Second season club member Karla Doran continues to impress and her victory in the Dublin Intermediate cross country championship last Sunday is yet another indication of her rising profile in Irish athletics. In the process she spearheaded the Donore Harriers (16) women’s team to a comfortable win ahead of Rathfarnham (29) and Clonliffe Harriers (47).

Doran (20.42) was among a lead group of athletes through the first 4 kilometres and then sped away over the last kilometre to finish well clear of runner-up Emma Dolan (20.57) of Metro St. Bridget AC.

The strong gusting winds that blew across Tymon Park did not hamper an exciting race with the black and white of Donore Harriers very much to the fore. The ever consistent Kim Hickey (21.10) crossed the line in a clear 3^rd place, whilst Aisling Swaine (21.27) made it 3 in the top 4 for Donore when she outpaced Louise Gaffney (21.31) of Rathfarnham over the final hundred metres. The scoring team was completed by the in-form Emer Rattigan (21.39) in 8^th place.

The non-scoring runners were: – Bronagh Eliott (22.40) in 12^th position and Rhona Duane (23.10) in 17^th.

The final Dublin Juvenile cross country league fixture preceded the Intermediate championship and there were some excellent results for the Donore team. Fathi Aden held off the gallant challenge of Pearse Christie of Brothers Pearse AC to win the Boys under 15s race over 2 kilometres and in the process finished as the individual league winner. Sekeriye Ahmed was narrowly beaten by a Tallaght AC athlete in the under 16s race, but his 2^nd place was good enough to claim the league title having won the first two fixtures. Eliza NiThighearnaigh and Suzanne Masterson placed 1^st and 2^nd in the Girls under 17s race, also over 2 kilometres, and they respectively finished as 1^st and 2^nd overall in the final league placings.

The best of the rest included Oliver Hopkins who placed a fine 6^th in the Boys under 11s race over 1 kilometre. Oliver put in a huge effort and gained to 4^th in the middle stages of the race, before being outkicked by two competitors in the run in to the line. Roisin Brady continues to improve and her 8^th place in the Girls under 15s race over 2 kilometres suggests that she is a young athlete with great potential.

The other young Donore Harriers athletes who competing in the very windswept conditions were: – Joe Kinsella (10^th) and Conor Mulcahy (26^th) in the Boys under 10s; Brooke Fagan (10^th) and Grace Raftery (13^th) in the Girls under 11s; Sean Kinsella (13^th) and Michael Barry (14^th) in the Boys under 12s and Jack Raftery (11^th) in the Boys under 15s.

There were 5 kilometre Parkrun wins for Colin Morrissey (18.50 at Waterstown Park, Paul Cummins (18.47) at Tymon Park, George Brady (18.11) and 15 years old Lucy McCann (21.05) at Griffeen Park. Declan Lynch (19.27) came 2^nd at Waterstown, whilst Michael Barry (19.45) broke the 20 minutes barrier for the first time in 4^th place.

Results in brief  

Dublin Intermediate Cross Country Championships at Tymon Park (29/11/15): Senior Women’s 5km: – 1^st Karla Doran (20.42, 3^rd Kim Hickey (21.10), 4^th Aisling Swaine (21.27), 8^th Emer Rattigan (21.39), 12^th Bronagh Elliott (22.40), 17^th Rhona Duane (23.10)

TEAM: – 1. Donore Harriers <Doran, Hickey, Swaine, Rattigan> (16), 2. Rathfarnham WSAF (26), 3. Clonliffe Harriers (47)

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (28/11/15): 1^st Colin Morrissey M35 (18.50), 2^nd Declan Lynch M35 (19l27), 4^th Michael Barry (19.45 PB), 20^th Andrew Maguire M45 (25.21 PB)

Tymon 5km Parkrun (28/11/15): 1^st Paul Cummins (18.47)

Castletown 5km Parkrun (28/11/15): 21^st /3^rd woman Laura Murray (24.47)

Naas 5km Parkrun (28/11/15): 4^th Ian Redican M40 (21.04)

Griffeen 5km Parkrun (28/11/15): 1^st George Brady M35 (18.11), 42^nd / 8^th woman Michelle Dawson (25.59)

Juvenile Results

Dublin Juvenile XC League Fixture 3 at Tymon Park (29/11/15):

u/10 Boys 700m – 10th Joe Kinsella, 26th Conor Mulcahy

u/11 Girls 1000m – 10th Brooke Fagan, 13th Grace Raftery

u/11 Boys 1000m – 6th Oliver Hopkins

u/12 Boys 1000m – 13th Sean Kinsella, 14th Michael Barry

u/15 Girls 2000m – 8th Roisin Brady

u/15 Boys 2000m – 1st Fathi Aden, 11th Jack Raftery

u/16 Boys 2000m – 2nd Sekeriye Ahmed

u/17 Girls 2000m – 1st Eliza NThighearnaigh, 2nd Suzanne Masterson

OVERALL LEAGUE: u/15 Boys – 1^st Fathi Aden; u/16 Boys – 1^st Sekeriye Ahmed; u/17 Girls – 1^st Eliza NiThighearnaigh, 2^nd Suzanne Masterson

Griffeen 5km Parkrun (28/11/15): 11^th / 1^st woman Lucy McCann u/17s (21.05)

Expectations and dreams turned to disappointment in the Santry mud on Sunday last. The Donore Harriers challenge for team medals in the Men’s Inter-Club Senior Championships fell short of the mark as the revamped championship had a much more competitive edge than in recent years. The change of calendar date from spring to late autumn for Ireland’s premier championship cross-country race brought out an array of Ireland’s top distance runners in a keenly contested competition held over 10,000 metres on a testing undulating course. The event also served as a major part of the selection process for the forthcoming European Cross Country championships.

John Travers (32.53) started as one of the pre-race favourites, but he was later to admit to feeling very “flat” after just one of 6 laps. Travers was as high as 5^th position through the first two kilometres and thereafter faded to close in 23^rd place. The next clubman home was Eric Keogh (33.16), who gained several places after a conservative start, in 27^th spot. Mark Dooley was just once place and 2 seconds behind his team-mate. The Donore Harriers scoring team was completed by Ray Hynes (33.29) in 34^th place. The team placed 5^th on 112 points as defending champions Clonliffe Harriers (47) narrowly held off the challenge of Leevale AC (48) and Raheny Shamrocks (51).

The non-scoring team members were – Lee Van Haeften (34.05) in 50^th, Michael McMahon (34.07) in 51^st and John Dunne (34.53) in 68^th. McMahon and Dunne later admitted to feeling tired having competed in the British & Irish International Masters on the previous weekend.

The Donore Harriers ‘B’ team placed 17^th on 400 points. The team included – Niall Lynch (35.15) in 77^th, Ciaran McCarthy (35.39) in 86^th, Fergal Whitty (36.27) in 103^rd and Andrew Wilson (38.10) in 134^th place.

The race was won by defending champion Michael Clohisey (31.11) of Raheny Sharmocks, with John Coghlan (31.27) of Metro St. Bridgids AC in 2^nd and Paul Pollock (31.33) of Annadale Striders in 3^rd.

The women’s race over 8km was won by international star athlete Fionnuala McCormack (formerly Britton) of Kilcoole AC, whilst Donore’s lone representative Karla Doran – running in the first senior national competition – raced admirably to place 42^nd among another strong field of runners.

Niamh O’Neill was the club’s lone athlete in the Junior Women’s race over 4km and placed a creditable 40^th behind winner Hope Saunders of Clonliffe Harriers.

