 4th,4.35.5

u/16 boys high jump – Jack Raftery = 2nd,1.55

u/16 boys 200m – Brad Hennessy = 4th,25.4

u/17 boys 200m – Kolade Abiodun = 1st,23.4    – Jordan Dunne = 4th,24.2

u/17 boys 60m – Kolade Abiodun = 2nd

u/17 boys 60m hurdles – Kolade Abiodun = 1st

u/17 boys 1500m – Sekeriye Ahmed = 3rd,4.45.08

u/17 boys long jump – Kolade Abiodun = 1st,5.95   – Max Carey = 3rd,5.62

u/18 boys high jump – Gabhan O’Thighearnaigh = 1st,1.75

u/18 boys shot putt – Ian Darrach = 3rd,9.2

u/18 boys 60m hurdles – Alex Clarkin = 1st

u/19 boys 200m – Paul McDermott = 1st

u/19 boys 60m – Paul McDermott = 1st

The cross country season in its last month and the BHAA Garda cross country races in the Phoenix park were a popular option for the Donore runners who are well used to the magazine hills.  In the ladies race, the ever improving Aisling Swaine had a super performance coming 3rd (and not far off 2nd).  Cliodhna Carthy was 1st W40.  Fergal Whitty was an excellent 9th and 1st M40 in the men’s 4 mile race.  There were unusually big numbers competing, the races incorporated the Lord Mayor 5 alive challenge.

Full results:

Ladies 2 mile (266 finishers)
Aisling Swaine 3rd
Cliodhna Carthy 12th 1st W40
Mary Murphy 43rd
Catherine Mckeon 47th
Ann Woodlock 91st 1st W75
Pauline fagan 95th

Men’s 4 mile (246 finishers)
Fergal Whitty 9th
Philip Hennessey 18th
Tom fagan 68th
Peter Nugent 73rd
Barry Potts 90th 2nd m65
Tommy Halton 213th

Meanwhile, 4 Donore runners braved the unbelievably gruelling cross country course that is Parliament Hill Fields in Hampstead Heath London, the traditional home of the sport in England.  They competed in the South of England cross country championship in the colours of Herne Hill Harriers in a field of 1000 runners. The race was 15k so it was the best part of an hour’s intense running. Michael McMahon was an impressive 69th, John dunne a minute back in 90th, Ciaran McCarthy 181st and Aogan Macdhomhnaill 211th.  By all accounts, the group found it a fantastic experience!

Junior and U23 track indoor nationals

Donore Harriers has a new national champion in Ailbhe Healy who recently won the junior pole vault event at the national junior and U23 championships athlone with a jump of 2.75 metres.  At the same event, Zak Higgins contested the junior 400m in 52.9 sec and Adam Halpin ran 56.9 in the U23 400m.

National indoor league

The men’s and women’s teams both reached the final in Athlone this year and came agonisingly close to medal positions, but had to settle for 4th place apiece.  There were some great performances and a number of new faces on both teams.  Finishing top 3 in their events were Lynda Tcheudji, Ailbhe Healy, Lara O’byrne (2 events)and Mimi Agargbo in the ladies competition and there were PBs for Sinead Lambe and Karla doran in the middle distance events.  In the end, the ladies were only a few points off bronze.  In the men’s event, Paul McDermott, Rolus Olusa and Darragh Fitzgibbon got top 3 positions, there were many good performances from new team members like Emmet o’Briain and Gabhan O’Tighearnaigh and in the end the result in one of the jumps events went to count back leaving Donore an agonising single point off bronze with 54( winners were Clonliffe, Galway city harriers, followed by Leevale).  Roll on the outdoor league for these two fine teams and thanks Leonie Newman and all the team supporters for their hard work.

Full results
Ladies

Men

(Guest athletes Cara Brennan 8.16 60m, Anna O’Reilly 3.87 long jump, max Carey 200m 24.17, Adam Halpin 55.84)

AAI games

The day after the national league final, 2 of the ladies team were back out in the Athlone arena to contest the AAI games 800m.  Karla Doran had a super race finishing 3rd in 2.20.23 and Sinead Lambe in an impressive 2.24.19.

IUAA championships

At the universities national indoors, Lynda Tcheudji continues an impressive season with bronze in the triple jump 11.01.  Mael Lambert came 9th in the 3000m in 9.01.  Rolus Olusa competed in several events as part of the combined events incorporated.

US indoors

John Travers continues his run of competition in the American indoor circuit with 4.02 in the Armory invitational mile where he finished 8th.  But the week after he got a PB over 3000m indoors and a 2nd place in the Boston university David Hemery invitational meet where he finished in 7.55.

Back in the outdoors, there was another great win for Louis O’Loughlin.  In Santry Demesne at the  Leinster schools Athletics cross country junior race he was the clear victor.

