​So many of our members were racing this weekend, it was hard to keep track, so to speak.  Events from the first of this year’s Dublin graded meets to the various half and full marathons available, kept us enthralled.

We start with events on the track on Saturday afternoon. In Clonmel, at the first of this year’s Irish Milers Club meets, Alex Ainsworth recorded a 2 second PB in the men’s 3000m, placing 12th in a super time of 8:55.95.

Then, in the Morton Stadium for the Dublin graded meet, we had both men and women competing in the various events on offer. The women competed in heats of the 100m and the 3000m. In heat 2 of the first round of the D grade 100m, Juliette O’Connor placed 3rd in 14.12. Karen Hughes won the 3rd heat in 13.19 (the fastest of all the heats) and then in grade C, heat 1, young Ada Skrobol placed 3rd in 13.36, with Juliette McCloskey placing 6th in 13.61 in the 2nd heat. We had no competitors in the 2nd round. 

Three of our members ran in two of the 3000m races on offer. In grade D with 9 in the field, Jade Murphy placed 2nd in a PB time of 11:35.24, whilst in the B grade event, also with a field of 9, Kathryn Gibbons placed 3rd with a PB time of 10:42.39, followed by Sarah Lyons, also with a PB time of 10:49.28, in 5th place.

We had lots of results in the men’s series of 100m, 800m and 3000m. In grade A round 1 and 1st heat of the 100m Saad Ashraf placed 3rd in 11.59. Then, Valentinos Goularas placed 7th in heat 2 in 11.45. Meanwhile, the B grade race, 1st heat of the first round, was won by Luc Culliton in 11.34. Similarly, Charlie Bastow won the 2nd heat in 11.14. In the 2nd round, Charlie took 1st place in 11.19, ahead of Luc who placed 2nd in 11.37. Eoin Carroll placed 3rd in the C grade race 3rd heat in 12.21, and then placed 8th in round 2 in 12.41. Jack Byrne placed 2nd in 2:00.78 in the 800m men’s grade B race, whilst the D grade race 1st heat was won by Senan McDonnell in 2:14.95 and Karl Fitzmaurice placed 5th in heat 2 in 2:17.15. Michael Wycherley was our sole entrant in the men’s B grade 3000m, placing 6th in 9:46.00 and Cillian Traynor also placed 6th in the D grade in a time of 11:01.17.

Finally, in the field, Ada went on to compete in the high jump, and even as a juvenile was able to win gold in the women's senior competition, which doubled as the Dublin High Jump Championships. Ada leapt 1.45m with her third attempt at that height, the only female athlete to make the height after her competition dropped out after 1.4m. Meanwhile, Harry Moylan placed 2nd with the last of his 6 throws in the shot put. The distance thrown was 12.49m.

It was an early start of 8:30 on Sunday morning for athletes in the second running of the Dublin City Half marathon taking place entirely on the northside of Dublin. Conditions were almost perfect for the event with little wind this year (and what wind there was was the opposite from last year) and the promised rain held off too.

The race enjoyed a huge turnout of over 12,000 participants, including more than 80 Crusaders. Please see all the results below for the relevant detail. Just to record a few here, we start with the contingent being led over the line by Ciarain Kelly in a great time of 75:57 for 47th place just ahead of Rory O’Kennedy who, having been the front Cru runner for most of the race got into difficulties with about 50m to go but still managed to get over the line in 49th spot with a great time 76:01. We had two more runners in the first 100 places, with Ashley Hayes recording a PB time of 76:57 for 65th place, followed by Jens Seggewiss (85th in 78:02).

Molly Hyland, with a super time of 81:31 for 174th place overall and 14th female finisher, was the next to cross the line with some strong results from runners in the club behind her. PB times were recorded by Steven Michel (200th in 82:22), Donal O’Malley (296th in 84:13), Bryan Dalton (304th in 83:02), Gerry Cooper (308th in 84:30) and Conor Macguinness (326th in 84:06). We had at least 25 runners who broke 90 minutes on what may be considered quite a fast course as it descends from Raheny to Clontarf and along the Tolka towards the Five Lamps and the eventual finish in Guild Street. Other PBs among them were recorded by Simon Kenny (490th in 87:19), Isabella Gyori (548th and 47th in 87:39), Jamie Symmons (550th in 87:20) and Michael Judge (591st in 87:50). It was also good to see Daniel Lowe finally getting back to racing after injury. We had at least 17 more club mates who managed to finish inside 1:40, and several had PBs. Charlie Coonan placed 971st in 92:04), followed by Jill O’Flynn, another runner with a PB (1135th and 113th in 93:45), Ryan Murphy (1157th in 94:28) and Noel Carr (1329th in 95:27) who helped pace Jill for much of the race. Finishing inside the top 100 female runners were Ciara Regan (794th and 67th in 90:56) and Mags Foley (905th and 78th in 91:37). It was good to see Marie Hyland back in action after a long absence and meeting her goal of breaking 1:40 (1992nd and 257th in 98:35) just ahead of Dee Ni Chearbhaill (2042nd and 268th in 98:56).

Next across the line came Orla O’Flynn (2216th overall, 306th female finisher and 2nd placed F55 in 1:40:45) and the next female finisher was Ellen Walsh with a PB time of 1:45:01 (2931st and 484th). Another PB was recorded by Imogen Guinness (3449th and 621st in 1:48:34), and then by Orla O’Neill (3901st and 774th in 1:45:59), Noel Higgins (4736th in his first half marathon in 1:52:02), Juliane Frydenlund (5630th and 1473rd in a PB time of 1:55:10), Aitor Arribas Velasco (6061st in 1:53:00) and Marie-Claire Daly in her first half marathon (11113th and 4617th in 02:26:21). Finally, Máirín Shine won the F70 category, placing 9993rd and 3869th in 2:20:19. Spare a thought for Emma Rowe who was unable to finish after pulling out around the 17k mark. Members may be interested to hear that Liz and Michelle Maher, two sisters from GCH who regularly train with us, placed, respectively, 258th and 22nd in a PB time of 83:58 and 700th and 56th in 90:00.

Down in Limerick there was the traditional running of 3 events: the full and half marathons and the oddly-distanced 6-miler. We had at least one runner in the marathon with its field of 995. Triona Quill won the F55 age category in a time of 3:27:15 placing 354th overall. Then, in the half marathon, with a field of nearly 2,700, we had at least 6 club mates participate. Aisling Harrington placed 401st and 61st in 96:19 and she was followed by Mary Donnelly (442nd and 72nd in 96:03), Kev Moore (526th in 94:45), Stephen Murphy (599th in 95:58), Greg Marnotte (1238th in 1:47:35) and Caoimhe O’Halloran (1788th and 431st in 1:49:55). We had two runners in the 6-miler. In a field of more than 7,600 Eugene McDonough placed 33rd in a time of 38:39, followed by Luke Haran (119th in 43:52). Members may be interested to hear that recent Crusader (now with Cork City AC) Orla Drumm placed 12th overall and 2nd in the women’s race in 35:42.

Two of our members contested the Belfast City marathon on Sunday morning. In a field of 5211 finishers, Yvonne Macauley placed 326th and 19th in 3:06:07, followed by Lisa Branigan who placed 1459th and 180th in 3:42:26.

Further afield, one of our Australian exiles, Marty James, ran 3:30:27 in the Adelaide marathon on Sunday morning. Meanwhile, earlier in the weekend, two of our Spanish exiles, Cristian Vilchez Ceballos and Esther Requena Ferri, took part in the Velez-Malaga half marathon where Cristian recorded a time of 79:33, followed by Esther (88:28). Cristian ran in another race a couple of days later. In a 4.6k street race in Malaga, he recorded a time of 15:26. Liam Nagle headed to Prague for the marathon there which he completed in 3:13:11. Andrea Rondina, now based in the US, ran in a 1-mile race in Danville, California, where he placed 9th in the street event in a PB time of 4.24. Another of our exiles ran over the weekend. Valentin Akdim, who now resides in Bordeaux, placed 16th in the 48k Trail du Mourtis in the Pyrenees, recording a time of 6:29:00.

In our mountains, we should have two races on which to report. The first took place on Wednesday evening around Tibradden in the Dublin mountains. On a new route and in a field of 187, over a distance of 9.65k with a climb of 335m, Donatas Jocius placed 3rd in 44:03, followed by Daniel Toal (40th in 53:06 in the first of two races he entered this week, the second being the Dublin half) and Gavan Doherty (79th in 60:22). The second race took place in Co Wicklow on Saturday morning. It was the Dargle Four Peak 15k with a climb of 800m. The race took in the summits of Djouce, War Hill, Tonduff and Maulin. At this stage, results are yet to appear and when they do the report will be updated. Jason Kehoe took part, possibly with other Crusaders.

Perhaps because of both the Bank Holiday weekend and runners saving themselves for the long-distance efforts on Sunday, there was lower attendance over all in parkruns on Saturday morning.

Still, we saw some excellent results. James Sherry joined a field of 98 in Monaghan Town, where he led all the runners home in 19:22. Meanwhile, Rob Cross was doing the same in Donabate with its field 251 Rob ran 17:21 and he was followed by Fiona Bane (36th and 5th in 23:59). Our largest contingent, as usual, was in Poolbeg with its field of 255.

Orla Walsh was a first finisher there, placing 11th overall in a time of 21:03. Orla was preceded by John McDowell (3rd in 20:04) and Adrian Groarke (4th in 20:08) and then followed by Daniel Littlewood (14th in 21:14), Ashley Hayes pacing the 22 minutes runners (22nd in 21:59), Ross Neill (30th in 22:54), Ed Joyce (39th in 23:22) and James Cottle (47th in 23:48).

Further back came Josie Ward (71st and 15th in 25:09), Sharon Woods (96th and 22nd in 26:38), Alby Allan (102nd in 27:04), Paul Campbell (103rd in 27:06), Franky Keane (108th in 27:25), Tanja Narancic (115th and 33rd in 27:59), Louise O’Riordan (117th and 34th in 28:06), Bo Chicoine (119th in 28:12), Fanny Trébouet (126th and 38th in 28:33), Maureen McGinley (158th and 60th in 29:53), Kevin Kenny pacing the 30 minute runners (160th in 29:58), Cynthia Perucca (194th and 82nd in 32:51) and Don Anderton, tailwalking.

Once again, Jamie Renehan podiumed in Fairview with its field of 192, where he placed 2nd in 18:57, followed by Kieran Martin (5th in 20:03), Paul F. Kelly (30th in 24:48) and Michael O’Shea (58th in 26:59). Then, in Marlay Park, Killian Barry placed 22nd in 20:39 in a field of 532, followed by Kathryn Tomkins (37th and 3rd in 21:53). Karl Walsh took 11th spot in the 163-strong field in Naas in a time of 20:26, whilst, Áine Kenny placed 25th and 11th in 30:20 in the field of 51 in Mountbellew Forest.

We had 4 participants in the field of 325 in Shanganagh. Fiona Shine placed 164th and 44th in 28:30, followed by Orlaith de Burca (242nd and 85th in 32:30) and Lisa and Máirín Shine parkwalking. Meanwhile, in Navan, Mairead Cashman joined 119 other runners, where she placed 68th and 22nd in 31:44, whilst, in Bushy Park, with its field of 237, Kev Moore ran 23:18 for 24th spot, followed by Mary Donnelly (71st and 14th in 25:48). Áine Crotty ran alongside 140 participants on Midleton Greenway where she placed 118th and 41st in 36;17, whilst, in St. Anne’s Kabir Sala placed 217th in 28:29. The field there measure 491.

Finally, Iseult Ni Chuinneagain headed to Holyrood in Edinburgh, where, in a field of 722, she placed 393rd and 115th in 29:29, whilst in Coomera, Australia, our exile there, Kris Ryan, placed 28th and 8th in field of 112 and a time of 26:27.
​
Dublin City Half marathon (12236)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Sean Tobin 1 01:03:11
16 Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill 1 01:11:24
Crusaders AC runners
47 Ciarain Kelly 01:15:57
49 Rory O’Kennedy 01:16:01
65 Ashley Hayes 01:16:57 (PB)
85 Jens Segewiss 01:18:02
174 Molly Hyland 01:21:31 (14)
189 Daragh O’Reilly 01:21:57
200 Steven Michel 01:22:15 (PB)
201 Shane Egan 01:22:15
206 Gerard White 01:22:27
209 Kieran Martin 01:22:45
245 TJ Bourke 01:23:37
296 Donal O’Malley 01:24:13 (PB)
304 Bryan Dalton 01:23:02 (PB)
307 Daniel Toal 01:24:00
308 Gerry Cooper 01:24:30 (PB)
326 Conor Macguinness 01:24:06 (PB)
349 Alby Allan 01:25:14
490 Simon Kenny 01:27:19 (PB)
521 Robert Cervi 01:27:47
548 Isabella Gyori 01:27:39 (PB) (47)
550 Jamie Symmons 01:27:20 (PB)
591 Michael Judge 01:27:50 (PB)
646 Simon Everard 01:29:35
654 Daniel Lowe 01:25:15
723 Martin McCoy 01:29:41
794 Ciara Regan 01:30:56 (67)
850 Sean Egan 01:31:57
859 Grattan O’Brien 01:32:03
905 Margaret Foley 01:31:37 (78)
928 Tomás Bradley 01:32:09
971 Charlie Coonan 01:32:04
973 Ronan Smith 01:32:26
1135 Jill O’Flynn 01:33:45 (PB) (113)
1157 Ryan Murphy 01:34:28 (PB)
1248 Phelim Murray 01:35:08
1329 Noel Carr 01:35:27 (PB)
1574 Daniel O’Mahony 01:36:40
1766 Louise Dobbyn 01:37:57 (211)
1796 Paul Campbell 01:37:32
1992 Marie Hyland 01:38:35 (257)
2042 Deirdre Ni Chearbhaill 01:38:56 (268)
2216 Orla O’Flynn 01:40:45 (306)
2335 Conor Foley 01:39:58
2761 Ryan Preston 01:42:30
2870 Gian Piero Allerta 01:43:32
2931 Ellen Walsh 01:45:01 (PB) (484)
2946 Áine Crotty 01:43:41 (488)
2947 Caroline Fleming 01:42:23 (489)
2956 Sarah Lyons 01:44:03 (490)
2974 Stephen Ryan 01:43:42
3000 Emily Glen 01:44:11 (501)
3200 Franky Keane 01:44:19
​3211 Niall Duffy 01:48:22
3280 Emer Kenny 01:47:05 (568)
3449 Imogen Guinness 01:48:34 (PB) (621)
3867 Sharon Woods 01:45:20 (759)
3878 Aoife McCarthy 01:47:33 (765)
3901 Orla O’Neill 01:45:59 (PB) (774)
3910 April Dunne 01:46:05 (778)
4027 Javier Garcia Lopez 01:45:35
4209 John Kennedy 01:47:14
4324 Mark Browne 01:49:19
4569 Fiona Shine 01:49:35 (1020)
4662 Chris Bannon 01:52:32
4736 Noel Higgins 01:52:02 (PB)
5332 Divya Sardana 01:56:00 (1351)
5630 Juliane Frydenlund 01:55:10 (PB) (1473)
6061 Aitor Arribas Velasco 01:53:00 (PB)
6342 Joe Dunne 01:59:59 (PACER)
6498 Alan Martin 01:58:35
6525 Derek Boland 01:54:26
6684 Kabir Sala 01:56:20
6881 Laura O’Malley 01:57:07 (2077)
7105 Kevin Kenny 02:00:37
​7306 Andres Mino 02:01:25
7362 Clare Bradley 01:58:58 (2312)
7560 Michael Geers 02:04:19
8143 Bo Chicoine 02:06:25
8354 Lorraine McMahon 02:06:06 (2828)
8869 Darina Scully 02:09:34 (3136)
​9212 Michelle English 02:12:04 (3352)
9987 Lisa Shine 02:15:35 (3802)
9993 Máirín Shine 02:20:19 (3869)
11113 Marie-Claire Daly 02:26:21 (PB) (4617)
Full results here: https://www.tdleventservices.co.uk/en/results-embed.php?event=4199
Limerick Half marathon (2688)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Chris Jeuken 1 01:07:21
32 Alex Murphy 1 01:19:55
Crusaders AC runners
401 Aisling Harrington 01:36:19 (61)
442 Mary Donnelly 01:36:03 (72)
526 Kev Moore 01:34:45
599 Stephen Murphy 01:35:58
1238 Grégoire Marnotte 01:47:35
1788 Caoimhe O’Halloran 01:49:55 (431)
Full results here: https://www.tdleventservices.co.uk/en/results-embed.php?event=4200#0_7E1A78
Limerick Marathon (995)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Jake O’Regan 1 02:19:37
20 Dee Grady 1 02:43:05
Crusaders AC runner
354 Triona Quill 03:27:15 (26)
Full results here: https://www.tdleventservices.co.uk/en/results-embed.php?event=4200#0_3C72C7
Limerick 6-miler (7603)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 John Durcan 1 00:30:51
8 Jessica Coyne 1 00:33:50
Crusaders AC runners
33 Eugene McDonough 00:38:39
119 Luke Haran 00:43:52
Full results here: https://www.tdleventservices.co.uk/en/results-embed.php?event=4200#0_70C5BF
Belfast City marathon (5211)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Abay Alemu 1 02:16:24
24 Aziza Alaoui Selsouli 1 0:2:38:01
Crusaders AC runners
326 Yvonne Macauley 03:06:07 (19)
1459 Lisa Branigan 03:42:26 (180)
Full results here: https://www.popupraces.ie/race/phoenix-energy-belfast-city-marathon-2026/
IMRA Tibradden 9.65k (187)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Edward O’Connor 1 00:42:52
36 Niamh Murphy 1 00:52:06
Crusaders AC runners
3 Donatas Jocius 00:44:03
40 Daniel Toal 00:53:06
79 Gavan Doherty 01:00:22
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2841/category/O/
Bushy Parkrun (237) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Marc Griffin 1 00:18:36
23 Léonore Therry 1 00:23:10
Crusaders AC runners
24 Kev Moore 00:23:18
71 Mary Donnelly 00:25:48 (14)
St. Anne’s Parkrun (491) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Kenneth Nolan 1 00:17:39
12 Zoe Quinn 1 00:19:28
Crusaders AC runner
217 Kabir Sala 00:28:29
Monaghan Town Parkrun (98)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 James Sherry 1 00:19:22
4 Sinead Doherty 1 00:22:28
Crusaders AC runner
1 James Sherry 00:19:22
Shanganagh Parkrun (325)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Naomi Wall 1 00:18:29
2 Chris Gallagher 1 00:18:58
Crusaders AC runners
164 Fiona Shine 00:28:30 (44)
242 Orlaith de Burca 00:32:30 (85)
315 Lisa Shine 00:45:33 (131)
316 Máirín Shine 00:46:33 (132)
Fairview Parkrun (192)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 David Healey 1 00:17:43
39 Alisha Stephenson 1 00:25:27
Crusaders AC runners
2 Jamie Renehan 00:18:57
5 Kieran Martin 00:20:03
30 Paul F. Kelly 00:24:48
58 Michael O’Shea 00:26:59
Poolbeg Parkrun (255)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Peter Kern 1 00:18:37
11 Orla Walsh 1 00:21:03
Crusaders AC runners
3 John McDowell 00:20:04
4 Adrian Groarke 00:20:08
11 Orla Walsh 00:21:03 (1)
14 Daniel Littlewood 00:21:14
30 Ross Neill 00:22:54
39 Ed Joyce 00:23:22
47 James Cottle 00:23:48
71 Josie Ward 00:25:09 (15)
96 Sharon Woods 00:26:38 (22)
102 Alby Allan 00:27:04
103 Paul Campbell 00:27:06
108 Franky Keane 00:27:25
115 Tanja Narancic 00:27:59 (33)
117 Louise O’Riordan 00:28:06 (34)
119 Bo Chicoine 00:28:12
126 Fanny Trébouet 00:28:33 (38)
158 Maureen McGinley 00:29:53 (60)
160 Kevin Kenny 00:29:58
194 Cynthia Perucca 00:32:51 (82)
255 Don Anderton 00:58:11
Donabate Parkrun (251)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Rob Cross 1 00:17:21
14 Geraldine McHale 1 00:21:10
Crusaders AC runners
1 Rob Cross 00:17:21
36 Fiona Bane 00:23:59 (5)
Naas Parkrun (163)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Keith Brady 1 00:18:30
19 Ruth O’Loughlin 1 00:21:04
Crusaders AC runner
11 Karl Walsh 00:20:26
Midleton Greenway Parkrun (141) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Michael Byrne 1 00:18:34
8 Fiona Hallahan 1 00:20:28
Crusaders AC runner
118 Áine Crotty 00:36:17 (41)
Marlay Parkrun (532) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
2 Ross Cosgrave 1 00:18:26
13 Amelia Rodgers 1 00:19:44
Crusaders AC runners
22 Killian Barry 00:20:39
37 Kathryn Sweeney 00:21:53 (3)
Navan Parkrun (120) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 James Sherlock 1 00:18:30
17 Aoife Begley 1 00:23:09
Crusaders AC runner
68 Mairead Cashman 00:31:44 (22)
Mountbellew Forest Parkrun (51)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 David Popplewell 1 00:22:00
5 Emer Dudley 1 00:24:48
Crusaders AC runner
25 Áine Kenny 00:30:20 (11)

Wow! What a day! Many of us spent Sunday morning glued to our TVs watching the marathon World record being obliterated in London by 3 male athletes, two of whom ran under 2 hours for the first time, a feat that it has been said could not be achieved without artificial and external assistance. Pray that all are clean, given what happened with the female athlete who has been suspended since setting the female world record in Chicago. In addition, it was brilliant to see an Irishman, Peter Lynch from Cork, leading the Europeans home in 9th place with a new national record of 2:06:08, a minute and forty-six seconds faster than the previous one.

