After all the excitement of London 2012, it’s back to normal, with the Dundrum South Dublin women and the Clonliffe men defending their titles at Sunday’s Woodie’s DIY National League finals in Tullamore.
DSD is captained by double winter and summer Olympian Claire Bergin whose hard work and graft helped the club to its first title in 24 years last season. The club is traditionally strong in the middle distances, with talent such as London 2012 marathon runners Linda Byrne and Ava Hutchinson to call on as well as Claire Tarplee , Fiona Clinton and youngsters like Siofra Cleirigh Buttner.
Add to that sprinters Aoife MacNeill, Sinead Deny, Jade Leahy and Bergin herself as well as Irish javelin champion Anita Fitzgibbon, Olympic high jumper Deirdre Ryan, hurdler Emma Peters and all-rounders, Grainne Moggan and Claire McGlynn and you have a strong team indeed.
Traditionally, a team with a strong squad of sprinters does well and, on that score, Ferrybank will fancy their chances of regaining the title. Long jumper and sprinter Kelly Proper is back in form, Olympian Jessie Barr could make it a 400m flat and hurdles double, while Niamh Whelan is another sure to pick up points.
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| DSD – defend women’s title |
In the throws, where DSD is weak, Cara Kennedy and Kate Hickey are sure to add to the Ferrybank tally, while Irish heptathlon record holder Mairead Murphy will pick up the slack in a number of events. Still, in the second round of the league in Santry, DSD came out on top comfortably.
In the men’s competition, Clonliffe Harriers are going for their fifth league title in a row after beating St Abban’s last year. Key performers for Clonliffe include 400m man Brian Gregan, pole vaulter Dave Donegan, steeplechaser Dave Flynn, thrower Tomas Rauktas , walker Ryan Cleary, all rounder Marcin Klinkzow and sprinter Paul Whelan.
St Abban’s will depend on their all-rounder Paul Byrne, who won both hurdles in the qualifying round at Tullamore and is also a strong high jumper. In the middle to long distances, Dan Mulhare and Brian Kelly will also pick up points.
In division 1, the Donore Harriers men’s team picked up good points in the qualifying rounds and could win promotion. Favourite to win women’s division 1 is City of Derry.
Avondale House in Rathdrum, Co Wicklow is the venue for Sunday’s Rathdrum 5km, organised by the tireless fund-raisers for the Wicklow Hospice. So far, their entirely voluntary efforts have helped fund a palliative care nurse for the area.
Typically the race comes with a twist – entry is only €10 but on offer for a further €15 is a full post-race breakfast. While entries for the run will be taken on the day, you must book for the breakfast, to be served in a large marquee. Talk to or text Bill Porter at 087 2928660.
Raheny’s Dave Rooney and Maria McCambridge of Letterkenny came out on top at the big race of the weekend – the Corrib Oil Streets of Galway 8km. Rooney was chased hard by Annadale’s Paddy Hamilton and Sergiu Ciobanu of Clonliffe but had enough in hand and finished in 24 mins 3 secs.
McCambridge, training for the Dublin Marathon, was a clear winner of the women’s race in 26 mins 36 secs, with Siobhan O’Doherty of Borrisokane second and North Belfast’s Breege Connolly third.
A large Irish team competes in the European Masters Championships starting tomorrow in the tri-border region of Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic. Among those in contention for medals are long jumper Tomas Griffin, race walkers John McMullin, Paddy Murphy and Anne Gormley, middle distance athletes Cushla Murphy Hehir, Evelyn McNelis, Liam Mulready and Joe Gough and multi-eventers Geraldine Finnegan, Ernest Caffrey and Lucy Moore-Fox. It means none of these will be competing at Saturday’s Woodie’s DIY National Masters in Tullamore.
Mark Hoey of Star of the Sea and Raheny’s Fiona Roche were the winners of the Dunleer 4-Mile, with impressively large groups turning out from the host club Dunleer, as well as from Drogheda and District and Team Carrie. Even bigger numbers showed up for the Celbridge 5km, where the winners were Rathfarnham’s Paul Fleming and Kerry Harty of Newcastle.
Mark Hoey of Star of the Sea and Raheny’s Fiona Roche were the winners of the Dunleer 4-Mile, with impressively large groups turning out from the host club Dunleer, as well as from Drogheda and District and Team Carrie. Even bigger numbers showed up for the Celbridge 5km, where the winners were Rathfarnham’s Paul Fleming and Kerry Harty of Newcastle.
Brian McMahon of Clonliffe won the trial race for the World Mountain Running Champions in Glenmalure. In the men’s race, he beat Eoin Flynn of Rathfarnham’s SBR’s Tom Hogan and Ian Conroy of Raheny. Sarah Mulligan of DSD and UCD’s Laura Shaunghnessy were the only two to complete the women’s senior race. Winners of the junior men’s trial was Hugh Armstrong of Ballina, while Brid Dennehy of Iveragh and DSD’s Sarah Myles completed the junior women’s race together.
Offering great value is Sunday’s Boston Scientific Half-Marathon, in Clonmel (11am). Early entry for the race was just €25 while a few entries may still be available on the day at €30. The first 500 to register get a special t-shirt, while everyone will get a medal and goodie bag. Up front, there’s a €2,500 prize fund to fight over. In recent years, Clonmel AC has built up a thriving Meet and Train section, so runners and joggers of all standards can be sure of a warm welcome. Info Niall O’Sullivan 086 1660888.
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