One of the first big road events of the year is the PB-friendly Raheny 5 mile which had record numbers this year.  Roadworks meant a slightly altered course which took the runners through St Anne’s park in the latter stages for the first time.  The rain stayed away but there was occasional wind.  There were many impressive times on the day First home for the club was Eoin Durkan and Niall Lynch got a PB running 26.58 which also made him the 3rd M40.  First home of the ladies was Amy Moriarty in 33.16.  There were age group prizes too for Terry Mee and Ann Woodlock.

Results in full:

The second ever Bewleys Trim 10 mile race took place on a very cold day and took the racers from the outskirts of the town into surrounding villages Dunderry, Kilbride and back.  A fair course, but from 4-10 miles, the wind was a factor.  First home was Anthony Flannery in another impressive race and just outside the top 10.  Sean Fox broke the 60 minute barrier and Shane McCauley came in over a minute after with another 2 minutes to Niall O’Reilly.  First of the ladies was Florence Curley in 5th, she was 4th for most of the race but was overhauled by Emilia Dan in the last kilometre.  Angela Eustace got a PB and it was good to see Medbh Peavoy back racing after a long break.

In Clonakilty Cork, the rescheduled Marathon took place after it was postponed from December.  Weather conditions were still tough but Laura Murray did well to get a PB here in 4.22.

In Donadea forest, on February 13th, the annual national 50k championship took place over 10 5k laps.  Gavin Byrne finished in 4.04 and Medbh Peavoy ran 6 of the laps.

Congratulations to both Donore teams who traveled to Athlone for the first Indoor  League

The men’s team scored 46 points and are in 3rd place after round one while the  women’s team scored 47 and are in second place. We had some great individual performances with John Travers winning the the 8oom for the men and Ailbhe Healy winning pole vault for the women’s team.

MENS TEAM
Rolous Olusa 60mh 2nd
Rolous Olusa 60   8th
John Travers 800 1st
Kolade Abiodum long jump 7th
Niall Allen shot putt 

WOMENS TEAM
Lauren Kennedy 60mh  6th
Suzi O Farrell   60 7th
Sinead Lambe 800 8th
Ailbhe Healy pole vault 1st
Mimi Agargbo shot putt 2nd
Roisin Rynn Chaill  long jump 5th
Next round is the 30th january

The next day in Kilmacow, Kilkenny, our senior ladies won the Leinster Senior Cross Country Championship.  This was a first time senior medal for 4th placed Karla Doran, closely followed by Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill in 5th and her twin Ide in 6th, Aisling Swaine came 11th and also got her first senior medal.  The team won the Championship easily with Liffey Valley in 2nd place.

Other recent results:

Park run

16/01/2016
Donabate: Eilish Darby 24.30
Porterstown: Tom Fagan 20.55 3rd
Griffeen: Liz MCCurtain 26.47
Castletown: Joan McTernan 24.50

The club had a great start to 2016 with outstanding performances at the Dublin Masters competitions in sodden St Annes Park On Sunday .  On a beautiful, sunny , cold day our Masters Ladies team packed strongly over the 3,000m to deliver second place , just two points behind the winners Sportsworld. The scoring team lead by Kim Hickey in 6th place, Barbara Murray 14th, sisters Florence and Anne Curley in 15th and 16th places scored 51points and were well supported by Karen Behan 38th, Julia Hackett 43rd, Mary Murphy 99th.  Ann Woodlock won the o.70 category.

In the men ‘s race Michael Mc Mahon lead the race from start to finish in an outstanding performance of front running, with last year’s winner John Dunne and club mate in 2nd place. Niall Lynch and Ciaran Mc Carthy completed a very impressive winning team performance, its third successive win in this event. However The depth of the squad was reflected in Fergal Whitty, Chris Muldoon , Andy Kinnane,  Des Tremble , Philip Hennessy and Andrew Wilson applying  constant pressure throughout the race. The latter two finished first and second in the 045 category. Peter Nugent and Tom Fagan, fought their own battle down the huge field of 17 teams and the indestructible Terry Mee won the 070 category.

Meanwhile in Edinburgh on Saturday, Louis O’ Loughlin made his first appearance in an Irish singlet competing for Ireland in the Celtic Games u17 race which formed part of the Great Edinburgh XC.  against athletes several years older than him. Watch out for Louis in the coming years. One of Gerry Naughton’s young guns, he is a young athlete with great potential.

John Travers lead off for the Irish senior mixed relay c.c team which were a very impressive third to Scotland as part of the same event in Edinburgh. John had a good run.

Later this month the schools cross-country championships will get underway with the West Leinster championships.

Looming up large is the first round of the National Indoor Inter-Clubs track and Field championships. The club is entering a ladies and men’s team in this very useful competition, aimed very much at our emerging juvenile athletes but not solely so.