To cap the day off, we were then treated to a super spectacle at the National Road Relays, hosted by Raheny Shamrock on the traditional one-mile loop next to St. Anne’s Park and well-organised by Athletics Ireland. This was possibly the first time a start and finish line gantry was used and it added to the occasion.

As in London, it was a beautiful sunny day and brought out plenty of support for the 9 teams we fielded from seniors through master categories. The first race of the day was an inspiration for us all, with the 3-woman O/35 team of Aoife Quigley, Caroline Crowley and Kathryn Gibbons taking home the bronze medal in an 8-team competition and in a total time of 23:07 for the 4-mile distance (1,2,1-mile legs).

All the other races, apart from the senior men’s competition, equally had legs of 1-,2- and 1-mile distances and in the O/35 men’s event involving 23 teams, our A team of Ciarain Kelly, John Mulvihill and Jan Manschot placed 14th in 21:06, followed by the B team of Ryan Murphy, Alby Allan and Gerry Cooper who placed 19th in 22:24 and the C team of Sean Brady, Brian McGuckin and Tomás Bradley who placed 23rd in 24:56. In the O/50 category , we fielded a men’s team in the 12-strong field, with Karl Fitzmaurice, Rob Cross and Gary Park finishing in a collected time of 21:59 for 8th spot. The senior women’s A team of Annie Hughes, Charlotte Myers and Cría Dowling placed 14th in a competition involving 28 teams in a time of 22:31 and they were followed by Jade Murphy, Mags Foley and Luz Estevan who ran 24:58 for 24th place. Finally, we fielded 2 teams in the senior men’s category which had a total distance of 8 miles (2,1,3,2). Alex Ainsworth, Barry McCarthy, Colm Parnell and Adam Shier ran 40:35 for 12th place in the 28-strong field, whilst the “international” team of Lucas Huchard, Luis Schmitz, Jens Seggewiss and Oisin Browne ran 46:53 for 26th spot. Well done to all! It was a great event!

Coming back to the marathons, we actually had a few Crusaders take part in what was a really warm and windless London marathon, from start to finish. Kate O’Malley, one of our London-based exiles surprisingly ran a PB of 2:52:48 and she was followed by a super showing from Derek Boland who ran perfectly even halves to register yet another sub-3 finish (2:58:19). Next came another exile, Florian Mormont, now in France, who ran 3:29:29 and he was followed by Liz Nixon who ran 3:43:58. Conor Parle, another of our London-based exiles, completed the group, finishing in 3:53:46.

Further afield, Michael O’Shea admitted to finding the going tough in the hot and hilly Madrid marathon which he completed in 3:44:05 and he was preceded by Sebastian Hansen, fresh from his exploits in Boston only 6 days ago, who paced a friend to a super 3:30 finish. Then, in Hamburg, Charles-Edouard Cattier ran strongly for a 3:05:18 result.

Down under Maurice Kelter could not resist the opportunity to participate in a half marathon staged on the runway of a new airport yet to open in the west of Sydney in Australia. As might be expected, Maurice podiumed in the event, placing 2nd in a race that measured slightly short (20.25k) but in an excellent time of 70:49.

There was one local race on Sunday in which we had at least one competitor. In the St. Andrews AC 10k, Darren Kelly ran alongside 121 other runners, placing 116th in 68:05.

There were two races organised by IMRA over the past few days in which we saw Crusaders participation. On Wednesday evening, with a field of 182, we had at least 4 runners in the 7.5k Bray Head mountain race with its climb of over 340m. Daniel Toal placed 10th in 42:00, followed by Gavan Doherty (92nd in 55:01). They were followed by Lisa and Máirín Shine, fresh from a course on trail running, who placed 177th and 182nd overall, 63rd and 66th female finishers, respectively. Most importantly, in a race that Máirín pronounced as the most difficult of her life (particularly the steep and treacherous descent down Bray Head), she finished as 2nd F70.

On Saturday morning, in the sunshine, IMRA organised a 21.5k race around Trooperstown and Clara Vale in Co. Wicklow. The field measured 125 and the race featured a climb of 750m. Daniel O’Mahony placed 22nd in 2:08:37, followed by Richie Phelan (28th in 2:11:36) and Redmond Murphy (40th in 2:18:27).

The sun brought out plenty of parkrunners on Saturday morning. Our largest contingent was in Cabinteely, out to celebrate the end of Olwyn Dunne’s incredible runstreak. Olwyn has run at least 5k on 2000 consecutive days since late 2019 and had decided to end it at 2001, in view of her professional commitments as a recently recruited flight attendant for British Airways. It was fitting that the first finishers were Crusaders in a contingent of at least 26 of us on a course which Olwyn set up as its first run director.

Dee Lawlor was first across the line of what some of us have now realised must be one of the hilliest and challenging parkruns in Ireland. It might serve well for hill interval training going forward! Dee ran 18:00 ahead of a field of 221. He was followed by Clare Sullivan (13th and 1st in 22:10), Aoife Quigley (17th and 2nd in 22:32), Yvonne Macauley, in a shakeout before running the Belfast marathon next weekend (21st and 3rd in 23:28), Dee Ni Chearbhaill (26th and 4th in 24:07) and James Cottle (36th in 24:40). Further back came Tara Gavin (likely 77th in 28:03), alongside Paula Bradshaw (78th and 26th in 28:04) and just ahead of Emily Glen (79th and 27th in 28:06) and Gavan Doherty (80th in 28:16). Gill Earley was likely next (82nd in 28:23) and she was followed by Miriam Logan (83rd and 28th in 28:24), Carmel Higgins (90th and 31st in 28:48), Sophia Morgan (95th and 34th in 28:53), Bex Fleming (likely 29:38), Fiona Shine (110th and 40th in 29:55), Tanja Narancic (111th and 41st in 29:56), Joe Dunne (112th in 29:57), Lisa Shine (113th and 42nd in 29:58) and Olwyn herself (115th and 44th in 30:04). The contingent was completed by Ailish Hassett (122nd and 48th in 30:15), followed by Maureen McGinley (145th and 59th in 31:39), Máirín Shine (147th and 61st in 31:41), Mairead Cashman (156th and 67th in 32:49) and Carina Davidson (183rd and 88th in 35:38). Mags Foley also ran , but her time and place were not recorded.

We had first finishers and podium places elsewhere too. Ciara Regan placed 18th and 1st in the 280-strong field in Poolbeg in a time of 20:42. She was preceded by Kenan Furlong (2nd in 18:06) and Ronan Walsh (9th in 19:29) and followed by Tim O’Donnell (23rd in 20:56), Daniel Littlewood (27th in 21:36), Ryan Preston (29th in 21:43) and Ross Neill (34th in 22:12). Further back came Ellen Walsh (63rd and 11th in 24:15) and was followed later by Aoife McCarthy (113th and 32nd in 26:24), Juliane Frydenlund (120th and 37th in 26:36), Marie-Claire Daly (213th and 100th in 33:35), Djinn Von Noorden (217th and 102nd in 33:43) and Cynthia Perucca (219th and 104th in 33:53). Áine Kenny was also a first finisher, placing 2nd overall in the 49-strong field in Mountbellew Forest, in a time of 22:07, whilst Joe Walsh took 2nd spot in 18:11 in Bushy Park with its field of 254. Jamie Renehan also placed 2nd in Fairview in a time of 19:13, followed by Louise O’Riordan (73rd and 17th in 26:43. The field there measured 197. Meanwhile, David O’Donnell joined a field of 31 in Dungloe, where he placed 3rd in a time of 22:09.

Kev Moore headed to Mungret Park, where he placed 6th in a time of 20:35, in a field of 113, whilst, in Bognor Regis, Michael Wycherley placed 2nd in 17:57 in a field of 373. Karl Walsh took 8th spot in 19:21 in the 182-strong field in Naas, whilst John Lohan crossed the line in Athlone in a time of 22:55 for 10th spot in a field of 130.

In St. Anne’s, Sam Osborne placed 25th in 20:05, followed, in the field of 535, by Mikel Crisostomo who placed 46th in 20:59, whilst, in Tymon Park, Sharon Woods was our lone runner, placing 43rd and 13th in a field of 115 and in a time of 27:27. Sarah Lyons and Phelim Murray headed to Bushy Park in London, where they joined 1795 other runners, placing respectively 230th and 25th and 378th in times of 22:23 and 24:07, whilst Aitor Arribas Velasco ran alongside 48 other participants in Macroom Castle Demesne, placing 20th in 26:57. In Donabate, Brendan Glynn ran 23:30 for 46th place in a field of 205, whilst Martina White ran in Mullingar. In a field of 222, Martina placed 76th and 19th in 26:43.

Áine Crotty, in training for the Cork marathon, joined 301 other participants in Tramore Valley, Cork, where she placed 243rd and 98th in 33:11, whilst in Shanganagh, with its field of 306, Harp Bhambra took 210th and 83rd places in 32:37, followed by Orlaith de Burca, tailwalking.

On a visit to Montréal in Canada, Kevin Kenny joined 107 other runners in the Frédéric Back parkrun there, placing 36th in 26:05, whilst Paul F. Kelly, on a trip to Scotland, ran in Holyrood with its field of 604, placing 104th in 23:33. Our Scottish exile, Aidan Hudner, ran once again in Pollok. In a field of 352, he placed 99th in 26:15, whilst Christina Campbell, one of our Australian exiles, placed 362nd and 108th in a field of 481 and in a time of 31:27.
​
St. Andrews AC 10k (122)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Sean Doran 1 00:34:01
26 Jennifer Foran 1 00:44:30
Crusaders AC runner
116 Darren Kelly 01:08:05
Full results here: https://myrunresults.com/events/st_andrews_ac_5k__10k_2026/5965/results
IMRA Trooperstown and Clara Vale Loop 21.5k (125)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Enda Cloake 1 01:33:07
6 Caroline Harney Ayton 1 01:54:29
Crusaders AC runners
22 Daniel O’Mahony 02:08:37
28 Richard Phelan 02:11:36
40 Redmond Murphy 02:18:27
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2857/
IMRA Bray Head 7.5k (182)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Barry Minnock 1 00:36:41
30 Grace Curham 1 00:44:47
Crusaders AC runners
10 Daniel Toal 00:42:00
92 Gavan Doherty 00:55:01
177 Lisa Shine 01:14:54 (63)
182 Máirín Shine 01:17:30 (66)
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2840/category/O/
Bushy Parkrun (254) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Conor Richardson 1 00:18:05
22 Gemma Ryan 1 00:22:07
Crusaders AC runner
2 Joe Walsh 00:18:11
St. Anne’s Parkrun (535) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Maurice O’Brien 1 00:17:41
14 Ailish Malone 1 00:19:30
Crusaders AC runners
25 Sam Osborne 00:20:05
46 Mikel Crisostomo 00:20:59
Mungret Parkrun (113)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Chris O’Connor 1 00:18:22
5 Kate Ryan 1 00:20:07
Crusaders AC runner
6 Kev Moore 00:20:35
Shanganagh Parkrun (306)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
2 Senan Garvey 1 00:17:43
21 Caoimhe Basquille 1 00:20:50
Crusaders AC runners
210 Harp Bhambra 00:32:37 (83)
306 Orlaith de Burca 00:57:57
Fairview Parkrun (197)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Diarmuid Kilroy 1 00:18:58
31 Laoise Ryan 1 00:23:21
Crusaders AC runners
2 Jamie Renehan 00:19:13
73 Louise O’Riordan 00:26:43 (17)
Poolbeg Parkrun (280)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 August Benedicto 1 00:18:01
18 Ciara Regan 1 00:20:42
Crusaders AC runners
2 Kenan Furlong 00:18:06
9 Ronan Walsh 00:19:29
18 Ciara Regan 00:20:42 (1)
23 Tim O’Donnell 00:20:56
27 Daniel Littlewood 00:21:36
29 Ryan Preston 00:21:43
34 Ross Neill 00:22:12
63 Ellen Walsh 00:24:15 (11)
113 Aoife McCarthy 00:26:24 (32)
120 Juliane Frydenlund 00:26:36 (37)
213 Marie-Claire Daly 00:33:35 (100)
217 Djinn Von Noorden 00:33:43 (102)
219 Cynthia Perucca 00:33:53 (104)
Athlone RSC Parkrun (130)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Neil Casey 1 00:20:36
5 Kate McCormick 1 00:21:22
Crusaders AC runner
10 John Lohan 00:22:55
Naas Parkrun (182)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Oliver Warren 1 00:17:25
16 Dolores Fogarty 1 00:20:22
Crusaders AC runner
8 Karl Walsh 00:19:21
Tramore Valley, Cork Parkrun (302) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Darren McCann 1 00:17:21
18 Jean O’Driscoll 1 00:21:19
Crusaders AC runner
243 Áine Crotty 00:33:11 (98)
Dungloe Parkrun (31) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Gavin Ward 1 00:19:10
2 Claire Reid 1 00:20:55
Crusaders AC runner
3 David O’Donnell 00:22:09
Tymon Parkrun (115) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Tobias Constien 1 00:18:55
12 Fiona Leheny 1 00:23:18
Crusaders AC runner
43 Sharon Woods 00:27:27 (13)
Mullingar Parkrun (222)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Cormac Minnock 1 00:17:34
6 Penny Bohan 1 00:20:21
Crusaders AC runner
76 Martina White 00:26:43 (19)
Cabinteely Parkrun (221) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Derek Lawlor 1 00:18:00
13 Clare Sullivan 1 00:22:10
Crusaders AC runners
1 Derek Lawlor 00:18:00
13 Clare Sullivan 00:22:10 (1)
17 Aoife Quigley 00:22:32 (2)
21 Yvonne Macauley 00:23:28 (3)
26 Deirdre Ni Chearbhaill 00:24:07 (4)
36 James Cottle 00:24:40
[77 Tara Gavin 00:28:03]
78 Paula Bradshaw 00:28:04 (26)
79 Emily Glen 00:28:06 (27)
80 Gavan Doherty 00:28:16
[82 Gillian Earley 00:28:23]
83 Miriam Logan 00:28:24 (28)
90 Carmel Higgins 00:28:48 (31)
95 Sophia Morgan 00:28:53 (34)
110 Fiona Shine 00:29:55 (40)
111 Tanja Narancic 00:29:56 (41)
[112 Joe Dunne 00:29:57]
113 Lisa Shine 00:29:58 (42)
115 Olwyn Dunne 00:30:04 (44)
122 Ailish Hassett 00:30:15 (48)
145 Maureen McGinley 00:31:39 (59)
147 Máirín Shine 00:31:41 (61)
156 Mairead Cashman 00:32:49 (67)
183 Carina Davidson 00:35:38 (88)
Donabate Parkrun (205) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Conor McGuirk 1 00:15:48
9 Dara Ann Harford 1 00:20:02
Crusaders AC runner
46 Brendan Glynn 00:23:30
Macroom Castle Demesne Parkrun (49) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Conor Lucey 1 00:19:03
22 Meena Verma 1 00:28:40
Crusaders AC runner
20 Aitor Arribas Velasco 00:26:57
Mountbellew Forest Parkrun (49)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Aran Burke 1 00:21:34
2 Áine Kenny 1 00:22:07
Crusaders AC runner
2 Áine Kenny 00:22:07 (1)

Our senior women’s team were victorious again, this time in the Dublin 10k Road Championships, held on Sunday in Garristown in the north of the county and as part of the Windmill Run.

In a field of 531 and on a tough country course which started downhill but with an uphill finish, Cría Dowling placed 78th overall and 3rd female finisher in a time of 41:53. In cool, sunny but calm conditions, Aoife Quigley came next (94th overall, 7th female finisher and winner of the F40 category in 42:54), followed by Mags Foley (115th, 11th and 2nd F40 in 44:48) and Sarah Lyons (120th and 13th in 45:02). By virtue of such strong finishing positions, the four women took home the gold medal in the senior team competition. Dee Ni Chearbhaill was next, placing 141st and 17th in 46:02. The contingent was completed by Chris Bannon (234th in 50:20) and Brendan Glynn (257th in 51:37).

We have reports of more success across the spectrum of road racing. Midweek, Orla Drumm won the women’s race in the Cork BHAA PwC Anthony Reid Memorial 5k, placing 40th overall in a field of 870 and in a fine time of 17:58. Then, on Saturday morning, we had runners in each of the Westport Marathon and 10k. In mixed weather the marathon enjoyed a field of 450 and our first athlete home was Keith McConigly who placed 43rd in a super PB time of 3:18:33. Indeed, Keith set PBs for 5k, 10k half and full marathons during the event. John Lohan was next, placing 113th in 3:37:57 and he was followed by Paula Nolan (156th and 13th in 3:49:06).

In the 10k event, Annie Hughes recorded an excellent PB time of 39:11 to place 15th and 2nd, just 6 seconds behind the female race winner. In a field of 1372, Isabelle Cairns took 230th and 63rd spots in 50:16, followed by Alan Martin, whose chip seemed not to register, but who likely placed around 290th in a PB time of 51:42.

Down in Cork on Sunday, we had art least two runners in the Great Railway 25k run, from Cork to Carrigaline. Alongside 614 other participants, Emma Noonan placed 53rd and 5th in 1:44:56, with Áine Crotty taking 293rd and 59th spots in 2:12:25. Further east, there was the annual running of the Wexford half marathon and 10k road races. In the 10k, in a field of 1146, Tim O’Donnell placed 44th in 43:03, whilst, in the half marathon, Pat Quill placed 266th in a field of 1553, and in a time of 1:43:50.

Over in the west, several of our clubmates took part in at least two of the three events offered in the Connemarathon. In the full event itself, Aoife Hoare distinguished herself on the tough and hilly course by placing 17th overall and winning the women’s race in 3:10:03. This was Aoife’s first major venture, after coming back from severe injury. The field measured 566. Then, in the half marathon with a field of 1,443 finishers, we had at least 8 Crusaders take part. They were led home by Lucas Huchard (45th in 91:21) and he was followed by Áine Kenny (72nd overall, 8th female finisher and likely 3rd F40 in 94:36). Shane Egan was next (76th in 93:54) and he was followed by Aaron Farrell (100th in 1:40:06), Mark Browne (319th in 1:52:20), Charles Cartledge (523rd in 1:58:36), Kelly Brown (550th in a PB time of 2:00:47) and Djinn Von Noorden (740th in 2:07:47). Members will be interested to read that Liz Maher, the Galway athlete who, along with her sister Michelle, trains with us each week, won the women’s race in 87:01, placing 19th overall.