Men’s team manager Ciaran O’Flaherty described Louis O’Loughlin’s performance in the under 16 Boys race over 4km as the “club’s one shining light on a day of disappointments”. Stepping up an age-group and spearheading a Donore Harriers team on the first day of the National Juvenile Cross Country Championships the Moyle Park student again raised his profile as one of the most exciting young talents in Irish athletics. O’Loughlin was in 14^th position at the half-way stage and with a kilometre to go he had gained to 9^th. Any chance of an individual medal seemed remote as the athletes were well spread out in front of him. But he kept gaining ground! Going into the final bend with 80 metres to go O’Loughlin was in 6^th place. He had to check his stride at the turn so as to find a gap on the inside track and then with a great acceleration of speed he gained to 3^rd on the final stride ahead of Donal Devane of Ennis Track. The race was won by Irish juvenile international Daragh McElvenny of Bantry AC with Jamie Battle of Mullingar Harriers in second. O’Loughlin will now start as the favourite when he competes in his own age group (u/15s) at the National Uneven Age Groups at Dungarvan on the 6^th of December.

In the same race Sekeriye Ahmed placed 15^th, whilst Fathi Aden paid the price for an over ambitious start and faded to a disappointing 35^th. The other team members were Jack Raftery in 131^st and Ruairi Fitzgibbon in 132^nd. The team placed 4^thof 16 on 184 points behind Westport AC (81), Mullingar Harriers (115) and Ennis Track (157).

O’Loughlin (1^st scorer), Ahmed (2^nd scorer) and Aden (5^th scorer) won silver team medals as part of the Dublin county team that finished behind Cork.

There were also county medals won by Lucy McCann and Eliza NiThighearnaigh, who were both stepping up an age group to compete in the Girls under 18s race over 4km. McCann placed 28^th overall, whilst NiThighearnaigh came 36^th.  They were the 2^nd and 4^th scorers on the Dublin team than placed 2^nd behind Wicklow.

In the Boys under 18s race over 6km Michael Gibbs (22.29) placed 90^th.

Donore Harriers athletes were to the fore in the Gingerbread 10km road race at Portarlington. New member Anthony Flannery (35.54) placed 2^nd, whilst Shane Russell (36.57) and Alasdair Brown (37.59) recorded personal bests when gaining 3^rd and 5^th positions. There was also a PB for Ken McKeon (1.38.50) in the Gingerbread Half-Marathon.

Results in brief  

National Inter-Clubs Cross Country Championships at Santry Demesne (22/11/15): Senior Men’s 10km: – 1^st M. Clohisey – Raheny Shamrocks (31.11), 2^nd John Coghlan – MSB (31.27), 3^rd Paul Pollock – Annadale Striders (31.33), 23^rdJohn Travers (32.53), 27^th Eric Keogh (33.16), 28^th Mark Dooley (33.18), 34^th Ray Hynes (33.29), 50^th Lee Van Haeften (34.05), 51^st Michael McMahon (34.07), 68^th John Dunne (34.53), 77^th Niall Lynch (35.15), 86^th Ciaran McCarthy (35.39), 103^rd Fergal Whitty (36.27), 134^th Andrew Wilson (38.10), DNF Aogan MacDomhnaill:

TEAM: – 1. Clonliffe Harriers (47), 2. Leevale AC (48), 3. Raheny Shamrocks (51), 5. Donore Harriers ‘A’ <Travers, Keogh, Dooley, Hynes> (112), 17. Donore Harriers ‘B’ <Lynch, McCarthy, Whitty, Wilson> (400)

Senior Women’s 8km: – 1^st Fionnuala McCormack – Kilcoole AC (NTG), 42^nd Karla Doran (NTG)

Junior Women’s 4km: – 40^th Niamh O’Neill

Tymon 5km Parkrun (21/11/15): 2^nd Paul Cummins (18.16)

Porterstown 5km Parkrun (21/11/15): 2^nd Tom Fagan M45 (20.12)

Castletown 5km Parkrun (21/11/15): 4^th Laura Murray (24.28)

Clontarf Half-Marathon (21/11/15): 7^th Rossa Hurley (1.20.00)

Griffeen 5km Parkrun (21/11/15): 3^rd Colin Morrissey M35 (18.07 PB)

Gingerbread 10km road race at Portarlington (22/11/15): 2^nd Anthony Flannery (35.54), 3^rd Shane Russell (36.57 PB), 5^th Alasdair Brown (37.59 PB)

Gingerbread Half-Marathon at Portarlington (22/11/15): Ken McKeon (1.38.50 PB)

Juvenile Results

National Juvenile Even Age Groups XC Championships at Santry Demesne (22/11/15):

Boy’s u/16s 4km: – 3^rd Louis O’Loughlin (step-up), 15^th Sekeriye Ahmed, 35^th Fathi Aden (step-up), 131^st Jack Raftery (step-up) & 132^nd Ruairi Fitzgibbon:

TEAM: – 1. Westport AC (81), 2. Mullingar Harriers (115), 3. Ennis Track (157), 4. Donore Harriers (184) – 16 teams

County Teams: 1. Cork (106), 2. Dublin <inc. O’Loughlin, Ahmed & Aden> (154), 3. Kilkenny (245)

Girl’s u/18s 4km: 28^th Lucy McCann, 36^th Eliza NiThighearnaigh

County Teams: 1. Wicklow (122), 2. Dublin <inc. McCann & NiThighearnaigh> (196), 3. Waterford (203).

Boy’s u/18s 6km: 90^th Michael Gibbs

The 28^th edition of the British and Irish Masters International Cross Country Championships held at Santry Demesne on Saturday last proved a successful outing for both Ireland and its Donore Harriers participants. Seven members of the Chapelizod based club wore the singlets of Ireland with distinction. Not least first time international Michael McMahon, who was the 3^rd scorer on a strong Irish team that convincingly won the M35 team category.

McMahon has been a revelation since taking up athletics 3 years ago! The former Civil Service gaelic footballer was always near the front of the field over a tough 4 laps 8km course. Despite losing a place on the final circuit McMahon (26.23) placed a magnificent 5^th and 3^rd Irish scorer as the team won by 13 points ahead of England. The final team score read 1^st Ireland (16), 2^nd England (29) and 3^rdScotland (52)

John Dunne (26.55) placed 9^th in the same race and later admitted to feeling tired after a busy race and training schedule. Dunne was the 5^th Irish home and played a key part in reducing the England score.

Niall Lynch (27.35), another former gaelic footballer in his native Cavan, was the key 4^th scorer on the Irish team that won the M40 category. Lynch used his mountain running strength over the mud-fest 8km race and his 9^th place finish helped the Ireland team secure gold on 18 points with England (27) in second and Scotland (58) in third.

Barry Potts (25.32) was the first non-scoring athlete on the winning Irish team in the M65 race over 6kms. Potts placed 10^th as Ireland (11) outscored England (20), Scotland (32) and Northern Ireland (also 32).

In the M70 race, also over 6km, Terry Mee (29.11) struggled over the muddy terrain and had to settle for 15^th position. He was the 3^rd Irish scorer, but the team were out of the medals in 4^th place (38) behind England (8), Scotland (20) and Northern Ireland (26).

It was different story in the M75 race where Jim McNamara (29.39) led the Irish team to bronze medals when placing 5^th individual. Ireland scored 21 behind England (8) and Scotland (16), but ahead of Wales and Northern Ireland.

Ann Woodlock, the Business Houses Athletics Association’s athlete of the year for 2015 and also known as ‘Wonderful Woodlock’, placed an excellent 10^th in the Women’s 70+ race over 6km. Woodlock (35.12) was the 3^rd Irish scorer as the team won silver on 23 points behind England (23) and ahead of Wales (31).

COMMENT: What a great shame that the media gives such little coverage to events like this! It was great to see the Irish teams compete so well against their English counterparts. It was wonderful to see the camaraderie among the teams of all the home nations. And the winds and rain did not deter from the spectacle and the occasion. The dedication and determination of the athletes deserves better recognition – and not just because they train so hard, but the level of human endeavours and the sportsmanship at events like this is simply outstanding. Cross-Country and athletes deserve better recognition!