The 119th running of the Waterhouse Byrne Baird shield 10 mile handicap race took place this St Stephens Day in driving rain and treacherous underfoot conditions, a real challenge for the 28 runners who toed the line.

The lead changed many times during the race. For the first few laps Michelle Dawson (winner in 2012)and Dana Mackey who were first to start at a 35 minute handicap took the lead. Then it was the turn of Charlie O’Neill but he retired after 3 laps. For the last two laps, the race saw some runners making great ground such as Alan Farrell, scratch man John Travers and the pairing of Tom Fagan and Peter Nugent. Angela Eustace also held the lead for some time but was overhauled going into the last lap by a number of runners. Alan Farrell opened up quite a lead with George Brady and Tom Fagan in pursuit. Unfortunately John Travers got an opened shoe going into the last lap which cost him a little time. But there was no stopping Alan Farrell, a relatively new member of the club, who finished with over a minute to spare on the 2nd runner. His handicap was 13.30 minutes and it took him 66.52 to complete the course. 2nd was Tom Fagan with George Brady 10 seconds later: this was George’s best ever position in the race which he has done many times. In 5th place and in the fastest time of the day was John Travers who completed the sodden course in impressive 54.35. First Lady over the line was Angela Eustace in 11th place and she completed the course in 82.15. There was a sprint finish between John Dunne 12th (fastest master of the day) and 2013 winner Paul Cummins in 13th. Fastest lady although carrying an injury was Anne Curley in 15th place. In 16th was 2014 winner Ian Redican. Other former winners who competed were Mark Dooley 19th and John Breen 22nd. Laura Murray 21st and Peter Nugent 8th competed for the first time.

After the race, the 2014 winner Ian Redican formally handed the shield over to Alan Farrell. Later in the clubhouse was the prize giving when former winner Jim McNamara presented the shield again to the winner. Big thanks to master of ceremonies Iain Morrison who was also race handicapper along with Florrie Curley and Fred Kiernan. Willie Smith was timer and marked the course along with Albert Prendiville. As always Stephen Kelly cooked the post-race soup!

Full results below

Alan Farrell13.301.27.2266.52

DNF
Barry Potts
Charlie O’Neill
Patrick Byrne
Stephen Dawson

The Christmas and New Year period is a busy one on the race calendar and there were Donore runners in action all over the country. Notable performances included the following.
Pre-Christmas in Farranfore Kerry, twin sisters Sorcha and Ide Nic Dhomhnaill ran well in the 5k; Sorcha placed 3rd lady in 18.26 with Ide just 9 seconds back in 18.35. Their bother Aogan came 8th in 16.10.
In Limerick where she is now based, Sinead Jennings Lynch (who will compete for the Irish rowing team in the Rio Olympics) was 1st lady in the Caherdavin 10 mile in 61.18 showing that her intense rowing schedule also makes for fast times on dry land.

There was 7th and 8th and place respectively for Ciaran McCarthy (16.14) and Sam Allen (16.17) in the Clonliffe Christmas Cracker 5k on Santry Demesne which finished in Morton Stadium. Ciaran also placed 2nd in the M40 class.

Chris Muldoon came 6th in the Kilbeggan 6k in 20:49

Mark Dooley came 2nd in the Clarinbridge 10k in 34.21 not long after competing in the gruelling Waterhouse Byrne Baird race on St Stephen’s Day.

Barbara Murray was delighted to finally break 40 minute for 10k in a well deserved 39.50 which made her 3rd lady in the Emyvale 10k in her native Monaghan.

Emer Rattigan was 1st lady in the Garrycastle GAA 5k in Athlone (times n/a)

On the parkrun front Graham Hopkins scored a win in Poppintree on 2 January and Gavin Byrne was 2nd in Waterstown on Christmas Day. Laura Murray was the most prolific runner of the period running no less than 3 parkruns as well as the Shield race and the Meet and Train round 2 race.

The Tom Brennan 5k race on New Years Day had Fergal Whitty coming 9th and 2nd M40.
The 2nd round of the Meet and Train cross country league in Bushy Park turned out to be a race on the paths because the grass was so waterlogged and we had 6 runners in action that day.

Full results
Farranfore 5k Aogan MacDhomhnaill 8th (16.10) Des Tremble 16th (16.59) Patrick Moriarty 19th (17.19) Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill 3rd woman (18.26) Ide Nic Dhomhnaill 4th woman (18.35)
Caherdavin 10 mile Sinead Jennings 1st woman (61.18)
Clonliffe Christmas Cracker 5k Ciaran McCarthy 7th (16.14) Sam Allen 8th (16.17)
Fields Of Athenry 10k: Alma Hanevy (43.39) Cariosa Walsh (58.59) Dearbhla Walsh (69.19)
Kilbeggan 6k: Chris Muldoon 6th (20.49)
Garrycastle 5k: Emer Rattigan 1st woman
Fat Turkey 10k Sutton: Des Gill (48.49)
Emyvale 10k: Barbara Murray 3rd woman (39.50) (PB)
Clarinbridge 10k: Mark Dooley 2nd (34.21)
Tom Brennan New Years Day 5k: Fergal Whitty 9th (16,39) Luke Boland (17.22) George Brady 18.06) Derek O’Neill (19.26) Tony Griffin (21.26) Karen Behan (22.11) Charlie O’Neill (23.34) Tom Halton (26.44)
Meet and Train league 2 mile race: Mary Murphy 63rd, Laura Murray 86th, Catherine McKeon 90th, Lee Chambers 94th, Sue Lynch 100th, Ann Woodlock 104th