Further afield, we had athletes competing in Manchester and Vienna marathons on Sunday. In warm conditions in Vienna, Ashley Hayes ran a great time of 2:45:01, whilst, in Manchester, in mild and sunny conditions, Noel Carr recorded a PB time of 3:36:05, followed by Lisa Branigan who ran a super 3:45:28, despite being under the weather leading up to and during the race.

Then, on Monday, on Patriots Day in Massachusetts, we had several runners take part in the point-to-point Boston Marathon, its 130th running. In chilly, but sunny conditions and with a 15km tailwind, we had some some brilliant times on what is considered a tough course with its steep downhill start and then several uphills in the second half. The downhill plays havoc with the quads and this can come back to hurt you on the hills in the second half.

On a day in which a new course record of 2:01:52 was set by repeat winner John Korir, our first runner home was Sebastian Hansen who ran a great PB time of 2:30:14, followed by Conor Kilkenny who may, like others, have found the final kilometres quite challenging but still ran a brilliant 2:35:06. Conor was followed by one of our UK-based exiles, Toby Benham, who ran a PB time of 2:46:59 and then came Doireann Hughes in 2:55:08, with Sarah-Grace Breen not too far behind in 2:58:56. Another of our exiles, Lukasz Batruch, who lives in Switzerland, was next in 3:06:39 with Lydia Martin a little further back in 3:19:40, just ahead of Eddie Nugent, whose training had been interrupted by injury, who finished in 3:30:01. Ciara Lynch was next in 3:32:04 and the contingent was completed by Kevin Kenny who ran 4:27:58. They were all brilliant times on such a tough course.

There was a decent turnout of parkrunners in Poolbeg on Saturday morning, at least 26 in a field of 264. Stephen Hurley and Simon Catteau enjoyed a good dogfight, with Stephen finally prevailing to come home in 2nd place in 18:07, Simon 10 seconds behind in 3rd in 18:17. Ronan Walsh had a good outing too, placing 7th in 19:28, and he was followed by Adrian Groarke (12th in 20:09) and Donal O’Malley (13th in 20:24). Paddy Gaynor was next across the line (23rd in 21:43), followed by James Sherry, still on cloud nine following his success in the Paris marathon the week before (31st in 22:32). Diarmuid Finan was next (33rd in 22:38) and he was followed by Mustaf Ahmed (40th in 23:15), Sharon Woods (43rd and 5th in 23:22) and Kabir Sala (50th in 23:37).

Josie Ward (68th and 12th in 24:36) was next, followed by Pia Kramer (73rd and 13th in 24:52), Paul Campbell (89th in 25:58), just ahead of Emily Glen (91st and 20th in 26:03) and Franky Keane (96th in 26:11). Further back came Sophia Morgan (116th and 29th in 27:16), alongside Tanja Narancic (117th and 30th in 27:17) and then followed by Ellen Walsh (125th and 36th in 27:43) alongside Olwyn Dunne, just back for the weekend having just successfully completed her flight attendant training course with British Airways (126th and 37th in 27:44). Louise O’Riordan was right behind them (132nd and 40th in 27:52) and she was followed by Aisling O’Riordan (135th and 52nd in 28:02), Maureen McGinley (196th and 75th in 31:11), Imogen Guinness (201st and 79th in 31:23), Cynthia Perucca (220th and 95th in 32:45) and Máirín Shine park-walking.

Miriam Logan was a first finisher in Oranmore, where, in a field of 82, she placed 3rd overall in a time of 22:26, whilst Felipe De Sousa finished ahead of the field of 67 in Tolka Valley, running 19:46. Jamie Renehan placed 2nd in Fairview with a time of 18:55, ahead, in a field of 190, of Mikel Crisostomo (10th in 20:16) and Daniel Cullen (likely 85th in 27:00). Meanwhile, Rob Cross placed 2nd in the 386-strong field in Malahide with a time of 17:36, ahead of Fiona Bane (77th and 11th in 23:51), whilst, in Bushy Park, with a field of 209, Conor MacGuinness ran 20:09 for 9th spot, ahead of Kev Moore (11th in 20:51) and Mary Donnelly (17th and 2nd in 21:52).

Up in Navan, Michelle Geoghegan ran 26:29 for 38th and 5th spots in a field of 144, whilst, in Shanganagh, in a field of 313, Aoife McCarthy placed 60th and 9th in 23:59, followed by Carina Davidson (172nd and 45th in 28:51), Kevin Kenny (195th in 30:02) and Orlaith de Burca (212th and 67th in 31:06).

Michael O’Shea placed 9th alongside 480 other runners in St. Anne’s with a time of 19:16, whilst Colm Foley placed 24th in a field of 122 and in a time of 23:39. Helena O’Keeffe took 107th and 17th spots in Ballincollig. In a field of 290, Helena ran a time of 27:07, whilst, in Porterstown, Martina White joined 260 other participants, where she placed 128th and 60th in 29:52. Áine Crotty ran alongside 285 other runners in Tramore Valley, Cork, where she placed 186th. Mairead Cashman paid a visit to Glasgow, where she ran in Queen’s Park with 249 other participants, placing 218th and 82nd in 36:08, whilst two of our exiles in the UK also ran in parkruns. Scott Thomas ran in York in a field of 854, placing 9th in 17:40, whilst Jeanie Watson ran in Finsbury Park, placing 66th and 5th in 21:26. Finally, Toby Benham, in his preparation for the Boston marathon, joined 185 other runners in Danehy Park in Boston where he placed 37th in 23:34.
​
Cork BHAA PwC Anthony Reidy Memorial 5k (870)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Jer Sheehan 1 00:15:09
40 Orla Drumm 1 00:17:58
Crusaders AC runner
40 Orla Drumm 00:17:58 (1)
Full results here: https://www.corkbhaa.com/tag/results/
Westport Marathon (450)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Sean Hehir 1 02:34:29
25 Patricia McLoughlin 1 03:07:40
Crusaders AC runners
43 Keith McGonigly 03:18:33 (PB)
113 John Lohan 03:37:57
156 Paula Nolan 03:49:06 (13)
Full results here: https://www.sportsplits.com/races/ebs-westport-marathon-2026/events/3/
Westport 10k (1372)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Alan Dunne 1 00:33:01
14 Niamh McEntegart 1 00:39:05
Crusaders AC runners
15 Annie Hughes 00:39:11 (2)
230 Isabelle Cairns 00:50:16 (63)
XXX Alan Martin 00:51:42 (PB)
Full results here: https://www.sportsplits.com/races/ebs-westport-marathon-2026/events/3/
The Windmill Run 10k (incorporating Co. Dublin Championships) (531)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Karl Nolan 1 00:34:00
56 Tara Darcy 1 00:40:14
Crusaders AC runners
78 Cría Dowling 00:41:53 (3)
94 Aoife Quigley 00:42:54 (7)
115 Margaret Foley 00:44:48 (11)
120 Sarah Lyons 00:45:02 (13)
141 Deirdre Ni Chearbhaill 00:46:02 (17)
234 Chris Bannon 00:50:20
257 Brendan Glynn 00:51:37
Full results here: https://myrunresults.com/events/the_windmill_run_5k__10k_dublin_10k_champs/6089/results
The Windmill Run 5k (267)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Peter Vostarek 1 00:18:13
6 Ellen Byrne 1 00:20:07
Crusaders AC runner
9 Paul Kilgarriff 00:20:33
Full results here: https://myrunresults.com/events/the_windmill_run_5k__10k_dublin_10k_champs/6089/results
The Great Railway 25k (616)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Tadgh O’Sullivan 1 01:25:05
7 Michelle Finn 1 01:32:18 (CR)
Crusaders AC runners
53 Emma Noonan 01:44:56 (5)
293 Áine Crotty 02:12:25 (59)
Full results here: https://www.premiertimingsystems.ie/2026-Race-Results/The-Great-Railway-25K-Race-Results?fbclid=IwY2xjawRR2m5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeP9AyTFMcvbXMyzrqURbuefs_rWM9TUJYjTiBp2lIONiMfYwBmYWyILv_S7M_aem_neV-PjyWzC17KWOMGEzwXA
Wexford10k (1146)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Brendan Dunne 1 00:34:05
16 Noirin Doyle 1 00:38:59
Crusaders AC runner
44 Tim O’Donnell 00:43:03
Full results here: https://myrunresults.com/events/life_style_sports_wexford_half_marathon__10k_2026/6101/results?class=half%20marathon&perPage=100
Wexford Half Marathon (1553)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Denis Whelen 1 01:14:22
9 Ciara Wilson 1 01:22:36
Crusaders AC runner
266 Pat Quill 01:43:50
Full results here: https://myrunresults.com/events/life_style_sports_wexford_half_marathon__10k_2026/6101/results?class=half%20marathon&perPage=100
Connemarathon Full (566)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Marc Augustin 1 02:39:44
17 Aoife Hoare 1 03:10:03
Crusaders AC runner
17 Aoife Hoare 03:10:03 (1)
Full results here: https://redtagtiming.com/results/CNM2026_FullMarathon.html
Connemarathon Half (1443)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 John Benner 1 01:10:39
19 Elizabeth Maher 1 01:27:01
Crusaders AC runners
45 Lucas Huchard 01:31:21
72 Áine Kenny 01:34:36 (8)
76 Shane Egan 01:33:54
100 Aaron Farrell 01:40:06
319 Mark Browne 01:52:20
523 Charles Cartledge 01:58:36
550 Kelly Brown 02:00:47 (PB)
740 Djinn Von Noorden 02:07:47
Full results here: https://redtagtiming.com/results/CNM2026_HalfMarathon.html
Bushy Parkrun (209) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Matthew O’Doherty 1 00:18:06
7 Aisling Kelly 1 00:19:57
Crusaders AC runners
9 Conor MacGuinness 00:20:09
11 Kev Moore 00:20:51
17 Mary Donnelly 00:21:52 (2)
St. Anne’s Parkrun (481) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Maurice O’Brien 1 00:17:51
13 Ailish Malone 1 00:19:28
Crusaders AC runner
9 Michael O’Shea 00:19:16
Malahide Parkrun (286)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Niall Baragwanath 1 00:16:50
11 Annette Kealy 1 00:18:53
Crusaders AC runners
2 Rob Cross 00:17:36
77 Fiona Bane 00:23:51 (11)
Shanganagh Parkrun (313)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Harry Moran 1 00:15:44
20 Sarah Baryga 1 00:19:23
Crusaders AC runners
60 Aoife McCarthy 00:23:59 (9)
172 Carina Davidson 00:28:51 (45)
195 Kevin Kenny 00:30:02
212 Orlaith de Burca 00:31:06 (67)
Fairview Parkrun (190)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
2 Jamie Renehan 1 00:18:55
29 Laura Preston 1 00:23:15
Crusaders AC runners
2 Jamie Renehan 00:18:55
10 Mikel Crisostomo 00:20:16
[85 Daniel Cullen 00:27:00]
Poolbeg Parkrun (264)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Denis Buckley 1 00:18:04
18 Sophie Coman 1 00:21:10
Crusaders AC runners
2 Stephen Hurley 00:18:07
3 Simon Catteau 00:18:17
7 Ronan Walsh 00:19:28
12 Adrian Groarke 00:20:09
13 Donal O’Malley 00:20:24
23 Patrick Gaynor 00:21:43
31 James Sherry 00:22:32
33 Diarmuid Finan 00:22:38
40 Mustaf Ahmed 00:23:15
43 Sharon Woods 00:23:22 (5)
50 Kabir Sala 00:23:37
68 Josie Ward 00:24:36 (12)
73 Pia Kramer 00:24:52 (13)
89 Paul Campbell 00:25:58
91 Emily Glen 00:26:03 (20)
96 Franky Keane 00:26:11
116 Sophie Morgan 00:27:16 (29)
117 Tanja Narancic 00:27:17 (30)
125 Ellen Walsh 00:27:43 (36)
126 Olwyn Dunne 00:27:44 (37)
132 Louise O’Riordan 00:27:52 (40)
135 Aisling O’Riordan 00:28:02 (42)
196 Maureen McGinley 00:31:11 (75)
201 Imogen Guinness 00:31:23 (79)
220 Cynthia Perucca 00:32:45 (95)
259 Máirín Shine 00:47:35 (122)
Porterstown Parkrun (261)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Pádraig MacCriostail 1 00:18:3
4 Alana Mills 1 00:19:41
Crusaders AC runner
128 Martina White 00:29:52 (60)
Navan Parkrun (144)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Kevin McGrath 1 00:15:46
8 Katie Dardis 1 00:21:07
Crusaders AC runner
38 Michelle Geoghegan 00:26:29 (5)
Tramore Valley, Cork Parkrun (286) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 David Carrasco Coquillat 1 00:17:19
14 Isabelle Crowley 1 00:20:28
Crusaders AC runner
186 Áine Crotty 00:31:06 (60)
Oranmore Parkrun (82) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Craig O’Brien 1 00:19:59
3 Miriam Logan 1 00:22:26
Crusaders AC runner
3 Miriam Logan 00:22:26 (1)
Tymon Parkrun (122) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Shane Mongey 1 00:19:18
2 Fiona Hawkins 1 00:19:47
Crusaders AC runner
24 Colm Foley 00:23:39
Tolka Valley Parkrun (67)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Felipe De Sousa 1 00:19:46
7 Caroline Monk 1 00:21:10
Crusaders AC runner
1 Felipe De Sousa 00:19:46

This week report actually starts with races recorded on Easter Monday last week with the Rosslare 5k and 10k events, followed during the week by a couple of 5k races that took place on the Trinity Campus, and closing on Sunday with several marathons and the National 10k Road Championships, incorporated into the Great Ireland Run in the Phoenix Park, together with loads of races abroad!

Several Cru members took advantage of the long weekend to run in Rosslare on Easter Monday. Two hundred and sixty-eight runners contested the 5k, including Steven Michel of this parish, who acquitted himself brilliantly, placing 3rd in a time of 17:56 and Helen Finucane who ran a steady 30:28 for 133rd place overall, 62nd female finisher. Then, in the 10k race, we had two age category winners, in Joanne Carey who ran 44:43 for 44th place overall, 6th female finisher and winner of the F40 age category, and Máirín Shine, who placed 273rd, 101st and winner of the F70 age category in 64:00. Máirín, daughter Lisa (265th and 99th in 62:37) and Emer Kenny (157th and 37th in 52:09) were spending the weekend there and they were joined in the race by Darina Scully (196th and 56th in 56:06). Carina Davidson also ran in the field of 292, placing 242nd and 84th in 59:32.

On Wednesday, Trinity College Dublin hosted a couple of 5k races in which several Crusaders took part. In the noon start, with a field of 74, Luke Corcoran won the event in a time of 17:10. We had at least 6 members take part in the 1pm race, with Sean Brady placing 16th in the field of 82 in 23:35, followed by Luz Estevan (25th and 8th in 24:46) alongside Kabir Sala (26th in the same time), then by Anousheh Alamir (30th and 10th in 24:56), Kevin Kenny (35th in 26:08) and Michelle English (51st and 24th in 28:14).

Saturday witnessed the latest annual running of the BHAA 6k road race in St. Anne’s Raheny, sponsored by Dublin City Council and, as a consequence, numbers swelled with participants from the Lord Mayor’s 5 Alive initiative. In windy conditions and in a field of 131, Joe McDermott placed 9th and 2nd M40 in 21:47 and he was followed by Joe Walsh (10th and 1st M50 in 21:55), David O’Donnell (23rd and 2nd M55 in 25:32), Sharon Woods (40th, 5th and 1st F55 in 28:00), Brendan Glynn (48th in 29:24) and Robbie Moore, making a welcome return from injury (56th in 31:11).

The strong winds stuck around for the Great Ireland Run and the Cobh 10-miler on Sunday morning too.

There were 3186 finishers in the Great Ireland Run, incorporating the 10k national championships on what was a new course involving one large anti-clockwise loop of the west side of the park from a start on Chesterfield Avenue followed by a small diversion towards Farmleigh then back to the finish on the Furze Road. We had at least 12 Crusaders take part and they were led home by Brian Regan (41st in 34:52), just ahead of Rory O’Kennedy with a likely PB time of 35:55 for 42nd place. They were followed by Ciarain Kelly (62nd in 35:45) and then by Daniel Toal (95th in 37:41) alongside Mikel Crisostomo (96th in the same time). Gerry Cooper was next (119th in a PB time of 38:19), ahead of Ed Forester (245th in 40:16), Cormac Fenton (253rd in 41:18), Michael O’Shea (255th in 41:32), Brendan Glynn (896th in 52:56) and Kevin Kenny (1080th in 53:46). The men’s senior team came 9th in the open category in a competition involving 39 3-person teams, and 11th in the national competition of 25 in a 4-person configuration. Lorenzo Battistin also took part in the race but his result was not recorded.

Down in Cork, we had two runners take part in the Cobh 10 miler, organised in the name of Sonia O’Sullivan. In a field of 1012, Aoife Matthews placed 293rd and 58th in 80:49, followed by Lorraine McMahon (787th and 285th in 1:41:07).

We had a plethora of runners taking part in long distance races over the weekend. In a qualifying event for UTMB, Áine Kenny took part in the Giants Causeway 20 miler on Saturday morning. In a trail race that hugs the coastline and involves climbing over rocks and wading through the odd wave in places, Áine placed 37th and 7th in a field of 329 in a time of 3:20:35. Further afield, and on the roads, we had runners in each of the Rotterdam, Milan and Paris marathons on Sunday morning. Brian O’Kelly was one of two representatives this year in Rotterdam, where he recorded a time of 2:27:39, his fastest time in 3 years. Brian found the conditions rather warmer than expected and there was a significant headwind. A rather fast start also had its impact in the later part of the race too. Meanwhile, Artur ‘T Kindt also found the second half challenging, nevertheless coming home in a solid 3:10:21.
​
Aoife Cleary had an excellent outcome to her first marathon in Milan. Having decided early on to run within herself and just go out and enjoy each kilometre as it comes, Aoife confessed to having taken it relatively easy, listening to a podcast at times and still recording a super time of 2:51:07. This controlled approach was a great confidence booster for a likely Autumn marathon and an even quicker outcome next time out. Following Aoife came Ger Moore with a PB time of 3:07:11 and he was followed by Michael Judge (3:39:07), Darran Lovely (3:42:03), one of our Italian exiles, Alessandro Nappi (3:51:11), Fanny Trébouet with a PB time of 4:26:52 (ahead of her father Dominique who ran 4:44:13) and Joe Dunne, pacing the 4:30 runners and recording a perfect time of 4:29:50. Over in Paris, James Sherry also had the most satisfying of results in his first marathon. With negative splits James recorded an excellent time of 2:53:38. James was followed by Liam O’Brien in 3:36:53. Cliodhna O’Reilly and Iseult Ni Chuinneagain took part in the Lake Garda 42 Half marathon in Italy on Sunday, with Cliodhna recording a time of 1:57 and Iseult finishing in 2:15. Our exile in Switzerland, Lukasz Batruch, ran in the Zurich 10k where he recorded a time of 39:32. Then, in Washington DC, one of our exiles in the USA, Damien O’Brien, ran in the Cherry Blossom 10-miler, which he completed in a PB time of 60:48. Finally, two of our Spanish exiles, Esther Requena Ferri and Cristian Vilchez Ceballos, ran in the Vuelta Pedestre 2026 Coín, a town north of Marbella, where they covered the 9.4k street race respectively in 38:09 and 33:38, with Esther finishing 2nd in the women’s race. Congratulations to all on such super running!

There was one race in the mountains this weekend on which to report. This was on a new route on Annagh Hill in Co. Wexford. The race measured nearly 11k with a climb of 550m. We had one participant, Donatas Jocius, in the field of 61 in this Southeast League race and he placed 3rd overall in a time of 63:15.

There were noticeably fewer Crusaders involved in parkruns on Saturday morning, compared with last week’s efforts. Nevertheless, we had our usual smattering of podium finishes.