Results in brief  

British & Irish International Masters Cross Country Championships at Santry Demesne (14/11/15): W70 6km: – 1^st Dot Fellows ENG (29.08), 10^th Ann Woodlock IRL (35.12) – TEAM: 1. England (14), 2. Ireland (23), 3. Wales (31):M65 6km: – 1^st Martin McEvilly IRL (23.21), 10^th Barry Potts IRL (25.32) – TEAM: 1. Ireland (11), 2. England (20), 3. Scotland (32): M70 6km: – 1^st Peter Giles ENG (24.56), 15^th Terry Mee IRL (29.11): M75 6km – 1^st Peter Covey ENG (28.47), 5^th Jim McNamara IRL (29.39) – TEAM 1. England (8), 2^nd Scotland (16), 3. Ireland (21): M35 8km – 1^st Michael Harty IRL (28.03), 5^th Michael McMahon IRL (26.23), 9^th John Dunne IRL (26.56) – TEAM: 1. Ireland (16), 2. England (29), 3. Scotland (52): M40 8km – 1^st Christopher Greenwood ENG (25.33), 9^th Niall Lynch IRL (27.35) – TEAM: 1. Ireland (18), 2. England (27), 3. Scotland (58).

Dublin Run in the Dark 10km (11.11.15): 9^th Rossa Hurley (35.27)

MoRun 10km at Phoenix Park (14.11.15): 13^th / 3^rd M40 Kevin Odgers (42.37 PB)

Naas 5km Parkrun (31/10/15): 3^rd Ian Redican M40 (20.23)

St. Anne’s 5km Parkrun (7/11/15): 4^th Alan Farrell M40 (17.51 PB), 5^th Colin Morrissey M35 (17.53 PB), 7^th Alasdair Brown (18.02 PB)

Porterstown 5km Parkrun (14/11/15): 3^rd Tom Fagan M45 (20.59)

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (14/11/15): 2nd Laura Murray FS (24.16)

Juvenile Results

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (7/11/15): 3^rd Noah Synnott u/13s (21.05), 15^th / 1^stwoman Syke-Dixie Synnott u/11s (24.53)

So near! After a time span of 37 years the wait must continue for at least one more year! It was 1978 when Donore Harriers last won the Dublin Senior Men’s team cross country title. In this year’s championship race, held at Tymon Park last Sunday, strong team packing ensured that Donore were in the mix for that elusive glory! Ultimately Donore Harriers had to settle for the team silver medal amid a rule controversy!

After five 2km laps over a meandering and hilly route it was Mark Dooley (33.45) who led the team home in an excellent 6^th place. Eric Keogh (33.55) gained a place on the final circuit to cross the line in 9^th, whilst Ray Hynes (34.15) and Michael McMahon (34.17) had their own nip-and-tuck battle throughout the race before settling for 12^th and 13^th positions respectively. With six-to-score the team was closed out by John Dunne (34.33) in 17^th and Aogan MacDomhnaill (35.26) in 21^st. The non-scoring team members were Niall Lynch (35.35) in 23^rd and Des Tremble (39.07) in 51^st.

Donore Harriers closed with a final team score of 78, seven points behind winners Raheny Shamrocks AC (71) and some way clear of 3^rd placed Dundrum South Dublin (126). A prior complaint that Raheny’s second scoring runner did not comply with the ‘residency rule’ was not allowed.

The Donore women’s team also took team silver in what can be described as a ‘sister act’. Two sets of sisters made up the team as Ide NicDhomhnaill (24.31) came 9^th after a tough 6km race run in warm conditions – with Anne Curley just one place and four seconds further back. Next home for the team was Sorcha NicDhomhnaill (24.42) in 12^th, whilst team captain Florence Curley (25.37) continues to regain form following an injury lay-out came 21^st. The unfortunate Grace Kennedy was forced to retire in the latter stages of the race with a foot injury.

Donore Harriers (52) placed 2^nd behind Crusaders (23) with Liffey Valley AC (59) in 3^rd.

Earlier in the day the Dublin Juvenile Uneven age-groups championships were also held at Tymon Park. The bright sunny morning saw plenty of great races, not least the Boys under 15s battle between Donore’s outstanding talents of Louis O’Loughlin and Fathi Aden. Aden put in a huge effort in the opening half of the 3,500m route and build a lead of about 50 metres. But as Aden began to tire and O’Loughlin used his finishing speed it was the latter who won the spoils to add the under 15s title to the under 16s crown won two weeks earlier. O’Loughlin will now be favourite to win the national crown next month. Aden held on for 2^nd place. The Donore team (50) placed 4^th behind Clonliffe Harriers (31), DSD (42) and host club Brothers Pearse AC (43). The other team members were Jack Raftery (20^th), Lorcan O’Ceallaigh (27^th) and Jack Connolly (33^rd).

The Girls under 17s team (53 points) won team silver after 4km over a tough cross country course. The team was led home by Ireland’s Fittest Family star Lucy McCann in 8^th place with Eliza NiThighearnaigh in 9^th and Suzanne Masterson in 12^th. The scoring team was completed by debut runner Ruth Hutton in 24^th, whilst her twin sister Grace (debut) was next over the line. A strong DSD team (14) easily won the team prize, whilst Raheny Shamrocks (61) were 3^rd.

There was also a surprise team bronze for the under 17s boys team – also run over 4km. Sekeriye Ahmed (step-up) led the team home in 7^th place, whilst the remainder of the scoring team are all first-season members. Ibrahim Mohammed came 18^th, whilst debut runners James Murphy and Liam Brophy came 19^th and 20^th. Both Mohammed and Murphy were stepping-up an age group. The non-scoring runner was Daniel Brady, who placed 21^st.

Clonliffe (20) came 1^st with DSD (31) in second and Donore Harriers (64) 3^rd.

Roisin Brady placed 17^th in the Girls under 15s race over 3,500m.

There were other encouraging performances by the younger club members as debutants Fay and Queen Leigh-O’Keeffe placed 27^th and 13^th respectively in the Girls and Boys under 9s raced over 800m. The Girls under 11s failed to close out a team as Skye-Dixie fell during a mid-race tussle and retired from the race. Her team members included Brooke Fagan (19^th), Grace Raftery (20^th) and step-up athlete Honor Lynch (39^th).  The other competing Donore athletes were: – Eleanor Hopins (41^st) and Mira Hendrickson (52^nd) in the Girls u/9s; Ciaran O’Farrell (20^th) in the Boys u/9s; and Oliver Hopkins (30^th), debutant Fergus Johnson (31^st) and Max Hendrickson (58^th) in the Boys u/11s.

In very competitive races for athletes aged18 – 20 Niamh O’Neill fell back to 12^thafter a strong start in the 3km junior women’s race, whilst Sam Gallagher showed good form in his first race after an injury time-out to place 13^th over the 6km junior men’s race. Stephen Gavin retired from the race in the closing stages due to a hamstring injury.

If ever there was a week to prove that Donore Harriers are the nearly men then this was it! In the National Marathon team competition incorporated in the last week’s Dublin Marathon the Donore masters team of Fergal Whitty, Andy Kinane and Patrick Moriarty placed 2nd – must 7 seconds short of team winners St. Finbarrs AC. The winners combined time was 8hrs.12mins.23secs (M. Morgan 2.35.56, M. Corbett 2.47.40, J. Cunningham 2.48.57) with Donore Harriers at 8.12.30 (F. Whitty 2.35.15, A. Kinane 2.44.38, P. Moriarty 2.52.37).

Clonmel AC came 3^rd with a time of 8.14.55 (D. Ryan 2.39.57, B. Long 2.46.37, D. Curley 2.48.21) with Inishowen AC in 4^th 8.15.51 and Westport AC in 5^th8.17.25

There was better fortune for the women’s team who won a surprise team senior gold for the first time ever. The team was made up of newcomer Amy Moriarty (3.15.22), Breda Mahony (3.27.12) and Sinead Graham (3.29.20). Their combined time of 10.11.54 edged out Brothers Pearse AC (10.12.23) and Springwell AC (10.13.53).

