The AAI Games were held over the weekend in the brilliant new indoor track facilities in Athlone and we had John Travers, David Campbell, Lynda Ngankam and Simon Taggart flying the flag for the club: David was 3rd in his 60m heat in 7.55, Lynda was also 5th in her 60m heat in a time of 8.05 and Simon was 6th in his heat with 7.21. David finished 5th in his 200m race in 24.11. Simon won the 60m hurdles in 8.38 and posted 7.35 in a second 60m race later in the day. John Travers ran a pb in the 3000m in 8.02.58 which was won by Juan Higuero of Spain in 7.5214. John was just a second outside the qualification time for the European U23 Indoor Chmapionships and although posting a PB was a little disappointed with his performance. Earlier in the week however, John ran a superb 3.42.53 for 1500m which did secure him a qualifying time for the European U23 championships. That time was achieved on Tuesday evening, also at AIT, during an inter colleges trial which opened the new Athlone arena.

Jack Rudden Kelly was 4th in his age group at the National Juvenile combined events indoors and got 4 PBs in his events. Darragh Fitzgibbon ran in the West Leinsters schools CC.

It was also a busy week on the roads in Raheny and Dungarvan but windy conditions might have dented a few potential pbs.

In the Raheny 5 we had a large contingent of runners and first in was Fergal Whitty in a brilliant 27.06 followed by John Dunne 28.00, Gerard McDonald 29.22, Conor McCauley 29.48, Dervila Holmes 30.24 (10th woman), Donal Iremonger 31.06, Tomas Griffin 31.15, Shane McAuley 31.12, David Wogan 32.45, Breda Mahoney 33.51, John Gleeson 33.50, Tony Griffin 34.19, Karen Behan 35.42, Rhona Dunne 35.43, Tony Dunne 36.30, Caren Crowley 37.10, Janette Strickland 37.14, Terry Mee 37.24, Alma Hanevy 38.34, Kim Strickland 39.51, Tom Halton 40.15, Betty Kehoe 45.39, Nicola Dowdall 47.00.

In the Dungarvan 10 we just had two Donore runners who made the journey south.

Anne Curley finished 4th woman in a PB time of 60.15 and Florence Curley ran 66.53.

In the IMRA Ticknock Winter race Rob Scanlon had a great run to finish in 2nd place.

It was a perfect day for running our 22nd Annual Jingle Bells 5K race on Saturday Dec 1st in the Phoenix Park. It was a Sunny, cold day as predicted but far from the cold temperatures we experienced two years ago and not a breeze to contend with. Ronnie Delaney got the race underway at 11am and soon after it was a three man race up front with Paul Robinson (St. Coca’s AC), Thomas Fitpatrick (Tallaght AC) and John Coghlan (MSB) leading the field of about 1400 runners.

Coming down the Upper Glen Road Fitzpatrick and Robinson were neck and neck but Robinson, with a 3.37 1500m PB this year, showed his finishing pace and finished clear winner by about 10 metres. It was the third time the race was run over this course since the winter of 2010 and the Kildare man finished with a course record of 14.18 (14.15 chip), Fitzpatrick followed in 14.20 with John Coghlan posting 14.36 for third place.

In the women’s race Linda Byrne (DSD) finished 9 seconds ahead Kerry Harty (Newcastle AC) with 15.51 and 16.00 respectively. Orla Drumm (Crusaders AC) finished 3rd with a time of 16.33.

We had 1188 adults take part and almost 200 children. Thank you to all who took part, made it a great day, and who supported the race, Donore Harriers and Debra Ireland. Thanks to all the help from those that made the day happen, including our own members, the OPW, the Park Rangers, the Gardai, BHAA, the Civil Defence, Glenn at Championchip, friends of Donore from Clonliffe Harriers, MSB and Liffey Valley AC.