Jamie Renehan led the field of 227 across the line in Fairview with a time of 19:11. He was followed in the event by Mairead Cashman (186th and 70th in 34:48). Meanwhile, Grainne Regan took 12th and 3rd places in SETU Arena in Waterford with a time of 25:21 in a field of 74, whilst, in Poolbeg, with a field of 220 runners, Kenan Furlong placed 2nd overall in 18:24, with Claire Reidy placing 17th and 2nd in 21:22. Tim Bowen came home in 4th spot in 19:19, followed by Ross Neill (7th in 19:35), Adrian Groarke (9th in 20:12), Phelim Murray  (15th in 21:17, just ahead of Mustaf Ahmed (16th in 21:18). Claire was accompanied by Ronan Walsh (18th in 21:23) and by Shane Egan (19th in the same time). Next came Diarmuid Finan (20th in 21:26), and he was followed by Daniel Littlewood (25th in 21:57), John Lohan (39th in 23:57), Ellen Walsh (82nd and 19th in 26:29), Djinn Von Noorden (100th and 29th in 27:42), Tanja Narancic (129th and 48th in 29:19), Maureen McGinley (158th and 68th in 30:55) and Cynthia Perucca (174th and 77th in 31:46).

Sam Osborne joined 102 other runners in Brickfields, where he placed 4th in 21:15, whilst, in Marlay Park, with a field of 446, Kathryn Tomkins, recovering from a recent injury, placed 58th and 6th in 22:48, followed by Kabir Sala (80th in 23:36).  Kev Moore and Mary Donnelly ran in Bushy Park, with a field of 247, where Kevin placed 6th in 20:29, followed by Mary who placed 21st and 5th in 22:48.  Meanwhile, Michelle Geoghegan ran 27:17 for 32nd and 6th places in the 105-strong field in Navan, whilst, in Tolka Valley Park, with its field of 47, Maria Pertl placed 18th and 9th in 30:24, with Máirín Shine, tailwalking.

Darina Scully ran once more in River Valley Park, where, in a field of 89, she placed 32nd and 8th in 27:49, whilst, in Poppintree, Paul F. Kelly ran 26;34 for 63rd place in a field of 191. Martina White joined 115 others in Porterstown, where she took 56th and 20th spots in 30:11, whilst, in Tymon, with its field of 122, Garret Dunne ran 24:04 for 28th place. In Shanganagh, among a field of 333, Aoife McCarthy placed 61st and 14th in 24:28, followed by Orlaith de Burca (226th and 84th in 32:02), Kevin Kenny (232nd in 32:34) and Lisa Shine (291st and 131st in 38:26), whilst, Lorraine McMahon ran once again on the Midleton Greenway, where, in a field of 106, she placed 53rd and 15th in 28:43.

Finally, two of our London-based exiles ran in parkruns there. Conor Parle joined a field of 243 in the Lordship Recreation Grounds, where he placed 28th in 21:35, whilst Rob Glascott ran on Clapham Common, placing 291st in 25:59 in a field of 876.
​
Rosslare 5k (268)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Khaled Adel 1 00:17:19
4 Elizabeth Gahan 1 00:18:07
Crusaders AC runners
3 Steven Michel 00:17:56
133 Helen Finucane 00:30:28 (62)
Full results here: https://redtagtiming.com/results/Rosslare5km2026.pdf
Rosslare 10k (292)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Charlie White 1 00:33:34
7 Ciara Wilson 1 00:37:28
Crusaders AC runners
44 Joanne Carey 00:44:43 (6)
157 Emer Kenny 00:52:09 (37)
196 Darina Scully 00:56:06 (56)
242 Carina Davidson 00:59:32 (84)
265 Lisa Shine 01:02:37 (99)
273 Máirín Shine 01:04:00 (101)
Full results here: https://redtagtiming.com/results/Rosslare10km2026.pdf
Trinity College Dublin Campus 5k (noon start) (74)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Luke Corcoran 1 00:17:10
10 Isabella Chambers 1 00:19:19
Crusaders AC runner
1 Luke Corcoran 00:17:10
Full results here: https://www.popupraces.ie/race/trinity-college-dublin-campus-5km-2026/
Trinity College Dublin Campus 5k (1pm start) (82)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 David Saint 1 00:19:55
6 Nora Joyce 1 00:22:19
Crusaders AC runners
16 Sean Brady 00:23:35
25 Luz Estevan 00:24:46 (8)
26 Kabir Sala 00:24:46
30 Anousheh Alamir 00:24:56 (10)
35 Kevin Kenny 00:26:08
51 Michelle English 00:28:14
Full results here: https://www.popupraces.ie/race/trinity-college-dublin-campus-5km-2026/
BHAA DCC 6k Road Race (131)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Patrick Joseph MacGabhann 1 00:19:32
12 Edel McCreery 1 00:22:42
Crusaders AC runners
9 Joseph McDermott 00:21:47
10 Joe Walsh 00:21:55
23 David O’Donnell 00:25:32
40 Sharon Woods 00:28:00 (5)
48 Brendan Glynn 00:29:24
56 Robbie Moore 00:31:11
Full results here: https://members.bhaa.ie/results/race/548
Great Ireland Run 10k (National 10k championships) (3186)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Ian Guiden 1 00:30:13
26 Emily Haggard Kearney 1 00:33:25
Crusaders AC runners
41 Brian Regan 00:34:52
42 Rory O’Kennedy 00:34:55 (PB)
62 Ciarain Kelly 00:35:45
95 Daniel Toal 00:37:41
​96 Mikel Crisostomo 00:37:41
119 Gerry Cooper 00:38:19 (PB)
245 Edward Forester 00:40:16
253 Cormac Fenton 00:41:18
255 Michael O’Shea 00:41:32
896 Brendan Glynn 00:52:56
1080 Kevin Kenny 00:53:46
Full results here: https://myrunresults.com/events/revive_active_great_ireland_run_2026/5903/results
Sonia O’Sullivan Cobh 10-miler (1012)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Adam Clarke 1 00:50:38
6 Lily Partridge 1 00:56:15
Crusaders AC runners
293 Aoife Matthews 01:20:49 (58)
787 Lorraine McMahon 01:41:07 (285)
Full results here: https://myrunresults.com/events/_sonia_osullivan_cobh_10/6040/results
IMRA Annagh Hill 10.9k (61)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Mark McAdden 1 00:59:33
37 Alison Underwood 1 01:32:04
Crusaders AC runner
3 Donatas Jocius 01:03:15
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2787/category/O/
Bushy Parkrun (247) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Roisin McMahon 1 00:19:47
2 Conor Ward 1 00:19:50
Crusaders AC runners
6 Kev Moore 00:20:29
21 Mary Donnelly 00:22:48 (5)
Tymon Parkrun (122) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Stephen Fraser 1 00:19:16
12 Jessica Doonan 1 00:22:39
Crusaders AC runner
28 Garret Dunne 00:24:04
Marlay Parkrun (446) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Andrew Gillart 1 00:16:59
25 Lucy Morris 1 00:21:01
Crusaders AC runners
58 Kathryn Tomkins 00:22:48 (6)
80 Kabir Sala 00:23:36
SETU Arena Parkrun (74) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Daniel Murphy 1 00:19:41
9 Breda Hennessy 1 00:24:41
Crusaders AC runner
12 Grainne Regan 00:25:21 (3)
Porterstown Parkrun (116) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Niall Sherlock 1 00:17:23
13 Anna Ryan 1 00:23:47
Crusaders AC runner
56 Martina White 00:30:11 (20)
Navan Parkrun (105)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Harry Monaghan 1 00:18:29
15 Hannah McMahon 1 00:25:09
Crusaders AC runner
32 Michelle Geoghegan 00:27:17 (6)
Shanganagh Parkrun (333)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Niall McCague 1 00:17:18
2 Eleanor Foot 1 00:18:33
Crusaders AC runners
61 Aoife McCarthy 00:24:28 (14)
226 Orlaith de Burca 00:32:02 (84)
232 Kevin Kenny 00:32:34
291 Lisa Shine 00:38:26 (131)
Midleton Greenway Parkrun (106)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Paul Cotter 1 00:18:44
8 Emma Bell 1 00:21:38
Crusaders AC runner
53 Lorraine McMahon 00:28:43 (15)
Brickfields Parkrun (103)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Darragh Ryan 1 00:20:26
11 Olivia Moon 1 00:23:43
Crusaders AC runner
4 Sam Osborne 00:21:15
Poppintree Parkrun (191)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Luke Tracey 1 00:18:44
6 Lucy McFetridge 1 00:19:51
Crusaders AC runner
63 Paul F. Kelly 00:26:34
Poolbeg Parkrun (220)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 August Benedicto 1 00:18:07
11 Sophie Tonge 1 00:20:17
Crusaders AC runners
2 Kenan Furlong 00:18:24
4 Timothy Bowen 00:19:19
7 Ross Neill 00:19:35
9 Adrian Groarke 00:20:12
15 Phelim Murray 00:21:17
16 Mustaf Ahmed 00:21:18
17 Claire Reidy 00:21:22 (2)
18 Ronan Walsh 00:21:23
19 Shane Egan 00:21:23
20 Diarmuid Finan 00:21:26
25 Daniel Littlewood 00:21:57
39 John Lohan 00:23:57
82 Ellen Walsh 00:26:29 (19)
100 Djinn Von Noorden 00:27:42 (29)
129 Tanja Narancic 00:29:19 (48)
158 Maureen McGinley 00:30:55 (68)
174 Cynthia Perucca 00:31:46 (77)
Fairview Parkrun (227) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Jamie Renehan 1 00:19:11
13 Suzanne Combes 1 00:22:02
Crusaders AC runners
1 Jamie Renehan 00:19:11
186 Mairead Cashman 00:34:48 (70)
River Valley Parkrun (89) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Viktoras Kuzminas 1 00:18:56
11 Rosaline Harrington 1 00:24:56
Crusaders AC runner
32 Darina Scully 00:27:49 (8)
Tolka Valley Parkrun (47)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 James McCluskey-Lambert 1 00:21:28
2 Caroline Monk 1 00:21:55
Crusaders AC runners
18 Maria Pertl 00:30:24 (9)
44 Máirín Shine 00:53:10

​This week the report generally belongs to the middle distance and 5k runners. In particular, we had two athletes taking part in the European Masters Indoors in Torun in Poland, the same venue recently used for the World Indoor Championships.

Enda Clarke ran in the M40 1500m, and in the first round won his heat in a time of 4:43.64. In the final, the following day, he ran a much faster race, achieving a super PB time of 4:09.36 for 4th place overall. Congrats to him! Karl Fitzmaurice took on two events. In the M50 800m first round he placed 5th in a time of 2:18.24, but unfortunately did not get through to the final, whilst, although also not qualifying from the 1500m first round, he ran 4:42.79 for 8th place in his heat. Ireland had 140 athletes competing across all the age categories and events, and with 77 medals, finishing 7th in the table, out of 32 countries that came home with medals.

The other speedsters this week ran in the chilly and damp Streets of Kilkenny on Thursday evening, the 2nd event in this year's Peugeot Series. There were 927 finishers in the high-quality event, nearly 300 of them breaking 20 minutes. Emily Sheils led our contingent home in 97th place overall, 11th female finisher, in an excellent time of 17:28. Emily was followed by Annie Hughes (154th and 18th in a super 18:17), who was just ahead of Conor MacGuinness (155th in a PB time of 18:15). Gary Park was next (221st in 19:20), followed by Kilkenny native and resident, Maria Kennedy (433rd and 151st in 24:24).

On Friday evening, IMRA organised another Night Challenge, this time on Cruagh in the Dublin mountains, involving a race of 8.4k with a climb of 255m. We had 3 Crusaders join the field of 113, and Donatas Jocius won the race in a time of 39:52. Donatas was followed across the line by Gavan Doherty (35th in 51:40) and then by Clare Sullivan (41st and 6th in 53:08).

With it being Easter, many of our parkrunners were dispersed this weekend, several running in their home localities and quite spread out. We have results from at least 22 parkruns around Ireland on Saturday morning before Storm Dave arrived in the afternoon.

It was good to see Orla Drumm back in action down in Tramore Valley in County Cork, where, in a field of 244, she placed 3rd and first female finisher in 18:18. Michael Wycherley had to go all the way to Thetford in Norfolk to finish first in the parkrun there, leading home the field of 290 in a time of 18:20. Garret Dunne stayed closer to home, placing first in Tymon park ahead of a field of 110 participants in a time of 17:47, whilst, in his native Limerick, Rob Cross placed 2nd alongside 186 other runners in a time of 17:50. Rob was followed home by Fiona Bane (54th and 7th in 24:58). Meanwhile, Dave Carter ran in Russborough in a field of 136, where he placed 3rd in 19:54.

Poolbeg saw another large turnout from Crusaders, with the club stacking the top 10 places behind James Sherry, preparing for next week’s Paris marathon, who placed 3rd in the field of 238 in a time of 18:12, quite likely a PB. Stephen Hurley followed closely behind (4th in 18:17) and then he was followed by Kenan Furlong (5th in 18:39), Alby Allan (7th in 18:50), young Joe Murphy (8th in 18:56), Ashley Hayes, tapering for the Vienna marathon in 2 weeks’ time (9th in 19:09) and Gerard Moore (10th in 19:18).

Training for the Boston marathon in a couple of weeks, Conor Kilkenny was next (16th in 19:56) and he was followed by Darragh Jones (19th in 20:26), Zlatko Kulic (36th in 22:00), Kabir Sala (40th in 22:16), Josie Ward (53rd and 6th in 23:29), Sharon Woods (61st and 9th in 23:57) and Eamon MacFhionnlaoich who has been helping the club out overseeing the fit4life group in recent weeks (68th in 24:27).

Sophia Morgan was next (91st and 15th in 25:47) and she was followed by Anousheh Alamir (116th and 27th in 27:16) and Bo Chicoine (130th in 27:52), alongside Tanja Narancic (131st and 30th in 27:53). Kevin Lambe placed 135th in 28:08, and he was followed by Iseult Ni Chuinneagain (137th and 34th in 28:12), Una McCullagh (151st and 43rd in 29:12), Maureen McGinley (161st and 50th in 29:55) and Kevin Kenny (186th in 31:53).

Karl Walsh ran in Westport, where, in a field of 81, he placed 8th in 21:27, whilst, in Mungret down in Limerick, Luke Haran placed 14th in a field of 116, in a time of 22:02. Cathal Murphy joined 30 other runners in Fethard Town, where he took 12th spot in 27:28, whilst Cormac Fenton ran in Marlay Park, with its field of 460 participants, placing 19th in 20:39.

Over in Sligo, Ross Neill placed 9th in 20:57. He was joined in the field of 127 by Ellen Walsh who took 74th and 19th spots in 29:32. Meanwhile, Serena Moloney ran in the field of 121 in Templemore, where she placed 28th and 7th in 25:40. Aisling O’Riordan ran alongside 330 other runners in Tralee, where she placed 143rd and 48th in 30:23, whilst, on Midleton Greenway, Lorraine McMahon placed 90th and 26th in 28:31. The field there measured 177. Down on Inch Beach, Michael O’Shea joined 68 other runners, where he took 8th spot in 24:13, whilst, in Donabate, Brendan Glynn placed 38th in a field of 188 and in a time of 23:48.

Fiona and Lisa Shine ran once again on Wexford Racecourse where, in a field of 115, Fiona placed 99th and 43rd in 36:54 alongside Lisa who placed 100th and 44th in the same time. Meanwhile, in Shanganagh, with its field of 286, Dee Lawlor placed 137th in 27:07, followed by Máirín Shine and Orlaith de Burca, both tailwalking. Mairead Cashman ran 32:56 for 108th and 35th places in the 140-strong parkrun in New Ross, whilst, in Vandeleur, Martina White placed 57th and 24th in 29:45 in a field of 112. Fanny Trébouet joined a field of 54 in Tolka Valley, where she placed 32nd and 14th in 31:13, whilst Carina Davidson was our lone runner in Cabinteely with its field of 173. Carina placed 113th and 30th in 32:02. Finally, one of our Australian exiles, Kris Ryan, ran in Coomera, where she placed 35th and 9th in 26:51 in a field of 114.

Streets of Kilkenny 5k (927)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Sean Tobin 1 00:13:57
36 Michelle Finn 1 00:15:55
Crusaders AC runners
97 Emily Sheils 00:17:28 (11)
154 Annie Hughes 00:18:17 (18)
155 Conor MacGuinness 00:18:15 (PB)
221 Gary Park 00:19:20
433 Maria Kennedy 00:24:24 (151)
Full results here: https://www.popupraces.ie/race/streets-of-kilkenny-5k-2026/
IMRA Night Challenge 2: Cruagh 8.4k (113)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Donatas Jocius 1 00:39:52
15 Gemma Kenny 1 00:48:18
Crusaders AC runners
1 Donatas Jocius 00:39:52
35 Gavan Doherty 00:51:40
41 Clare Sullivan 00:53:08 (6)
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2773/category/O/
Sligo Parkrun (127) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Edward Blacque 1 00:17:57
28 Sorcha Moran 1 00:23:44
Crusaders AC runners
9 Ross Neill 00:20:57
74 Ellen Walsh 00:29:32 (19)
Tymon Parkrun (110) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Garret Dunne 1 00:17:47
12 Emer Fitzpatrick 1 00:22:14
Crusaders AC runner
1 Garret Dunne 00:17:47
Marlay Parkrun (460) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Liam O’Flaherty 1 00:17:53
32 Rebecca Leane 1 00:21:58
Crusaders AC runner
19 Cormac Fenton 00:20:39
Fethard Town Parkrun (31) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Eoin O’Connell 1 00:20:45
6 Edith Rainsford 1 00:22:53
Crusaders AC runner
12 Cathal Murphy 00:27:28
Inch Beach Parkrun (69) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Steve O’Connell 1 00:21:15
10 Julia Semple 1 00:24:29
Crusaders AC runner
8 Michael O’Shea 00:24:13
Limerick Parkrun (187)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Dylan Storan 1 00:17:20
20 Greta Adomaviciute 1 00:21:50
Crusaders AC runners
2 Rob Cross 00:17:50
54 Fiona Bane 00:24:58 (7)
Shanganagh Parkrun (286)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Niall McCague 1 00:17:44
11 Liadh Fitzmaurice 1 00:19:46
Crusaders AC runners
137 Derek Lawlor 00:27:07
282 Máirín Shine 00:48:58
285 Orlaith de Burca 00:56:14
Midleton Greenway Parkrun (177)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Darren McCann 1 00:17:58
9 Nollaigh O’Neill 1 00:20:33
Crusaders AC runner
90 Lorraine McMahon 00:28:31 (26)
Templemore Parkrun (121)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Damian Hogan 1 00:18:55
16 Charlotte Brennan 1 00:23:44
Crusaders AC runner
28 Serena Moloney 00:25:40 (7)
Tralee Parkrun (331) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Thomas Lyons 1 00:17:34
14 Ciara Tierney 1 00:22:02
Crusaders AC runner
143 Aisling O’Riordan 00:30:23 (48)
Poppintree Parkrun (179)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Tom Trousdale 1 00:17:33
22 Elizabeth Daly 1 00:22:33
Crusaders AC runner
72 Paul F. Kelly 00:28:17
Poolbeg Parkrun (238)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Matthew Atkins 1 00:17:16
14 Miranda Frizzelle 1 00:19:47
Crusaders AC runners
3 James Sherry 00:18:12 (PB)
4 Stephen Hurley 00:18:17
5 Kenan Furlong 00:18:39
7 Alby Allan 00:18:50
8 Joe Murphy 00:18:56
9 Ashley Hayes 00:19:09
10 Gerard Moore 00:19:18
16 Conor Kilkenny 00:19:56
19 Darragh Jones 00:20:26
36 Zlatko Kulic 00:22:00
40 Kabir Sala 00:22:16
53 Josie Ward 00:23:29 (6)
61 Sharon Woods 00:23:57 (9)
68 Eamon MacFhionnlaoich 00:24:27
91 Sophie Morgan 00:25:47 (15)
116 Anousheh Alamir 00:27:16 (27)
130 Bo Chicoine 00:27:52
131 Tanja Narancic 00:27:53 (30)
135 Kevin Lambe 00:28:08
137 Iseult Ni Chuinneagain 00:28:12 (34)
151 Una McCullagh 00:29:12 (43)
161 Maureen McGinley 00:29:55 (50)
186 Kevin Kenny 00:31:53
Vandeleur Parkrun (112)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Gerald Troy 1 00:18:46
8 Ava Comerford 1 00:21:10
Crusaders AC runner
57 Martina White 00:29:45 (24)
Cabinteely Parkrun (173)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Simon Donohoe 1 00:19:16
25 Jenny Forde 1 00:24:12
Crusaders AC runner
113 Carina Davidson 00:32:02 (30)
Tramore Valley, Cork Parkrun (244) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Christopher O’Reilly 1 00:16:47
3 Orla Drumm 1 00:18:18
Crusaders AC runner
3 Orla Drumm 00:18:18 (1)
Westport Parkrun (81) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Shane O’Malley 1 00:18:41
3 Fiona Bree 1 00:20:32
Crusaders AC runner
8 Karl Walsh 00:21:27
Wexford Racecourse Parkrun (115) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Cillian Larkin 1 00:18:20
20 Lisa Foley 1 00:25:10
Crusaders AC runner
99 Fiona Shine 00:36:54 (43)
100 Lisa Shine 00:36:54 (44)
Russborough Parkrun (136) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Peter O’Connell 1 00:18:54
10 Niamh Brophy 1 00:21:52
Crusaders AC runner
3 David Carter 00:19:54
New Ross Parkrun (140) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Daire Hasson 1 00:19:22
24 Sara Langford 1 00:23:59
Crusaders AC runner
108 Mairead Cashman 00:32:56 (35)
Donabate Parkrun (188)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Patrick Phillips 1 00:19:13
12 Geraldine McHale 1 00:21:28
Crusaders AC runner
38 Brendan Glynn 00:23:48
Mungret Parkrun (116)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Thomas Holmes 1 00:18:19
23 Mary MacNamara 1 00:23:34
Crusaders AC runner
14 Luke Haran 00:22:02
Tolka Valley Parkrun (54)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 James McCluskey-Lambert 1 00:21:21
6 Aleksandra Sobota 1 00:23:57
Crusaders AC runner
32 Fanny Trébouet 00:31:13 (14)

 It looks like we’ve have swapped incessant rain for gale-force winds, at least in Ireland. This weekend has been extremely blustery for anyone racing. Thankfully, there were not too many events on to be impacted.

