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| Sean Connolly |
With Joe Sweeney not defending his title, and Sean Hehir of Rathfarnham WSAF running in the Dungarvan 10-Mile, the men’s race at Sunday’s AXA Raheny 5-Mile race is wide open.
One to watch is Raheny regular Sean Connolly of Tallaght. A winner in 2009 and 2010, Connolly finished second last year behind Sweeney in his best ever time of 23 minutes 54 seconds. Connolly’s Tallaght clubmate, Tom Fitzpatrick is another athlete likely to be in contention; he had a solid win at the Heath 10km in Co Laois last week. A late entry sure to push the pace is Sergiu Ciobanu of Clonliffe, who had hoped to run in Waterford.
Leading the charge for host club Raheny Shamrock is Mick Clohisey, fresh from his victory at the Leinster Cross-Country Championships. Raheny junior Kevin Dooney will hope to improve on his 10th place of last year.
Of the women, Linda Byrne, winner in 2010 from Fionnuala Britton and Maria McCambridge, is the strong favourite to win. Last year’s champion Deirdre Byrne of Sli Cualann made a solid return to racing over the holiday period and could defend her title. With Aoife Talty and Elish Kelly both injured, Raheny’s best hope lies with the veteran Annette Kealy, a previous winner of the race.
Because of the record numbers expected, online entry remains open until Saturday. No entries will be taken on the day for the five-mile race. Entries will be taken for the popular children’s 800m (10-13 year old) and mile (13-16 year olds) races.
To ease congestion, runners are asked to use public transport to get to the race HQ at Raheny GAA Club – less than 800m from Raheny Dart Station and also on the 29A, 31, 31A, 32, 32A and 32B bus routes.
MARATHON MISSION HOPEFULS HEAD FOR DUNGARVAN
Down south, the John Treacy Dungarvan 10 Mile Road Race takes place on Sunday, having reached its 1,500 limit a few weeks ago. Last year’s winner Mareks Floroseks of Latvia set the current men’s record of 49.26 when he beat Clonliffe’s Sergui Ciobanu. Women’s winner was Siobhan O’Doherty in a women’s record of 56.28.
Among those chasing this year’s €400 winner’s prize, plus €250 course record bonus, are Maria McCambridge, Rosie Ryan and Caitriona Jennings of the Marathon Mission, along with Alan O’Shea and Clonliffe pair Brian McMahon and Gary O’Hanlon. Wearing No 1 in the race will be John Treacy, now in the over 50 age category.
National half marathon champion Sean Hehir is pre-race favourite for the men’s title, having produced a near perfect streak over the winter, with his only blip coming at the Dublin Cross-Country Championships where he lost out to John Coghlan of MSB.
CONWAY WINS ON HOWTH HILL
Rathfarnham veteran Turlough Conway led home a stunning entry of 288 at the Howth hill race – a 5km loop around the Dublin landmark. Women’s winner was Alvy Carragher from Nenagh. Next round in hill running’s Winter League is a much tougher 10km around the rocky trails of Ticknock on Saturday (11am).
BHAA VICTORIES FOR HOEY, WILSON
Because of their great value and impeccable organisation, BHAA races in Dublin are again attracting big numbers, with 349 finishing the Eircom Cross-Country races in Firhouse. Jean Wilson of TCD won the women’s 2-mile race by a clear margin from Mary Scully and Adrienne Jordan. In the men’s 5-mile race, Mark Hoey just got the better of Tommy Evans with Sam Mealy third and Noel Kelly in seventh place the first of the masters.
ANNE IS MANAGER OF THE MONTH
Anne Keenan Buckley, manager of the Irish cross-country team, is the deserved winner of the Philips Sports Manager of the Month award for December following Fionnuala Britton’s great win at the European Championships. As an athlete Keenan-Buckley won European team silver in 2003, having competed at the Olympic Games as far back as 1988. On moving into the veteran ranks, she won the British and Irish masters cross-country title a record five times before turning her hand to coaching and team management.
BERGIN PUTS DOWN A MARKER
With the Woodie’s DIY Irish Indoors less than a fortnight away, Claire Bergin of DSD, part of the 4x400m relay squad aiming for London 2012, set down a marker by winning the 400m in 55.34 secs at the Woodie’s DIY Indoor Games in Nenagh. In the long jump, Mary McLoone of Tir Chonaill beat Ferrybank’s Kelly Proper, jumping 6.13m to 5.98m for Proper.
At the Junior Indoors, also in Nenagh, Greg O’Shea of Dooneen just pipped Clonliffe pair Patrick O’Connor and Keith Pike to win the 60m sprint in 6.9 seconds (hand held). Leona Byrne was an impressive winner of the women’s indoor combined events title, with score of 3396; for second, DSD’s Grainne Moggan was also over the 3000 mark with a score of 3198.
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