Parkrun
Waterstown 25/12/15: Gavin Byrne 2nd 18.47 Laura Murray 3rd female 24:00
Porterstown 26/12/15: Niall O’Reilly 2nd 19.01
Griffeen: 1/1/16: Laura Murray 25.18
Malahide/l 2/1/16: Laura Murray 24.14
Hartstown: 2/1/16: Peter Nugent 19.30 (9th)
Poppintree: 2/1/16: Graham Hopkins 18.26(1st)

January 2015

Tom Brennan Memorial 5km at Lucan

1st John Travers (14.43)

Dublin Masters Cross Country Championships

2nd Anne Curley; 3rd Kim Hickey

1st W75 Ann Woodlock

1st Women’s Team <A Curley, Hickey, Mahony & Murray>

1st John Dunne

1st M40 Niall Lynch

1st Men’s Team <Dunne, Lynch, McCarthy & Whitty>

New Balance Invitational Mile at the Armoury Centre, New York:

1st John Travers 3.59.62

National Indoor Junior & under 23s Championships

1st u/20s 200m Sean Lawlor (21.88)

2nd u/23 1500m Daragh Fitzgibbon (4.04.22)

February 2015

Athletics Ireland Indoor Games 2015

2nd 200m Final Sean Lawlor JNR (22.40)

1st 3000m Final John Travers (8.19.30)

Dungarvan 10 Mile

3rd W40 Anne Curley

1st M70 Jim McNamara

Trim 10 Mile

2nd M40 Garvan Smith

3rd Team <Smith, Fox, Morris, O’Reilly>

National Masters Cross Country championships

1st M35 John Dunne

1st Men’s Team <Dunne, McCarthy, Lynch Muldoon>

3rd Women’s Team <Hickey, Curley, Morrissey, Campion>.

2nd M70 Terry Mee

1st M75 Jim McNamara; 3rd M75 Joseph Maguine

1st M50 Team <Mee, McNamara & Maguire>

Dublin Indoor Juvenile Track & Field Championships

44 medals won by Donore athletes including 17 gold, 13 silver and 14 bronze

Gold – 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;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

National Senior Indoor Track & Field Championships

1st 1500m John Travers (3.49.93)

March 2015

National Senior Cross Country Championships

8th Mark Dooley (38.59); 13th Eric Keogh (39.31); 16th Michael McMahon (39.47); 17th .John Dunne (39.50); 52nd Caoimhin Kelly (43.40T

3rd team <Dooley, Keogh, McMahon & Dunne>

IAAF Permit Antrim International Cross Country race

29th Mark Dooley (first Irish singlet)

National Masters Indoor Track & Field Championships

1st W50 3km Walk Anne Gormley

2nd W50 Shot Putt Anne Gormley

1st M70 800m Terry Mee (2.52.25) & 2nd M70 3000m Terry Mee

30th edition of the Marathon Des Sables in Morocco.

5th Claire Morrissey

European Indoor Track & Field Championships at Prague

7th Final 500m John Travers (3.41.50): 3rd in Heat 1 in (3.41.37 – PB)

National Juvenile Indoors Championships

1st u/19s 200m Sean Lawlor

2nd u/17s 60mH Jack Rudden-Kelly

2nd u/16s 60mH Kolade Abiodun

3rd u/16s 60m Kolade Abiodun

Leinster Indoor Track & Field Championships

1stBoys u/19s 200m Sean Lawlor (22.02) & 1st u/19s 60m Sean Lawlor (7.00s)

1st u/17 Boys 60mH  Jack Rudden-Kelly

2nd Girls u/17s 200m Aoife Lynch (26.63)

3rd Girls u/19s 60m Alise Keating (8.54)

April 2015

National Road Relays

1st Senior Men <Van Haeften, Fitzgibbon, Travers, Keogh>

Club Team of the Year: Winners of the 43rd edition of the National Road Relays back in April. Donore Harriers had won the title 7 times previously, but the previous success was back in 1992.  Lee Van Haeften (9.34) ran the opening 2-mile leg and handed over 2nd of 26 teams. Daragh Fitzgibbon (4.31), a late replacement for the ill Mark Dooley, put in a brilliant shift and finished his stage with a 3 seconds lead. John Travers (14.07) ran the fasted 3 mile stage and widened the gap to 37 seconds. The final 2 mile leg saw Eric Keogh (9.40) raise the famous Donore by cruising to victory in 37.52 – well ahead of Ennis Track (38.41) and Raheny Shamrocks (39.05). Donore’s time was the second fastest ever!

