John Travers helped Ireland to gain 6^th position from 12 teams in theEuropean Team Athletics Championships (First League / 2^nd Tier)at Heraklion in Crete on Sunday (21/6/15). Competing in an eventful 3,000m Travers relied on his big finishing ‘kick’ to gain from 9^th to 3^rd position in the final 200 metres. The early stage of the race was slow and Travers settled into the main group in about 4^th or 5^thposition. When Heliu Gomes of Portugal took up the lead at the halfway mark he was closely followed by Travers. However, the front group of 9 runners remained closely bunched and a lack of concentration saw the Donore Harriers athlete slip back to 9^th position with only half a lap remaining. There was much for John to do to rally to Ireland’s cause and moving out to lane 3 coming into the home straight he charged towards the line gaining to 3^rd and added a valuable 10 points for the national team score. Halil Akkas of Turkey won in 8.12.00 with Dennis Licht (8.12.28) of Netherlands next, Travers (8.12.76) ran a season’s best for the distance with Heliu Gomes (8.12.88) of Portugal in 4^th place.

In the Michael Manning 10km road race at Dunshaughlin on Saturday (20/6/15) Chris Muldoon (34.04) led home a large contingent of Donore Harriers athletes when he crossed the finish line in 31^st place. A consistent Colm O’Connell (34.29) was next home in 35^th position, whilst Philip Hennessy (34.39) – showing a good return to form – came 38^th and took the runner-up prize in the M45 category. Further down the field two evergreen Donore athletes continue to hold back the years as Terry Mee (45.26) and Jim McNamara (47.02) came 3^rd and 4^th in the M60 class despite both men being in their 70s.

In the Dublin Open Graded Meeting at Santry on Wednesday (17/6/15) Lee Van Haeften took up the front running task in the Men’s 1,500 metres ‘A’ race after a slow opening lap. However, he was overtaken in the final stages of the race and had to settle for 4^thplace in a time of 4.04.14. In the 1,500m ‘B’ race junior athlete Stephen Gavin (4.14.43) lowered his personal best when placing 3^rd. The 5,000m race, which incorporated the Dublin championship, had 3 Donore Harriers athletes in a competitive field. Michael McMahon (15.32.68) came 8^th – with M35 athlete John Dunne (15.41.47) in 12^thand Aogan MacDomhnaill (15.49.99) in 14^th.

It was another busy week for the club’s juvenile section and not least u/17s Hammer thrower Lauren O’Keeffe. Chasing a qualifying mark for the European Youth Olympics Lauren took part in 3 events in the space of 5 days. Her best effort came in the Dublin Open Graded contest when she threw the 3kg Hammer a winning distance of 55.88m, an agonising 12cm short of the qualifying standard!  Another under 17s athlete Clodagh Read came 3^rd in the same contest with a best throw of 49.08m, whilst Orlaith Read (32.88m) came 1^st in the women’s over 40 category.

In the Tailteann Games at Santry on Friday (19/6/15) the under 17 Boys 100m Hurdles contest saw a one-two for Donore athletes as Jack Rudden-Kelly (13.85) edged out Alex Clarkin (14.00) in an enthralling contest. The season head-to-head between the two lads is now 2 to 2 with the National Juvenile competition up next.

There were two silver medals for Donore athletes in the Leinster Juvenile Track & Field championships at Tullamore at the weekend (20&21/6/15). In the under 17 Girls 200m final Aoife Lynch (26.14) smashed her previous personal best time, having qualified with time of 26.69. A competition fatigued Lauren O’Keeffe (49.08) had to settle for 2^nd place in the under 17 Girls Hammer with a best of 49.08m.

The final part of the Dublin Juvenile Track & Field championshipstook place at the Tallaght track on Friday evening (19/6/15) with the Even-Age group relays. Donore Harriers had 7 teams competing and finished with a return of two silver medals. The first came in the under 16 Girls 4 x 100m as Cara Brennan, Rebecca Power, Robyn O’Keeffe, Suzy O’Farrell recorded a time of 53.24. The other silver came in the under 18s Girls 4 x 100m with Ailbhe Healy, Roisin Rynn-Cahill (stepping-up), Lauren O’Flaherty (stepping-up) and Aoife Simm recording a time of 53.46. The club finished with a record total of 58 medals in the Dublin Juvenile championships.

Dublin Open Graded Track & Field Meeting at Santry (17/06/15):

Women’s 200m ‘A’ – 4^th Aoife Lynch JNR (26.52), 5^th Karen Hughes JNR (27.89): Men’s 200m ‘B’- 2^nd Conor Fox JNR (24.26), 4^th Adam Halpin JNR (24.77): Men’s 200m ‘C1’- 6^th Darren Hughes (26.13): Men’s 200m ‘C2’ – 3^rd Killian O’Hora (25.17), 4^th Sean O’Broin M45 (25.30): Men’s 1,500m ‘A’ – 4^th Lee Van Haeften (4.04.14): Men’s 1,500m ‘B1’ – Sam Allen (4.17.0): Men’s 1,500m ‘B2’ – 3^rdStephen Gavin JNR (4.14.43 PB): Men’s 5,000m ‘A’ inc. Dublin Championship – 8^th Michael McMahon (15.32.68), 12^th John Dunne M35 (15.41.47), 14^th Aogan MacDomhnaill (15.49.99): Men’s 5,000m ‘B’ – 3^rd Luke Boland (16.40.4), 6^th George Brady M35 (17.27.89): Women’s Hammer – 1^st Lauren O’Keeffe JNR (55.88m 3kg), 3^rd Clodagh Read JNR (49.08m 3kg), 8^th / 1^st F40 category Orlaith Read (32.88m 4kg).

IMRA Leinster League at Djouce Woods 9.80km with climb of 580 metres (17/06/15): 140^th Sarah Ni Ruairc (1.47.21)  

Docklands 5km (18/06/15): 34^th / 5^th M40 Shane McAuley (17.41 PB). 92^nd / 1^st F40 Florence Curley (19.14), 101^st Alma Hanevy (19.22), 332^nd Colin Moore M45 (22.13)

Shannon Runway 5km Run (19/06/15): 2^nd woman Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill (18.15), ?? Ide Nic Dhomhnaill (18.45)

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (20/06/15): 3^rd Gavin Byrne (17.31), 10^thMichael Barry Snr (21.33)

Poppintree 5km Parkrun (20/06.15): 1^st Graham Hopkins M35 (17.10)

Michael Manning 10km at Dunshaughlin (20/06/15): 31^st / 5^th in M40 Chris Muldoon (34.04), 35^th Colm O’Connell (34.29), 38^th / 2^ndin M45 Phil Hennessy (34.39), 64^th Will Morris (35.55), 73^rd Paul Cummins (36.19), 85^th George Brady (36.39), 132^nd Bernard Byrne (38.16), 135^th / 31^st in M40 Fred Kiernan  (38.22), 152^nd Colin Morrissey (38.47), 178^th Niall O’Reilly (39.35), 201^st Rossa Hurley (39.54). 236^th / 6^th in M55 Tony Griffin (41.14), 259^th Emer Rattigan (42.03), 287^th Rhona Duane (42.50), 309^th Grainne Nolan (43.41), 368^th / 3^rd in M60 Terry Mee (45.26), 423^rd / 4^th in M60 Jim McNamara (47.02), 431^st Bernie Maloney (47.13), 466^th / 34^th in M45 (47.46), 501^st / 26^th in F40 Mary Murphy (48.21), 634^th Eilish Joyce (52.42)

Castleknock 5km (21/06/15): 99^th Colin Moore M45 (22.42), 301^stHilary O’Connor F35 (27.50), 414^th Declan Raftery M40 (30.41)

With only the even age-groups relays remaining the Donore Harriers juvenile team can boast a record tally of 56 medals in the Dublin Juvenile Track and Field championships held over 4 days recently at both the Santry and Tallaght tracks.  The medals haul includes 20 gold, 22 silver and 14 bronze.

The most encouraging aspect of the team’s overall performance is the emergence of several very talented athletes that bodes well for the club’s future progress and success.

The new middle-distance star Louis O’Loughlin made his club debut and recorded a fine double in the under 15 Boys 800m and 1,500m. The All-Ireland schools 800m silver medallist was made to work hard in the latter race by his club-mate Fathi Aden. Aden, the Irish under 14 cross country champion from 2014, was also competing in his first track championship for the club. At the mid-way point Aden picked up the pace and opened up a lead of more than 10 metres by the bell. O’Loughlin (4.26.07) gradually gained ground on his training partner and then used his superior speed to kick home in the final 150 metres with Aden (4.28.37) a clear runner-up. O’Loughlin, thus, achieved a fine double having earlier won the 800m in personal best of 2.05.3.

Other first-season athletes to win gold medals included Peace Onakoya (8.40m) and Kerri Noonan (23.64m) in the under 13 Girls Shot Putt and Hammer; Rian Carey (9.45m) in the under 13 Boys Shot Putt; Ciara Simm (6.82m) and Beth Kirwan (27.97m) in the under 15 Girls Shot Putt and Hammer; Adam Maher (38.78m) in the under 16 Boys Hammer; Suzanne Masterson (5.35.47) in the under 17 Girls 2,000m Steeplechase; David Keenan (5.57m) in the under 18 Boys Long Jump; and Leanne Brosnan (4.05m) in the under 18s Girls Long Jump. Brosnan (9.71m) also got a silver medal in the Triple Jump.

Newcomer Aoife Simm, another of coach Gerry Ronan’s field event protégées, won 3 medals in the ‘field’ events. Simm (30.63m) placed 2^nd behind her club colleague Clodagh Read (40.26m) in the under 18 Girls Hammer – and she took a silver medal in the Javelin (23.16m) and a bronze in the Pole Vault with a best of 2.30m.

With many of the established juvenile members unable to compete due to exams, injury, etc it was left to the competing regulars to impress. Cara Brennan (21.86m), Eleanor Ronan (25.79m) and Rebecca Power (29.93m) showed Donore dominance in the throwing events by respectively winning the under 16 Girls Discus, Hammer and Javelin. Kolade Abiodun took 4 individual medals, winning the 100m Hurdles in 15.26s and placing as runner-up in the 100m (11.9), 200m (24.77) and High Jump (1.70m). Aoife Lynch narrowly missed a double in the under 17 Girls category when winning the 100m in 13.0s and placing second in the 200m in 26.93s. Oran O’Brien also had a one, two! He won the under 18 Boys Shot Putt (12.06m), but had to settle for second spot in the Discus (35.69m). The improving Sean Young also had a good championship. The Drimnagh Castle student won 2 silvers in the Shot Putt (9.87m) and Hammer (22.97m) and a bronze in the Discus (25.51m).