Results in brief  

Dublin Senior Women’s XC Championships at Tymon Park (1/11/15): 6,000m– 9^th Ide NicDhomhnaill (24.31), 10^th Ann Curley F35 (24.35), 12^th Sorcha NicDhomhnaill (24.42), 21^st Florence Curley F35 (25.37), DNF Grace Kennedy (injured)

TEAM: 1^st Crusaders (23), 2^nd Donore Harriers (52), 3^rd Liffey Valley AC (59)

Dublin Senior Men’s XC Championships at Tymon Park (1/11/15): 10,000m – 6^th Mark Dooley (33.45), 9^th Eric Keogh (33.55), 12^th Ray Hynes (34.15), 13^thMichael McMahon M35 (34.17), 17^th John Dunne M35 (34.33), 21^st Aogan MacDomhnaill (35.26), 23^rd Niall Lynch M40 (35.35), 51^st Des Tremble M40 (39.07)

TEAM: 1^st Raheny Shamrocks (71), 2^nd Donore Harriers (78), 3^rd DSD AC (126)

Dublin Junior Women’s XC Championship at Tymon Park (1/11/15): 3,000m– 12^th Niamh O’Neill

Dublin Junior Men’s XC Championships at Tymon Park (1/11/15): 6,000m – 13^th Sam Gallagher, DNF Stephen Gavin (injured)

New York Marathon: Joan McTernan 124^th in F50 category (4.10.53)

Fighting Blindness Trail Race (15.5km inc. 500m of gain/loss) at Glendalough (31/10/15): 3^rd Ken Norgrove M45 (1.06.21), 80^th Anne Rush F40 (1.39.25)

Griffeen 5km Parkrun (31/10/15): 1^st Declan Fahey M40 (17.01)

Porterstown 5km Parkrun (31/10/15): 4^th Tom Fagan M45 (20.41)

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (31/10/15): 1^st Rossa Hurley (18.49), 20^th / 8^th woman Leonie Barry (27.29 PB)  

Juvenile Results

Dublin Juvenile Uneven Age Groups XC Championships at Tymon Park (1/11/15): Girls u/9s 800m – 27^th Fay Leigh-O’Keeffe (debut), 41^st Eleanor Hopkins, 52^nd Mira Hendrickson; Boys u/9s 800m – 13^th Quinn Leigh-O’Keeffe (debut), 20^th Ciaran O’Farrell; Girls u/11s 1,500m – 19^th Brooke Fagan, 20^th Grace Raftery, 39^th Honor Lynch (step-up), DNF Skye-Dixie Synnott (fell midrace);Boys u/11s 1,500m – 30^th Oliver Hopkins, 31^st Fergus Johnson (debut), 58^th Max Hendrickson; Girls u/15s 3,500m – 17^th Roisin Brady; Boys u/15s 3,500m – 1^stLouis O’Loughlin, 2^nd Fathi Aden, 20^th Jack Raftery, 27^th Lorcan O’Ceallaigh (step-up), 33^rd Jack Connolly – TEAM: 1. Clonliffe (31), 2. DSD (42), 3. Brothers Pearse (43), 4, Donore (50); Girls u/17s 4,000m – 8^th Lucy McCann, 9^th Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh, 12^th Suzanne Masterson, 24^th Ruth Hutton, 25^th Grace Hutton –TEAM: 1. DSD (14), 2. Donore (53), 3. Raheny (61), 4. Clonliffe (78); u/17 Boys 4,000m – 7^th Sekeriye Ahmed (step-up), 18^th Ibros Mohammed, 19^th James Murphy (debut & step-up), 20^th Liam Brophy (debut & step-up), 21^st Daniel Brady – TEAM: 1. Clonliffe (20), 2. DSD (31), 3. Donore (64)

Fergal Whitty (2.35.15) led the Donore Harriers representation home in this year’s Dublin Marathon crossing the line in 32^nd spot and claiming 4^th position in the M40 category. Andy Kinane (2.44.38) ran very much on par with his 2014 effort claiming 73^rd overall position and 14^th in the M35 age group. Next clubman home was Patrick Moriarty who placed 164^th in 2.52.37 with Shane McAuley 188^th in 2.53.58. Whitty, Kinane and Moriarty will hopefully claim a team award as the National Marathon Championships were incorporated into the Dublin event. <awaiting official result>

The women’s team was led home by newcomer Amy Moriarty, who placed 932^ndoverall and 22^nd in the senior women’s category. Her time of 3.15.22 suggests that she is an athlete of great potential. Next club finisher was Breda Mahony (3.26.28) who placed 27^th in the F35 category – a fine effort considering that Breda completed the Berlin Marathon last month. Not far behind came Sinead Graham (3.27.54) running her first marathon and finishing well inside her target of 3.30 – an excellent run!

The women’s team also had Fiona Fitzgerald (3.38.52) making her club debut, Ariana Ball (3.45.44) running in her first marathon, Laura Murray (4.23.32) and marathon debutant Dana Mackey (4.39.18).

The men’s team also included Gavin Byrne (2.58.16), Derek O’Neill (3.00.52), Paul Cummins (3.02.32 PB), Niall O’Reilly (3.06.45 PB), Declan Lynch on his club debut (3.13.37), Daryl D’art another club debutant (4.06.40) and Peter Bonnar (4.09.24 PB).  

The Donore Harriers women’s novice team placed an excellent 2^nd in the Leinster Cross Country Championships at Moyvalley (25/10/15). The team was led home by Karla Doran, putting her recent disappointment in the Autumn Open Cross event behind her with an excellent 3^rd place finish. Doran completed the undulated 4km course in a time of 15.12. Just 3 places back was the ever-consistent Kim Hickey (15.29). The team score was completed by Ashling Swaine (16.07) in 20^thand Bronagh Elliott (16.14) in 22^nd. Dunboyne AC (46) won the team event by just 5 points from runners-up Donore Harriers (51).

The Men’s Novice race over 6km saw good performances from Sam Allen (21.02) who placed 7^th and Emmet O’Briain (21.16) who was 11^th. The team was completed by Andrew Wilson (22.22) in 29^th and Shane Russell (22.56) in 42^nd. The team placed ninth.

Niall Lynch (20.04) narrowly failed to defend his Leinster’s Masters crown finishing just 4 seconds behind Mick Traynor of Raheny Shamrocks after an thrilling 6km duel at the front of the race. Peter Nugent (24.13) in 99^th, Noel Conway (24.17) in 102^nd and Des Gill (25.39) in 123^rd completed the Donore team who placed 16^th of 20 teams.

In the Women’s 4km Masters race team captain Florence Curley (15.56) continues to regain her fitness after injury by putting in a good shift to record 10^th place. The other Donore athletes included Karen Behan (17.22) in 38^th, Julia Hackett (17.36) in 42^nd, Janette Strickland (17.40) in 43^rd and Angela Eustace (18.06) in 55^th. The team placed fifth.

Marianne Dunlevy recorded a new personal best time in the Frankfurt Marathon (25/10/15) placing 277^th woman in a time of 3.29.09. 

Stephen Gavin has made it nine-in-a-row for Donore Harriers athletes when he won the 35^th annual Salesian College road race held over a 4.2km course between Celbridge and Maynooth last week. The club’s recent squad development of athletes from the North Kildare region is etched on the Fr. Charlie Archer Cup as previous winners include – Mark Dooley, Lee Van Haeften, Eric Keogh, Max Van Haeften, Daragh Fitzgibbon, Sam Allen and Oisin Fitzgibbon. Stephen Gavin, second in 2014, made no mistake this time and ran out a clear winner ahead of Shane Ferris. Under 16s athlete Ruairi Fitzgibbon placed 98^th out of almost 500 runners.