3rd Masters Women: 1M Kim Hickey (6.04); 2M Rhona Duane (11.54); 1M Breda Mahony (5.58) = total time of 23.54>

Irish Universities Track & Field Championships

1st 1500m John Travers

1st Javelin Jaco Oosthuysen

Great Ireland Run

1st W40 Florence Curley

European Indoor Masters Track & Field Championships

1st in both W75 1500m and W75 3000m Ann Woodlock

National Juvenile Indoors Championships

1st u/19s 200m Sean Lawlor

2nd u/17s 60mH Jack Rudden-Kelly

2nd u/16s 60mH Kolade Abiodun

3rd u/16s 60m Kolade Abiodun

Schools International Cross Country championships

10th Junior Boys Fathi Aden (3rd scorer on Irish team that won team silver medals)

London Marathon

12th W40 Anne Curley (2.58.59) 11th consecutive sub 3 hours marathon

Dublin 10,000m Track Championship

1st Michael McMahon

May 2015

All Ireland Schools Track & Field Championships

1stSenior Boys 200m Sean Lawlor (21.54 PB):

2nd Girls Hammer Lauren O’Keeffe (52.08m): Minor Boys 800m Louis O’Loughlin (2.06.56): Senior Boys 100m Sean Lawlor (10.69 PB):

3rd Inter Boys 100m Hurdles – Alex Clarkin (13.85)

Leinster Masters Track & Field Championships

8 Gold medals won by Ann Gormley, Terry Mee x 2, Niall Allen x 3 & Tony Jenkins: plus 4 silver and one bronze

Leinster Schools Track & Field Championships

9 Gold medals won by Louis O’Loughlin x 2 (800m & 1100m), Sean Lawlor x 2 (100m, 200m), Jack Rudden Kelly (110H), Louis McDonagh (Jav), Lauren O’Keeffe (Hammer – with championship record), Eoin Molloy (Hammer) & Lucy Hurley (HJ): plus 3 silver and 3 bronze

Dublin Novice 5km championship inc. Tallaght 5km

1st W40 Florence Curley

3rd Women’s Novice Team <Childs, Curley, Swaine, Graham>

June 2015

European Team Athletics Championships at Heraklion in Crete

3rd in 3,000m John Travers (IRL) 8.12.76

Dublin Juvenile Track & Field Championships

58 medals won by Donore Harriers = 20 gold, 24 silver and 14 bronze

Gold won by Louis O’Loughlin in 800m & 1500m; Peace Onakoya, Beth Kirwan, Eleanor Ronan, Adam Maher, Lauren O’Keeffe, Clodagh Read & Kerri Noonan in Hammer; Rian Carey, Ciara Simm & Oran O’Brien in Shot Putt; Kolade Abiodun in 100mH; Rebecca Power in Javelin; Aoife Lynch in 200m; Suzanne Masterson in 2k Steeplechase; Leanne Brosnan & David Keenan in Long Jump; Conor Fox in 100m.

La Cheile International / IMC Meet

2nd 1500m ‘John Travers 3.41.43

July 2015

World University Games at Gwangju, South Korea

8th in Men’s 1,500m Final John Travers (IRL) 3.42.63, 2nd in heat (3.44.48)

National Juvenile Track & Field Championships

1st u/15 Boys 1500m Louis O’Loughlin (4.17.95 PB)

1st u/15 Boys 800m Louis O’Loughlin (2.04.92 PB)

2nd u/17 Boys 100mH Jack Rudden-Kelly (15.34)
3rd u/15 Boys 1500m Fathi Aden (4.20.44 PB)

3rd u/15 Boys 800m Fathi Aden (2.09.90 PB)

3rd u/18 Girls Pole Vault Ailbhe Healy (2.75m PB)

3rd u/14 Girls Hammer Keri Noonan (29.10m)

European Youth Olympics at Tbilisi, Rep. of Georgia

7th Girls Hammer Final – Lauren O’Keeffe (57.35m PB)

Irish Mountain Running Association Leinster League

2nd overall Niall Lynch

August 2015

National Half Marathon inc. Rock & Roll HM

2nd M45 Phil Hennessy

1st M65 Barry Potts

3rd Men’s Team <Smith, Hennessy, Fox>

2nd Women’s Team <Hanevy, Mahony, Verdon>

World Masters Athletics Championships at Lyon France

2nd M35 XC John Dunne

National Track & Field Championships

3rd Javelin Jaco Oosthuysen

3rd 110 Hurdles Simon Taggart

3 members contested 1,500m final = John Travers, Eric Keogh & Daragh Fitzgibbon

Women’s National Track & Field Final

8th team Donore Harriers (first time women’s team qualified for final)