On Sunday, the official start date of Summer Time, the 4th and last of the Women’s Meet & Train winter league took place in Abbotstown on the purpose-built course next to the FAI’s training ground, where, by all accounts, the Irish team was finally practicing penalties.

There were 135 plucky runners in the event, including 20 Crusaders, most running in teams. As usual, Luz Estevan was our first athlete home in the race which measured slightly over 2 miles over two 1500m loops and the usual long and uphill finish, in windy conditions. Luz placed 6th in 13:54, about 40 seconds behind Lorna Sheehan of Sportsworld which as usual packed the top 10 finishers (6 in all).

Luz was followed by Caoimhe O’Halloran (17th in 14:56) and by Fiona Shine (25th in 15:22) not too far behind. We had a lot of mid-pack runners, headed by Paula Bradshaw (29th in 15:39) and including Imogen Guinness (30th in 15:40) just ahead of Emma O’Mahony (31st in 15:40), Kate Murray (33rd in 15:54), Lisa Corrigan, running as an individual (38th in 16:01), Ellen Walsh (42nd in 16:13) and Carmel Higgins (45th in 16:21).
Next came Anousheh Alamir (72nd in 17:36) ahead of Lisa Shine (74th in 17:46) and Lisa was followed by Laura O’Malley (82nd in 17:56), Georgina Loughrey (87th in 18:00), Carina Davidson (103rd in 19:15) and Helen Finucane (109th in 19:48). The contingent was completed by Máirín Shine (123rd in 21:20), Marie-Claire Daly (129th in 22:18), Lisa Harpur (130th in 23:01) and Niamh Trihy (131st in 23:15), ably guided once again by Kevin Kenny.

In the team competition, Crusaders placed 3rd in the top division (Diamond) unsurprisingly behind two Sportsworld teams, 1st in the second division (Platinum) ahead of Esker and Blackrock and 1st in the fifth division (Bronze) ahead of Waterstown and Esker. Well done to all. Also, Máirín Shine won her age category by one point over the 4 races (432 to 433!). Congrats to her. 

Saturday morning saw another round of BHAA XC races, this time in ALSAA up at the airport. Whilst we had no participants in the women’s 2-mile race, we did have 4 Crusaders in the field of 42 in the men’s 5-miler, modest by the standards of previous years. David O’Donnell was our first club-mate home, in 23rd place overall and 3rd M55 in 35:03. He was followed by Karl Walsh (30th in 36:55), Tony Hackett (33rd and 3rd M50 in 37:25) and Brendan Glynn (37th in 41:06).

Back to Sunday and we have two other races on the island to cover. Sarah Bradley was our lone competitor in the 36th running of the Omagh Half marathon, where, in a field of nearly 3500 finishers, she placed 1,426th overall and 330th female finisher in 1:50:30. Meanwhile, Luke Haran ran in the Dooneen AC-organised 10-miler starting from the Racecourse in Co. Limerick. Luke placed 86th in 74:01 in a field of 290.

Further afield, one of our exiles down under, Maurice Kelter, won the Run2Cure half marathon in Sydney on Sunday in a great time of 75:14, finishing 8 minutes ahead of the runner in 2nd place in the field of over 800 finishers. Last year he had placed 2nd in 77:56. Then, in the Berlin Half marathon on Sunday morning, Emma Noonan surprised herself with a terrific 88:33, placing just outside the top 2,500 in a field of more than 40,000. Also running was Lorenzo Battistin  with a PB time of 84:16 along with two of our continental exiles. Lukasz Batruch, now in Switzerland, ran 1:26:25, and he was followed by Florian Mormont (1:41:24).

On Saturday, we had 5 members take part in the Prague half marathon, with a better outcome than the Irish football team had experienced two days earlier. Rebecca Kelly recorded a PB with her finishing time of 1:42:43 and she was followed by Patricia Velasquez (1:47:06), Lieze Verberght (2:05:36), David Pepper (2:08:14) and Fanny Trébouet (2:14:28).

Up in the Wicklow mountains this weekend, IMRA organised the annual running of the Maurice Mullins 50.5k ultra with a climb of 1900m and in the field of 236 finishers there were at least three Crusaders.  The contingent was led across the line by Paul Flynn (33rd in 5:05:14) and he was followed by Gavan Doherty (202nd in 7:28:17 and by Paul Daniels (213th in 7:40:17). Further afield, one of our French exiles, Valentin Akdim, took part in 50:5km trail race partly run on snow on Mont Ventoux. Valentin finished in 200th place in a substantial field in a time 5:49:00.

On to Saturday’s parkruns and inter alia there was a super turnout for Aoife McCarthy’s 150th parkrun in Poolbeg.

We start as usual with the first finishers and podium places. Áine Kenny placed 4th and 1st in 22:33 in the 41-strong field in Mountbellew Forest, whilst, in Tramore, Rob Cross led the field of 154 across the line in 17:50. Rob was followed by Fiona Bane (39th and 7th in 24:51) and Grainne Regan (48th and 10th in 25:13). Bex Fleming placed 10th and 3rd with Gill Earley placing 11th and 4th in respectively 21:03 and 21:05 in the 214-strong field in Naas, whilst Conor MacGuinness paced his young niece Naomi (who was the female first finisher and who runs for Bermuda at under-age level), finishing in 6th spot in 20:25 in the 107-strong field in Dundalk.

As usual, by far and away this week, we had the largest turnout from the club this week in Poolbeg. At least 33 Crusaders took part and they were led home alongside 241 other runners by Kenan Furlong (5th in 18:54). Kenan was followed by Ashley Hayes (8th in 19:25), Ryan Murphy (10th in 19:51), Shane Egan (15th in 20:55), Paddy Gaynor (20th in 21:07), Donal O’Malley (23rd in 21:13), Diarmuid Finan (25th in 21:23), Kabir Sala (26th in 21:31), Zlatko Kulic (27th in 21:36), Ryan Preston (28th in 21:41) and Stephen Mulligan (33rd in 21:48).

Further back came Sharon Woods (53rd and 4th in 22:44), James Sherry (57th in 22:59), just ahead of Mark McGovern (58th in 23:00), Aoife McCarthy (64th and 8th in 23:27), Josie Ward (71st and 10th in 23:46). Next came Ciara Regan (125th and 33rd in 27:21) alongside Emily Glen (126th and 34th in the same time) just ahead of Louise O’Riordan (127th and 35th in 27:22) and Franky Keane (128th in 27:25). Anousheh Alamir was next (134th and 39th in 27:36), followed by Cathal Murphy (144th in 28:17), Ellen Walsh (156th and 51st in 28:51), Diarmuid Bolger (164th in 29:06), Una McCullagh (166th and 56th in 29:09), Tara Murphy (170th and 58th in 29:18), just ahead of Aisling O’Riordan (171st and 59th in 29:19).

The contingent was completed by Carina Davidson (183rd and 67th in 29:51), Maureen McGinley (193rd and 74th in 30:29) just ahead of Siobhan Russell (194th and 75th in 30:31), Cynthia Perucca (218th and 86th in 32:24), Máirín Shine (248th and 108th in 36:19) and Lisa Shine (249th and 109th in 36:20).

In 544-strong field in St. Anne’s, Felipe De Sousa placed 8th in 19:01, and he was followed by Paul F. Kelly (199th in 26:48), whilst in Fairview, Michael O’Shea joined 209 other runners, placing 10th in 21:43. Meanwhile, Lorraine McMahon placed 56th and 12th in 28:06 in the field of 139 on the Midleton Greenway, whilst Martina White took 76th and 20th spots in the 168-strong field in Porterstown with a time of 28:28. Garret Dunne ran 25:32 for 48th place alongside 122 other participants in Tymon Park, whilst in Ormeau, Ross Neill placed 44th in 22:30 in a field of 555.

We had at least 3 runners in Marlay Park, where, in a field of 551, John Lohan placed 106th in 24:44, followed by Conor Kilkenny (likely 195th in 27:17) and Kate Murray (211th and 55th in 27:36). Meanwhile, Kevin Kenny joined a field of 211 in Cabinteely, where he placed 57th in 28:00, whilst, in Shanganagh, Fiona Shine placed 168th and 46th in 29:26 and Orlaith de Burca placed 198th and 62nd in 30:44. The field there measured 306.
​
WM&T 2-mile XC (135)
Overall place Name Guntime
1 Lorna Sheehan 00:13:13
Crusaders AC runners
6 Luz Estevan 00:13:54
17 Caoimhe O’Halloran 00:14:56
25 Fiona Shine 00:15:22
29 Paula Bradshaw 00:15:39
30 Imogen Guinness 00:15:40
31 Emma O’Mahony 00:15:48
33 Kate Murray 00:15:54
38 Lisa Corrigan 00:16:01
42 Ellen Walsh 00:16:13
45 Carmel Higgins 00:16:21
72 Anousheh Alamir 00:17:36
74 Lisa Shine 00:17:46
82 Laura O’Malley 00:17:56
87 Georgina Loughrey 00:18:00
103 Carina Davidson 00:19:15
109 Helen Finucane 00:19:48
123 Máirín Shine 00:21:20
129 Marie-Claire Daly 00:22:18
130 Lisa Harpur 00:23:01
131 Niamh Trihy 00:23:15
Full results here: Meet & Train - Race 4 - March 2026 results
BHAA ALSAA Men’s 5-mile XC (42)
Overall place Name Guntime
1 Sean Doran 00:25:43
Crusaders AC runners
23 David O’Donnell 00:35:03
30 Karl Walsh 00:36:55
33 Anthony Hackett 00:37:25
37 Brendan Glynn 00:41:06
Full results here: https://members.bhaa.ie/results/race/547
Omagh Half Marathon (3448)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Stephen McAuley 1 01:06:57
17 Ann-Marie Glynn 1 01:14:14
Crusaders AC runner
1426 Sarah Bradley 01:50:30 (330)
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/36th_spar_omagh_half_marathon__5k/6178/results
Michal Rejmer Dooneen 10-miler (290)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Conor O’Brien 1 00:53:22
17 Kealey Tideswell 1 01:00:29
Crusaders AC runner
86 Luke Haran 01:13:59
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/michal_rejmer_dooneen_10_mile_2026/6100/results
IMRA Maurice Mullins 50.5k (236)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Luke Weldon 1 04:00:23
16 Sorcha Loughnane 1 04:37:47
Crusaders AC runners
33 Paul Flynn 05:05:14
202 Gavan Doherty 07:28:17
213 Paul Daniels 07:40:17
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2800/category/O/
Ormeau Parkrun (555) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Steven Cannell 1 00:17:10
6 Natasha Kelly 1 00:18:17
Crusaders AC runner
44 Ross Neill 00:22:30
Tymon Parkrun (123) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Anthony O’Rourke 1 00:18:41
8 Sinead Tighe 1 00:20:41
Crusaders AC runner
48 Garret Dunne 00:25:32
Marlay Parkrun (551) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Donal Brennan 1 00:18:07
17 Elizabeth Maher 1 00:20:03
Crusaders AC runners
106 John Lohan 00:24:44
195 Conor Kilkenny 00:27:17
211 Kate Murray 00:27:36 (55)
Mountbellew Forest Parkrun (41) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Conor O’Brien 1 00:21:43
4 Áine Kenny 1 00:22:33
Crusaders AC runner
4 Áine Kenny 00:22:33 (1)
Fairview Parkrun (210) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
2 Adam Ewart 1 00:18:57
22 Sarah Sharkey 1 00:23:14
Crusaders AC runner
10 Michael O’Shea 00:21:43
Tramore, Waterford Parkrun (154)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Rob Cross 1 00:17:50
6 Jean Murphy 1 00:20:27
Crusaders AC runners
1 Rob Cross 00:17:50
39 Fiona Bane 00:24:51 (7)
48 Grainne Regan 00:25:13 (10)
Shanganagh Parkrun (306)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Chun Man Tam 1 00:17:15
16 Isabelle Higgins 1 00:21: 21
Crusaders AC runners
168 Fiona Shine 00:29:26 (46)
198 Orlaith de Burca 00:30:44 (62)
Midleton Greenway Parkrun (139)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 David Carrasco Coquillat 1 00:17:22
6 Emily O’Shea 1 00:19:25
Crusaders AC runner
56 Lorraine McMahon 00:28:06 (12)
Dundalk Parkrun (107)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Daniel McArdle 1 00:18:49
5 Naomi MacGuinness 1 00:20:24
Crusaders AC runner
6 Conor MacGuinness 00:20:25
Naas Parkrun (214) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ben Crampton 1 00:18:01
3 Emma Boland 1 00:19:29
Crusaders AC runners
10 Rebecca Fleming 00:21:03 (3)
11 Gillian Earley 00:21:05 (4)
St. Anne’s Parkrun (544)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Anthony Sharkey 1 00:17:24
4 Laura Behan 1 00:18:36
Crusaders AC runners
8 Felipe De Sousa 00:19:01
199 Paul F. Kelly 00:26:48
Poolbeg Parkrun (274)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Darragh Halpenny 1 0:17:17
35 Ava Rose Clarke 1 00:21:52
Crusaders AC runners
5 Kenan Furlong 00:18:54
8 Ashley Hayes 00:19:25
10 Ryan Murphy 00:19:51
15 Shane Egan 00:20:55
20 Patrick Gaynor 00:21:07
23 Donal O’Malley 00:21:13
25 Diarmuid Finan 00:21:23
26 Kabir Sala 00:21:31
27 Zlatko Kulic 00:21:36
28 Ryan Preston 00:21:41
33 Stephen Mulligan 00:21:48
53 Sharon Woods 00:22:44 (4)
57 James Sherry 00:22:59
58 Mark McGovern 00:23:00
64 Aoife McCarthy 00:23:27 (8)
71 Josie Ward 00:23:46 (10)
125 Ciara Regan 00:27:21 (33)
126 Emily Glen 00:27:21 (34)
127 Louise O’Riordan 00:27:22 (35)
128 Franky Keane 00:27:25
134 Anousheh Alamir 00:27:37 (39)
144 Cathal Murphy 00:28:17
156 Ellen Walsh 00:28:51 (51)
164 Diarmuid Bolger 00:29:06
166 Una McCullagh 00:29:09 (56)
170 Tara Murphy 00:29:18 (58)
171 Aisling O’Riordan 00:29:19 (59)
183 Carina Davidson 00:29:51 (67)
193 Maureen McGinley 00:30:29 (74)
194 Siobhan Russell 00:30:31 (75)
218 Cynthia Perucca 00:32:24 (86)
248 Máirín Shime 00:36:19 (108)
249 Lisa Shine 00:36:20 (109)
Porterstown Parkrun (168)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Nickolas Colyn 1 00:15:15
7 Caroline McCarthy 1 00:20:45
Crusaders AC runner
76 Martina White 00:28:28 (20)
Cabinteely Parkrun (211)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Simon Donohoe 1 00:19:10
4 Philippa Dew 1 00:20:46
Crusaders AC runner
57 Kevin Kenny 00:28:00

It’s been an action-packed week of racing, both on the roads and in the mountains, starting on the eve of Paddy’s Day and going all the way through to Sunday.

There were two big road races on St. Patrick’s Day in which we had competitors.

The 5k in Tallaght, with its field of 660, included the Co. Dublin Novice Championships and the club did itself proud in that competition which was held in windy conditions. At least 12 club members took part in the overall race and they were led home by Emily Sheils who placed 70th overall and 5th female finisher in 18:08. Emily was followed by Ronan Moynihan (88th in 18:37) and then by ladies’ club captain Sarah Lyons (97th, 11th and gold medal winner of the novice championships in a PB time of 18:44). Sarah was followed by Cormac Fenton (121st in 19:15), Cillian Traynor (184th in 20:16) and then by Luz Estevan (201st and 34th in 20:32), Louise O’Riordan (207th and 37th in 20:49) and Jade Murphy (239th and 52nd in 21:18) recovering from a chest infection. Between them, Sarah, Luz, Louise and Jade, won silver in the Novice team competition. Congrats to them. Spare a thought for Michael Wycherley who was forced by a combination of unfortunate circumstances to pull out near the end.

Jade was followed by men’s captain Phelim Murray (262nd in 21:27), Orla O’Flynn (293rd, 76th and 2nd F55 in 22:17) and Chris Bannon (353rd in 23:26).

The wind played a major role in the Mullingar half marathon held on the same day. Runners had a strong headwind to contend with on the run for home. In a field of 2,073 finishers, we had at least 10 runners take part. Peter O’Toole took 116th spot in 88:06 and he was followed closely by Alby Allan (125th in 88:17). Áine Kenny was next (170th and 13th in 90:50) and she was followed by Dee Ni Chearbhaill (490th and 77th in 1:42:36), Liz Nixon (559th and 99th in 1:44:28), Orla O’Neill (669th and 137th in a PB time of 1:47:27), Kate Murray (1152nd and 357th in 1:58:44), Bo Chicoine (1397th in 2:03:02), Alan Martin (1447th in 2:05:36) and Kevin Lambe who paced the 2:10 finishers (likely 1597th in 2:10:15).

Ciara Regan also raced on Paddy’s Day in a 5k race organised by South Sligo AC, the Tubbercurry 5k. In a field of 381, Ciara placed 30th and 6th in 19:54.

Then, on Sunday, there was a great choice available. The major race of the day was the 55th running of the Dunboyne 10k (it has actually had at least two different distances over the years).

In excellent running conditions with no wind and cool with a little misty drizzle early in the race, we saw Alex Ainsworth place 22nd in a field of 1585 and in an excellent time of 32:25 in his debut for the distance. Alex was followed by Sebastian Hansen (29th in 32:45), Pablo Monteagudo Lago (33rd in 32:58) and Ciarain Kelly (74th in 34:53). The 4-man team placed 4th out of 35.