One of the club’s most dedicated athletes Conor Fox also obtained a gold and silver set. He won the under 19 Boys 100m in 11.5s and was second in the 200m in a time of 25.72s.

Lauren O’Keeffe (54.49m) was a clear winner in the under 17 Girls Hammer. She was hoping to reach the European Youth Olympic standard of 56 metres, but narrowly failed! However, she competed as a guest in last Saturday’s Munster Juvenile championships at Waterford RSC and threw beyond the mark with a best effort of 56.40m. The qualifying rules state that O’Keeffe must throw the distance for a second time, but Lauren is upbeat about the prospect: “I’m constantly over the 50 metres mark, so it will come soon”. We are all rooting for you Lauren!

Lorcan O’Ceallaigh (2.22.75) may not have medalled in his first competitive outing in the Donore colours, but his excellent performance when placing 4^th in the under 14 Boys 800 metres final suggests that he is one to watch in the future.

Elsewhere, in the 5 kilometres Parkrun series two other young athletes impressed. Making steady progress under the coaching tutelage of Oana Onofrei under 14s athlete Michael Barry (21.10) placed 6^th overall in the Waterstown race, whilst Noah Synnott (u/15s) came 31^st overall at St. Anne’s Park in a time of 21.07. Both were competing over the distance for the first time.

In the La Cheile / Irish Milers Club International track meeting at Leixlip on Saturday (13/6/15) several Donore Harriers athletes competed at various grades. In the 1,500m ‘A’ race John Travers (3.41.43) placed second with two British runners occupying the other top 3 places as Tom Lancashire (3.40.04) won and Richard Weir (3.42.96) came 3^rd.

Junior star athlete Sean Lawlor (10.99) came 3^rd in a very competitive 100 metres behind Kieran Elliot (10.92) of North Sligo and Eanna Madden (10.97) of Carrick on Shannon AC. Another junior to fare well was Stephen Gavin (4.16.33) who lowered his personal best when placing 10^th in the 1,500m ‘C’ race.

Juvenile Results

Dublin Juvenile Track & Field Championships Days 1 -4 at Santry & Tallaght (June 2015): Medal winners and selected other results:-

Medal Tally to Date = 20 Gold, 22 Silver & 14 Bronze (total of 56)

u/10 Boys: 500m H1 – 6^th Joe Kinsella (1.47.27)

u/11 Girls: 600m H1 – 4^th Brooke Fagan (2.06.73) 600m H2 – 2^nd Grace Raftery (2.08.95)

u/12 Boys: 600m – 5^th Sean Kinsella (1.51.0); 9^th Michael Barry (1.58.26): Shot Putt – 4^th Sean Kinsella (5.78m); High Jump – 3^rd Sean Kinsella (1.20m)

u/13 Girls: Shot Putt – 1^st Peace Onakoya (8.40m); Hammer – 1^st Kerri Noonan (23.63m)

u/13 Boys: Shot Putt – 1^st Rian Carey (9.45m): 600m H1 – 4^th Noah Synnott (2.00.32)

u/14 Boys: 800m – 4^th Lorcan O’Ceallaigh (2.22.75) debut, 15^th Alan Reid (2.54.72 PB)

u/15 Girls: Hammer – 1^st Beth Kirwan (27.97m); 2^nd Aisling Read (26.18m); 3^rd Ciara Simm (23.71m): Shot Putt – 1^st Ciara Simm (6.82m), 7^th Aisling Read (5.68m)

u/15 Boys: 800m – 1^st Louis O’Loughlin (2.05.3 PB club debut); 4^th Fathi Aden (2.10.9 PB); 10^th Jack Raftery (2.26.6 – ran 2.23.66 in semi-final): 1500m – 1st Louis O’Loughlin (4.26.07 PB), 2nd Fathi Aden (4.28.37 PB), 10th Jack Raftery (5.01.44): 4 x 100m – 4th Donore H <Jack Raftery, Fathi Aden, Lorcan O’Ceallaigh, Louis O’Loughlin> (52.42)

u/16 Girls: 100m – 3^rd Suzi O’Farrell (13.0); 200m – 3^rd Robyn O’Keeffe (29.1); 4^th Suzi O’Farrell (29.7): Discus – 1^st Cara Brennan (21.86m); 2^nd Robyn O’Keeffe (18.83m); 4^th Martina Hughes (13.37m): Shot Putt – 4^th Martina Hughes (7.10m): Javelin – 1^st Rebecca Power (29.93m); 4^th Martina Hughes (12.78m): Hammer – 1^st Eleanor Ronan (25.79m)

u/16 Boys: 100m – 2^nd Kolade Abiodun (11.9); 200m – 2^nd Kolade Abiodun (24.77); 100mH – 1^st Kolade Abiodun (15.26): 800m Final – 11^th Sekeriye Ahmed (2.27.72): 1500m – 7th Sekeriye Ahmed (4.40.75): 3,000m – 2^ndSekeriye Ahmed (9.51.7 PB): Discus – 4^th Kolade Abiodun (26.63m): High Jump – 2^nd Kolade Abiodun (1.70m): Javelin – 2^nd Max Carey (27.97m): Hammer – 1^st Adam Maher (38.78m)

u/17 Girls: 100m – 1^st Aoife Lynch (13.0); 200m – 2^nd Aoife Lynch (26.93): 300mH – 2^nd Roisin Rynn-Cahill (49.5): 800m – 2^nd Lucy McCann (2.34.78); 7^th Eliza NiThighearnaigh (2.42.99); 8^th Ciara Murphy (2.44.80): 1500m – 3rd Eliza NiThighearnaigh (5.19.27), 4th Lucy McCann (5.19.94), 5th Ciara Murphy (5.23.30 PB), 7th Suzanne Masterson (5.35.47): 2,000m Steeplechase – 1^st Suzanne Masterson (8.35.65): Hammer – 1^st Lauren O’Keeffe (54.49m): 4 x 100m – 2nd Donore H <Katie Coombes, Robyn, Cara Brennan, Suzi O’Farrell> (52.2), 3rd Donore H <Lauren O’Flaherty, Eve O’Reilly, Roisin Rynn-Cahill, Rebecca ?> (52.9): 4 x 400m – 3rd Donore H <Lucy McCann 70.54, Eliza NiThighearnaigh 69.14, Ciara Murphy 74.35, Suzanne Masterson 72.82> (4.46.85)

u/18 Girls: 200m – 3^rd Karen Hughes (28.63): 100mH – 2^nd Lauren Kennedy (17.90); 3^rd Ailbhe Healy (19.90): 800m – 3^rd Claire O’Connor (2.40.03): Long Jump – 1^st Leanne Brosnan (4.05m); 2^nd Clodagh Read (3.73m): Triple Jump – 2^nd Leanne Brosnan (9.71m); 3^rd Karen Hughes (8.73m); Pole Vault – 2^nd Ailbhe Healy (2.30m); 3^rd Aoife Simm (2.30m); Javelin – 2^nd Aoife Simm (23.16m); Hammer – 1^st Clodagh Read (40.26m); 2^nd Aoife Simm (30.63m)

u/18 Boys: 800m – 9^th Michael Gibbs (2.14.45 PB), 10^th Nahom Alem (2.24.11 PB): 1500m – 7th Michael Gibbs (4.21.8 PB), 10th Nahom Alem (4.47.1 PB): Long Jump – 1^st David Keenan (5.57m): Discus – 2^nd Oran O’Brien (35.69m); 3^rd Sean Young (25.51m): Shot Putt – 1^st Oran O’Brien (12.06m); 2^nd Sean Young (9.87m): Hammer – 2^nd Sean Young (22.97m)

u/19 Girls: 4 x 100m – 4th Donore H <Lauren Kennedy, Karen Hughes, Claire O’Connor, Ailise Keating> (NTA)

u/19 Boys: 100m – 1^st Conor Fox (11.5): 200m – 2^nd Conor Fox (25.32): 800m – 3^rd Stephen Gavin (2.05.43)

Other Juvenile Results

Munster Juvenile T&F Championships at Waterford RSC (13/6/15): u/17 Girls – 1^st Lauren O’Keeffe (56.40m – European Olympic Standard) competed as guest

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (13/6/15): 6^th Michael Barry u/12 (21.10 first 5k), 36^th Robert Lynch u/12 (27.04), 53^rdMatthew Lynch u/15 (29.39)

St. Anne’s 5km Parkrun (13/6/15): 31^st Noah Synnott u/13s (21.07 first 5k)

Senior Results

IMRA Leinster League at Tibradden 11.23km with climb of 365m (27/5/15): 94^th Peter Bonnar M40 (1.04.23), 174^th Sarah Ni Ruairc (1.29.56)

IMRA Leinster League at Sorrell Hill 9.45km with climb of 392m (10/6/15): 146^th Sarah Ni Ruairc (1.16.23)

La Cheile International / IMC Meet at Leixlip (13/6/15): 1500m ‘A’ – 2^nd John Travers (3.41.43): 1500m ‘C’ – 10^th Stephen Gavin JNR (4.16.33), 11^th Sam Allen (4.16.98): 3000m ‘B’ – 8^th Luke Boland (9.26.24): 100m ‘A’ – 3^rd Sean Lawlor JNR (10.99): 200m ‘C’ – 2^nd Adam Halpin JNR (24.50): 800m ‘C’ – 8^th Daragh Fitzgibbon (1.58.03): 800m ‘F’ – 3^rd David Campbell (2.01.66 PB)

Portumna Forest, Co. Galway 50km (13/6/15): 35^th / 5^th woman Claire Morrissey (4.40.27)

Run with Sonia Euromedic 5km at Dun Laoghaire (13/6/15): 60^th Paul O’Neill u/18s (20.32), 134^th / 29^th woman Elaine Verdon (23.02), 137^th / 30^th woman Laura Murray (23.06)

Griffeen 5km Parkrun (13/6/15): 3^rd Colin Morrissey M40 (18.21 PB)

Two personal bests, a gold and a silver medal and attaining the qualifying standards for the forthcoming European Junior Track and Field Championships to be held at Eskilstuna, Sweden in July marked a great day for Donore Harriers athlete and Kylemore College student Sean Lawlor at the National Schools Track & Field Championshipsat Tullamore on Saturday (30/5/15).