Sunrise to Sunset Marathon at Hovsgol, Mongolia

3rd Des Tremble

Isle Of Man Half Marathon

1st Mark Dooley

Dublin 10 Mile Championships inc. Frank Duffy 10

1st M40 Fergal Whitty

3rd M40 Niall Lynch

3rd M45 Phil Hennessy

1st Junior Michael Gibbs

1st M65 Barry Potts

1st M70 Terry Mee

3rd Senior Women Grace Kennedy

September 2015

Rathfarnham 5km

1st John Travers

1st Men’s Team <Travers, Keogh, Dunne>

2nd Women’s Team  <MacDhomhnaill, Doran, Murray>

Dublin Half-Marathon

3rd Ken Nugent

1st M35 Andy Kinane

1st Junior Michael Gibbs

1st M70 Terry Mee

October 2015

Leinster Masters XC

2nd Niall Lynch

Dublin Novice XC

3rd Men’s Team <McCarthy, O’Briain, Boland, Bynre>

3rd women Karla Doran

3rd Women’s Team <Doran, Swaine, Rattigan, Elliott>

Leinster Novice XC

3rd Karla Doran

2nd Women’s Team <Doran, Hickey, Swaine, Elliott>

Dublin/National Marathon Championships

1st Women’s Team <Moriarty, Mahony, Graham>

2nd Men’s Masters Team <Whitty, Kinane, Moriarty>

November 2015

Dublin Senior XC

2nd Women’s Team <MacDhomhnaill, Curley, MacDhomhnaill, Curley>

2nd Men’s Team <Dooley, Keogh, Hynes, McMahon, Dunne, MacDomhnaill>

Dublin Juvenile XC Championships

3 gold = u/15 Boys Louis O’Loughlin, u/16 Boys Louis O’Loughlin, u/16 Boys team

3 silver = u/15 Boys Fathi Aden, u/16 Boys Fathi Aden, u/17 Girls team

3 bronze = u/16 Boys Sekeriye Ahmed, u/18 Girls Lucy McCann, u/17 Boys team

British & Irish Masters XC

7 members represented Ireland

W70 Ann Woodlock (silver)

M65 Barry Potts (gold)

M70 Terry Mee

M75 Jim McNamara (bronze)

M40 Niall Lynch (gold)

M35 Michael McMahon & John Dunne (gold)

National Inter-Clubs Championships

5th team <Travers, Keogh, Dooley, Hynes>

National Juvenile u/16 Championships

3rd Louis O’Loughlin (step-up)

Dublin Juvenile XC League

1st Fathi Aden u/15 Boys

1st Sekeriye Ahmed u/16 Boys

1st Eliza NiThighearnaigh u/17 Girls

2nd Suzanne Masterson u/17 Girls

Dublin Intermediate XC Championships

1st Karla Doran

3rd Kim Hickey

1st team <Doran, Hickey, Swaine, Rattigan>

Men’s Team 4th

December 2015

Ist  Jingle Bells-  John Travers 14. 44

National Uneven Age C. C. juvenile Championships –Dungarvan

U15 Boys Ist LouisO’Loughlin

2nd Faithi Aden

Louis and Faithi lead Dublin team to ist place in inter county competition.

U17 girls County gold medals for winning Dublin team members Lucy Mc Cann and Suzanne Masterson.

12 Echo newspaper Awards

Club of the year –Donore Harriers

Monthly awards to John Travers, Ladies Masters, Men’s Masters, Men’s National Road  Relay team, World Masters cc team lead by John Dunne to bronze position.

Results compiled by Gerry Naughton

At the National Uneven Age Groups cross country championships at Dungarvan Donore Harriers sensation Louis O’Loughlin stamped his authority all over the Boys under 15s over a distance of 3.5km. Once he took the lead at the 500 metres point there was no catching him! The slightly undulating and mud-laden course did not hamper O’Loughlin’s front running style. Over the remaining 3 kilometres the Moyle Park student continually stretched out his lead – and speeding up on the run in to the finish he won by a margin of about 80 metres.

This was O’Loughlin’s 4^th individual national victory in 2015 having also won the Minor Boys Schools cross country title as well as the 800m and 1500m track championships in his age group.

Fathi Aden made it a One-Two for Donore Harriers. Last year’s under 14s champion ran a smart race! After a conservative opening kilometres he steadily worked his way through the field. Aden was 24^th after 500 metres and 12^th at the end of the first 1.5km lap. On the second longer 2km lap he maintained his aggressive form and advanced to 2^nd position with 500 metres remaining. In the later stages of the race he held off the gallant challenge of Tim Scott of Lagan Valley AC to create a piece of history for the Donore club. The exploits of team-mates and best friends O’Loughlin and Aden was the first time that the club had the top two finishers in a national juvenile cross country championship.