Patrick Conlon was next in 80th spot in 35:04, and he was followed by Barry McCarthy (88th in 35:23). After initially starting apart, Sarah-Grace Breen and Kevin Kavanagh, helping to pace her, finished almost side by side, respectively 181st and 16th in a PB time of 37:43 and 182nd in 37:45, a job well done. Kathryn Gibbon was next, placing 272nd and 25th in 39:07, followed by Emma Rowe (282nd and 28th in 39:11, Cormac Fenton (361st in a PB time of 39:39) and Aoife Quigley (408th and 48th in 41:02).

Karl Walsh placed 432nd in 40:59, followed by Oisin Browne who had been recovering from having fallen in last week’s Malaga half marathon (457th in 41:48), Charlie Coonan (458th in 41:40) and Ciara Regan (471st and 61st in 42:15, having suffered a little from a slightly fast pace in the early stages of the pacing group she had joined. Nevertheless, Kathryn, Emma, Aoife and Ciara formed a 4-woman team that placed 2nd in competition involving 22 clubs. Congrats to them.

Back from her extended foreign travels, Isabella Gyori ran a satisfying  42:00 for 476th and 64th places and she was followed by Tim O’Donnell (492nd in 42:17), David O’Donnell with yet another PB (550th in 43:14), Aoibhinn Gilmartin (551st and 80th in a PB time of 43:29), Kabir Sala (604th in 44:12), Killian Lynskey (751st in 47:00), Gian Piero Allerta (791st in 47:49), Tony Hackett (792nd in 47:53), Chris Bannon (861st in 49:05), Anna Brown (1010th and 256th in 52:27), Alan Martin with a PB time of 53:23 for 1083rd place and Laura O’Malley (1160th and 333rd in 53:39) recovering from recent illness.

There were two road races in Wicklow on the same day. We had at least 4 runners in the 10k with its field of 1117. Joanne Carey placed 48th overall, 5th female finisher and 1st F40 in 45:56. Joanne was followed by Carmel Higgins (105th, 18th and 3rd F40 in 50:03), Darina Scully (193rd and 45th in 53:29) and Carina Davidson (485th and 160th in 61:26) .

The other race was the half marathon which featured at least 4 Crusaders. In a field of 1648 finishers, David Healy took 340th place in 1:44:07, followed by Divya Sardana (845th and 107th in 1:57:55), Calum Kenny (1314th in 2:13:30) and Michelle English (1448th and 338th in 2:22:02).

Finally, we had a runner in the Mallow 10-miler down I Co. Cork on Sunday. In a field of 1159, Geoffrey Keating placed 20th in 58:36.

Further afield, Michael Geers ran his first marathon in Rome on Sunday, which he completed in 3:21. He was joined by Aitor Arribas Velasco who ran 4:31, whilst Enda Currid took part in the Limassol Half marathon in Cyprus, where he ran 97:38. Over in the USA, one of our exiles there, Damien O’Brien ran in NY state in the Clarkstown-based Project 13.1 half marathon, finishing in a PB time of 80:50. One of our UK exiles, Toby Benham, ran in the Ashby 20 mile race in Leicestershire, which he completed in 2:08. Lastly, we had 4 runners take part in the Palma de Mallorca half marathon. Paced for the first 15k by Catherine Thornton, the GCH athlete who trains with us (finishing in 3rd place in the women’s race in 87:28), Gill Earley ran 91:43, followed by Bex Fleming (93:12). Miriam Logan and Michael Kiely also ran in the half marathon, with Miriam recording a time of 99:04 and Michael, 99:52. John Mulvihill ran in the 10k which he completed in 35:29.

The week’s racing actually started on Monday evening with an event organised by IMRA, the 7.4k Night Challenge 1 on Crone Maulin. With a climb of 407m and a field of 134, Donatas Jocius placed 3rd in 42:42, followed by Warren Swords (9th and 2nd M45 in 44:25) and Becky Quinn (7th and 2nd in 47:02).

Then on Sunday morning, there was another mountain race, organised by IMRA, the Powerscourt Spring 14.5k, which featured 3 Crusaders. In a field of 141, Donatas placed 17th and probably 3rd M40 in 82:48, followed by Charles Cartledge (140th in 2:37:21). Unfortunately, Djinn Von Noorden turned her ankle on the course and was unable to finish. We wish her well in her recovery.

The sun on Saturday morning brought out plenty of parkrunners, many of them Crusaders.

Caroline Crowley joined a field of 341, where she placed 4th overall and 1st finisher in 18:42, whilst Áine Kenny was also a first finisher in Mountbellew Forest, placing 7th overall in a field of 49 and in a time of 24:23. Once again, Annie Hughes was a first finisher. In St. Anne’s she placed 16th overall in a field of 577 in a time of 19:05, preceded by Paul Cowhie (11th in 18:44) and followed by Michael Maughan (101st in 22:59) and Grainne Regan (170th and 29th in 25:24). In Glen River, with a field of 67, Ger Moore led the field home in a time of 20:00.

We also had numerous podium places.  Alongside 346 other runners, Rob Cross (2nd in 17:30) and Fiona Bane (81st and 21st in 23:46) ran in Malahide, whilst, in Bushy Park, Luke Corcoran placed 2nd in 18:57 followed by Mary Donnelly (22nd and 5th in 22:35). The field there measured 223. Dee Lawlor also placed 2nd in 17:37 in Shanganagh. In a field of 239, he was followed by Orlaith de Burca (182nd and 53rd in 31:11).

We had a decent turnout in Marlay Park, with its field of 547. Jade Murphy led our contingent home in 28th and 2nd in 20:55, and she was followed by Kate Murray (108th and 20th in 23:52), James Cottle (128th in 24:23), Garret Dunne (221st in 27:04), Diarmuid Bolger (247th in 27:38), Ilona McElroy (256th and 68th in 27:48) alongside Aoife Quigley (257th and 69th in 27:49), Máirín Shine (421st and 171st in 33:20) alongside Lisa Shine and buggy (382nd and 172nd in 33:22). Mairead Cashman walked the event.

As usual, our largest contingent ran in Poolbeg. Ashley Hayes placed 2nd in a field of 242 and in a time of 17:11. He was followed by Michael Wycherley (3rd in 17:32), Jan Manschot (4th in 17:59), Kenan Furlong (5th in 18:43), Ryan Murphy (12th in 19:35) and Conor Kilkenny (15th in 20:02). Also on the podium came Louise Dobbyn (23rd and 3rd in 21:06), followed by Kabir Sala (33rd in 21:49), Claire Reidy (35th and 5th in 21:57) alongside Ronan Walsh (36th in 21:58) and just ahead of Ed Joyce (37th in 22:06).

Rebecca Kelly was next (45th and 8th in 22:20), followed by Ryan Preston (47th in 22:22), Charles Cartledge (54th in 23:05), Sharon Woods (55th and 11th in 23:06), Aoife McCarthy (59th and 12th in 23:18), Mark McGovern (62nd in 23:25), Ross Neill (68th in 23:55), Josie Ward (70th and 15th in 24:06), Paul Campbell (75th in 24:13), Emily Glen (95th and 23rd in 25:56), Tanja Narancic (9th and 24th in 26:03), Kevin Kenny (122nd in 27:19), Aisling O’Riordan (134th and 45th in 27:56), Djinn Von Noorden (137th and 48th in 28:17) alongside Iseult Ni Chuinneagain (138th and 49th in 28:18), Una McCullagh (147th and 56th in 28:34), Carina Davidson (161st and 64th in 29:13), Siobhan Russell (195th and 80th in 31:55), Cynthia Perucca (200th and 83rd in 32:47) and Anousheh Alamir (211th and 91st in 34:31).

Laura O’Malley joined 56 other runners in Tolka Valley Park, where she placed 18th and 4th in 27:08, whilst, on Inch Beach, Michael O’Shea placed 4th in a field of 63 in a time of 20:09. Emer Kenny ran in a field of 177 in Farther Collins Park, where she placed 50th and 10th in 25:40, whilst, in Fethard Town, Cathal Murphy ran alongside 41 other parkrunners, placing 15th in 27:48. Brendan Glynn ran in Donabate where, in a field of 184, he placed 42nd in 24:44, whilst, in Poppintree, Paul F. Kelly ran 27:25 for 129th place and Ellen Walsh placed 271st and 106th in 36:56 in a field of 331.

Martina White ran once again in Porterstown, where, in a field of 135, she placed 58th and 21st in 28:56, whilst, in Cabinteely, John Lohan placed 50th in 25:32, followed by Mia Shine (124th and 36th in 31:26) and Fiona Shine (125th and 37th in 31:27) in a field of 194. Finally, Helena O’Keefe ran in Ballincollig once again, where, in a field of 317, she placed 148th and 38th in 28:24, whilst Bo Chicoine ran in Stormont, where, in a field of 452, he placed 258th in 29:21.
​
Tallaght 5k (Co. Dublin Road Championships) (660)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Colm Rooney 1 00:15:07
29 Maebh Brannigan 1 00:16:48
Crusaders AC runners
70 Emily Sheils 00:18:08 (5)
88 Ronan Moynihan 00:18:37
97 Sarah Lyons 00:18:44 (PB) (11)
121 Cormac Fenton 00:19:15 
​184 Cillian Traynor 00:20:16
201 Luz Estevan 00:20:32 (34)
207 Louise O’Riordan 00:20:49 (37)
239 Jade Murphy 00:21:18 (52)
262 Phelim Murray 00:21:27
293 Orla O’Flynn 00:22:17 (76)
353 Chris Bannon 00:23:26
Full results here: https://www.popupraces.ie/race/tallaght-ac-5k-2026/
Mullingar Half Marathon (2073)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Michael Brady 1 01:10:31
27 Fiona Stack 1 01:19:45
Crusaders AC runners
116 Peter O’Toole 01:28:06
125 Alby Allan 01:28:17
170 Áine Kenny 01:30:50 (13)
490 Deirdre Ni Chearbhaill 01:42:36 (77)
559 Liz Nixon 01:44:28 (99)
669 Orla O’Neill 01:47:27 (PB) (137)
1152 Kate Murray 01:58:44 (357)
1397 Bo Chicoine 02:03:02
1447 Alan Martin 02:05:36
1597 Kevin Lambe 02:10:15 PACER
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/aon_mullingar_half_marathon/6035/results
Tubbercurry 5k (381)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Lucas Lyons 1 00:14:49
16 Maebh Caffrey 1 00:18:18
Crusaders AC runners
30 Ciara Regan 00:19:54 (6)
Full results here: https://coretiming.ie/events/tubbercurry-10-5k-2026/?fbclid=IwY2xjawQr_G1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeaVt039AFXTEUWugVERxwT__vqkm8qTPm_-VohnxUhoXqVFs05ch1HP_ftKI_aem_V1L5vKjfQIPR97faJ7nAcw#1_356EFE
IMRA Powerscourt Spring 14.5k (141)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Patrick McDaid 1 01:09:23
15 Sinead Farrell 1 01:21:16
Crusaders AC runners
17 Donatas Jocius 01:22:48
140 Charles Cartledge 02:37:21
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2882/category/O/
Dunboyne 10k (1585)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Colm Rooney 1 00:29:34
31 Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill 1 00:32:51
Crusaders AC runners
22 Alex Ainsworth 00:32:25 (PB)
29 Sebastian Hansen 00:32:45
33 Pablo Monteagudo Lago 00:32:58
74 Ciarain Kelly 00:34:53
80 Patrick Conlon 00:35:04
88 Barry McCarthy 00:35:23
181 Sarah-Grace Breen 00:37:43 (PB) (16)
182 Kevin Kavanagh 00:37:45
272 Kathryn Gibbons 00:39:07 (25)
282 Emma Rowe 00:39:11 (28)
361 Cormac Fenton 00:39:39 (PB)
408 Aoife Quigley 00:41:02 (48)
432 Karl Walsh 00:40:59
457 Oisin Browne 00:41:48
458 Charlie Coonan 00:41:40
471 Ciara Regan 00:42:15 (61)
476 Isabella Gyori 00:42:00 (64)
492 Tim O’Donnell 00:42:17
550 David O’Donnell 00:43:14 (PB)
551 Aoibhinn Gilmartin 00:43:29 (PB) (80)
604 Kabir Sala 00:44:12
751 Killian Lynskey 00:47:00
791 Gian Piero Allerta 00:47:49
792 Anthony Hackett 00:47:53
861 Chris Bannon 00:49:05
1010 Anna Brown 00:52:27 (256)
1083 Alan Martin 00:53:23 (PB)
1160 Laura O’Malley 00:53:39 (333)
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/dunboyne_55th_road_race_10k_2026/6087/results
Mallow 10-miler (1159)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Paul Moloney 1 00:51:37
35 Andrea Aza Villamor 1 01:00:10
Crusaders AC runner
20 Geoffrey Keating 00:58:36
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/mallow_10_mile_road_race_2026/6109/results
Wicklow 10k (1117)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Erik Sebastian Ranberg 1 00:35:57
5 Meabh Malone 1 00:39:25
Crusaders AC runners
48 Joanne Carey 00:45:56 (5)
105 Carmel Higgins 00:50:03 (18)
193 Darina Scully 00:53:29 (45)
485 Carina Davidson 01:01:26 (160)
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/wicklow_half_marathon__10km_2026/6018/results
Wicklow Half Marathon (1648)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 John Christian Deighan 1 01:13:31
18 Ashley Cregan 1 01:22:04
Crusaders AC runners
340 David Healy 01:44:07
845 Divya Sardana 01:57:55 (107)
1314 Calum Kenny 02:13:30
1445 Michelle English 02:22:02 (338)
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/wicklow_half_marathon__10km_2026/6018/results
IMRA Night Challenge 1: Crone Maulin 7.4k (134)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Liam Blackburn 1 00:40:00
16 Niamh Brophy 1 00:47:01
Crusaders AC runners
3 Donatas Jocius 00:42:42
9 Warren Swords 00:44:25
17 Becky Quinn 00:47:02 (2)
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2770/category/O/
Stormont Parkrun (452) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Jamie Coulter-Smyth 1 00:17:15
31 Sarah Moorcroft 1 00:21:31
Crusaders AC runner
258 Bo Chicoine 00:29:21
Glen River Parkrun (67) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Gerard Moore 1 00:20:00
7 Nollaigh O’Neill 1 00:21:26
Crusaders AC runner
1 Gerard Moore 00:20:00
Marlay Parkrun (547) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Barry McCartin 1 00:18:36
10 Sonia Redmond 1 00:19:45
Crusaders AC runners
28 Jade Murphy 00:20:55 (2)
108 Kate Murray 00:23:52 (20)
128 James Cottle 00:24:23
221 Garret Dunne 00:27:04
247 Diarmuid Bolger 00:27:38
256 Ilona McElroy 00:27:48 (68)
257 Aoife Quigley 00:27:49 (69)
421 Máirín Shine 00:33:20 (171)
422 Lisa Shine 00:33:22
Mountbellew Forest Parkrun (49) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Enda Dowling 1 00:22:24
7 Áine Kenny 1 00:24:23
Crusaders AC runner
7 Áine Kenny 00:24:23 (1)
Corkagh Parkrun (341) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Robert Jones 1 00:18:20
4 Caroline Crowley 1 00:18:42
Crusaders AC runner
4 Caroline Crowley 00:18:42 (1)
Fethard Town Parkrun (42)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Jack Hayes 1 00:20:24
8 Edith Rainsford 1 00:23:41
Crusaders AC runner
15 Cathal Murphy 00:27:48
Shanganagh Parkrun (239)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Neill Foley 1 00:16:45
23 Eva Kelly 1 00:21:08
Crusaders AC runners
2 Derek Lawlor 00:17:37
182 Orlaith de Burca 00:31:11 (53)
Father Collins Parkrun (177)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Cillian Mulvey 1 00:18:15
7 Mary Walsh 1 00:19:46
Crusaders AC runner
182 Emer Kenny 00:25:40 (10)
Inch Beach Parkrun (63)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Peter McGovern 1 00:18:49
8 Marti Spence 1 00:22:38
Crusaders AC runner
4 Michael O’Shea 00:20:09
Malahide Parkrun (348) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Tom Kirker 1 00:16:14
22 Kate Hawkshaw 1 00:20:23
Crusaders AC runners
2 Rob Cross 00:17:30
81 Fiona Bane 00:23:46 (21)
Bushy Parkrun (188)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Daniil Miasoedov 1 00:18:47
8 Niamh Murphy 1 00:20:37
Crusaders AC runners
2 Luke Corcoran 00:18:57
22 Mary Donnelly 00:22:35 (5)
Donabate Parkrun (184)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Finn Donnelly 1 00:18:47
3 Sheila Bourke 1 00:19:55
Crusaders AC runner
42 Brendan Glynn 00:24:44
St. Anne’s Parkrun (577)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Anthony Sharkey 1 00:17:09
16 Annie Hughes 1 00:19:05
Crusaders AC runners
11 Paul Cowhie 00:18:44
16 Annie Hughes 00:19:05 (1)
101 Michael Maughan 00:22:59
170 Grainne Regan 00:25:24 (29)
Poolbeg Parkrun (242)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 August Benedicto 1 00:17:09
17 Sophie Coman 1 00:20:19
Crusaders AC runners
2 Ashley Hayes 00:17:11
3 Michael Wycherley 00:17:32
4 Jan Manschot 00:17:59
5 Kenan Furlong 00:18:43
12 Ryan Murphy 00:199:35
15 Conor Kilkenny 00:20:02
23 Louise Dobbyn 00:21:06 (3)
33 Kabir Sala 00:21:49
35 Claire Reidy 00:21:57 (5)
36 Ronan Walsh 00:21:58
37 Ed Joyce 00:22:06
45 Rebecca Kelly 00:22:20 (8)
47 Ryan Preston 00:22:22
54 Charles Cartledge 00:23:05
55 Sharon Woods 00:23:06 (11)
59 Aoife McCarthy 00:23:18 (12)
62 Mark McGovern 00:23:25
68 Ross Neill 00:23:55
70 Josie Ward 00:24:06 (15)
75 Paul Campbell 00:24:13
95 Emily Glen 00:25:56 (23)
99 Tanja Narancic 00:26:03 (24)
122 Kevin Kenny 00:27:19
134 Aisling O’Riordan 00:27:56 (45)
137 Djinn Von Noorden 00:28:17 (48)
138 Iseult Ni Chuinneagain 00:28:18 (49)
147 Una McCullagh 00:28:34 (56)
161 Carina Davidson 00:29:13 (64)
195 Siobhan Russell 00:31:55 (80)
200 Cynthia Perucca 00:32:47 (83)
211 Anousheh Alamir 00:34:31 (91)
Porterstown Parkrun (135)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Niall Sherlock 1 00:17:07
11 Eve O’Hea 1 00:23:07
Crusaders AC runner
 58 Martina White 00:28:56 (21)
Tolka Valley Parkrun (57)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Sean Graham 1 00:18:31
11 Saoirse Maher 1 00:25:14
Crusaders AC runner
18 Laura O’Malley 00:27:08 (4)
Poppintree Parkrun (331)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Niki Aleksandrovics 1 00:17:13
31 Louise Mordue 1 00:21:54
Crusaders AC runners
129 Paul F. Kelly 00:27:25
271 Ellen Walsh 00:36:56 (106)
Cabinteely Parkrun (194)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Eoin Healy 1 00:18:17
26 Joan Healy 1 00:23:41
Crusaders AC runners
50 John Lohan 00:25:32
124 Mia Shine 00:31:26 (36)
125 Fiona Shine 00:31:27 (37)

By all accounts, after a sunny but chilly Saturday, Sunday was altogether different, experiencing hail and rain at times.