Lawlor (10.69) had to settle for second place in the Senior Boys 100m behind Zak Irwin (10.60) of Sligo Grammar. However, he turned the tables in a thrilling 200m race with a super 21.51 run edging out Irwin who timed at 21.60.

With the minor age grade being incorporated into the national championship programme for the first time the Donore Harriers attention focused on Louis O’Loughlin in the 800m. The Moyle Park student played a major part in what turned out to be a tactical and intriguing race. Several athletes vied for the lead until Ciaran McManus of St. Aidan’s CBS (2.06.52) made a big move with 250m remaining. He opened a gap of 15 metres that looked unassailable. However, a sprint finish down the home straight by O’Loughlin (2.06.56) saw the two athletes cross the line in a photo finish. The timing system showed that McManus just held out to win by just 4-hundreds of a second. A national silver in his first track season shows that Louis O’Loughlin has a very bright future in athletics!

In the Intermediate Boys 100m Hurdles there was something of an upset when Alex Clarkin edged out his school and club-mate Jack Rudden-Kelly for the bronze medal. The Castleknock Community School duo enjoy a friendly rivalry and Clarkin (13.85) reversed the order from their 1^st and 2^nd place result in the Leinster Schools Championships by  placing 3^rd behind winner Daniel Ryan (13.07) of Thurles CBS with Rudden-Kelly (14.00) having to settle for 4^thplace.

Early in the day Lauren O’Keeffe (Loreta Balbriggan) threw inside the championship best mark with a 52.08m throw in the Girls Intermediate hammer. However, she had to settle for a silver medal behind Michaela Walsh from Swinford.

Eoin Molloy, representing Belvedere College, threw a best of 48.79m in the Senior Boys hammer and missed the bronze medal by just 20 centimetres. Oran O’Brien (Belvedere College) placed 5^th in the Intermediate Boys Discus with a best throw of 38.39m. Ailbhe Healy (Castleknock CC) and Lucy Hurley (Maynooth PP) came 6^th in their respective Pole Vault and High Jump events, whilst newcomer Leanne Brosnan (Mount Sackville) and club juvenile captain Karen Hughes (Donabate CC) placed 9^th and 10^th in the Senior Girls triple jump.

In the Leinster Senior & Masters Track & Field championships held at Tullamore on Sunday (31/5/15) there were outstanding performances from Donore Harriers masters athletes. Anne Gormley won the Masters 3,000m Walk with a time of 19.44.20 and Orlaith Read, competing in her first championship event, took the gold medal in the F45 Hammer with a best throw of 30.60m. Terry Mee (78.51 & 6.22.61) won double gold in the M70 category 400m and 1,500m – and Sean O’Broin (12.57 & 25.45) won two silver medals in the M45 100m and 200m sprints. Niall Allen won 3 gold medals in the M40 category. He recorded best throws of 30.70m in the Discus, 10.96m in the Shot Putt and 6.49m in the 56lb Hammer. In the M70 class Tony Jenkins won gold with a throw of 23.25m in the Javelin and silver with an 8.04m effort in the Shot Putt. Cathal O’Brien (1.85m) took bronze in the Senior Men’s High Jump.

The VHI Women’s Mini Marathon (1/6/15) proved to be a damp affair with strong winds and rain making for testing conditions. Anne Curley (39.13) suffered a stitch at the 6km mark, but recovered well to place in 18^th position overall. Karla Doran (41.19) hung on well to finish 34^th after making a big effort in the early part of the race. Joan McTernan and Laura Murray can be well pleased with their times of 45.51 and 48.58 – the latter breaking the 50 minutes barrier for the first time.

Niall Lynch was Donore Harriers lone runner in the Cork City Marathon (1/6/15) finishing 20^th overall and 4^th in the M40 category with a time of 2 hours 48 minutes and 42 seconds.

At the British Milers Club track meet at Manchester on Saturday evening (30/5/15) Eric Keogh (3.48.83) ran a very encouraging personal best time when placing 10^th in the ‘B’ 1,500m. Lee Van Haeften (14.44.14) was just 3 seconds short of his best time when placing 8^th in the ‘C’ 5,000m. The BMC track races are very competitive attracting many of the best athletes from all parts of the British Isles and have become a standard for developing athletes to gain invaluable experience.

In the Dublin Juvenile Team Championships for u/9s – u/11s(30/5/15) at Santry on Saturday Ciaran O’Farrell and Conon Mackey won the club’s only gold medal when they out-jumped the opposition with a combined jump of 5.10m in the Boys u/9s class. Silver medals were won by Ava Hoare and Melanie Abbey (combined 15.37m) in the Girls u/10s Javelin and by Brooke Fagan and Grace Raftery (combined 4.13.54) in the Girls u/11s 600m.      Eleanor Hopkins & Olwyn Fitzgerald (12.72m) came 3^rd in the Girls u/9s Javelin.

Finally, special mention to u/17s athlete Matthew Lynch (26.27) who got a huge personal best in the Waterstown 5km Parkrun at Palmerstown on Saturday morning (30/5/15). Another u/17s athlete Ciara Murphy (21.03) finished 4^th overall in the race and was the first female home for the second week in a row.

Results in brief:

BHAA Government Services 5 mile road race at Dunboyne (26/5/15): 9^th Chris Muldoon M35 (26.42); 14^th Philip Hennessy M45 (26.56); 25^th Sean Fox M40 (27.43); 53^rd Fred Kiernan M40 (29.29); 77^th Alan Farrell M40 (30.20); 80^th Patrick Byrne (30.26); 108^thDeclan Fahy (32.01); 120^th Alma Hanevy F35 (32.14); 212nd Terry Mee  M70 (35.39)

Star of the Sea 5km road race at Stamullen (26/5/15): 3^rd Andrew Ledwith (16.49)

Women’s Meet & Train League (27/5/15): results not to hand

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (30/5/15): 3^rd Colin Morrissey M35 (20.07); 5^th David Wogan M50 (21.42); 36^th / 5^th female Janette Strickland F40 (27.35)

Naas 5km Parkrun (30/5/15): 9^th Ian Redican M40 (20.11)

British Milers Club Track Meeting at Sports City Track in Manchester (30/5/15): 1,500m ‘B’ – 10^th Eric Keogh (3.48.83 PB); 5,000m ‘C’ Lee Van Haeften (14.44.14)

Leinster U/23, Senior & Masters T&F Championships at Tullamore (31/5/15): Master Women 3,000 Walk – 1^st Anne Gormley F50 (19.44.20); Master Men 100m – 2^nd M45 Sean O’Broin (12.57); Master Men 200m – 2^nd M45 Sean O’Broin (25.45); Master Men 100m – 2^nd M70 Tony Jenkins (20.73); Master Men 400m – 1^stM70 Terry Mee (78.51); Master Men 1,500m – 1^st M70 Terry Mee (6.22.61); Master Women Javelin – 1^st F45 Orlaith Read (30.06m); Master Women Discus – 4^th F45 Orlaith Read (17.21m); Master Women Shot Putt – 3^rd F45 Orlaith Read (7.39m); Master Men Discus – 1^st M40 Niall Allen (30.70m); Master Men Shot Putt – 1^stM40 Niall Allen (10.96m); Master Men Weight for Distance – 1^stM40 Niall Allen (6.49m); Master Men Javelin – 1^st M70 Tony Jenkins (23.25m); Master Men Shot Putt – 2^nd M70 Tony Jenkins (8.04m); Senior Men High Jump – 3^rd Cathal O’Brien (1.85m)

NOTE: other results not to hand

VHI Women’s Mini-Marathon at Dublin (1/6/15): provisional results – 18^th Anne Curley F40 (39.13); 34^th Karla Doran (41.19); 103^rd Joan McTernan F50 (45.51); also Laura Murray (48.58)

Cork City Marathon (1/6/15): 20^th / 4^th M40 Niall Lynch (2.48.42)

UPDATED RESULTS:

National Track & Field League Men’s Premier Division (Round 1) at Belfast (24/5/15):

TEAM: 1^st Clonliffe Harriers 123; 2^nd Donore Harriers 102; 3^rdDSD AC 100; 4^th Raheny Shamrocks 91; 4^th Crusaders 90; 6^th North Down AC 89; 7^th Tallaght AC 76

100m – 1^st Eamon Fahey (11.04); 200m – 1^st Eamon Fahey (21.93); 110mH – 1^st Simon Taggart (15.01); 400m – 6^th David Campbell (52.63); 400mH – 3^rd Simon Taggart (59.46); 800m – 6^th Daragh Fitzgibbon (1.59.96); 1,500m – 6^th Sam Allen (4.22.98); 5,000m – 2^ndMichael McMahon (15.20.65 PB); High Jump – 4^th Cathal O’Brien (1.80m); Long Jump –  Zak Higgins JNR (4.93m); Triple Jump – 5^thZak Higgins (10.07m); Javelin – 1^st Jaco Oosthuysen (53.56m); Shot Putt – 2^nd Niall Allen (10.77m); Discus – 3^rd Niall Allen (30.17m); 56lb Hammer – 1^st Jaco Oosthuysen (4.56m); 4 x 100m 5^th Donore Harriers (45.04); 4 x 400m 5^th Donore Harriers (3.34.74)

National Track & Field League Women’s First Division (Round 1) at Belfast (24/5/15):

TEAM: 1^st Finn Valley AC 108; 2^nd = Co. Antrim 100; 2^nd = Lagan Valley 100; 4^th Donore Harriers 99; 5^th Sli Cualann 97

100m – 4^th Ailise Keating JNR (13.03); 200m – 2^nd Aoife Lynch JNR (26.29); 100mH – 3^rd Lauren Kennedy JNR (17.73); 400m – 3^rdClaire O’Connor JNR (1.07.85); 400mH – 3^rd Roisin Rynn-Cahill JNR (1.14.81); 800m – 2^nd Maura Kearns (2.23.61); 1,500m – 5^thRhona Duane (5.33.02); 5,000m – 1^st Florence Curley (11.15.18); 1,500m Walk – 1^st Ann Gormley (9.30.27); Long Jump – 5^th Karen Hughes JNR (4.52m); High Jump – 5^th Roisin Rynn-Cahill JNR (1.30m); Triple Jump – 2^nd Linda Ngankam (10.67m); Pole Vault – 2^nd Ailbhe Healy JNR (2.60m); Javelin – 5^th Lauren O’Keeffe JNR (18.05m); Hammer – 4^th Clodagh Read JNR (35.57); Shot Putt – 5^thOrlaith Read (7.52m); Discus – 3^rd Clodagh Read (20.93); 4 x 100m – 1^st Donore Harriers <Ngankam, Lynch, Hughes, Keating> (50.65); 4 x 400m – 5^th Donore Harriers <O’Connor; Duane; Caoimhe Mackey; Kearns> (4.46.65)

