On a perfect day for running, Barbara Cleary of Donore and Raheny’s John Dunne were the winners of the Dublin Masters’ Cross-Country titles in St Anne’s Park.
First up were the women and from the start of the 3km course, Cleary moved to the front and went unchallenged for the remainder of the race, finishing comfortably clear of the chasers. On the first lap, track specialist Niamh Fitzgerald of Lucan Harriers attempted to stay with Cleary, but was soon absorbed by the pack.
Niamh Boland and Adrienne Jordan of Crusaders finished second and third, followed by Sportsworld’s Catherine Bambrick in fourth position. Fifth and first W45 was Annette Kealy of Raheny, who was chased home in that category by Rathfarnham’s Donna Mahon. First W50 was Cathryn Brady of DSD, followed by Raheny pair Orla Gormley and Adrienne Atkins; first W55 was Eileen Rowland of Sportsworld.
Maxine Jones of DSD was first W60, with Mary Butler of Blackrock second, while Josie Power of Fingallians was first W65. Crusaders won the team gold with 46 points with Donore taking silver on count back from Sportsworld when both ended up with 63 points. A total of 14 W35 teams competed with a further four in the W50 age group. Raheny took its first team gold of the day when Orla Gormley, Adrienne Atkins, Nora Byrne and Caroline Farrelly combined to win the W50 title, ahead of defending champions DSD and Sportsworld.
A group of four pulled away from the field soon after the start of the men’s 6km race, with Raheny’s Ian Conroy pushing the pace. Tucked in behind him were former champion John Dunne, now with Raheny after starting his career with Donore. Also in there were new veteran Bobby Murphy of Rathfarnham and DSD’s vastly experienced Peter Mathews. Leading the chasers was a trio of Rathfarnham athletes, which meant the south Dublin club was on target to finish best of the teams. Unfortunately Shane O’Neill was forced to drop out mid-race which ended the club’s hopes.
On the third lap, Matthews pushed to the front but when it came to the chase for the line, it was Dunne who broke free for victory. Murphy was second followed by Conroy, Mathews and Rathfarnham’s Brian Furey. Dunne and Conroy combined with seventh placed Ciaran McCarthy and ninth place David Kirwan to take team gold ahead of Donore Harriers and Crusaders. Mathews was first M45, followed by Niall Lynch of Donore. First M55 was Joe Casey of Rathfarnham with James Cottle of Crusaders first M60. Clonliffe made a clean sweep of the older age groups – Matt Slattery M65, Pat Bonass M70 and Jimmy Bennett M75.
With Damien Martin 14th and 1st M50 and Mick Traynor 15th and 2nd M50 backed up by Donald Quinn 48th and Brian Kelly 78th, Raheny took M50 team gold. Liffey Valley and Rathfarnham WSAF were second and third.
Over 400 had signed up for the race, with 261 men and 149 women finishing – is this a record?
*Pics up at www.lindie.zenfolio.com
MICK CLOHISEY of Raheny Shamrock came home first at the Ferrycarraig 5-Mile in Co Wexford – just a day after competing at the Edinburgh International Cross-Country. Clohisey finished in 24 mins 1 second and almost half a minute clear of Kilkenny’s Brian Maher in 24.30. Third was Niall Shiel of St Killian’s in 26.13. First women was Jackie Carthy of Kilmore in 29 mins 42 secs. Adele Walsh of St Senan’s was second in 30.38 and Sally Forristal of St Joseph’s third in 30.46. Masters all!
NORTHERN IRELAND athlete Adam McMullen was just 18cm short of the Gold Coast Commonwealth standard in his opening competition of the year. McMullen, a member of Dublin club Crusaders AC, jumped a distance of 7.60m in the second of four rounds at the Jordanstown Indoor Open. Alan Kennedy, who is McMullen’s coach, won the triple jump with 14.15m from fellow North Down athlete Callum Hunter with 13.85m.
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