Still, that naturally did not affect our athletes competing in the National U20, U23 and Masters Championships held in Athlone over the weekend and we had some strong performances. Once again, Steven Colvert won the M35 60m sprint in a time of 7.40 and Enda Clarke medalled in his age category, the M40, in the masters 1500m, placing second in 4:22.91. Lisa Corrigan took gold in the F50 long jump with her 4th jump of 4  attempts with a leap of 3.43m and silver in the 400m (79.92), whilst Paul Francis took the silver medal in the M60 200m with a time of 28.34 running in lane 6. He finished in 3rd place. However, the 2nd placed athlete was listed as a UK runner. Congrats to all.
​
Then, in the National U23 60m, Sean Owens progressed to the final from heat 2, where he had recorded a time of 7.5 in 3rd place. Sean then placed 6th in the final in 7.11. Saad Ashraf had also run in heat 2, placing 4th in 7.19, but, along with Charlie Bastow who placed 6th in heat 3 in 7.25, he did not progress further. Meanwhile, Harry Moylan took 5th place in the U20 shot put with a throw of 13.38m, his 4th of 6.

Many of our athletes are racing in Paddy’s Day’s events and so there was little racing on Irish roads over the weekend. One race that did take place, on Sunday, was the Skerries 10k with a field of 822. Brian Regan placed 11th in 36:18, followed by Tomás Bradley (46th in 40:33) and Mauro Verrocchio (392nd in 53:39). Further afield we had competitors in the Barcelona marathon. Our contingent was led home by Mikel Crisostomo who ran 3:00:01 in his first marathon, with pretty even splits, but finding the last 4km quite tough. Richie Phelan was next (3:23:33), followed by one of our London exiles, Louise Lancaster (3:35:40) and then by John Kennedy with a time of 3:59:39. The contingent was completed by Daniel O’Mahony and Cecilia Sandre running side by side all the way, with Cecilia recording a PB. They both finished in 4:13:18.

In Jobstown Park on Saturday morning, there were 50 runners in the Central bank 6k mixed XC. On a course that looked benign on paper, but which turned out to be quite tough, Joe Walsh placed 2nd in 23:34, followed by Karl Walsh (12th and 2nd M45 in 26:48), Tony Hackett (27th in 30:13) and Brendan Glynn (32nd and 3rd M40 in 32:41).

Up in the mountains, also on Saturday, we had athletes taking part in the Wicklow Way Half marathon. In a field of 247 finishers, Donatas Jocius placed 16th in 1:58:37, followed by Daniel Toal (45th in 2:13:16), Ian Weldon (124th in 2:37:26), Redmond Murphy (146th in 2:44:19) and Charles Cartledge (200th in 3:06:11).

With the super weather at the start of what is likely to be a long weekend for many, we had plenty of participants in parkruns this weekend.

In St. Anne’s, with its field of 453, Annie Hughes placed 7th overall and 1st female finisher in 19:04, followed by Enda Currid (29th in 20:25). Aoife Quigley ran in her native Cork, in the Tramore Valley parkrun, where, in a field of 393, she placed 10th and 1st in 19:43. Aoife was followed by Áine Crotty (136th and 23rd in 27:09) and Cian Coughlan (137th in 27:10).  We had two first finishers in Poolbeg. Ashley Hayes led the field of 229 home in 17:54, followed by Emma Rowe (8th and 1st in 19:53). Both were followed by Donal O’Malley (16th in 20:56), David O’Donnell (18th in 21:08), Louise Dobbyn (21st and 3rd in 21:34), Gerard Moore (24th in 21:56), Kabir Sala (32nd in 22:16), Ryan Preston (34th in 22:20), Charlie Coonan (41st in 22:38), John Lohan (49th in 23:09), Josie Ward (57th and 10th in 23:32), Franky Keane (74th in 24:59), Ross Neill (87th in 25:34), Bo Chicoine (104th in 26:33), Iseult Ni Chuinneagain (125th and 32nd in 27:49), Ellen Walsh (127th and 34th in 27:56), Kevin Kenny (141st in 29:01), Lorraine McMahon (157th and 53rd in 30:19), Evelyn Neary (161st and 55th in 30:40), Michael Fitzsimons (162nd in 30:48), Mari Hansen (179th and 69th in 32:09), Cynthia Perucca (198th and 77th in 33:49) and Siobhan Russell (201st and 79th in 34:03). David Carter joined 65 other runners on Bere island, where he placed first in 19:50. In Falcarragh, in one of his last parkruns as a Crusader, Michael O’Conor led the field of 104 home in 18:29.

Ronan Walsh and Claire Reidy ran in Oranmore, where Ronan placed 3rd in 19:47 and Claire placed 6th and 2nd in 22:30 in the field of 84, whilst in Tramore, Waterford, Rob Cross took place in 17:3, followed by Fiona Bane (49th and 9th in 24:49). The field there measured 170. Dee Lawlor ran once again in Vandeleur, where he placed 3rd in a field of 80 in 19:49, whilst, in Cabinteely, John O’Donnell ran alongside 176 other participants, placing 2nd in 20:28.

Felipe De Sousa placed 4th in the 78-strong field in Tolka Valley in a time of 19:53, whilst Conor MacGuinness ran with 220 other participants in Kilkenny, placing 6th in 20:09. Darina Scully ran once again in River Valle, placing 50th and 13th in a field of 135 and a time of 29:02, whilst, in Poppintree, Paul F. Kelly took 55th spot in a field of 194 in 26:33. Laura O’Malley ran in Letterkenny where alongside 101 other runners, she placed 39th and 9th in 29:23, whilst Orlaith de Burca was our sole runner this week in Shanganagh, where she placed 168th and 56th in 31:03.

Aoife McCarthy and Carina Davidson ran in Marlay Park, where, in a field of 4999, Aoife placed 83rd and 11th in 23:34, followed by Carina (289th and 80th in 29:12). In Fairview, Ceolan McMullan pla ed 54th in 26:13 in a field of 197, whilst Mairead Cashman walked in Corkagh (270th and 117th in 39:03) in a field of 334. Michael O’Shea took 7th spot in the 27-strong field on Inch Beach in a time of 26:38, whilst, in Bushy Park, Kev Moore placed 6th in 20:48, followed by Mary Donnelly (23rd and 4th in 22:41) in the field of 188 there. Three members of the Shine family ran in Longford. In a field of 81, Lisa placed 34th and 7th in 29:47, followed by Máirín (38th and 9th in 30:38) and Fiona (48th and 15th in 32:08).

Finally, Fanny Trébouet ran in the 126-strong field in Haga in Sweden, where she placed 69th and 14th in 28:59, whilst in Perth in Scotland, our exile there, John Reidy, ran 21:38 for 19th spot in a field measuring 326.
​
Skerries 10k (822)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Michael Brady 1 00:31:45
4 Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill 1 00:33:53
Crusaders AC runners
11 Brian Regan 01:36:18
46 Tomás Bradley 00:40:33
392 Mauro Verrocchio 00:53:39
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/skerries_10k_2026/6015/results
BHAA Central Bank 6k XC (50)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Paul Fleming 1 00:22:37
4 Laura McDonnell 1 00:24:06
Crusaders AC runners
2 Joe Walsh 00:23:34
12 Karl Walsh 00:26:48
27 Anthony Hackett 00:30:13
32 Brendan Glynn 00:32:41
Full results here: https://members.bhaa.ie/results/race/546
IMRA Wicklow Way Half marathon (247)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Alan Dunne 1 01:40:34
15 Sinead Farrell 1 01:56:45
Crusaders AC runners
16 Donatas Jocius 01:58:37
45 Daniel Toal 02:13:16
124 Ian Weldon 02:37:26
146 Redmond Murphy 02:44:19
200 Charles Cartledge 03:06:11
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2792/category/O/
Fairview Parkrun (197) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 James Hurtley 1 00:18:47
15 Catherine Lynch 1 00:22:20
Crusaders AC runner
54 Ceolan McMullan 00:26:13
Vandeleur Parkrun (80) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Thomas Garrahy 1 00:17:55
6 Dympna O’Dwyer 1 00:21:56
Crusaders AC runner
3 Derek Lawlor 00:19:49
Marlay Parkrun (499) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Cathal Flaherty 1 00:17:19
24 Lorraine Nolan 1 00:21:03
Crusaders AC runners
83 Aoife McCarthy 00:23:34 (11)
289 Carina Davidson 00:29:12 (80)
Bere Island Parkrun (66) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 David Carter 1 00:19:50
2 Mickelagh Murphy 1 00:21:03
Crusaders AC runner
1 David Carter 00:19:50
Corkagh Parkrun (334) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Sam Cooney 1 00:17:23
27 Abigail O’Sullivan 1 00:22:39
Crusaders AC runner
270 Mairead Cashman 00:39:03 (117)
Tramore Valley, Cork Parkrun (393)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Tiarnan O’Donoghue 1 00:17:27
10 Aoife Quigley 1 00:19:43
Crusaders AC runners
10 Aoife Quigley 00:19:43 (1)
136 Áine Crotty 00:27:09 (23)
137 Cian Coughlan 00:27:10
Shanganagh Parkrun (267)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Drew Donohoe 1 00:16:34
2 Isabel O’Reilly 1 00:17:58
Crusaders AC runner
168 Orlaith de Burca 00:31:03 (56)
River Valley Parkrun (135)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 David Croft 1 00:20:22
9 Cecile Ollagnier 1 00:23:31
Crusaders AC runner
50 Darina Scully 00:29:02 (13)
Longford Parkrun (81)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Patrick O’Dowd 1 00:18:24
14 Stephanie Scanlan 1 00:24:06
Crusaders AC runners
34 Lisa Shine 00:29:47 (7)
38 Máirín Shine 00:30:38 (9)
48 Fiona Shine 00:32:08 (15)
Tramore, Waterford Parkrun (170) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 David Power 1 00:17:09
14 Aisling Lowe 1 00:20:43
Crusaders AC runners
2 Rob Cross 00:17:37
49 Fiona Bane 00:24:49 (9)
Bushy Parkrun (188)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Cian Buckley 1 00:19:21
16 Sadhbh Dalton 1 00:21:54
Crusaders AC runners
6 Kev Moore 00:20:48
23 Mary Donnelly 00:22:41 (4)
Inch Beach Parkrun (27)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Peter McGovern 1 00:17:32
6 Mae Griffin 1 00:26:36
Crusaders AC runner
7 Michael O’Shea 00:26:38
St. Anne’s Parkrun (453)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Tony McNally 1 00:16:22
7 Annie Hughes 1 00:19:04
Crusaders AC runners
7 Annie Hughes 00:19:04 (1)
29 Enda Currid 00:20:25
Poolbeg Parkrun (229)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ashley Hayes 1 00:17:54
8 Emma Rowe 1 00:19:53
Crusaders AC runners
1 Ashley Hayes 00:17:54
8 Emma Rowe 00:19:53 (1)
16 Donal O’Malley 00:20:56
18 David O’Donnell 00:21:08
21 Louise Dobbyn 00:21:34 (3)
24 Gerard Moore 00:21:56
32 Kabir Sala 00:22:16
34 Ryan Preston 00:22:20
41 Charlie Coonan 00:22:38
49 John Lohan 00:23:09
57 Josie Ward 00:23:32 (10)
74 Franky Keane 00:24:59
87 Ross Neill 00:25:34
104 Bo Chicoine 00:26:33
125 Iseult Ni Chuinneagain 00:27:49 (32)
127 Ellen Walsh 00:27:56 (34)
141 Kevin Kenny 00:29:01
157 Lorraine McMahon 00:30:19 (53)
161 Evelyn Neary 00:30:40 (55)
162 Michael Fitzsimons 00:30:48
179 Mari Hansen 00:32:09 (69)
198 Cynthia Perucca 00:33:49 (77)
201 Siobhan Russell 00:34:03 (79)
Oranmore Parkrun (84)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Serhii Sylenko 1 00:18:54
4 Clare Rowe 1 00:20:05
Crusaders AC runners
3 Ronan Walsh 00:19:47
6 Claire Reidy 00:22:30 (2)
Tolka Valley Parkrun (78)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Cúán Kiernan Buckley 1 00:18:50
15 Karen McGurren 1 00:24:13
Crusaders AC runner
4 Felipe De Sousa 00:19:53
Kilkenny Parkrun (221) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Paddy O’Keeffe 1 00:19:04
4 Leanne Butler 1 00:19:50
Crusaders AC runner
6 Conor MacGuinness 00:20:09
Letterkenny Parkrun (102)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Chibuzor Victor Ogoegbunam 1 00:20:39
7 Katie Toal 1 00:22:37
Crusaders AC runner
39 Laura O’Malley 00:29:23 (9)
Poppintree Parkrun (194)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Sharon Somers 1 00:18:41
2 Mark Carolan 1 00:18:45
Crusaders AC runner
55 Paul F. Kelly 00:26:33
Cabinteely Parkrun (177)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ted Burke 1 00:19:54
8 Lara Woods 1 00:22:03
Crusaders AC runner
2 John O’Donnell 00:20:28

What a wonderful weekend of racing! For most the sun appeared to shine and conditions were kind for this time of year.

This year’s Bohermeen Half was a revelation for the sheer number of PBs recorded, although admittedly, it has always been a good confidence builder as half marathons go.
On a chilly, but sunny morning with a breeze of around 16kph from the SSE on the two-loop course in Co. Meath, we had at least 24 Crusaders set out on their quest for fast times, as well as confidence for upcoming marathons, and most were not disappointed.

​In a field of 1641 finishers, Brian O’Kelly distinguished himself by placing 2nd in the race in a great PB time of 67:01, with Marc Geraghty (9th in a PB time of 70:35) not too far behind. Indeed, the first seven of our contingent to cross the line, all recorded PBs. Marc was followed by Conor Kilkenny (29th in 72:39), Kevin Fitzgibbon (31st in 72:53), Rory O’Kennedy (48th in 74:08 with a PB improvement of 3 minutes), Michael Wycherley (69th and 3rd M50 in a 2-minute PB improvement of 75:29) and Aoife Cleary, preparing for the Milan marathon (118th overall and 4th female finisher in a PB time of 78:07).

Ashley Hayes was next (143rd in 78:58) and he was followed by James Sherry (191st in a PB time of 81:05), Sarah-Grace Breen (205th and 11th in 81:39) paced by Brian Regan (206th in 81:40), Gerard White (282nd in 84:36), John O’Donnell (291st in 84:38) and Donal O’Malley (318th in a PB time of 85:22.

In 517th and 4th places came Aisling Harrington in 91:38, alongside Killian Lynskey (518th in 91:37), followed by Louise O’Riordan (642nd and 68th in a PB of 95:32), Ryan Preston (834th in 1:40:18), Chris Bannon (1008th in 1:45:52), Aoife McCarthy (1043rd and 174th in 1:48:53) and Kevin Kenny (1485th in 2:09:16). Spare a thought for Emily Glen, Kathryn Gibbons and David Carter who were unable to finish, the last recovering from recent illness.

In the team competitions, the ladies’ team of Aoife, Sarah-Grace, Aisling and Louise placed 2nd out of 24 in the Delaney Cup, whilst the men’s team of Conor, Kevin, Rory, Michael, Brian and Gerard placed 5th out of 33 in the Rennicks Cup.

Over in Kinvara on Saturday morning, Áine Kenny took part in the ¾ marathon there alongside 247 other runners, placing 61st overall, 5th female finisher and likely 2nd F40 in a time of 2:32:58, whilst we had runners in the Bundoran 10-mile road race in Co. Donegal on the same day. In a field of 1488, Sarah Bradley placed 555th and 129th in 81:46, followed by Daniel Gleeson (739th in 86:36) and Kathryn Tomkins (871st and 272nd in 88:59).

Then, up in Dundalk, Emma Rowe and Gavan Doherty took part in the Carlingford half marathon on Saturday morning. The results are shown below but there is some confusion as there was also a 10k race at the same time and some of the 10k results appear as half marathon results. Emma ran a great 85:59 for 74th place overall and 2nd female finisher, whilst Gavan ran a solid 1:43:01 for 325th place. The results indicate that there were 1035 half marathon finishers. However, there may be some 10k results included.

Earlier in the week, we had runners take part in the Bear Races-organised Sandymount Night 10k and 5k Runs. These are races that combine a mixture of narrow path and open beach running and can be a shock to many running the events for the first time. The large fields often provide a fair amount of congestion too. In the 10k, with a field of 845, Tim Bowen placed 13th in 38:27, followed by Steven Michel (15th in 39:00), Brian O’Regan (40th in 41:41), Ciara Regan (43rd and 4th in 42:22), Imogen Guinness (201st and 35th in 49:10) and Conor MacGuinness (376th in 57:20). Then, in the 5k race with its field of 707,  Paul Kilgarriff placed 46th in 20:58 followed by Kevin Kenny (273rd in 29:16).
 
Further afield, one of our London exiles, Kate O’Malley ran 82 minutes in the Cambridge half marathon, whilst in the Leith Hill Trail half in the Mole Valley, two others, Rob Glascott and Conor Parle took part. Rob recorded a time of 1:57, with Conor running 2:12.  Charles-Edouard Cattier ran in the Recife Half marathon in Brazil, where he recorded a time of 98:00, whilst in the Victoria Park half marathon in London, Olwyn Dunne ran 1:48:55. Finally, another of our runners to take part in a half marathon abroad over the weekend was Lorenzo Battistin who ran 86 minutes in the Semi de Paris. Other distances were also covered. Two of our Spanish exiles, Esther Requena Ferri and Cristian Vilchez Ceballos, ran in the Torre Del Mar 10k, with Esther placing 2nd in the women’s race in 39:50 and Cristian finishing as 3rd M35 in 34:38.

There was at least one race organised by IMRA in the Wicklow mountains over the weekend. On Saturday morning we had a couple of Crusaders take part in the Askenagap Hill 9.6k down in Baltinglass with its climb of 528m. In a field of 98, Warren Swords placed 10th in 55:33, followed by Becky Quinn (20th, 4th and 1st F50 in 58:34).

The sun brought out plenty of parkrunners on Saturday morning. Karl Walsh ran once again in Naas, where, in a field of 195, he led everyone home in a time of 18:35. Meanwhile, in JFK Park in New Ross, Isabelle Cairns finished in 23:36 in 9th and 1st places in a field of 102, whilst, in Tolka Valley Park, Felipe De Sousa led the field of 54 across the line in 19:40. He was followed by Enda Currid (3rd in 21:00). Mary Donnelly placed 23rd and 2nd in Bushy Park in a time of 22:13, preceded, in the field of 221, by Kev Moore (9th in 20:25). Aoife McCarthy also placed 2nd female finisher (18th overall) in 24:00 in the field of 136 on Wexford Racecourse, followed by Carina Davidson (47th and 11th in 27:54). Meanwhile, in Shanganagh, Miriam Logan joined a field of 331, where she placed 26th and 3rd in 21:44, followed by Lisa Shine (252nd and 91st in 32:54) and by Máirín Shine (266th and 102nd in 34:16).

In Lough Key, with its field of 160 Kate Murray finished in a time of 25:36 for 28th and 4th spots, whilst Mairead Cashman tailwalked in the field of 48 on the Grand Canal Way in Tullamore. Paul Cowhie made a welcome return to competitive running, placing 9th in 18:32 in the field of 519 in St. Anne’s, followed by Jens Segewiss (10th in 18:39) and Michael Maughan (77th in 23:18), whilst, in Donabate, Ryan Hoey joined with 229 other participants, where he ran 23:51 for 43rd spot, followed by Brendan Glynn (66th in 25:19).

As usual, our largest contingent ran in Poolbeg with its field of 252. Jan Manschot ran 18:01 for 4th place, followed by Darragh Jones (12th in 19:250, Sam Osborne (20th in 20:58), ahead of Sean Brady (21st in 21:09), Kabir Sala (35th in 21:42), David Timoney (45th in 22:25), Sharon Woods (60th and 7th in 23:46), Josie Ward (67th and 10th in 24:01), Ciara Regan (71st and 12th in 24:16), Mark McGovern (74th in 24:26), Andres Mino (101st in 25:56), Neil Brown (102nd in 26:09), Djinn Von Noorden (108th and 23rd in 26:26), Conor Kilkenny (154th in 28:35) alongside Lorraine McMahon (155th and 47th in the same time), Mari Hansen (179th and 60th in 29:38), Kevin Kenny (182nd in 29:41) and Ellen Walsh (185th and 65th in 29:52).