Max Carey (2364 points), competing in the Junior Boys and representing Lucan CS, just missed out on gold in the Leinster Schools Combined Events competition. Max was leading going into the final event, but illness put paid to his prospects as he lost 18 seconds to the overall winner (Gabriel Bell of Dundalk on 2551 points) over the 800 metres event. Lucy Hurley and Roisin Rynn-Cahill placed 7^th in their respective Junior Girls and Inter Girls events.

Results in brief  

Dublin Marathon (26/10/15): Women – 932^nd / 22^nd SNR Amy Moriarty -club debut (3.15.22 – 1.38.17 at half), 1651^st / 27^th F35 Breda Mahony (3.26.28 – 1.43.06 at half), 1863^rd / 51^st SNR Sinead Graham marathon debut (3.27.54 – 1.44.41 at half), 2674^th / 93^rd SNR Fiona Fitzgerald club debut (3.38.52 – 1.50.16 at half), 3503th / 130^th SNR Ariana Ball marathon debut (3.45.44 – 1.52.14 at half), 7779^th / 493 SNR Laura Murray (4.23.32 – 2.10.28 at half), 9357 / 321^st F45 Dana Mackey marathon debut (4.39.18 – 2.13.46 at half)

Men – 32^nd / 4^th M40 Fergal Whitty (2.35.15 – 1.16.04 at half), 73^rd / 14^th M35 Andy Kinane (2.44.38 – 1.22.24 at half), 164^th / 41^st M35 Patrick Moriarty (2.52.37 – 1.25.32 at half), 188^th / 41^st M40 Shane McAuley (2.53.58 – 1.26.42 at half), 310^th / 94^th SNR Gavin Byrne (2.58.16 – 1.27.55 at half), 429^th / 42^nd M45 Derek O’Neill (3.00.52 – 1.29.21 at half), 464^th / 132^nd SNR Paul Cummins (3.02.32 – 1.27.19 at half), 600^th / 169^th M35 Niall O’Reilly (3.06.45 PB – 1.31.32 at half), 853^rd / 228^th M35 Declan Lynch club debut (3.13.37 – 1.34.13), 6043^rd / 1162 M40 Daryl D’art club debut (4.06.40 – 2.00.12 at half), 6297^th / 771^st M45 Peter Bonnar (4.09.24 PB – 2.02.27 at half)  

Leinster Novice Women XC Championships at Moyvalley (25/10/15): 4km – 3^rd Karla Doran (15.12), 6^th Kim Hickey (15.29), 20^th Ashling Swaine (16.07), 22^nd Bronagh Elliott (16.14): TEAM – 1^st Dunboyne AC (46), 2^nd Donore Harriers <Doran, Hickey, Swaine, Elliott> (51)

Leinster Masters Women XC Championships at Moyvalley (25/10/15): 4km – 10^th Florence Curley F40 (15.56), 38^th Karen Behan F35 (17.22), 42^nd Julia Hackett F40 (17.36), 43^rd Janette Strickland F40 (17.40), 55^th Angela Eustace F40 (18.06): Team – 5^th Donore Harriers

Leinster Novice Men XC Championships at Moyvalley (25/10/15): 6km – 7^thSam Allen (21.02), 11^th Emmet O’Briain M35 (21.16), 29^th Andrew Wilson (22.22). 42^nd Shane Russell (22.56): TEAM – 9^th Donore Harriers

Leinster Masters Men XC Championships at Moyvalley (25/10/15): 6km – 2^ndNiall Lynch M40 (20.04), 99^th Peter Nugent M35 (24.13), 102^nd Noel Conway M40 (24.17), 123^rd Des Gill M45 (25.39): TEAM – 16^th Donore Harriers

Frankfurt Marathon (25/10/15): 277^th woman Marianne Dunlevy F45 (3.29.09 PB)

Porterstown 5km Parkrun (24/10.15): 5^th Tom Fagan M45 (20.33)

Salesian College 4.2km road race (22/10/15): 1^st Stephen Gavin, 98^th Ruairi Fitzgibbon. 500 competed

 Juvenile Results

Leinster Schools Combined Events (21/10/14): Junior Boys – 2^nd Max Carey 2364 points

9.30 Hurdles, 9.18m Shot Putt, 5.23m Long Jump, 25.10 200m, 2.37.46 800m

Junior Girls – 7^th Lucy Hurley 2293 points

10.47 Hurdles, 7.34m Shot Putt, 4.35m Long Jump, 1.50m High Jump, 3.07.75 800m

Inter Girls – 7^th Roisin Rynn-Cahill 2483 points

10.49 Hurdles, 6.43m Shot Putt, 4.64 Long Jump, 1.41m High Jump, 2.39.94 800m

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (24/10/15): 6^th Michael Barry u/11s (21.27)

Two gold, one silver and two bronze made it Donore Harriers most successful day at the Dublin juvenile cross-country championships for several years. The highlight of the Dublin Juvenile Even Age Group cross-country championships was the Boys under 16s race over a 4km, 2-lap course. Fathi Aden took the pace through the opening 3 kilometres before Louis O’Loughlin put ‘on the burners’ and sped away to win by some 40 metres. Aden was a comfortable 2^nd with Sekeriye Ahmed making it a clean sweep in 3^rd position. The team prize was not so clear cut! Clonliffe Harriers closed 4 runners in the top ten, but a magnificent run by Jack Raftery over the final 500 metres proved to be crucial. Raftery gained several places to cross the line in 17^th positon. It was good enough to get a one point win for the team as Donore Harriers scored 23 against 24 for Clonliffe Harriers. Ruairi Fitzgibbon and Jack Connolly were the non-scoring members of the team.

O’Loughlin, Aden, Raftery and Connolly were all stepping-up an age group and will be competing in the Under 15s championships next Sunday week.

Another athlete stepping-up was Lucy McCann. McCann, also running over 4km, held 4^th position until the final 150 metres when she out-sprinted her opponent for the bronze medal. Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh placed 6^th in the same race.

In the Boys under 18s race over 6km Michael Gibbs fell back over the final 2km circuit after making an over ambitious start. Gibbs placed 17^th, with Gabhan O’Tighearnaigh 25^th, Sean Creagh 26^th and Paul O’Neill 27^th. The team placed 4^th.

Other notable performances came from Honor Lynch 20^th in the Girls under 10s race over 1,000m, Michael Barry and Sean Kinsella who came 23^rd and 25^th in the Boys under 12s race over 2,000m – and Joe Kinsella 25^th in the Boys under 10s race.

Later in the day there were strong performances from Michael McMahon, Niall Lynch and others in the Athletics Ireland Autumn Open Cross races in the Phoenix Park. In the 8km race McMahon (27.24) showed fine pace judgement and gained to 18^th overall in a very competitive field. The second-season club member placed 3^rd in the M35 category. With this race being part of the selection process for the Irish team to run in the forthcoming British & Irish Masters Cross Country Championships (takes place at Santry on 14/11/15) McMahon can expect his first call-up to the national team. Niall Lynch should also be in contention for another Irish vest after he placed 36^th overall and 4^th in the M40 age class. Lynch also paced himself well and gained several places over the final 2 kilometres lap. Ciaran McCarthy M40 (28.50) placed 45^th overall whilst Emmet O’Briain M35 (30.23) came 86^th.

In the 5km race an in-form Karla Doran had to withdraw due to not feeling well, whilst Kim Hickey (20.18) put in a very determined performance to place 32^ndoverall and 10^th in the F35 category. Barbara Murray (21.14) was next club athlete home in 50^th spot and 12^th in the F40 age class. Florence Curley (22.26) placed 67^th and Karen Behan (23.01) was 74^th.