Juvenile Results:

Dublin Juvenile Track & Field League Round 4 (final) at Santry (23/5/15): Leading results: – u/10 Boys 60m – 5^th Joe Kinsella; u/10 Boys 300m – 3^rd Joe Kinsella: u/12 Boys 500m – 3^rd Sean Kinsella; u/12 Boys Long Jump – 4^th Sean Kinsella: u/13 Girls Shot Putt – 1^stPeace Onakoia: u/15 Girls 80mH – 2^nd Angie Gonia; u/15 Girls High Jump – 6^th Angie Gonia: u/16 Girls 80mH – 3^rd Ciara O’Donnell, 4^thLucy Hurley, 6^th Cara Brennan; u/16 Girls 100m – 2^nd Suzi O’Farrell, 4^th Cara Brennan, 5^th Robyn O’Keeffe; u/16 Girls High Jump – 2^ndLucy Hurley, 4^th Cara Brennan; u/16 Girls Javelin – 1^st Cara Brennan, 4^th Robyn O’Keeffe: u/16 Boys 100mH – 1^st Max Carey, 2^nd Kolade Abiodun: u/16 Boys 100m – 2^nd Kolade Abiodun; u/16 Boys High Jump – 1^st Kolade Abiodun, 3^rd Max Carey; u/16 Boys Javelin – 1^stMax Carey, 5^th Kolade Abiodun

Final League position and medal winners: – u/10 Boys – 3^rd Joe Kinsella; u/11 Boys – 5^th Oliver Hopkins; u/12 Boys – 4^th Sean Kinsella; u/16 Girls – 2^nd Cara Brennan, 3^rd Robyn O’Keeffe; u/16 Boys – 1^st Kolade Abiodun, 5^th Max Carey

All Ireland Schools T&F Championships at Tullamore (30/5/15):Gold = Senior Boys 200m – Sean Lawlor (21.54 PB): Silver = Inter Girls Hammer – Lauren O’Keeffe (52.08m): Minor Boys 800m – Louis O’Loughlin (2.06.56): Senior Boys 100m – Sean Lawlor (10.69 PB):Bronze = Inter Boys 100m Hurdles – Alex Clarkin (13.85): Also: – Inter Boys 100m Hurdles – 4th Jack Rudden-Kelly (14.00); Senior Boys Hammer – 4th Eoin Molloy (48.79m); Inter Girls Pole Vault – 6th eq. Ailbhe Healy (2.40m); Inter Boys Discus – 5th Oran O’Brien (38.39m); Senior Girls Triple Jump – 9th Leanne Brosnan (9.44m), 10th Karen Hughes (8.91m); Junior Girls High Jump – 6th Lucy Hurley (1.45m).

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (30/5/15): 4^th / 1^st female Ciara Murphy u/17s (21.03); 29^th Matthew Lynch u/17s (26.27 PB); 47^th Kate Lynch u/15s (30.48); 49^th Elena Gaina u/15s (31.10); 57^th Robyn Strickland u/15s (32.24); 64^th Shannon Verdon-Byrne u/15s (35.01)

Dublin Juvenile T&F Team (u/9-11s) Championships at Santry (30/5/15): leading results = Boys u/9s Long Jump – 1^st Ciaran O’Farrell & Conan Mackey (5.10m); Girls u/9s Javelin – 3^rd Eleanor Hopkins & Olwyn Fitzgerald (12.72m); Girls u/10s Javelin – 2^nd Ava Hoare & Melanie Abbey (15.37m); Girls u/11s 600m – 2^nd Brooke Fagan & Grace Raftery (4.13.54)

Newly promoted Donore Harriers (men’s team) got their National Premier Track & Field League campaign off to a great start when the first round was contested at the Mary Peters Track in Belfast on Sunday (24/5/15). A point tally of 102 earned second place, just one point short of leaders Clonliffe Harriers and 12 ahead of Crusaders. It was an excellent result considering that many of the club’s key athletes were unavailable.

The Donore cause was helped with a splendid double win by Eamon Fahey in the 100m and 200m. Simon Taggart, back after a year out from the sport, was a convincing winner in the 110m Hurdles and then got a 3^rd position in the 400m Hurdles. Jaco Oosthuysen also had a double with wins in the Javelin and the 56lb Hammer. Others to shine included Niall Allen who placed 2^nd in the Shot Putt and 3^rd in the Discus – and Michael McMahon (15.19), lowering his personal best time for the second time within a week when placing 2^nd in the 5,000m.

In the League’s first division the women’s team came a close 4^th in what proved a very tight contest with just 5 points separating the 4 four places. One very encouraging factor is that the team was bolstered significantly by number of up and coming junior athletes. Club stalwarts Anne Gormley and Florence Curley gained wins in the 1,500m Walk and the 3,000m – with a fast finishing Maura Kearns getting up for runner-up place in the 800m. The maximum 9 points was achieved by a young 4 x 100m team comprising track and field captain Lynda Ngankam and junior athletes Aoife Lynch, Karen Hughes and Ailise Keating. Lynda Ngankam jumped to second position in the Triple jump and Aoife Lynch picked up a valuable 7 points with 2nd in the 200m. Castleknock CC student Ailbhe Healy only missed out on victory in the pole vault on count-back. Other junior athletes Lauren Kennedy in the 100m Hurdles, Roisin Rynn-Cahill in the 400m Hurdles, Claire O’Connor in the 400m and Clodagh Read in the Discus all placed in 3^rd position.

Special mention must go to Orlaith Read, Clodagh’s mother, who gained 4 points having recently took up the Shot Putt event – and to newcomer 16 years-old Caoimhe Mackey who can be well pleased with her contribution in the 4 x 400m relay.

Florence Curley, the women’s club captain, said: “This is the first time that we fielded competitors in all the events and we amassed our highest ever points tally. If we replicate this in round 2 we can make the final” She thanked Men’s manager Maurice Ahern and Men’s team captain David Campbell for their support – as well as women’s coach Jim McNamara and Juvenile Team Manager Leonie Newman for their help in putting together such a young team with enormous potential.

Donore Harriers were just one point off completing a team double at the Bob Heffernan Memorial 5km Road Race (19/5/15) at Johnstownbridge, near Enfield recently. The men’s team secured victory by placing 3 athletes in the top 17, whilst the women’s team lost out by just one point to Portlaoise despite placing 3 in the top 14 finishers.

Aogan MacDomhnaill (15.52) displayed a good return to form when placing 10^th overall. Gavin Keogh (15.58), dipping under 16 minutes for the first time, was just two places behind, whilst Chris Muldoon (16.11) closed the scoring team in 17th spot. The team tally of 39 points gave a comfortable win ahead of Celbridge AC (53) and Portlaoise AC (58). The women’s team had sisters Sorcha (18.37) and Ide NicDhomhnaill (18.52) place 8^th and 11^th – with the ever improving Breda Mahony (19.06) closing the women’s team score in 14^th place. The Donore team finished on 33 points – just one behind Portlaoise AC with Dunboyne AC 3^rd on 58.

Niall Lynch placed 2^nd for the fourth consecutive race in the 5^th stage of the Irish Mountain Running Association Leinster League (20/5/15) held at Glasmullan in County Wicklow. Running over an 8.4km route along an anti-clockwise lap of Djouce with a total climb of  440 metres Lynch (46.58) could not match the front running of mountain specialist and Irish international Mark Ryan (44.23) of Rathfarnham AC. Lynch (15) remains second overall in the league just one point behind leader Bernard Fortune (14) of Sliabh Bhuidhe Rovers.

The first running of the Basil Clifford Memorial Mile was included in the programme of the 3^rd Dublin Open Graded meeting at Santry (20/5/15). The trophy was launched by Donore Harriers as a tribute to one of the club’s former greats! Somewhat fittingly the race was won by John Coghlan – a member of the neighbouring Metro St. Bridget club and the son of former Donore member and the 1973 World 5,000m champion Eamonn Coghlan. Coghlan cut loose from the field at the start and quickly opened a sizeable gap passing the first lap in 61 seconds. He continued to widen the gap, reaching the halfway mark in 2.03, before crossing the line in a respectable 4.10.66. The most exciting part of the race was the tussle for the minor placings in the final 100 metres. Cathal Doyle of Clonliffe Harriers (4.28.19) winning out for the runner-up spot ahead of CJ Isayas (4.29.06) of AIT and Richard Lombard (4.29.25) of DCH. 13 athletes competed.

At the same meet Michael McMahon lowered his 5km track time to 15.43 when finished 4^th in the Men’s ‘A’ race. Maura Kearns (5.24.29) placed 4^th in the women’s mile as u/17s athlete Caoimhe Mackey made her club debut with a respectable 6.11.55 and 9^th place. Luke Boland (4.44.66) claimed a personal best when finishing 6^th in the Men’s ‘B’ mile.

In the National Combined Events Championships at Templemore (23&24/5/15) Rolus Olusa won the gold medal in the Junior Men’s decathlon when he amassed a tally of 5130 points. His best marks came in his favoured 110m Hurdles and the 100m sprint.

Basil Clifford was a stalwart of Donore Harriers back in the late 50s and early 60s. A native of Inchicore (born 1939) he first came to prominence in the Irish Youths mile of 1957. He worked at the bakery of his coach Tony Farrell in Blackrock and part of his training involved running up the steps of the shop with bags of flour on his back.

Clifford (3.59.8) was Ireland’s second sub-4 minute miler, a feat he achieved when finishing 3^rd in the Emsley Carr Mile at the White City in London on the 3^rd August 1964. He only accepted the invitation after his Donore clubmate Tom O’Riordan pulled out with injury. John Whetton of England won as expected in 3.58.95, with the relatively unknown Clifford being the ‘surprise packet’ in 3^rd position.

Basil Clifford won several national titles in the vest of Donore Harriers in the period 1959 to 1965 and was a member of the Irish team that set a 4 x 880 yards European record (7.21.8) in 1961. The other members of that team were: – Derek McCleane, Ronnie Delaney and Noel Carroll – all legends of Irish athletics!

He represented Ireland in the 1964 Olympic Games placing 8^th in the first round of the 1,500m in a time of 3.54.9.

Later, Basil worked in a gun factory in Birmingham, where a tragic explosion in 1973 ended his life. He was only 34 years old!  