O’Loughlin and Aden were also the 1^st and 2^nd scorers on the Dublin team that won the Inter-County team title. Dublin finished on 89 points, with Cork (182) in 2^nd and Antrim (198) in 3^rd.

There were also county gold medals for Lucy McCann and Suzanne Masterson in the Girls under 17s race held over 4 kilometres. They finished as 5^th and 6^th scorers on the Dublin team that won on 92 points ahead of Wicklow (130) and Cork (142). McCann got badly hampered at the start of the race, but then picked her way up the field to place a very fine 21^stoverall. An improving Masterson, a late replacement on the Dublin team, ran her best race to date. She also gained several places over the second half of the race to finish in 33^rd position. Indeed, she may have finished a little higher up the field had she not got badly boxed in going around the final bend. A very encouraging performance nevertheless!

Eliza NiThighearnaigh placed 42^nd and as the 7^th Dublin scorer was outside of the medals. Sekeriye Ahmed was also outside the county medals when he placed 46^th in the Boys under 17s race over 5 kilometres. Ahmed, who was stepping up an age group, was the 8^th home on the winning Dublin team.

Good team packing saw the Donore Harriers men’s team win bronze medals in the National Novice cross country championships also at Dungarvan. Arguably the most competitive and exciting race on the Irish cross country calendar the ‘Novice’ is always keenly contested and this year’s race was no different! Clubs from all corners of Ireland earmark this ‘development’ race as their primary target in the cross country season. Donore won the title in 2013 and missed out on retaining the title by just one point last year.

The cause for 2015 was not helped by having so many athletes barred from entry under the competition rules. Without a finisher in the top 20 the chances of Donore winning team medals probably seemed forlorn! But a team is only as strong as its 4^th and final scoring runner! So whilst the team filed home athletes in 23^rd, 27^th and 36^th positions it was the well-paced race by the 4^th and final scoring man Emmet O’Briain in 44^th place that proved crucial on the day.

At the front of the race Stephen Lawlor (19.54) of St. Abbans AC pegged back a 30 metres lead over the final kilometres to relegate Patrick Roche (19.56) of Naas AC to 2^nd. The first home for Donore was debutante Mael Lambert (20.50) in 23^rdspot. M40 athlete Niall Lynch (20.56) produced a fine race to place 27^th, whilst the ever consistent Ciaran McCarthy (21.06) came 36^th. Behind them O’Briain was gaining places over the last of 3 two-kilometre laps and in the process put the team into the bronze medal position.

The remaining ‘A’ team scorers were: – Aogan MacDomhnaill (21.36) in 58^th, Fergal Whitty (21.53) in 75^th, Sam Allen (22.16) in 98^th & Patrick Byrne (23.38) in 165^th.

Donore Harriers also fielded a ‘B’ team that placed 18^th of 24. The scorers were: – Frederico Camponetti (21.45) who placed 66^th on his debut, Des Tremble (22.24) in 108^th, Rossa  Hurley (22.43) in 128^th and Antonin Fouret (23.04) in 145^th. Andrew Wilson M40 (23.19) in 156^th and Paul Cummins (23.39) in 168^th were the non-scoring ‘B’ runners among a field of 211 finishers.

Ciaran McCarthy was the 4^th scorer on the Dublin team that won bronze medals in the Novice inter-country championship.

In the women’s race over 4km Karla Doran (16.06) put in another strong performance running in her third championship race within 15 days. Doran held 5^th position through the opening 2km lap, but race fatigue finally told in the second lap as she was passed by two DSD AC athletes. Nevertheless she held on with great determination to hold 7^th place across the finish line. She led home the Dublin team (76) in the novice inter-county championship that placed 2^nd behind Cork (36) and narrowly ahead of Meath (83).

Unfortunately Donore Harriers finished just out of the team medals in 4^th place. Youghal AC (87), who were led home by race winner Aoife Cooke (15.08), won the team prize by two points ahead of DSD AC. Then came Galway City Harriers on 104 with Donore Harriers on 116. The team was completed by Kim Hickey (17.01) in 28^th, Ashling Swaine (17.12) in 34^thand Emer Rattigan (17.38) in 47^th.

The 25^th edition of the Donore Harriers annual Jingle Bells race was one of the few events that survived ‘Storm Desmond’ on Saturday morning! Indeed, it is testimony to the organizers and competitors that almost one thousand keen runners crossed the finish line amid a warm, festive spirit despite the strong blustery winds and rain!

