Races these days are like buses – one weekend you have none, and then, like last week, three come along, all deserving of attention.
The first of these was a BHAA cross-country race, organised by the secondary teachers group in Castleknock College.
Over the years this race has gone from strength to strength as an ideal introduction to cross-country. In the women’s two mile race, Lorraine Manning of Garda just got the better of Kate O’Neill, with Donna Mahon of Wheelworx third. Making it a good day for the primary teachers team were Fiona Mahon and Cindy Hickey who were fourth and fifth. Helen White in seventh place and first over 45 was first master.
Martin Quinn of Tesco came home a clear winner of the men’s four-mile race, with DCU’s Darragh Green almost half a minute behind for second and Phil Kilgannon of Mistycroft third. Best of the masters was Declan Power, closely followed by Paul Cowhie, who was first over 45.A number of women also ran the longer men’s race, with Orla O’Mahoney first home.
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| Aoife Culhane |
Just down the road in the Phoenix Park, the Simon charity was holding its annual charity race, which had been shortenedd to a tough 5km because of ongoing roadworks on the park’s main road.
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| Sean Hehir |
First home here was Rathfarnham’s Ronan Kearns in 16 minutes 33 seconds. Raheny veteran Eoin Brady was second, with his wife Annette Kealy, a regular at this race, first woman. Over 1,300 took part in the run.
A day later, Tallaght was organising its first ever 5-mile run from their Greenhills Road base. They put on a great show, with chip timing, an array of goodies after the race and plenty of prizes. Rathfarnham’s Sean Hehir led from the start winning in 24 mins 53 secs with Gary O’Hanlon of Clonliffe a fighting second. For third place, Paul Fleming of Rathfarnham just got the better of Kenneth Rodgers who had travelled from Co Clare for the race.
Aoife Culhane of DSD was the class of the field in the women’s race and came home comfortably in 28 minutes 37 seconds. Sportsworld master Lucy Darcy just beat Ann Marie Woods of Raheny for second place.
So what can we look forward to this weekend in Dublin? Nothing!
What did we say? Just like the buses!
Andrew Ledwith’s time of 50 minutes 11 seconds at the Armagh 10-Mile road race was a course record. Greg Roberts of City of Derry was also inside the old record when he finished second in 50 mins 42 secs. First women was Breege Connolly of the Marathon Mission who finished in 58 mins 58 secs, with Julie Turley of Dromore just eight seconds adrift.
Leading home over a thousand women and the RunHer 5km and 10km race at Stormont in Belfast was Cathy McCourt.
Mary Mulhare and Sean Tobin were the stars of AB Travel Ballyfin Junior-Cross in Emo Court. In the women’s 2.6km, Dunshaughlin’s Shauna Moore did much of the early work before Mulhare took over in front with a kilometre to go. Although chased hard by Tinryland’s Mary-Ann O’Sullivan, Mulhare held on for victory. Raheny took the team title.
Liam Brady of Tullamore and Sean Tobin of Clonmel made the early pace in the men’s 4km, before Tobin took over in front and came home a comfortable winner. Brady held on for second place, ahead of fast finishing Stephen Lawlor of St Abban’s. North Laois was first team.
Vinny Mulvey will lead the Raheny Shamrock team at the European Clubs Half Marathon Championships in Almeirim, Portugal later this month. Mulvey proved that he is back to his best when he finished third at Sunday’s Armagh 10-Mile.
At 23, Simon Ryan is the youngest member of the team while Mick Traynor aged 45, is the most senior and the only survivor of the 2002 team that finished sixth in this race.
With the autumn marathon season now in full swing, Thomas Frazer headed for Chicago where he finished 18th in 2 hrs 19 mins 42 secs. Dropping out at 39km was Mullingar’s Martin Fagan.
Running in Sunday’s Amsterdam Marathon are Clonliffe’s Mark Kenneally and Gary Thorntng from Galway City Harriers. Both are aiming for the London 2012 qualification mark of 2 hours 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, a large group of runners from the MSB group ran the recent Berlin Marathon, with Dave Fitzpatrick leading them home with a new personal best time of 2:36:45.
Athletes dominated the long course at the Killarney Adventure race a 60km slog consisting of run, hike, bike and kayak stages. First home was Adrian Hennesy of Kilfinnane Athletics Club in 4 hours 8 mins, while second was Tim O’Donoghue of East Cork. First woman was Eagle’s Deirdre Nagle, winner of the Valentia Half Marathon a week earlier.
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