Terry Mee (24.10) and Jim McNamara (24.50) placed 90^th and 94^th respectively to win the M70 and M75 categories.  Barry Potts (21.18) placed 4^th in a separate M65 race.

On Saturday morning the cross-country action took place on the grounds of Castleknock College as the Business Houses Athletics Association began their winter programme with the Teachers 4km and 2km races. Donore Harriers athletes were very much to the fore. In the women’s 2km race Ide (12.35) and Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill (13.09) placed 2^nd and 4^th. The other club athletes were – Janette Strickland F40 (15.00) who came 19th, Caren Crowley F40 (15.46) 33^rd, Catherine McKeon F35 (17.06) 49^th and Mary McDermott F45 (17.10) 51^st.

Eric Keogh (20.45) placed 2^nd in the Men’s 4km race with Lee Van Haeften (20.51) and Aogan MacDomhnaill (20.58) crossing the line in 3^rd and 4^th positions. The remainder of the field included Peter Nugent M45 (26.01) in 62^nd, Tom Fagan M45 (26.20) in 67^th and Ian Redican M40 (26.56) in 74^th.

Colin Morrissey (3.03.37) ran a personal best in the Amsterdam Marathon. In theChicago Marathon Alma Hanevy ran an excellent 3.26.49 despite a recurrence of a injury from the mid-race point. New member Bernie Moloney posted a time of 3.40.45 and is a fine prospect for future Donore teams.

Other recent results include Gavin Byrne’s (4.00.44) 2^nd place in the Killarney Adventure Race. The race including a hill-run, run, bike, kayak, hill-run and run.

There were also Parkrun series wins for Declan Fahy M40 (17.19) at Griffeen Park on the 10^th of October and by Daragh Fitzgibbon (16.59) on the 17^th of October. At the Donadea 10km Trail Race (10/10/15) Lee Van Haeften (32.44) placed 3^rd.

Results in brief  

BHAA Teachers XC at Castleknock College (17/10/15): MEN’S 4 mile – 2^ndEric Keogh 20.45), 3^rd Lee Van Haeften (20.51), 4^th Aogan MacDomhnaill (20.58), 62^nd Peter Nugent M45 (26.01), 67^th Tom Fagan M45 (26.20), 74^th Ian Redican M40 (26.56)

WOMEN’S 2 mile – 2^nd Ide Nic Dhomhnaill (12.35), 4^th Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill (13.09), 19^th Janette Strickland F40 (15.00), 33^rd Caren Crowley F40 (15.46), 49^thCatherine McKeon F35 (17.06), 51^st Mary McDermott F45 (17.10),

Athletics Ireland Open Cross at Phoenix Park (18/10/15): 5km race: 32^nd / 10^thF35 Kim Hickey (20.18), 50^th / 12^th F40, Barbara Murray (21.14), 67^th / 19^th F40 Florence Curley (22.26), 74^th Karen Behan F35 (23.01); 77^th Julia Hackett F40 (23.05), 90^th / 1^st M70 Terry Mee (24.10), 94^th / 1^st M75 Jim McNamara (24.50)

M65 5km Race: 4^th Barry Potts M65 (21.18)

8Km race: 18^th / 3^rd M35 Michael McMahon (27.24), 36^th / 4^th M40 Niall Lynch (28.20), 45^th / 8^th M40 Ciaran McCarthy (28.50), 86^th Emmet O’Briain M35 (30.23)

Chicago Marathon (18/10/15): Alma Hanevy (3.26.49), Bernie Moloney (3.40.45) debut.

Amsterdam Marathon (18/10/15): 730^th Colin Morrissey (3.03.37 PB) 1,458^thAlasdair Brown (3.15.59 PB by 8 mins)

Lisbon Marathon (18/10/15): awaiting result

Other results:

Killarney 70km <hill, run, bike, kayak, hill, run> Adventure Race (3/10/15):2^nd Gavin Byrne (4.00.44)

Donadea 10km Pop-Up Trial Race (10/10/15): 3^rd Lee Van Haeften (32.44)

Griffeen 5km Parkrun (10/10/15): 1^st Declan Fahy M40 (17.19)

Griffeen 5km Parkrun (17/10/15): 1^st Daragh Fitzgibbon (16.59)

Juvenile Results

Dublin Juvenile Even Age Groups XC Championships at Phoenix Park (18/10/15): Girls u/10s 1,000m: – 20^th Honor Lynch, 60^th Sofia Moorhouse, 62^ndRoma Moorhouse, 63^rd Melanie Abbey: Boys u/10 1,000m: – 28^th Joe Kinsella, 34^th Conor Mulcahy: Boys u/12s 2,000m: – 23^rd Michael Barry, 25^th Sean Kinsella: Girls u/16s 4,000m: – 29^th Robynn Strickland, 30^th Kate Lynch: Boys u/16s 4,000m: – 1^st Louis O’Loughlin, 2^nd Fathi Aden, 3^rd Sekeriye Ahmed, 17^thJack Raftery, 31^st Ruairi Fitzgibbon, DNF injured Jack Connolly – TEAM: 1^stDonore Harriers (23), 2^nd Clonliffe Harriers (24)

Girls u/18s 4,000m: – 3^rd Lucy McCann, 6^th Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh: Boys u/18s 6,000m: – 17^th Michael Gibbs, 25^th Gabhan O’Tighearnaigh, 26^th Sean Creagh, 27^th Paul O’Neill, DNF injured Ibrahim Mohammed.    Waterstown 5km Parkrun (10/10/15): 5^th Noah Synnott u/13s (21.10), 14^th / 1^st woman Sky-Dixie Synnott u/11s (23.57 PB), 23^rd / 3^rd woman Brooke Fagan u/11s (25.40)   

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (17/10/15): 20^th / 2^nd woman Brooke Fagan u/11s (24.56 PB)

It was another highly successful weekend for Donore Harriers! With team victories in both the Galway Bay 10km and Half-Marathon races on Saturday there were bronze medals for both the women’s and men’s team at the Dublin Novice cross-country championships hosted by the club in the Phoenix Park on Sunday. To cap a great week-end for the club there were repeated victories for Fathi Aden, Sekeriye Ahmed and Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh in the second fixture of the Dublin Juvenile cross-country league.

In the Galway Bay 10km road race (3/10/15) there were 4 Donore athletes in the top 8 finishers. Ray Hynes (32.10) led the tour-de-force in 3^rd place. Just one place behind was Michael McMahon in a new personal best time of 32.15. Eric Keogh (32.31) struggled in the later stages of the race after an ambitious start before crossing the line in 7^th place. Aogan MacDomhnaill (32.51) showed a fine return to form when placing 8^th. The race was won by Irish international David McCarthy (31.15) of West Waterford AC.

John Travers led a strong Donore Harriers team home in the Galway Bay Half-Marathon (3/10/15). Travers (1.06.31) placed 2^nd in a new personal best time behind winner Roman Prodius (1.06.04) of Clonliffe Harriers. The Donore team was completed by Mark Dooley who placed 4^th in a new personal best time of 1.09.05 and masters athletes John Dunne (1.13.35) in 5^th and Dave Heffernan (1.14.55) in 7^th.

Donore Harriers won both the 10km and half-marathon team prizes with scores of 14 and 11 respectively.

In the Dublin Novice cross-country championships Karla Doran ran a superb race to place 3^rd in the women’s race held over 4 kilometres. The second-season club athlete was always in the mix as she contested for the lead until the closing stages. Thus, over the final kilometre Gemma Reddin (15.19) of Crusaders AC opened up a lead ahead of Orla Bollard (15.25) of Skerries, whilst Doran (15.30) consolidated 3^rd position with gutsy determination to hold off the challenge of Helen Brouder (15.33) of Sportsworld AC.  

Aisling Swaine (16.08) in 10^th, Emer Rattigan (16.27) in 15^th and Bronagh Elliott (17.02) in 30^th joined Doran on the team scoring sheet as Donore Harriers came 3^rdteam on 59 points behind Crusaders AC (42) and Rathfarnham AC (43).