A special mention must go to Drogheda & District AC who had 165 runners take part. As one Donore commentator said: “They must have emptied out the town to come and support our race”. The Drogheda club used the Jingle Bells race as a primary target for their ‘Couch to 5k’ programme. They certainly brought colour (red, red and more red) and a sense of camaraderie to the Jingle Bells!

The men’s race was won by John Travers (14.44) from the host club with Kevin Maunsell (14.55) of Clonmel AC in 2^nd and Andrew Connick (15.09) of Ferrybank AC in 3^rd. Donore Harriers won the team event as Travers was well supported by Ray Hynes (15.17) in 6^th and Daragh Fitzgibbon (15.26 PB) in 11^th.

The women’s competition also had a high quality field with 3 Irish internationals occupying the top 3 places. Ciara Mageean (16.16) of UCD AC was the first woman home in 18^th place – and was closely followed by Laura Crowe (16.22) of An Riocht AC in 20^th and Mary Cullen (16.26) of North Sligo in 22^nd.

Donore won the women’s team prize with twins Ide & Sorcha NicDhomhnaill recording times of 18.08 and 18.11 respectively. The 3^rd scorer on the team was junior athlete Niamh O’Neill who recorded a time of 20.57.

Other club runners included: – Michael Gibbs u/18 (17.59), George Brady M35 (20.20), Joe Murphy (20.21), Paul O’Neill u/18 (20.47), Daniel Brady u/17 (21.50), Leonie Barry (27.31), Elena Gaina u/16 (29.45) & Darren Kinsella (31.16).

Results in brief  

National Novice Cross Country Championships at St. Augustine’s College in Dungarvan (6/12/15):

Novice Women 4km: – 7^th Karla Doran (16.06), 28^th Kim Hickey (17.01), 34^th Ashling Swaine (17.12), 47^th Emer Rattigan (17.38). 89 finishers.

TEAM: – 1. Youghal AC (87), 2^nd DSD AC (89), 4. Galway City Harriers (104) 4. Donore Harriers <Doran, Hickey, Swaine, Rattigan> (116). 11 teams closed.

COUNTY TEAM: 1. Cork (38), 2. Dublin <inc. Doran> (76), 3. Meath (83).

Novice Men 6km: – 23^rd Mael Lambert debut (20.50), 27^th Niall Lynch M40 (20.56), 36^th Ciaran McCarthy M35 (21.06), 44^th Emmet O’Briain M35 (21.19), 58^th Aogan McDomhnaill (21.36), 66^th Frederico Camponetti debut (21.45), 75^th Fergal Whitty M35 (21.53), 98^th Sam Allen (22.16), 108^th Des Tremble M35 (22.24), 128^th Rossa Hurley (22.43), 145^th Antonin Fouret debut (23.04), 156^th Andrew Wilson M40 (23.19), 165^th Patrick Byrne (23.38), 168^th Paul Cummins (23.39). 211 finishers.

TEAM: 1. Ennis Track (45), 2. St. Abban’s AC (123), 3. Donore Harriers ‘A’ <Lambert, Lynch, McCarthy & O’Briain> (130), 18. Donore Harriers ‘B’ <Camponetti, Tremble, Hurley & Fouret>. 24 teams closed.

COUNTY TEAM: 1. Laois (179), 2. Clare (197), 3. Dublin <inc. McCarthy> (214)

25^th Jingle Bells 5km road race at Phoenix Park (5/12/15): MEN: 1^st John Travers (14.44), 2^nd Kevin Maunsell – Clonmel AC (14.55), 3^rd Andrew Connick – Ferrybank AC (15.09), 6^th Ray Hynes (15.17), 11^th Daragh Fitzgibbon (15.26 PB).

TEAM: 1. Donore Harriers <Travers, Hynes, Fitzgibbon>

WOMEN: 1^st Ciara Mageean – UCD AC (16.16), 2^nd Laura Crowe – An Riocht AC (16.22), 3^rd Mary Cullen – North Sligo (16.26).

TEAM: 1. Donore Harriers <Ide NicDhomhnaill (18.08), Sorcha NicDhomhnaill (18.11), Niamh O’Neill (20.57)>

Other results: – Michael Gibbs u/18 (17.59), George Brady M35 (20.20), Joe Murphy (20.21), Paul O’Neill u/18 (20.47), Daniel Brady u/17 (21.50), Leonie Barry (27.31), Elena Gaina u/16 (29.45) & Darren Kinsella (31.16).

Juvenile Results

National Juvenile Uneven Age Groups XC Championships at Dungarvan (6/12/15): Under 15 Boys 3.5km – 1^st Louis O’Loughlin; 2^nd Fathi Aden

COUNTY TEAM: 1. Dublin <inc O’Loughlin & Aden> (89), 2. Cork (182), 3. Antrim (198)

Under 17 Girls 4km – 21^st Lucy McCann, 33^rd Suzanne Masterson, 42^nd Eliza NiThighearnaigh