So near and yet so far – that was the story for Barbara Cleary of Donore Harriers at the British and Irish Masters Cross-Country International in Belfast.
Cleary, who only joined Donore about six months ago, has been a revelation. In June, she won the Dunshaughlin 10km in an impressive time of 34 mins 52 secs and then continued to improve all summer.
In September, she finished second at the National Half Marathon, beating Barbara Sanchez, and was fourth and first master at the Gerry Farnan Cross-Country last month.
She showed she meant business in Belfast by racing clear of a pack that included defending champion Claire Martin of England, fellow Irish team member Julie Turley and Gladys Ganiel O’Neill of Northern Ireland.
Then came the agony. With the race almost over, Cleary misjudged the location of the finish line. Thinking she was home, she stopped running. Martin and Turley needed no further invitation and slipped past to take the gold and silver medals.
Jackie Carthy of Kilmore, tenth overall and third Irish, won the W40 title six years after her last appearance at these championships.
Carmel Parnell had to work hard to retain her W55 title, while Niamh O’Sullivan, finished fifth overall of the Irish women and second W50 behind defending champion Fiona Matheson of Scotland. The women’s teams from W35 to W65 all finished second. In an enthralling men’s M35-45 8km race, Andy Lee of England only pulled clear of the leading pack on the final lap. Northern Ireland’s Stephen Duncan had led early on but was passed by Ciaran Doherty for second place.
Doherty led the M35 team to victory for a sixth consecutive year – no other nation has won this age category since it was introduced. Pauric McKinney, just two weeks after finishing first M45 at the Dublin Marathon, finished second in this age group.
Peter Matthews, overall winner for the past two years, finished seventh and fourth M40, despite suffering from a winter bug.
Deon McNeilly of Northern Ireland, with Graeme Saker of England and Ireland’s Tommy Payne set the pace in the M50-60-plus race. McNeilly tired towards the end, letting Saker take the win. With Payne third, Tommy Hughes seventh and Patrick O’Grady 10th, the Irish team comfortably took gold.
If you happen to be in Waterford on a Thursday evening, head for the Regional Sports Centre on the Cork road, where the annual Winter League welcomes runners of all standards. Last week’s opening round attracted almost 500, with 274 running the five-mile route and 190 opting for the shorter 2.5 mile run. Also still going strong, and attracting numbers Dublin clubs can only dream of, is the West Waterford Winter league in Dungarvan and the Clonmel Fit for Life league both on Wednesday evening. In Dublin the only similar leagues are organised by Raheny Shamrock on Wednesday evenings, where all are welcome.
Star of the Sea’s Colm Costello just edged out Leevale’s Bryan Keane to win the inaugural Remembrance Run 5km on a perfect autumn day in Dublin’s Phoenix Park. Raheny’s Cillian O’Leary was third. First of the women was Catherina McKiernan, with Una Britton of Kilcoole second and Alvy Carragher third. Over 1,000 took part in the run.
The evergreen Gerry Ryan of Craughwell was a clear winner of the men’s 10km at the annual Hollymount Road Races in Co Mayo. Leevale’s Lizzie Lee was first in the women’s 3km, with local athlete Mary Gleeson running well for second.
Ide Mac Dhomhnaill not won the Leinster Inter Cross-country at Dunboyne, but led Donore to team victory, helped by twin sister Sorcha who was sixth. Liam Brady of Tullamore Harriers was a clear winner of the men’s race, with Dunboyne’s Luke Forde second. Brian Kelly in third place led St Abban’s to team victory.
Mullingar Harriers won all ten team titles at the Leinster Juvenile Uneven Ages held at the same venue. At the Dublin Uneven Ages in Marlay, Siofra Cleirigh Buttner of DSD won the W19 race ahead of clubmates Clare McCarthy and Sarah Miles. Killian Mooney, also DSD, was first M19 with DSD winning six team titles.
At the Bank of Ireland BHAA Beach 6km at Dollymount Strand, Dublin Joe Warne and Niamh Devlin recorded solid wins, with a number of new companies featuring in the team results. Next up for the BHAA is a new race – the Irish Life 6km combined cross-country at Santry on Saturday November 24 (11am).
Michael McSwiggan and Rachael Beck had the honour of leading 159 men and women home at the first ever Parkrun 5km in this country held at Malahide Castle. Over 400 has registered for this run, which will continue every Saturday at 9.30am and costs nothing. Future venues in the Dublin area could include Marley, Corkagh and Tymon.
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