A Weekend of Classic Races

5/2/2024

L-R: Rebecca Fleming, Clare Sullivan, Susan Walsh, Amy McGuinness, Rachael Yorke, Olwyn Dunne, Saoirse McGrath

Over four and half thousand runners took part in two iconic 10-milers on Sunday. One of them was holding its 32nd edition, the John Treacy Dungarvan 10-miler down in Co. Waterford, the other, the much younger, but no less well-supported, Trim AC-organised 10 miler took place in Co. Meath. Neither race disappointed, despite challenging weather conditions.

Another classic set of races took place on Saturday morning. These were the ladies' and mixed cross-country races organised by the BHAA and sponsored by An Garda Siochána traditionally held around the Munich mile area of the Phoenix Park.

We start with the Garda races. In damp but not too windy conditions on Saturday morning, the first race of the day, the two-mile event, enjoyed a much smaller field than of late, lacking the numbers that have been produced in the past by the Dublin Lord Mayor’s initiative. Nevertheless, 48 plucky runners took part in the race, among them 7 from the club, on a course that twice took in the gullies leading down to, and up from, the bottom of the Khyber Pass near the Islandbridge Gate and the Magazine fort at the southern end of the park. Conditions were quite muddy in places, although the course deviated slightly from and avoided a familiar particularly muddy gap between the trees in the copse at the top of the uphill gully.

Clare Sullivan was our leading finisher, placing second, having led a pack pursuing the eventual winner, Laura McDonnell, throughout the race. Clare’s time was 13:13 and she was followed home by Saoirse McGrath (4th in 13:29) and by Amy McGuinness (6th in 13:37), both of whom had tried to stick with Clare in her pursuit of Laura. Rachael Yorke was next, in 10th place in a time of 14:16, with Rebecca Fleming not too far behind in 17th place (15:09). The contingent was completed by Olwyn Dunne who placed 24th overall and 3rd F55 in 16:29, followed by coach Susan Walsh who placed 26th overall and 2nd F60 in 17:10.

The following race was ostensibly a mixed 4-miler on the same course, with an extension up to the Acres Road near the Papal Cross. However, only one or two women actually decided to take part in it. The event enjoyed a field nearly double that of the ladies’ race and again we provided a significant percentage of the numbers, nearly 12% or 11 runners. Michael O’Conor demonstrated that he is running as well as ever with a super 5th place finish in 24:26, pursued by Ross Neill in 11th place (25:00). Placing 21st and 4th M45 Joe Walsh was next, in 21st place in a time of 26:00 and slightly further back came Karl Walsh (33rd in 27:23). There was a further pack of Crusaders to come, led home by Neil Brown (51st in 30:07), followed by Robbie Moore (58th in 30:33). Next came David O’Donnell (60th in 30:44), followed closely by Tony Hackett (62nd in 30:50). The contingent was completed by Tomás Dunne (72nd in 32:56), coach Michael McGovern (81st in 35:04) and Paul E. Kelly (92nd in 40:28).

Then on Sunday, the first of the 10-milers to head out was in Dungarvan. The conditions would have been relatively dry on the largely anti-clockwise course that for about 60% of its length resembled a profile similar to that of Trim. With a strong WSW wind (27kph), runners would have had a headwind for some of the time from the start where they headed due south on a small loop and then as they headed west after about 3 miles before running into a cross wind and finally a tailwind to take them home. As in Trim, the course can be considered undulating, but not overly hilly.

We had 11 of our clubmates in the race, led home by Ciarain Kelly with a PB time of 56:51 to place 28th in a field measuring 2835 finishers. Ciarain was followed by Ger Forde (51st in 58:30), who was not too far in front of Michael Kiely (57th in 58:54) who was pacing again the Thurles visually impaired runner Declan Ryan (58th in 58:55). In a race where 79 runners broke the hour mark, John Mulvihill was not too far outside with a time of 60:04 for 80th spot. The three man team of Ciarain, Ger and Michael took a creditable 4th place in a competition involving 64 teams.

