With the Woodie’s DIY National Half Marathon taking place in Athenry on Sunday (1.0), likely contenders were flexing their muscles at a variety of races over the weekend.
In Dublin’s Phoenix Park, Maria McCambridge won the women’s race at the Frank Duffy ’10’ in 55 mins 13 secs – not far off the 54.48 she ran when setting a new women’s course record at the Ballycotton ’10’ in March.
McCambridge, who is targeting the Dublin Marathon, beat a field that included DSD’s much-improved Niamh Devlin and an impressive group of visitors from Wales and Scotland.
In the men’s race, the visitors took six of the top eight places. Only nine seconds separated the top four, led home by Matthew Graham of Scotland in 50 mins 4 secs. Best of the Irish was Joe McAllister of the Marathon Mission and St Malachy’s Belfast who was sixth in 50.49. First wheelchair was David Griffiths.
Later that day, David McCarthy of West Waterford beat a top-class entry at the Rockford Roof Tiles 4-Mile hosted by Tinryland just outside Carlow.
McCarthy was part of a group of four that broke away early, tucking in behind Rathfarnham’s Sean Hehir – the current national half marathon champion – and Paddy Hamilton of Annadale. Not far behind was Brian Maher of KCH. McCarthy made his move after the course’s one long drag and came home in 18 mins 49 secs – the third fastest ever for the course.
For second place, Hamilton sprinted clear of Hehir, with Maher holding on to 4th. Annette Kealy was an easy winner of the women’s race from from Lucy Darcy of Sportsworld.
Also on Saturday, Rathfarnham’s Barry Minnock won the Warrior’s Run – a tough 15km trot around Knocknarea, near Strandhill, Co Sligo.
Clonliffe’s Sergiu Ciobanu made his annual visit to Longford on Sunday, where he was a comfortable winner of the half marathon in 70 mins 41 secs.
His Clonliffe clubmate Gary O’Hanlon won the marathon, with the ageless Pauline Curley first of the women.
All these would be expected to turn out for their clubs in Athenry on Sunday, with Rathfarnham WSAF anxious to defend the title they won last year and Clonliffe and Raheny likely to chase them hard.
DSD’s Ava Hutchinson won the women’s title last year, with McCambridge the champion from a year earlier, and Raheny the defending team champions.
So who will win? All will be revealed on Sunday!
Irish hammer champion Conor McCullough makes his first official appearance in an Irish vest at Saturday’s Tipperary Throws International in Templemore.
McCullough, son of Irish Olympian Conor Sr and reared in California, won the world junior title in 2010 in an American vest but never forgot his Irish roots and has competed in the Irish championships for the past few years.
His Irish U-23 record of 75.09m set this year would have taken ninth place at London 2012, although the ‘A’ qualifying standard was 78m.
With the help of 21-times Irish javelin champion Terry McHugh, teams from Switzerland, Iceland and Wales are also travelling to Templemore.
The Irish team is McCullough (hammer/discus), Sean Breathnach (shot), Matthew Martin (javelin), Claire Fitzgerald (shot/ discus), Anita Fitzgibbon (javelin) and Cara Kennedy (hammer).
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| Sheila Champion |
At the European Masters Track and Field Championships in Germany Poland and the Czech Republic, Ireland’s only gold medal came in the W75 pole vault won by the remarkable Dorothy McLennan of Sportsworld who was making a return to competition after a two-year injury break. Dorothy’s twin, Sheila Champion, finished 4th in the shot. The twins celebrate their 77th birthday on September 16 – happy birthday girls!
Other medals went to John McDermott, 3rd M65 decathlon and 2nd 300m hurdles; Evelyn McNelis 3rd W65 10,000m, Sean McMullin 3rd M65 5000m track walk and 2nd 20km road walk; Ken Deevy 2nd M55 400m, and Geraldine Finnegan 3rd W45 heptathlon and steeplechase and 2nd 80m and 400m hurdles.
For Northern Ireland, Annadale’s Dave Morwood won the M40 5000m in 15 mins 29 secs. In very hot conditions, Morwood, a previous Irish masters cross-country champion, raced away in the final 400m for victory. In the W50 800m, Lagan Valley’s Ruth Magill finished third.
Those training for the Dublin Marathon and in need of a break from the roads might enjoy the Run the Line, a fundraiser for Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team on Saturday October 6. Two courses are on offer – a long distance 28km for the battle-hardened and a shorter 13km which will give novices a feel for hill-running. Both races will finish at Glencullen, near Johnny Fox’s pub.
Assembly for both courses is Sean Walshe Park in Tallaght, where the A route will start, and where buses for the B route will pick up competitors and ferry them to the start at Cruagh Woods carpark. Entry is €20 plus €20 in sponsorship to be raised via mycharity.ie. Info IMRA forum, or Gareth Little O87 9573216.
Here’s an interesting idea from South Dublin County Sports Partnership – the Ramble Aid 5km for a Fiver series in three Dublin parks over the next few weeks. Venues are Griffeen Park, Lucan on Sunday September 9, Tymon Park on September 16 and Corkagh Park on September 23. All start at 11am, with walkers, runners and cyclists, wheelchairs and cyclist welcome. Entry fee is €5 and all funds raised go towards providing defibrillators to local clubs.
Junior Thomas Moran outsprinted his Dunshaughlin team mate Robbie Matthews to win the Tara 5km on Friday night. Maura Kearns of Rathfarnham WSAF was first woman.
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