The non-scoring athletes were Janette Strickland (18.05) in 55^th and Angela Eustace (18.10) in 58^th place.

The men’s team also took 3^rd team following a review of the results. The team was led home by Ciaran McCarthy (19.33) in 7^th place. The other team scorers after the 6km race were – Emmet O’Briain (20.05) in 16^th, Luke Boland (20.13) in 19^th and Patrick Byrne (20.29) in 28^th. The team prize went to DSD on 35 points ahead of Crusasers AC (37) and Donore Harriers (70).    

The non-scoring members of the Donore team were – 29^th Rossa Hurley (20.30), 39^th Paul Cummins (20.50), 49^th Des Tremble (21.06), 50^th Andrew Wilson debut (21.15), 57^th Alan Farrell (21.42), 64^th Shane Russell (21.58), 69^th Noel Conway (22.14), 86^th Gerard McDonald (23.20) and 91^st Des Gill (23.54).

In the 2^nd fixture of the Dublin Juvenile League also held in the Phoenix Park on Sunday there were repeated wins for Fathi Aden in the under 15 Boys, Sekeriye Ahmed in the under 16 Boys and Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh in the under 17 Girls.

The club’s main interest was in the Boys under 15 race held over 2,000 metres. Fathi Aden build a lead of 30 metres over his team-mate Louis O’Loughlin. However a late rally by the fast finishing O’Loughlin proved in vain as Aden held on to win by about 5 metres. Jack Raftery placed 5^th in the same race having contested 3^rd position early on, whilst Jack Connolly continues to improve and recorded his best result to date in 13^th spot.

Sekeriye Ahmed was the convincing winner of the Boys under 16s race held over 2,500m having held off the early challenge of Mark O’Connor of MSB.

Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh won the Girls under 17s race, also held over 2,500m, with her club colleague Suzanne Masterson and Ciara Murphy placing 2^nd and 4^th.

Michael Gibbs and debutant Ibrahim Mohammed placed 3^rd respectively in the Boys under 18s and Boys under 17s races over 4km.

There were top ten finishes for the following: – Brooke Fagan 10^th in the Girls under 11s; Michael Barry 10^th in the Boys under 12s; Noah Synnott 10^th in the Boys under 13s; Roisin Brady 8^th in the Girls under 15s; Robynn Strickland 9^th in the Girls under 16s and Daniel Brady 5^th in the Boys under 17s.

Special mention also to debutants Sofia Moorhouse (38^th in u/9s), Roma Moorhouse (36^th in u/10s) and Max Hendrickson (44^th in u/11s).        

Results in brief  

Galway Bay 10km road race (3/10/15): 3^rd Ray Hynes (32.10); 4^th Michael McMahon (32.15); 7^th Eric Keogh (32.31); 8^th Aogan MacDomhnaill (32.51)

TEAM: 1^st Donore Harriers 14

Galway Bay Half Marathon (3/10/15): 2^nd John Travers (1.06.31); 4^th Mark Dooley (1.09.05); 5^th John Dunne M35 (1.13.35); 7^th Dave Heffernan M35 (1.14.55)

TEAM: 1^st Donore Harriers 11

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (3/10/15): 2^nd Ian Redican M10 (19.49)

Simon Community 5 mile road race at Phoenix Park (3/10/15): 10^th Alasdair Brown (29.58 PB); 168^th Dana Mackey (42.03); 198^th Laoise Toland (49.58)

Dublin Novice XC Championships at Phoenix Park (4/10/15): WOMEN 4km: 3^rd Karla Doran (15.30), 10^th Aisling Swaine (16.06), 16^th Emer Rattigan (16.27), 30^th Bronagh Elliott (17.02), 55^th Janette Strickland (18.05), 58^th Angela Eustace (18.10),

TEAM: 1^st Crusaders AC 42, 2^nd Rathfarnham AC 43, 3^rd Donore Harriers <Doran, Swaine, Rattigan, Elliott> 59 – there were 10 closing teams

MEN 6km: 7^th Ciaran McCarthy (19.33), 16^th Emmet O’Briain (20.05), 19^th Luke Boland (20.13), 28^th Patrick Byrne (20.29), 29^th Rossa Hurley (20.30), 39^th Paul Cummins (20.50), 49^th Des Tremble (21.06), 50^th Andrew Wilson debut (21.15), 57^th Alan Farrell (21.42), 64^th Shane Russell (21.58), 69^th Noel Conway (22.14), 86^th Gerard McDonald (23.20), 91^st Des Gill (23.54)

TEAM: 1^st DSD 35, 2^nd Crusaders AC 37, 3^rd Donore Harriers <McCarthy, O’Briain, Boland, Byrne> 70 – there were 12 closing teams

Athlone Three-Quarter Marathon (31.65km/19.66M) (4/10/15): 139^th Marianne Dunlevy (2.30.40 / 1.41.12 @ HM); 189^th Sinead Graham (2.41.39 / 1.47.30 @ HM); 615^th Laura Murray (3.19.03 / 2.12.11 @ HM)

Parkwest 10km Night Run (29/9/15): 5^th woman Elaine Verdon (45.48), 6^thwoman Karen Behan (46.28)

Juvenile Results

Three Counties (Kildare, Carlow & Laois) Schools XC 29/9/15): Senior Boys 3km – 9^th Michael Gibbs; Intermediate Girls 0.9km – 7^th Ciara Murphy; Junior Girls 1.8km – 3^rd Lucy McCann

Dublin Juvenile XC League Fixture 2 at Phoenix Park (4/10/15): u/9 Girls 500m – 38^th Sofia Moorhouse (debut), 46^th Eleanor Hopkins; u/10 Girls 700m – 36^th Roma Moorhouse (debut); u/10 Boys 700m – 17^th Joe Kinsella, 29^th Conor Mulcahy, u/11 Girls 900m – 10^th Brooke Fagan, 14^th Grace Raftery, 17^th Sky-Dixie Synnott; u/11 Boys 900m – 20^th Oliver Hopkins, 44^th Max Hendrickson (debut); u/12 Boys 1,200m – 10^th Michael Barry; u/13 Boys 1,200m – 10^th Noah Synnott; u/15 Girls 2,000m – 8^th Roisin Brady; u/15 Boys 2,000m – 1^st Fathi Aden, 2^nd Louis O’Loughlin, 5^th Jack Raftery, 13^th Jack Connolly; u/16 Girls 2,500m – 9^th Robynn Strickland (debut); u/16 Boys 2,500m – 1^st Sekeriye Ahmed; u/17 Girls 2,500m – 1^st Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh, 2^nd Suzanne Masterson, 4^th Ciara Murphy; u/17 Boys 4,000m – 3^rd Ibrahim Mohammed (debut), 5^th Daniel Brady; u/18 Boys 4,000m – 3^rd Michael Gibbs

The first round of the Dublin Juvenile cross-country league took place at Ardgillan Park in north county Dublin on Sunday. The picturesque course having Ardgillan Castle on one side and the Irish Sea on the other proved a testing course for the young athletes. Donore Harriers had a team of 19 runners in the various age-category races, with Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh, Sekeriye Ahmed and Fathi Aden recording notable wins.

Fathi Aden stamped his class all over the under 15s race held over 1,500m and came home with a 100 metres to spare. Jack Raftery finished a very encouraging 5^th in the same race, whilst Jack Connolly placed 15^th.

Sekeriye Ahmed also give a front-running display and came home 60m ahead of his nearing opponent in the Boys under 16s race held over 2,000m. In the Girls under 17s race, also held over 2,000m, long-term member Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh ran strongly throughout to record her first ever win in a Dublin juvenile league race. Suzanne Masterson placed 4^th.