Sean Lawlor ran a storming 3^rd leg for the Ireland Junior team in the 4 x 100m relay at the IMAF International meeting at Oordengem-Lede in Belgium (24/5/15). The young Irish quartet had to be fast and slick in their baton changing to keep at bay a very good Dutch team. Eoin Doherty and Dean Power played their part in keeping the Irish on level terms with the Netherlands on the first two legs, before Donore star Sean Lawlor hit the burners and handed over to Joseph Ojewumi with a marginal lead. Ireland’s final runner did enough to bring the team home in first place. The team time of 41.40 was just 6 hundreds of a second faster than the Dutch, but narrowly failed to meet the 41.20 qualifying time for the European Junior championships. Belgium came 3^rd in 42.14. A link to the race is found here –https://youtu.be/8QHCUcf1Up0

Eric Keogh (3.51.08) came 4^th in a ‘congested’ 1,500m race at the same venue.

Juvenile Report

Fathi Aden u/15s (16.44) and Sekeriye Ahmed u/16s (16.48) were both inside the old course record when they placed 1^st and 2^nd in the Waterstown 5km Parkrun (23/5/15). It was a great demonstration of front running as Fathi was not allowed to relax due to the hot pursuit of his club colleague. Their club-mate Conor Ray u/16s (19.00) had a very steady run to finish in 3^rd place, whilst Ciara Murphy u/17s (20.27) was 5^th overall and the first female to reach the finish line.

Results in brief:

Bob Heffernan 5km Road Race at Johnstownbridge (19/5/15): 10^th Aogan MacDomhnaill (15.52); 12^th Gavin Keogh (15.58 PB); 17^th Chris Muldoon (16.11); 35^th / 2^nd M45 Ken Norgrove (16.41); 36^th Andrew Ledwith (16.44); 39^th Rossa Hurley (16.45) club debut; 51^st Eoin Hannon (17.14); 114^th Niall O’Reilly (18.27); 120^th / 21^stM40 Alan Farrell (38.36); 121^st / 8^th woman Sorcha NicDhomhnaill (18.37); 131^st / 11^th woman Ide NicDhomhnaill (18.52); 143^rd / 14^th woman Breda Mahony (19.06); 146^th / 16^th woman Michelle Childs (19.08); 147^th Kieran Beausang (19.09) club debut; 156^th Joe Murphy (19.13); 181^st / 26^th woman Rhona Duane; 197^th / 32^nd woman Sinead Graham

TEAM: Men = 1^st Donore Harriers <MacDomhnaill, G. Keogh, Muldoon> 39; 2^nd Celbridge AC 53; 3^rd Portlaoise AC 58

Women = 1^st Portlaoise 32; 2^nd Donore Harriers <S. NicDhomhnaill, I. NicDhomhnaill, Mahony> 33; 3^rd Dunboyne AC 58

IMRA Leinster League Round 5 (8.4km) at Glasnamullen (20/5/15): 2^nd Niall Lynch M40 (46.58)

Dublin Open Graded T&F Meeting (No. 3) at Santry (20/5/15): Women’s Mile: – 4^th Maura Kearns (5.24.29); 9^th Caoimhe Mackey u/17s (6.11.55) club debut; Men’s Mile ‘B’: – 6^th Luke Boland (4.44.66 PB): Men’s Mile ‘D’: – 6^th Des Gill M45 (5.55.07); 7^th Jim McNamara M75 (6.37.95): Men’s 5000m: – 4^th Michael McMahon (15.43.12 PB); 9^th Sean Fox M40 (16.50.51)

Basil Clifford Mile ‘A’ race inaugural trophy donated by Donore Harriers: – 1^st John Coghlan MSB (4.10.66); 2^nd Cathal Doyle Clonliffe Harriers (4.28.19); 3^rd CJ Isayas AIT (4.29.06); 4^th Richard Lombard DCH (4.29.25) 13 athletes competed

BHAA ESB Beach Race at Sandymount Strand (20/5/15): 14^th Fred Kiernan M40 (18.30); 43^rd / 2^nd female Alma Hanevy (20.23); 166^th / 1^st F75 Ann Woodlock (29.29)

National Combined Event Championships at Templemore (23&24/5/15): Junior Men Decathlon – 1^st Rolus Olusa 5130 points: 100m 11.99 = 653; LJ 5.74m = 531; SP 10.2m = 497; HJ 1.73m = 569; 400m 56.23 = 550; 110mH 15.7 = 766; DT 30.43m = 473; PV 2.90m = 333; JT 29.76 = 296; 1500m 5.17.67 = 467

The Elms 10km Road Race at Punchestown (23/5/15): 7^th Tony Griffin (42.36)

Griffeen 5km Parkrun (23/5/15): 42^nd / 1^st female Nicola Dowdall F40 (22.00)

IMAF T&F Meet at Oordengem-Lede in Belgium (24/5/15): Junior 4 x 100m – 1^st Ireland <Sean Lawlor on leg 3> (41.40); 2^nd Netherlands (41.46); 3^rd Belgium (42.14)

1,500m ‘D’ – 4^th Eric Keogh (3.51.08)

Coca Cola Foroige 5km at Blanchardstown (24/5/15): 22^nd / 4^th female Grainne Nolan (22.05)

National Track & Field League Men’s Premier Division (Round 1) at Belfast (24/5/15):

TEAM: 1^st Clonliffe Harriers 103; 2^nd Donore Harriers 102; 3^rd Crusaders 90; 4^th North Down AC 89; 5^th Raheny Shamrocks 88; 6^th DSD AC 80; 7^th Tallaght Ac 86

Leading performances: – 100m – 1^st Eamon Fahey; 200m – 1^st Eamon Fahey; 110mH – 1^st Simon Taggart; 400mH – 3^rd Simon Taggart; 1.500m – 4^th Sam Allen; 5,000m – 2^nd Michael McMahon (15.19 PB); Javelin – 1^st Jaco Oosthuysen; 56lb Hammer – 1^st Jaco Oosthuysen; Shot Putt – 2^nd Niall Allen; Discus – 3^rd Niall Allen; High Jump – 4^th – Cathal O’Brien

National Track & Field League Women’s First Division (Round 1) at Belfast (24/5/15):

TEAM: 1^st Finn Valley AC 104; 2^nd = Co. Antrim 100; 2^nd = Lagan Valley 100; 4^th Donore Harriers 99; 5^th Sli Cualann 97

Leading performances: –  1,500m Walk – 1^st Ann Gormley; 200m – 2^nd Aoife Lynch JNR; 400m – 3^rd Claire O’Connor JNR; 800m – 2^nd Maura Kearns; 1,500m – 5^th Rhona Duane; 5,000m – 1^st Florence Curley; 100mH – 3^rdLauren Kennedy JNR; 400mH – 3^rd Roisin Rynn-Cahill JNR; Long Jump – 5^th Karen Hughes JNR; High Jump – 5^thRoisin Rynn-Cahill JNR; Triple Jump – 2^nd Linda Ngankam; Pole Vault – 2^nd Ailbhe Healy JNR; Javelin – 5^th Lauren O’Keeffe JNR; Hammer – 5^th Clodagh Read JNR; Shot Putt – 5^th Orlaith Read; Discus – 3^rd Clodagh Read; 4 x 100m – 1^st Donore Harriers <Ngankam, Lynch, Hughes, Keating>; 4 x 400m – 6^th Donore Harriers <O’Connor; Duane; Caoimhe Mackey; Kearns>

Juvenile Results:

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (23/5/15): 1^st Fathi Aden u/15s (16.44) new course record; 2^nd Sekeriye Ahmed u/16s (16.48) also inside old course record; 3^rd Conor Ray u/16s (19.00) debut over distance; 5^th / 1^st female Ciara Murphy u/17s (20.27); 40^th /14^th female Shona Smyth u/16s (29.19)

Five gold medals were won by Donore Harriers athletes on the first day of the Leinster Schools Track & Field championships at Santry  with a notable double for the very talented Louis O’Loughlin of Moyle Park College in the Minor Boys category.

O’Loughlin (2.06.5) was always near the front of the field in the 800m. His superior speed over the final 150 metres allowed him to stay clear of pre-race favourite Ben Jones of Pres. Bray. Louis (3.18.7) made it a track double later in the day when he won out in a close encounter in the 1,100m.

Another emerging athlete to shine on the day was Lucy Hurley (1.55m) of Maynooth PP, who beat her previous best mark by 5 centimetres to win the Junior Girls high jump.

Jack Rudden-Kelly and Alex Clarkin made the Inter Boys 100m Hurdles the most exciting race of the day. Rudden-Kelly (14.11) dipped on the line to edge out a victory from his fast finishing Castleknock Community College and Donore teammate Clarkin (14.16).

Louis McDonagh (Castleknock CC) won the Minor Boys javelin by three metres with a best of 34.05m.

A magnificent double by sprint star Sean Lawlor and a championship record for Lauren O’Keeffe were the highlights for the Donore Harriers representation at the second day of the Leinster Schools Track & Field championships at Santry on Saturday. Lawlor (10.89), competing in the Senior Boys category and running in the vest of Kylemore College, ran close to his personal best when winning the 100m. He would later run out a clear winner in the 200m with a time of 22.01.

Lauren O’Keeffe (52.94m) smashed the championship record when winning the Inter Girls Hammer. The Loreta Balbriggan student, who is coached by Gerry Ronan, had to be at her best as the first five all beat the previous championship mark – including her Donore Harriers team-mate Clodagh Read (43.65m) who placed 5^th in the colours of Donabate CC.

Belvedere College student Eoin Molloy brought the Donore Harriers tally to 9-gold in the championship when he won the Senior Boys Hammer with a best throw of 47.27m. Silver medals were won by Juvenile Captain Karen Hughes (9.89m) in the Inter Girls Triple Jump and Oran O’Brien (42.05m) in the Inter Boys Discus. Karen was running for Donabate CC and Oran for Belvedere College. Ailbhe Healy (2.50m) and Rolus Olusu (3.00m) both won bronze in their respective Pole Vault competitions. Ailbhe (Castleknock CC) competed in the Inter Girls and Rolus (Kings Hosp) in the Senior Boys.