In a field of 123 in Sligo, Ross Neill placed 44th in 27:47, whilst, in Ballincollig, with its field of 391, Helena O’Keeffe ran 28:38 for 182nd and 48th spots. Finally, Olwyn Dunne took advantage of her time in London to run in Richmond, where she placed 123rd and 21st in 25:01 in a field of 549, whilst Kris Ryan, one of our Australian exiles, ran in Paradise Point where she placed 117th and also 21st in a time of 25:56.
​
Bohermeen Half marathon (1642)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Hugh Armstrong 1 01:04:23
15 Alice Wright 1 01:10:50
Crusaders AC runners
2 Brian O’Kelly 01:07:01 (PB)
9 Marc Geraghty 01:10:35 (PB)
29 Conor Kilkenny 01:12:39 (PB)
31 Kevin Fitzgibbon 01:12:53 (PB)
48 Rory O’Kennedy 01:14:08 (PB)
69 Michael Wycherley 01:15:29 (PB)
118 Aoife Cleary 01:18:07 (PB) (4)
143 Ashley Hayes 01:18:07
191 James Sherry 01:21:05 (PB)
205 Sarah-Grace Breen 01:21:39 (11)
206 Brian Regan 01:21:40
282 Gerard White 01:24:36
291 John O’Donnell 01:24:38
318 Donal O’Malley 01:25:22 (PB)
517 Aisling Harrington 01:31:38 (40)
518 Killian Lynskey 01:31:27
642 Louise O’Riordan 01:35:32 (PB) (68)
834 Ryan Preston 01:40:18
1008 Chris Bannon 01:45:52
1043 Aoife McCarthy 01:48:53 (174)
1485 Kevin Kenny 02:09:16
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/bohermeen_ac_half_marathon/5948/results
Sandymount Night Run 10k (845)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Greg Devereux 1 00:35:13
8 Cliona Murphy 1 00:37:30
Crusaders AC runners
13 Tim Bowen 00:38:27
15 Steven Michel 00:39:00
40 Brian Regan 00:41:41
43 Ciara Regan 00:42:22 (4)
201 Imogen Guinness 00:49:10 (35)
376 Conor MacGuinness 00:57:20
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/savills_sandymount_dublin_night_run_5km__10km/5840/results
Sandymount Night Run 5k (707)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 John Durcan 1 00:16:08
34 Eimear Fitzmaurice 1 00:20:24
Crusaders AC runners
46 Paul Kilgarriff 00:20:58
273 Kevin Kenny 00:29:16
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/savills_sandymount_dublin_night_run_5km__10km/5840/results
Kinvara ¾ marathon (248)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Andreas Lundegard 1 01:50:20
29 Sarah Flanagan 1 02:19:26
Crusaders AC runner
61 Áine Kenny 02:32:58 (5)
Full results here: http://www.redtagtiming.com/rockandroad2026_32km.html
IMRA Askenagap Hill 9.6k (98)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Titouan Savignoni 1 00:45:00
5 Caroline Harney Ayton 1 00:53:34
Crusaders AC runners
10 Warren Swords 00:55:33
20 Becky Quinn 00:58:34 (4)
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2776/category/O/
Bundoran 10 miler (1488)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 David Gormley 1 00:54:55
21 Maria McGee 1 00:58:12
Crusaders AC runners
555 Sarah Bradley 01:21:46 (129)
739 Daniel Gleeson 01:26:36
871 Kathryn Tomkins 01:28:59 (272)
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/bundoran_10_2026/5686/results
Carlingford Half marathon (1035)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Michael Brady 1 01:08:48
33 Harriet Buswell 1 01:21:56
Crusaders AC runners
74 Emma Rowe 01:25:59 (2)
325 Gavan Doherty 01:43:01
Full results here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/1FzcQqYmwed8vwgbHt5BE-pxAmCRf3zzKo6pfvWjf1_8/htmlview
New Ross Parkrun (102) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Luke Kelly 1 00:20:15
9 Isabelle Cairns 1 00:23:26
Crusaders AC runner
9 Isabelle Cairns 00:23:26 (1)
Tolka Valley Parkrun (54) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Felipe De Sousa 1 00:19:40
2 Caroline Monk 1 00:20:56
Crusaders AC runners
1 Felipe De Sousa 00:19:40
3 Enda Currid 00:21:00
Wexford Racecourse Parkrun (136) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Eoin O’Malley 1 00:16:59
14 Annemarie Doyle 1 00:22:51
Crusaders AC runners
18 Aoife McCarthy 00:24:00 (2)
47 Carina Davidson 00:27:54 (11)
Lough Key Parkrun (160) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Luke Taheny 1 00:20:11
5 Bonnie McFeat 00:21:09
Crusaders AC runner
28 Kate Murray 00:25:36 (4)
The Grand Canal Way, Tullamore Parkrun (48) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Oisin Moran 1 00:23:24
8 Anne Marie Sullivan 1 00:27:39
Crusaders AC runner
46 Mairead Cashman 00:49:50 (28)
Ballincollig Parkrun (391)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Trevor Woods 1 00:19:24
11 Kathleen Ryan 1 00:20:27
Crusaders AC runner
182 Helena O’Keeffe 00:28:38 (46)
Shanganagh Parkrun (331)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Cian Whelan 1 00:18:05
7 Sarah Baryga 1 00:19:49
Crusaders AC runners
26 Miriam Logan 00:21:44 (3)
252 Lisa Shine 00:32:54 (91)
266 Máirín Shine 00:34:16 (102)
Donabate Parkrun (230)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Sean English 1 00:17:59
6 Molly Rickard 1 00:19:55
Crusaders AC runners
43 Ryan Hoey 00:23:51
66 Brendan Glynn 00:25:19
Marlay Parkrun (582)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ciaran Connolly 1 00:16:46
22 Paula Grant 1 00:20:58
Crusaders AC runners
3 Paul Flynn 00:17:43
136 Kate Murray 00:24:44 (22)
228 Ellen Walsh 00:27:20 (49)
383 Carina Davidson 00:30:49 (127)
Brickfields Parkrun (126) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Luke Higgins 1 00:18:08
12 Narangarav Gankhuyag 1 00:21:39
Crusaders AC runners
24 Aoife McCarthy 00:23:21 (2)
98 Mairead Cashman 00:34:00
Bushy Parkrun (221)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Steven Crowe 1 00:18:14
5 Maddie Craig 1 00:19:30
Crusaders AC runners
9 Kev Moore 00:20:25
23 Mary Donnelly 00:22:13 (2)
Naas Parkrun (195)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Karl Walsh 1 00:18:35
14 Vanessa Sallier 1 00:21:15
Crusaders AC runner
1 Karl Walsh 00:18:35
St. Anne’s Parkrun (519)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Anthony Sharkey 1 00:17:10
29 Ailish Malone 1 00:20:05
Crusaders AC runners
9 Paul Cowhie 00:18:32
10 Jens Segewiss 00:18:39
77 Michael Maughan 00:23:18
Poolbeg Parkrun (252)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
2 James McGuirk 1 00:17:36
31 Ava Rose Clarke 1 00:21:33
Crusaders AC runners
4 Jan Manschot 00:18:01
12 Darragh Jones 00:19:25
20 Sam Osborne 00:20:58
21 Sean Brady 00:21:09
35 Kabir Sala 00:21:42
45 David Timoney 00:22:25
60 Sharon Woods 00:23:46 (7)
67 Josie Ward 00:24:01 (10)
71 Ciara Regan 00:24:16 (12)
74 Mark McGovern 00:24:26
101 Andres Mino 00:25:56
102 Neil Brown 00:26:09
108 Djinn Von Noorden 00:26:26 (23)
154 Conor Kilkenny 00:28:35
155 Lorraine McMahon 00:28:35 (47)
179 Mari Hansen 00:29:38 (60)
169 Una McCullagh 00:30:11 (69)
182 Kevin Kenny 00:29:41
186 Ellen Walsh 00:29:52 (65)
Sligo Parkrun (123)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Micheal Quirke 1 00:19:36
11 Myrtle Bamber 1 00:22:42
Crusaders AC runner
44 Ross Neill 00:27:47

​The weekend was marked by some great running in the National Senior Indoors Championships as well as out on the roads around the counties and further afield.

We start with indoor athletics that took place in the National Indoors Arena in Abbotstown over both days of the weekend. Hugo Magee was our standout performer with a bronze medal in the final of the men’s 400m. In the final he ran 48.92, following 1st place in his heat in 49:11 and 48.21 in placing 1st in heat 3 of the semi-final.

Luc Culliton placed 3rd in heat 10 of the 200m heats in a time of 22.88. However, it was not fast enough to qualify. He and Saad Ashraf also ran in the heats of the 60m on day 2, with Luc placing 6th in 7.35 in the 4th heat, and Saad also placing 6th in 7.21 in heat 9. Enda Clarke placed 10th in heat 3 of the men’s 1500m in a time of 4:19.72, whilst, in the men’s shot put, Conor Quinn placed 6th with his best throw in the 4th round (equalled in the 6th) of 13.25m.

Our standout performance on the roads came from Molly Hyland who recorded a second PB in a week with her time of 82:17 in winning the women’s race in the Naas Town Half marathon on Sunday morning. This was a 4 minute improvement over her time in Alicante (86:28) just a week ago. In wet and windy conditions for the field of 671, Molly placed 12th overall. Behind her came Karl Walsh (no place recorded, but a time of 91:00) and then by Sharon Woods (163rd overall, 31st female finisher and winner of her F50 age category in 1:43:41). The contingent was completed by Niall Fitzgerald (181st in 1:44:35).

Up in Lusk, in the 4-mile race there, Cormac Fenton placed 62nd in the field of 850 in a time of 24:51, and he was followed by Aoife Matthews (174th, 24th and 3rd F50 in 28:56).
Also on Sunday, Conor MacGuinness joined a field of 129 in Thomastown, Co Kilkenny, where he placed 6th in 38:38 in the 10k event there.

Further afield, on Sunday morning, we had 3 athletes taking part in Tokyo marathon. David Willis, our American exile now based in Charlotte, North Carolina, recorded a super time of 2:39:06 with level splits, followed by Triona Quill who likely placed highly in her F55 age category with a time of 3:27:07 and then by Lieze Verberght who ran a solid 4:01:44, agonizingly close to going under 4 hours.

There were two races up in the mountains over the weekend with Crusader participation. In Co. Sligo, Kevin Lambe joined a field of 57 on Saturday morning tackling the Carrowkeel Winter out-and back 10k with a climb of 300m. Kevin placed 28th in 66:19. On Sunday morning, Gavan Doherty ran with 147 others in the Brockagh Burst 6.6k in the Wicklow Mountains. He placed 78th on the course with its climb of 252m in 46:32.
Finally, coming to Saturday morning’s parkruns on an unusually sunny morning, we had several podium finishers.

Annie Hughes ran in her native Westport where, in a field of 125, she placed 2nd overall and 1st female finisher in 19:06, whilst, in St. Anne’s, Rob Cross led the field of 540 across the line in 17:09. Rob was followed by Paul Reidy in 2nd place with a time of 17:34 and then by Michael O’Shea (64th in 22:01) and Fiona Bane (111th and 17th in 24:09). Then, in Shanganagh with its field of 347, Ciara Regan placed 9th and 1st in 19:48, followed by Mags Foley (22nd and 5th in 21:05), Paul Campbell (40th in 22:22), Olwyn Dunne (109th and 14th in 25:55), Orlaith de Burca (153rd and 32nd 28:02) and Kevin Kenny (264th in 33:10). Mary Donnelly placed 18th and 2nd in 21:52 in the 230-strong field in Bushy Park, with Kev Moore placing 9th in 20:39 just ahead of her, whilst Aoife McCarthy also placed 2nd (24th overall) in the field of 126 in Brickfields and a time of 23:21. Mairead Cashman also ran there, placing 98th and 31st in 34:00.

The large contingent of at least 26 Crusaders in Poolbeg was led home by Steven Hurley in 2nd place and a time of 17:50 in the field of 241. Stephen was followed by Conor MacGuinness (7th in 19:33), Darragh Jones (13th in 20:13), Conor Kilkenny (17th in 20:23), Adrian Groarke (20th in 20:52), Mustaf Ahmed (23rd in 21:04), Donal O’Malley (24th in 21:08), Piarais Neary (26th in 21:18), David Timoney (31st in 21:40), Louise Dobbyn (34th and 5th in 22:11), Emily Glen (53rd and 9th in 24:04), Neil Brown (57th in 24:26), Sharon Woods, celebrating her 250th parkrun (68th and 15th in 24:55), Franky Keane (83rd in 25:56), Bo Chicoine (84th in 25:57), Louise O’Riordan (85th and 21st in 25:58), Diarmuid Bolger (129th in 28:05), Iseult Ni Chuinneagain (133rd and 43rd in 28:17), Lorraine McMahon (145th and 52nd in 28:35), Maureen McGinley (158th and 61st in 29:20), Orla McTernan (162nd and 63rd in 29:31), Mari Hansen (164th and 64th in 29:35), Una McCullagh (169th and 69th in 30:11), Fanny Trébouet (173rd and 72nd in 30:19), Marie-Claire Daly (209th and 98th in 34:52) and John Lohan, tailwalking.

In Marlay Park, Paul Flynn placed 3rd in a field of 582 and a time of 17:43, and he was followed by Kate Murray (136th and 22nd in 24:44), Ellen Walsh (228th and 49th in 27:20) and Carina Davidson (383rd and 127th in 30:49). Meanwhile, in Oldbridge, Susanne English ran 27:38 for 58th and 8th places in a field of 164, whilst Colm Foley placed 34th in 23:48 in the field of 203 in Griffeen Park.

Ryan Preston ran in Belfast Victoria with 283 other participants, placing 88th in 22:13, whilst in Con Smith Anna Shine placed 34th and 12th in 30:35 in the field of 59. Anna was followed by Lisa Shine (36th and 13th in 30:57) and Máirín Shine (37th and 14th in 31:22).
Kabir Sala headed to his native Italy where he ran in the Milano Nord parkrun, placing 24th in a field of 215 and in a time of 21:11, whilst, in Donabate, Brendan Glynn ran alongside 207 other runners where he placed 61st in 26:14. In Ballincollig, with 329 participants, Helena O’Keeffe ran 36:19 for 285th and 112th places, whilst, in Kilcock, Martina White placed 175th and 51st in 30:32.
​
Lusk 4-mile (850)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Tadhg Donnelly 1 00:18:38
14 Catherina Mullen 1 00:21:59
Crusaders AC runners
62 Cormac Fenton 00:24:51
174 Aoife Matthews 00:28:56 (24)
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/lusk_4_mile/6023/results
Thomastown 10k (129)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 John Behan 1 00:35:29
15 Maeve O’Connor 1 00:40:27
Crusaders AC runner
6 Conor MacGuinness 00:38:38
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/_thomastown_5k_10k_and_15k/6158/results
Naas Town Half marathon (671)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Eoin Brennan 1 01:15:05
12 Molly Hyland 1 01:22:17
Crusaders AC runners
12 Molly Hyland 01:22:17 (PB) (1)
XX Karl Walsh 01:31:00
163 Sharon Woods 01:43:41 (31)
181 Niall Fitzgerald 01:44:35
Full results here: https://www.popupraces.ie/race/naas-town-10-mile-half-marathon/#2_47D931
IMRA Carrowkeel Winter 10k (57)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Alan Dunne 1 00:45:17
7 Roisin Howley 1 00:54:35
Crusaders AC runner
28 Kevin Lambe 01:06:19
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2775/category/O/
IMRA Brockagh 6.6k (148)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Mark Carmody 1 00:34:52
2 Isabel O’Reilly 1 00:35:02
Crusaders AC runner
78 Gavan Doherty 00:46:32
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2765/category/O/
Oldbridge Parkrun (164) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Con Halpin 1 00:18:41
14 Ciara Shaw 1 00:21:45
Crusaders AC runner
58 Susanne English 00:27:38 (8)
Griffeen Parkrun (203) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Oliver Warren 1 00:17:31
33 Caroline O’Sullivan 1 00:23:45
Crusaders AC runner
34 Colm Foley 00:23:48
Belfast Victoria Parkrun (284) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Cameron Grant 1 00:16:23
20 Katie Napier 1 00:18:29
Crusaders AC runner
88 Ryan Preston 00:22:13
Westport Parkrun (125) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ruairi Hollywood 1 00:15:31
2 Annie Hughes 1 00:19:06
Crusaders AC runner
2 Annie Hughes 00:19:06 (1)
Con Smith Parkrun (59) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Shaney McPhillips 1 00:19:04
6 Finola Fitzsimons 1 00:22:36
Crusaders AC runners
34 Anna Shine 00:30:35 (12)
36 Lisa Shine 00:30:57 (13)
37 Máirín Shine 00:31:22 (14)
Ballincollig Parkrun (329)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Anthony Mannix 1 00:17:43
6 Anne O’Donovan 1 00:19:52
Crusaders AC runner
285 Helena O’Keeffe 00:36:19 (112)
Shanganagh Parkrun (347)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 George Callery 1 00:16:59
9 Ciara Regan 1 00:19:48
Crusaders AC runners
9 Ciara Regan 00:19:48 (1)
22 Margaret Foley 00:21:05 (5)
40 Paul Campbell 00:22:22
109 Olwyn Dunne 00:25:55 (14)
 153 Orlaith de Burca 00:28:02 (32)
264 Kevin Kenny 00:33:10
Donabate Parkrun (208)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Anthony Sharkey 1 00:17:13
7 Geraldine McHale 1 00:21:15
Crusaders AC runner
61 Brendan Glynn 00:26:14
Marlay Parkrun (582)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ciaran Connolly 1 00:16:46
22 Paula Grant 1 00:20:58
Crusaders AC runners
3 Paul Flynn 00:17:43
136 Kate Murray 00:24:44 (22)
228 Ellen Walsh 00:27:20 (49)
383 Carina Davidson 00:30:49 (127)
Brickfields Parkrun (126) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Luke Higgins 1 00:18:08
12 Narangarav Gankhuyag 1 00:21:39
Crusaders AC runners
24 Aoife McCarthy 00:23:21 (2)
98 Mairead Cashman 00:34:00
Bushy Parkrun (230)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Aogan Mac Domhnaill 1 00:18:08
3 Roisin McMahon 1 00:19:12
Crusaders AC runners
9 Kev Moore 00:20:39
18 Mary Donnelly 00:21:52 (2)
Royal Canal, Kilcock Parkrun (350)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Kevin Kelly 1 00:17:06
32 Amy Hedderman 1 00:23:18
Crusaders AC runner
175 Martina White 00:30:32 (51)
St. Anne’s Parkrun (540)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Rob Cross 1 00:17:09
22 Ailish Malone 1 00:19:45
Crusaders AC runners
1 Rob Cross 00:17:09
2 Paul Reidy 00:17:34
64 Michael O’Shea 00:22:01
111 Fiona Bane 00:24:09 (17)
Poolbeg Parkrun (241)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 August Benedicto 1 00:17:48
6 Christine Parsons 1 00:19:12
Crusaders AC runners
2 Stephen Hurley 00:17:50
7 Conor MacGuinness 00:19:33
13 Darragh Jones 00:20:13
17 Conor Kilkenny 00:20:23
20 Adrian Groarke 00:20:52
23 Mustaf Ahmed 00:21:04
24 Donal O’Malley 00:21:08
26 Piarais Neary 00:21:18
31 David Timoney 00:21:40
34 Louise Dobbyn 00:22:11 (5)
53 Emily Glen 00:24:04 (9)
57 Neil Brown 00:24:26
68 Sharon Woods 00:24:55 (15)
83 Franky Keane 00:25:56
84 Bo Chicoine 00:25:57
85 Louise O’Riordan 00:25:58 (21)
129 Diarmuid Bolger 00:28:05
133 Iseult Ni Chuinneagain 00:28:17 (43)
145 Lorraine McMahon 00:28:35 (52)
158 Maureen McGinley 00:29:20 (61)
162 Orla McTernan 00:29:31 (63)
164 Mari Hansen 00:29:35 (64)
169 Una McCullagh 00:30:11 (69)
173 Fanny Trebouet 00:30:19 (72)
209 Marie-Claire Daly 00:34:52 (98)
241 John Lohan 00:59:14