There were top 10 finishes for Honor Lynch (9^th in the under 9s); Brook Fagan and Grace Raftery (7^th and 9^th respectively in the under 11s); Sean Kinsella and fast-finishing Michael Barry (7^th and 9^th respectively in the under 12s); Noah Synott (9^th in under 13s) and Lorcan O’Ceallaigh (8^th in the under 14s).    

In the Dublin half-marathon in the Phoenix Park on Saturday morning Ken Nugent (1.11.08) give an outstanding performance to place 4^th overall and 3^rd in the senior men’s category. He was followed home by Andy Kinane (1.13.32) in 10^th place and the winner of the M35 class. Niall Lynch (1.14.39) came 13^th and 4^th in the M40 age group. Further down the field new member Neil Hand (1.25.31) gave indication of his potential, whilst Alasdair Brown (1.25.56) knocked two and a-half minutes of his previous best time. 17 years old Michael Gibbs (1.27.34) won the Junior category on his half-marathon debut. Terry Mee (1.41.22) won the M70 class.

The club’s women section were out in force with Alma Hanevy (1.40.12) leading the team home. Laura Murray (1.51.46) recorded a personal best.     

In the popular and competitive Charleville Half-Marathon Dave Heffernan (1.13.00) placed 11^th overall, whilst Kim Hickey (1.25.44) was 7^th in the women’s race with a new personal best time. Team captain Florence Curley (1.26.54) placed 2^nd in the F40 class and finished as 9^th woman overall.     

In the Laurels Crew 10km road race at Clondalkin Grace Kennedy (39.26) was 2^nd overall and was the first woman home.

Dublin Half-Marathon at Phoenix Park (19/9/15): 4^th / 3^rd SNR Ken Nugent (1.11.08); 10^th / 1^st M35 Andy Kinane (1.13.32); 13^th / 4^th M40 Niall Lynch (1.14.39); 21^st /5^th M40 Graham Hopkins (1.16.31); 40^th / 9^th M40 Shane McAuley (1.19.02); 97^th / 36^th SNR Shane Russell (1.22.07); 98^th / 27^th M35 George Brady (1.22.14); 211st Neil Hand (1.25.31); 227^th Alasdair Brown (1.25.56); 264^th Patrick Byrne (1.26.55); 287^th Alan Farrell M40 (1.27.20); 309^th/1^st JNR Michael Gibbs (1.27.34 debut); 993^rd / 25^th F35 Alma Hanevy (1.40.12); 1057^th Gerard Morris (1.41.13); 1050^th / 1^st M70 Terry Mee (1.41.22); 1251^st / 26^th F40 Nicola Dowdall (1.43.09); 1535^th Ariana Ball (1.46.47); 1814^th / 41^st F40 Mary Murphy (1.49.42); 1934^th Peter Bonnar M45 (1.50.58); 2207^th Elaine Verdon F35 (1.47.56); 2656^th Laura Murray (1.51.46 PB); 2696^th Mary Melvin (1.52.28); 3217^th Meadbh Campbell (1.56.39); 3516^th Deirdre Healy F40 (1.58.55); 3551^st Jo Hughes (1.59.11); 4165^th Sue Lynch (2.03.55); 4592^nd Liagh Miller F40 (2.04.10); 4526^th Dana Mackey (2.03.59)

The Laurels Charity Crew 10km (19/9/15): 2^nd / 1^st woman Grace Kennedy (39.26)

Histio Warrior 5km at Curragh Racecourse (20/9/15): 5^th Ian Redican M40 (20.01)  

Charleville Half-Marathon (20/9/15): 11^th Dave Heffernan (1.13.00); 100^th / 7^thwoman Kim Hickey (1.25.44 PB); 111^th / 9^th woman / 2^nd F40 Florence Curley (1.26.54) 

Liz McDonnell 5km XC at Castletown, Celbridge (20/9/15): 7^th / 1^st M40 Bob Blake <official results not yet available>

Dublin Juvenile Cross-Country League Fixture 1 at Ardgillan Park (20/9/15): u/9 Girls – 27^th Eleanor Hopkins; u/10 Girls – 9^th Honor Lynch; u/11 Girls 7^thBrooke Fagan, 9^th Grace Raftery, 15^th Sky-Dixie Synnott; u/15 Girls – 12^th Roisin Brady; u/17 Girls – 1^st Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh, 4^th Suzanne Masterson; u/9 Boys – 14^th Ciaran O’Farrell; u/10 Boys – 15^th Joe Kinsella; u/11 Boys – 14^th Oliver Hopkins; u/12 Boys – 7^th Sean Kinsella, 9^th Michael Barry; u/13 Boys – 9^th Noah Synnott; u/14 Boys – 8^th Lorcan O’Ceallaigh; u/15 Boys – 1^st Fathi Aden, 5^th Jack Raftery, 15^th Jack Connolly; u/16 Boys – 1^st Sekeriye Ahmed

Several Donore Harriers athletes were to the fore at different events in the past week. Perhaps most notable was John Dunne’s 2^nd place in the Athlone Flatline 10km road race where he finished just 3 seconds shy of the winner David O’Connor (32.42) of Celbridge AC.

Anne Curley (31.34) was the second woman home in the Lucan 5 miles road race. She placed 30^thoverall and also took 2^nd prize in the over 40s category. Karla Doran (19.13) was 14^th overall in theMaynooth 5km and placed 2^nd in the women’s race behind Rachael Smyth (18.13) of St. Coca’s AC. At the same venue Tom Fagan (19.27) was 16^th over the line and 1^st in the M45 class.

David Heffernan (15.59) continues his comeback after a long lay-off due to injury and placed 2^nd in theRatoath 5km road race behind Brian McCloskey (15.39) of the North East Runners. In the Wild Atlantic Half Marathon at Sligo on Saturday Hugh Brosnan (1.26.29) placed an excellent 3^rd.    

The club had 3 runners in the Business Houses OPW trail race at the Phoenix Park on Saturday. Barry Potts (21.41) and Terry Mee (24.08) won the M65 and M65 categories respectively, with Sarah Ni Ruairc (27.54) the 2^nd F35 athlete.

Juvenile member Ruairi Fitzgibbon competed in his first duathlon at Donadea on Saturday. A determined Ruairi completed a 3km run, 22km cycle and then another 3km run in 68 minutes and came 2^nd in the junior category.

Athlone Flatline 10km road race (12/9/15): 2^nd John Dunne (32.45)

Athlone Flatline Half-Marathon (12/9/15): 142^nd Ian Redican (1.32.41)

Wild Atlantic Run Half-Marathon at Sligo (12/9/15): 3^rd Hugh Brosnan (1.26.29)

Lucan 5 miles road race (12/9/15): 14^th George Brady (29.23); 30^th / 2^nd Woman & 2^nd F40 Anne Curley (31.34)

BHAA OPW Trail Race (12/9/15): 24^th / 1^st M65 Barry Potts (21.42); 45^th / 1^st M70 Terry Mee (24.08); 67^th / 2^nd F35 Sarah Ni Ruairc (27.54)

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (12/9/15): 5^th Michael Barry (20.52)

Ratoath 5km road race (13/9/15): 2^nd Dave Heffernan (15.59); 18^th Alasdair Brown (18.01); 91^st Ken McKeown (19.27)

Maynooth 5km road race (13/9/15): 14^th / 2^nd woman Karla Doran (19.27)13); 16^th / 1^st M45 Tom Fagan (19.27)

LATE RESULT: Donadea 5km series (20/8/15): 1^st Andrew Ledwith (17.09); 11^th / 6^th woman Michelle Childs (20.20)

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (12/9/15): 6^th Noah Synnott u/13s (21.26), 10^th Michael Barry u/12s (22.21)

Donadea Forest Duathlon 3k run, 22k cycle, 3k run (12/9/15): 2^nd Junior – Ruairi Fitzgibbon (1.08.00)