There were also some promising performances in the middle distance and distance events. Sam Gallagher (16.08) of CBS Lucan again broke his PB when placing 6^th in the Senior Boys 5,000m; Ciara Murphy (11.32.3) and Suzanne Masterson (11.41.5) both lowered their PBs when placing 4^th and 5^th in the Intermediate Girls 3,000m – and Conor Ray (9.54.1) showed his athletic potential when recording a new best time placing 6^th in the Inter Boys 3000m.
In the recent second round of the Dublin Juvenile Track & Field league at Tallaght (9/5/15) the affable Kolade Abiodun had a fine ‘double’ with victory in the Boys u/16s 200m and the Shot Putt. Kolade is the clear leader in his age group after 2 rounds, whilst an improving Robyn O’Keeffe lies 2^nd overall in the Girls u/16s class following her 2nd place in the 200m and 3^rd in the Shot Putt. The club’s other winner on the day was Brooke Fagan in the Girls u/11s Javelin.

Robyn O’Keeffe continued her recent good form by winning the under 16 Girls Discus and placing 3^rd in both the 400m and the High Jump in the third round of the Dublin Juvenile Track & Field League also at Tallaght (16/5/15). Her team made Cara Brennan placed 2^nd in both the High Jump and Discus in the same age category. Robyn and Cara occupy 2^nd and 3^rd overall positions with one match remaining.

In the Waterstown 5km Parkrun on Saturday morning (16/5/15) there were a host of personal bests from the Fit-4-Youth development squad coached by Janette Strickland. The most notable was achieved by Kate Lynch (26.50) who took 6 minutes of her previous best time when placing as 7^th female finisher. Ben Halpin, Robyn Strickland and Shannon Verdon-Byrne all lowered their previous best marks, whilst Elena Gaina, Justin Maher and Teigan Doran all completed the distance for the first time.

 Senior Report

In the Terenure 5 miles road race (17/5/15) collective running brought team victory for the women’s master team. Florence Curley (31.29), the team captain, won the over 40s category and led the team to glory. Alma Hanevy (33.03), runner-up in the F35 class, Caren Grady (37.45) and Mary Murphy (38.31) who placed 12^th in their respective F35 and F45 categories were the other team scorers.

Over in London on Saturday evening the Night of the 10,000m PBs event hosted by Highgate Harriers on the Parliament Hill track the Donore Harriers and Ireland star runner John Travers (29.04.66) ran a personal best when placing 4^th in a highly competitive ‘A’ race. Indeed the race incorporated the British 10km track Championships and was won by British international Jonny Mellor (28.46.8) of Liverpool Harriers.

In the Athletics Ireland Open Games at Santry (17/5/15) a returning Simon Taggart (15.03) won the ‘A’ 110m Hurdles race, whilst Jaco Oosthuysen (57.11m) came second in the Javelin. In the Senior Women’s Hammer juvenile athlete Lauren O’Keeffe (51.31m) placed 2^nd behind Michaela Walsh of Swinford AC. These two athletes are destined to bring Irish Hammer throwing into a new golden era!

The 124^th annual Clonliffe Harriers 2 Miles road race (14/5/15) saw good results for Donore athletes with sisters Ide (11.37) & Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill (11.39) finishing as 3^rd and 4^th in the women’s class, whilst Terry Mee (14.04) and Jim McNamara (14.09) won the M70 and M75 age groups.

Niall Lynch continues to press for the overall lead in the Irish Mountain Running Association Leinster League. Lynch (34.02) placed second in the fourth round race at Carrick Mountain (13/5/15) and remains in second overall position. The race was held over a distance of 6km and had a total climb of 427 metres.

Results in brief:

IMRA Leinster League Round 4 (6km) at Carrick Mountain (13/5/15): 2^nd Niall Lynch M40 (34.02): 170^thSarah Ni Ruairc (1.14.58)

124^th Clonliffe Harriers 2 Mile at Santry (14/5/15): 19^th Andrew Ledwith (10.37); 39^th / 3^rd woman Ide Nic Dhomhnaill (11.37); 40^th / 4^th woman Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill (11.39); 47^th / 6^th woman Maura Kearns (11.57); 48^th/ 7^th woman Michelle Childs (12.00); 96^th / 1^st M70 Terry Mee (14.04); 99^th / 1^st M75 Jim McNamara (14.09)

Night of the 10,000m PBs hosted by Highgate Harriers in London (16/5/15): 10,000m A race – 4^th John Travers (29.04.66 PB)

Griffeen 5km Parkrun (16/5/15): 34^th Peter Bonnar M45 (22.30)

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (16/5/15): 26^th / 6^th female Janette Strickland F40 (26.49)

Calcutta 5km at Phoenix Park (16/5/15): 18^th / 3^rd woman Julia Hackett (22.23)

Terenure 5 mile (16/5/15): 45^th Paul Cummins (29.30); 104^th / 1^st F40 Florence Curley (31.29); 153^rd / 2^nd F35 Alma Hanevy (33.03); 166^th / 9^th Snr Emer Rattigan (33.34); 280^th / 1^st M65 Terry Mee (36.09); 361^st / 12^th F35 Caren Grady (37.45); 383^rd / 12^th F40 Mary Murphy (38.31); 455^th / 18^th F35 Catherine McKeon (40.02)

TEAM: Women’s Masters team: 1^st Donore Harriers <Curley, Hanevy, Grady, Murphy>

Blackwater 10km at Monaghan (17/5/15): 39^th / 5^th woman Barbara Murray (41.44)

Maynooth 10km (17/5/15): 98^th Joan McTernan (48.25); 210^th Liz McCurtain (50.47); 211^th David Hudson (50.48); 347^th Sue Lynch (58.03)

AAI Open Games at Santry (17/5/15): Men’s High Jump – 4^th Cathal O’Brien (1.80m): Men’s Javelin – 2^nd Jaco Oosthuysen (57.11m): Women’s 4kg Hammer – 2^nd Lauren O’Keeffe JNR (51.31m): Men’s 110mH – 1^st Simon Taggart (15.03): Women’s 100m – 5^th Ailise Keating JNR (13.98): Men’s 400m – 4^th Eamon Fahey (49.14 PB)

Juvenile Results in brief:

Leinster Schools Track & Field Championships Day 1 at Santry (13/5/15):

Gold = Minor Boys 800m – 1^st Louis O’Loughlin (2.06.5 PB): 1,100m 1^st Louis O’Loughlin (3.18.73); Inter Boys 100mH – 1^st Jack Rudden-Kelly (14.11); Minor Boys Javelin – Louis McDonagh (34.05m); Junior Girls High Jump – 1^st Lucy Hurley (1.55 PB): Silver = Inter Boys 100mH – 2^nd Alex Clarkin (14.16): Bronze = Junior Boys 80mH – 3^rd Max Carey (12.06); Junior Girls Pole Vault – Lara O’Byrne: u/16 Girls 4 x 300m Relay – Eve Reilly (Castleknock CC)

Also: Senior Boys 110mH – 4^th Rolus Olusu (15.61); Senior Girls 100mH – DNF injured Lauren Kennedy; Inter Girls 80mH – 6^th Ailbhe Healy (14.05); Junior Girls 75mH – 7^th Ciara O’Donnell (13.5); Inter Girls 1500m Steeplechase – 6^th Suzanne Masterson (5.59.3); u/16 Girls 200m – 8^th Eve Reilly (NT); Junior Girls 4 x 100m Relay – 6^th Maynooth PP inc Ciara O’Donnell, Angie Gonia & Lucy Hurley (55.61); Junior Girls Hammer – 4^th Eleanor Ronan (23.28)

Leinster Schools Track & Field Championships Day 2 at Santry (16/5/15):

Gold = Senior Boys – 100m 1^st Sean Lawlor (10.89); 200m 1^st Sean Lawlor (22.01): Inter Girls Hammer – 1^stLauren O’Keeffe (52.94m championship record); Senior Boys Hammer – 1^st Eoin Molloy (47.27m): Silver = Inter Girls Triple Jump – 2^nd Karen Hughes (9.89m): Inter Boys Discus – 2^nd Oran O’Brien (42.05m) Bronze = Inter Girls Pole Vault – 3^rd Ailbhe Healy (2.50m); Senior Boys Pole Vault – 3^rd Rolus Olusu (3.00m)
Also: Inter Girls 100m – 5^th Suzi O’Farrell (13.21), 6^th Aoife Lynch (13.26): Inter Boys 100m – 6th Kolade Abiodun (11.70): Senior Girls 100m – 4^th Ailise Keating (13.10): Inter Girls 800m – 8^th Claire O’Connor (2.42.8); Inter Girls 3,000m – 4^th Ciara Murphy (11.32.3 PB), 5^th Suzanne Masterson (11.41.5 PB): Inter Boys 3,000m – 6^th Conor Ray (9.54.1 PB): Inter Girls 200m – 5^th Aoife Lynch (27.54) 7^th Lauren O’Flaherty (NT): Senior Girls 200m – 6^th Karen Hughes (28.21); Senior Girls 1500m – 9^th Julia Kazmierczak (5.39.2): Inter Boys Hammer – 4^th Ian Darroch (41.87m): Inter Boys Javelin – 4^th Alex Clarkin (42.89m): Inter Girls Javelin – 4^th Rebecca Power (27.67m): Inter Girls Hammer – 5^th Clodagh Read (43.65): Inter Girls Shot Putt – 6^th Lauren O’Keeffe (8.84m): Inter Boys Discus – Sean Young (NR)
Senior Boys 5,000m – 6^th Sam Gallagher (16.08.0 PB): Inter Inter Girls 4 x 100m relay – 5^th Castleknock CC inc Ailbhe Healy & Eve Reilly: Senior Girls 4 x 100m relay – 6^th St. Joseph’s Lucan inc. Roisin Rynn-Cahill
Waterstown 5km Parkrun (16/5/15): 26^th / 7^th female Kate Lynch u/15s (26.50 PB); 42^nd Ben Halpin u/17s (29.20 PB); 44^th / 15^th female Elena Gaina u/17s (29.26 debut); 51^st / 18^th female Robyn Strickland u/15s (32.18 PB); 56^th / 22^nd female Shannon Verdon-Byrne u/15s (33.00 PB); 71^st Justin Maher u/15s (37.17 debut); 85^th / 40^th female Teigan Doran u/15s (47.26 debut)

Dublin Juvenile T&F League Round 2 at Tallaght (9/5/15): Leading results: Girls u/11s Javelin – 1^st Brooke Fagan; 200m – 6^th Brooke Fagan: Boys u/11s Javelin – 3^rd Oliver Hopkins: Boys u/12s 200m – 5^th Sean Kinsella; Long Jump – 5^th Sean Kinsella; Girls u/13s High Jump – 3^rd Robyn Sweeney; Girls u/16s 200m – 2^nd Robyn O’Keeffe, 3^rd Cara Brennan: Shot Putt – 3^rd Robyn O’Keeffe, 5^th Cara Brennan: Boys u/16s 200m – 1^st Kolade Abiodun; Shot Putt – 1^st Kolade Abiodun, 4^th Max Carey

Dublin Juvenile T&F League Round 3 at Tallaght (16/5/15): leading results: – u/10 Boys 500m – 5^th Joe Kinsella: Long Jump – Joe Kinsella 6^th: u/11 Girls 600m – 5^th Grace Raftery: u/11 Boys 600m – 5^th Conor Mahony; Javelin – 4^th Oliver Hopkins: u/12 Boys 600m – 2^nd Sean Kinsella, 4^th Michael Barry: Girls u/16s 400m – 3^rd Robyn O’Keeffe; High Jump – 2^nd Cara Brennan, 3^rd Robyn O’Keeffe; Discus – 1^st Robyn O’Keeffe, 2^nd Cara Brennan

Donore Harriers women’s captain Florence Curley proved to be the popular winner of the Tallaght 5km road race (3/5/15) F40 category. On a dull, overcast morning Florence (19.35) showed a fine return to form after her mid-winter injury problems and was the 12^th woman to complete the course. Strong running by her club colleagues ensured bronze medals in the incorporated Dublin Novice road running championships. Michelle Childs (19.26) came 10^th in the women’s overall category, with an improving Aisling Swaine (20.20) in 21^st, Sinead Graham (20.50) in 29^th, Marianne Dunlevy (21.41) in 43^rd, Eva Campion F35 (22.22) in 53^rd; and Mary Murphy F40 (22.58) in 53^rd. The evergreen Terry Mee (22.25) was winner of the Men’s over 65 category.

The club’s women section also had good results in the Leixlip 5km road race (2/5/15) on Saturday. Four of the first seven women home were in the black and white of Donore Harriers. Ide Nic Domhnaill (18.39) was 24^th overall in the race and the second woman across the finish line. Her sister Sorcha was just one place and 4 seconds further back, whilst Maura Kearns (19.45) placed 4^th and Rhona Duane (20.39) came 7^th.

John Travers was the comfortable winner in the One Mile race, which was part of the Ballymote Team Challenge(2/5/15) event. Travers (4.04) had 5 seconds to spare over runner-up Richard Mooney (4.09) with Danny Mooney (4.10) another second back.

There were excellent performances from Niall Lynch (42.39) and Graham Hopkins (42.46) who placed 2^nd and 4^threspectively in the Irish Mountain Running Association series at Howth Head (29/4/15).

In the opening round of the Meet & Train Summer Road series at Griffeen Park (29/4/15) the Donore Harriers team was led home by Grainne Nolan (21.13) in 8^th place. Seven other Donore Harriers ladies competed in the 5km race including Julia Hackett (21.54) in 14^th place and Lee Chambers (22.11) in 24^th.

In the first Irish Milers Club track meet of the season at Greystones Eric Keogh (1.56.25) came 3^rd in the 800m ‘B’ race. It was an encouraging track season opener for Keogh, who was just one second outside his best ever time. The race was hampered by windswept rain conditions and mid-race bumping and barging further upset the ‘flow’ of the race. John Fitzsimons (1.55.34) of Kildare AC was the winner.

George Brady recorded a time of 3.05.18 when placing 76^th in the Belfast Marathon on the May bank holiday Monday.

In the East Leinster Schools Track & Field Championships at Santry (29&30/4/15) Suzanne Masterson (Loreta Stephen’s Green) took silver in the Intermediate 1500m Steeplechase and bronze in the 3000m.

Results in brief:

Irish Mountain Runners race series at Howth Head (29/4/15): 2^nd Niall Lynch (42.39); 4^th Graham Hopkins (42.46); 137^th Sarah Ni Ruairc (74.06)

Meet & Train Summer Road League Series Race 1 (5km) at Griffeen Park (29/4/15): 6^th Grainne Nolan (21.13); 14^th Julia Hackett (21.54); 24^th Lee Chambers (22.11); 37^th Angela O’Dea (23.00); 44^th Laura Moynihan (23.24); 62^nd Lauren Brady (24.24); 64^th Aisling Hannon (24.30); 110^th Sue Lynch (28.08)

Irish Milers Club Track & Field Meeting 1 at Greystones (2/5/15): 800m B – 3^rd Eric Keogh (1.56.25)

Leixlip 5km Road Race (2/5/15): 24^th / 2^nd woman Ide Nic Domhnaill (18.39); 25^th / 3^rd woman Sorcha Nic Domhnaill (18.43); 38^th / 4^th woman Maura Kearney (19.45); 49^th / 7^th woman Rhona Duane (20.39)

Hartstown 5km Parkrun (2/5/15): 2^nd Sean Fox M40 (17.45)

Ballymote Team Challenge 1 mile road race (2/5/15): 1^st John Travers (4.04)

Tallaght 5km Road Race (3/5/15): 16^th Luke Boland (16.53); 17^th Andrew Ledwith (16.58); 81^st / 10^th woman Michelle Childs (19.26); 86^th / 12^th woman / 1^st F40 Florence Curley (19.35); 103^rd / 21^st woman Aisling Swaine (20.20); 123^rd / 29^th woman Sinead Graham (20.50); 150^th / 43^rd woman Marianne Dunlevy (21.41); 165^th / 53^rdwoman Eva Campion F35 (22.22); 166^th / 1^st M65 Terry Mee (22.25); 180^th / 60^th woman Mary Murphy F40 (22.58)

TEAM: Dublin Novice Road Championship – 3^rd Donore Harriers

Boyne 10km at Drogheda (3/5/15): 269^th / 30^th woman Sian O’Connor (47.38); 515^th Eilish Joyce (52.35)

Great Limerick Half-Marathon (3/5/15): 392^nd / 43^rd woman Ariana Ball (1.42.22)

Northwest 10km at Letterkenny (3/5/15): 618^th Hilary O’Connor (55.58)

Wings for Life World Run at Dublin (3/5/15): Kevin English 45.5km completed

Belfast Marathon (4/5/15): 76^th George Brady M35 (3.05.18)

LATE RESULT: Samsung Night Run at Custom House Quay (26/4/15): 162^nd Sean Smith (40.57); 387^th Colm Nugent (45.00); 1046^th Elaine Verdon (48.52); 1834^th Laura Murray (50.19)

Wexford 10km (26/4/15): 2^nd Gavin Keogh (34.18); 16^th Bernard Byrne (39.53)

Juvenile Results:

East Leinster Schools Track & Field Championships at Santry (29&30/4/15): Intermediate 1500m Steeplechase – 2^nd Suzanne Masterson: Intermediate 1500m – 7^th Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh; Intermediate 3000m – 3^rd Suzanne Masterson; 5^th Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh

Dublin Juvenile Track & Field League at Santry (2/5/15): results to follow

 Michael McMahon’s win the Dublin 10,000m championship and Anne Curley breaking the 3 hours marathon barrier for the 11^th consecutive time were the notable highlights for the Donore Harriers club in the past week.

McMahon (32.18.38) was the clear winner of the Dublin 10km track championship, which was incorporated into the first Dublin Open Graded meeting (22/4/15 at Santry) of the season. He finished more than a minute and-a-half in front of his nearest challenger Brian Furey (34.00.21) of Rathfarnham AC and gave further notice of his rising profile in Irish distance running. The redoubtable Anne Curley, running in her 11^th marathon, kept her 100% sub-3 record with a super time of 2.58.59 in the London Marathon. She passed the halfway mark in 1.28 and maintained a good pace over the latter stages to cross the line 12^th overall in the F40 category.

In the RTE Business Houses AA (BHAA) 5 miles road race on Saturday morning Ken Norgrove (27.35) placed 6^thoverall, whilst Florence Curley (32.17) and a returning Niamh Donnelly (formerly Murphy) (36.02) placed 1^st and 3^rd in the F40 category.

The BHAA presented Donore Harriers stalwart Ann Woodlock with their Athlete of the Year award for 2015 at a special post-race presentation in the RTE Sports club. The BHAA described Ann as: “… a great ambassador for our sport and an inspiration to all up and coming athletes in Ireland”. A tribute was also paid to 76 years-old Ann by her Donore Harriers ladies captain Florence Curley who praised her achievements over a 34 year national and international running career which most recently saw her become double European Masters indoors champion. Her gritty determination as a competitor, dedication to training and inspirational status in women’s masters running in Ireland was also lauded. Ann was then presented with a Waterford Crystal trophy by Terry Clarke of BHAA and the RTE athletics club. With members of her family present, Ann thanked the association for the award and for their support in continually acknowledging her age category. Congratulations Ann, a richly deserved award.

It was a busy week for the club’s juvenile members with the beginning of the schools track and field competitions. In theWest Leinster Schools Track & Field championships at Santry the outstanding performances came from: – Aoife Lynch (Luttrelstown CC) who recorded a fine double in winning the Intermediate 100m and 200m; Ailbhe Healy (Castleknock CC) who won both the Intermediate High Hurdles and Pole Vault; Lauren Kennedy (St. Joseph’s Lucan) had victories in both the Senior High Hurdles and 400m Hurdles; Max Carey (Lucan CC) who won double gold in the Junior Hurdles and Long Jump; and Louis O’Loughlin (Moyle Park) who was a clear winner in both the Minor 800m and 1100m. The other star performances came from Sam Gallagher (Lucan CBS) who took 30 seconds off his previous best time to win the 5,000m in 16.20.7; Roisin Rynn-Cahill (St. Joseph’s Lucan) who won the Intermediate 300m and took silver in the Long Jump; Sean Lawlor (Kylemore) who was narrowly edged out on the line in the 100m, but stormed to success in his favoured 200m; and Oran O’Brien (Belvedere) who won gold in the Intermediate Discus and silver in the Shot Putt. Ciara O’Donnell and Lucy Hurley (both Maynooth PP) are certainly emerging athletes as they recorded fine wins in the Junior Hurdles and Junior High Jump respectively. Lucy also took bronze in the Junior 200m and then anchored the Maynooth PP school team, which contained her club-mates Ciara and Angie Gonia, to silver in the relay.

In the North Leinster Schools Track & Field championships, also at Santry, the Juvenile Section captain Karen Hughes (Donabate CC) took gold in the Senior Triple Jump and then went on to take silver in the 200m. Throwing specialist Lauren O’Keeffe (Loreta Balbriggan) won gold in the Intermediate Hammer and a bronze in the Shot Putt. The Hammer event brought further medals with Iain Darroch (Donabate CC) taking gold in the Intermediate Boys, Eleanor Ronan (Donabate CC) a silver medal in the Junior Girls and Clodagh Read (Donabate CC) a bronze gong in the Intermediate Girls.

Dublin Open Graded Meeting 1 at Santry: 200m B1 – 6^th Adam Halpin (24.48); 200m C1 – Sean O’Broin M45 (25.11); 200m B2 – 3^rd David Campbell (24.11); 200m C2 – 6^th Paul Cummins (25.92); 200m B3 – 4^th Cian O’Reilly (24.01) 200m C3 – Killian O’Hora (25.49); 1500mW – 4^th Barbara Cleary (4.45.47); 1500m B – 9^th Luke Boland (4.24.05); Hammer – 3^rd Clodagh Read JNR (42.74); 5^th Orlaith Read (27.13); 10,000m inc Dublin Championship – 1^st Michael McMahon (32.18.38); 4^th George Brady (3.53.05)

BHAA RTE 5 Mile: 6^th Ken Norgrove M45 (27.35); 14^th Patrick Moriarty M35 (28.31); 50^th Joe Murphy (31.12); 61^st Ian Redican M40 (32.10); 63^rd / 1^st F40 Florence Curley (32.17); 113^rd / 3^rd F40 Niamh Donnelly (36.02); 130^th Terry Mee M70 (36.58); 178^th Tommy Halton M55 (41.39)

Griffeen 5km Parkrun: 2^nd George Brady M35 (17.57)

London Marathon: 1693^rd / 12^th F40 Anne Curley (2.58.59); also Colin Morrissey M40 (3.09.00 PB)

Athlone 10km: 6^th Chris Muldoon (34.32)

Samsung 10km Night Run at Dublin Docklands: results will be listed next week
LATE RESULT: Manchester Marathon (19/4/15): 251^st Fred Kiernan M35 (2.54.29); 345^th Derek O’Neill M45 (3.01.26)

Juvenile Results:

CORRECTED RESULT: Naas 5km Parkrun: 6^th Michael Gibbs (17.39 PB)
West Leinster Schools T&F Championships Day 1 at Santry: Gold = Senior Hurdles – Lauren Kennedy; Intermediate 100m – Aoife Lynch; Intermediate Pole Vault & Hurdles – Ailbhe Healy; Junior Hurdles – Ciara O’Donnell; Junior Pole Vault – Lara O’Byrne; Senior Hammer – Eoin Molloy; Intermediate Hurdles – Alex Clarkin; Junior Hurdles – Max Carey; 1100m – Louis O’Loughlin (3.19.8); Intermediate Hammer – Aoife Simms: Silver = Senior 100m – Ailise Keating; Intermediate 100m – Suzi O’Farrell; Intermediare 100m – Kolade Abiodun; Senior 100m – Sean Lawlor; Intermediate Hurdles – Jack Rudden-Kelly; Intermediate Shot Putt – Oran O’Brien: Bronze = Senior 100m – Conor O’Ceallaigh; Intermediate 1500m – Conor Ray

Also: Sean Young 6^th in Senior Shot Putt (9.90 PB) also Hammer (20.22); Sean Classman 5^th in Senior 100m; Robyn O’Keeffe 4^th in Intermediate 100m; Angie Gonia 4^th in Junior Hurdles; Ruairi Fitzgibbon 13^th in Junior 1500m

North Leinster Schools T&F Championships Day 1 at Santry: Gold = Intermediate Hammer – Lauren O’Keeffe; Senior Triple Jump – Karen Hughes; Intermediate Hammer – Iain Darrock: Silver = Junior Hammer – Eleanor Ronan; Bronze = Intermediate Hammer – Clodagh Read

Also: Clodagh Read 4^th in Intermediate Triple Jump; Caoimhe Mackey 4^th in 300m.

West Leinster Schools T&F Championships Day 2 at Santry: Gold = Intermediate 200m – Aoife Lynch; Junior High Jump – Lucy Hurley; Intermediate 300m – Roisin Rynn-Cahill; Senior 400mH – Lauren Kennedy; Senior 200m – Sean Lawlor; Minor 800m – Louis O’Loughlin (2.14.6); Senior 5000m – Sam Gallagher (16.20.7 – PB); Junior Long Jump – Max Carey; Intermediate Discus – Oran O’Brien; Senior Pole Vault – Rolus Olosu: Silver = Intermediate 200m – Lauren O’Flaherty; Intermediate Girls 800m – Claire O’Connor (2.39.00); Intermediate Long Jump – Roisin Rynn-Cahill; Intermediate Javelin – Alex Clarkin; Bronze = Intermediate 200m – Robyn O’Keeffe; Junior 200m – Lucy Hurley; Intermediate 200m – Kolade Abiodun; Intermediate 3,000m Conor Ray; Intermediate Discus – Sean Young (25.30)

North Leinster Schools T&F Championships Day 2 at Santry: Silver = Senior 200m – Karen Hughes;Bronze = Intermediate Shot Putt – Lauren O’Keeffe: Also – Iain Darroch 5^th in Intermediate Discus

On a calm, sunny Sunday afternoon the roads near Raheny Village in north Dublin were filled with expectation and excitement. The 43^rd edition of the National Road Relays, Ireland’s premier team road racing event, brought together most of the country’s leading distance running clubs.

In the senior men’s race 26 teams toed the line – including defending champions Sligo AC, host club Raheny Shamrocks and last year’s runners-up Ennis Track. Donore Harriers, with European Indoors 1500 metres finalist John Travers running the key 3-miles stage, was among the favourites.

Lee Van Haeften (9.34) opened for Donore and in his typical gutsy fashion he ran near the front on the 2-mile leg before tapping on to Daragh Fitzgibbon in second place. Ferrybank AC were leading by 7 seconds, with their lead runner Niall Touhy recording the fastest two-mile leg of the day in a very fine 9.27.

Fitzgibbon (4.31), called into the team a few days earlier when Irish international Mark Dooley was forced to withdraw due to illness, ran an absolute stormer! The middle-distance specialist certainly eyed the prize and brought the team into a lead of 3 seconds – with Ennis Track in second and Clonliffe Harriers in third. Fitzgibbon was second fastest for the mile leg just one second shy of Raheny’s Cillian Kirwan.

With an in-form John Travers (14.07) taking Stage 3 it must have felt like a fait-accompli for the opposition! And so it proved! The Donore man ran the fastest stage and opened up a sizeable gap on his nearest pursuer. He handed over to Eric Keogh with a lead of 37 seconds. Raheny Shamrocks were lying 2^nd with Ennis Track in 3^rd one minute off the lead.

Keogh (9.40) was impressive over the final two laps (2 miles) extending the lead as Kevin Mulcaire of Ennis Track, the country’s leading junior distance athlete, recorded the fastest stage (9.29) and brought his team into the silver medal position. Raheny Shamrocks had to be content with 3^rd place with defending champions Sligo AC back in fifth. Donore’s final time of 37.52 was narrowly outside the course record. Ennis Track had a final time of 38.41, with Raheny on 39.05.

This was Donore’s 8^th senior win in the competition and the first since 1992.

The Donore ladies brought home a national relay medal for the first time in many years. The masters team got off to a fine start with Rhona Duane’s 6.06 for the first mile. Kim Hickey did the damage in the crucial second leg over 2 miles where she pushed the team up into 3rd place with an impressive time of 11.52. Breda Mahony held this gap in the last leg with an excellent 5.58 mile which secured the W35 bronze medal by a margin of 14 seconds. There were 13 teams on the day so a great achievement and testament to the current strength in masters competition.
Next up were two Donore teams in the senior women’s relay. In a very competitive first mile Ide Nic Dhomhnaill was 9th over the line in 5.40 and handed over to Barbara Cleary making a welcome comeback to racing. Barbara made up lots of ground in the 2 mile leg which featured two members of the European XC team and pushed the team into 5th with an excellent 11.16 time. Aislinn Nic Dhomhnaill fought hard in the last mile and on the final corner she had 3 runners on her shoulder – she held off all but one in a battling finish in 5.37 bringing the team to 6th overall out of 17 teams. Maura Kearns ran the fastest mile of the Donore ladies on the day when she kicked off for the second team and finished in 5.30, Michelle Childs ran a very gutsy 2 mile leg to finish in 12.13. Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill had a good finish in the last mile in 5.44 bringing the team home to 13th place.
In the masters men’s race Donore could not match the team silver medals won last year. Putting out an entirely new team it was a tall order for athletes more at home on mountain terrain or in the marathon. George Brady (5.00), preparing for next month’s Belfast marathon, ran the opening mile leg and placed 13^th. Niall Lynch (10.29) was 9^th fastest on the 2 miles stage and tapped on in 9^thposition. Andy Kinane (5.05) was 7^th fastest on the final mile leg and gained to 8^th place. Newbridge AC, 3^rd last year, won in a time of 19.27 with Donore 8^th in 20.34.

Meanwhile in Budapest Nicola Dowdall ran 99 minutes in the half marathon, practically replicating her PB in Bohermeen a few weeks ago.

In the 5km Naas Parkrun on Saturday 17 years old Michael Gibbs knocked almost half-a-minute of his previous best time when placing 6^th.

Results in brief:

National Road Relay at Raheny: Senior Men = 1^st in 37.52 – 2M Lee Van Haeften (9.34); 1M Daragh Fitzgibbon (4.31); 3M – John Travers (14.07); 2M Eric Keogh (9.40); 2^nd Ennis Track (38.41); 3^rd Raheny Shamrocks (39.05)

Senior Women: = 1^st Leevale AC (20.39); 6^th Donore Harriers ‘A’ 22.33 – 1M Ide Nic Domhnaill (5.40); 2M Barbara Cleary (11.16); 1M Aislinn Nic Domhnaill (5.37); 13^th Donore Harriers ‘B’ 23.27 – 1M Maura Kearns (5.30); 2M Michelle Childs (12.13); 1M Sorcha Nic Domhnaill (5.44)

Masters Men: = 1^st Newbridge AC 19.27; 8^th Donore Harriers 20.34 – 1M George Brady (5.00); 2M Niall Lynch (10.29); 1M Andy Kinane (5.05)

Masters Women: = 1^st Raheny Shamrocks 23.29; 2^nd Letterkenny AC 23.41; 3^rd Donore Harriers 23.54 – 1M Kim Hickey (6.04); 2M Rhona Duane (11.54); 1M Breda Mahony (5.58)

Budapest Half-Marathon: Nicola Dowdall (1.39.00)

Juvenile Result:

Naas 5km Parkrun: 6^th Michael Gibbs u/18s (19.39 PB)