Mikey Coleman was our next athlete to cross the finishing line, in 235th spot and a time of 64:43, followed closely by Kathryn Gibbons, who is in training for March’s Rome marathon, with a PB time of 64:53 (236th overall and 15th female finisher). Eddie Nugent came next (290th in 66:25) and he was followed by Conor Macguinness (67:36 for 334th). Gillian Earley also had a good run in the conditions for 419th and 36th places with a time of 68:59 and she was followed by Dee Ni Chearbhaill (800th and 123rd in 74:37). Finally, Miriam Logan made a welcome return to racing, placing 951st and 155th in a time of 76:56. The three-woman team of Kathryn, Gill and Dee placed a strong 5th out of 48 teams in the competition. Members may be interested to learn that Sean Murphy, of the Wexford United Striders club, who trains with us, also ran in the race, recording a time of 69:01 for 430th spot.

Trim was a similar story, although arguably the wind would have had more of an impact. Starting an hour later, the wind had time to increase to a speed of 35kph from the WSW, so that runners on the anti-clockwise route (and not unduly hilly) had a couple of miles of a headwind at the top of the course, then a strong crosswind on the return for about 4 miles, followed by a finish that was incredibly tough with about 600m of relentless headwind that may have added 15-30 seconds to runners’ times.

The race witnessed a return of Peter Somba to the competitive environment, but on this occasion he had to settle for 2nd place in a field of 1687 finishers, running 51:33, two seconds behind the winner, Conor Duffy. AnnMarie McGlynn was a late entry to the field, but she took away the main prize in the women’s race, placing 14th overall in 56:23.

Despite many times recorded being slower than last year’s because of the wind, we still saw PB finishes from runners over a distance which for many is a sweet spot in long distance racing. Dee Lawlor was one of those. He placed 33rd in a PB time of 58:27 and also coming home in 5th place in his M45 age category. Joe McDermott was next, placing 56th in 59:44 and he was followed by Kevin Kavanagh (67th in 60:08) who, for the second half of the race, was pacing ex-Crusader (now GCH, but who still trains with us from time to time) Catherine Thornton to a PB time of 60:07 (66th overall and 4th female finisher). Along with Robert Browne (89th in 61:07), the 4-man team of Dee, Joe, Kevin and Robert placed 4th men’s team in a competition involving 89 teams. Of interest, 62 runners broke 60 minutes in the race.

The next athlete across the line was Kieran Martin who ran a satisfying 61:58 for 112th place and he was followed by Kevin Lambe wo recorded a PB of 65:21 for 206th place. He was possibly trying to follow the solitary 65 minutes pacer whose silver balloon flew up into space within the first 3 miles. Kevin was followed by Adrienne Jordan, who is racing herself back to fitness (219th and 22nd in 65:56) and by James Cottle (269th overall and 1st M65 in 67:49). James, who is in training for the Tokyo marathon in less than a month’s time, ran a tactical race, starting relatively steadily and reeling in his closest adversary at around 4 miles. He then hung on to the lead for the rest of the race. Aoife Quigley was the next runner home, placing just behind James in 284th and 34th places in a time of 68:38.

Further back, in her first 10-mile race, Anna Gallo, who was not recorded as a Crusader in the race, placed 349th and 43rd in a super time of 70:29 and she was followed by Sharon Woods (707th and 156th in 78:56). If Anna had been included in the team results, then the first 4 women home would have placed 5th in a competition involving 76 teams. The contingent was completed by tow of our runners pacing the 90 minutes finishers (Olwyn Dunne who ran 79:40 for 735th and 168th places) and husband Joe who was pacing the 100 minutes finishers (99:33 for 1475th place). Both are preparing for this month’s Donadea 50k race, with Joe likely to pace that too.

All in all, a highly satisfying day for many of our athletes.

Further afield, Tara Gavin joined our Spanish exiles Esther Requena Ferri and Cristian Vilchez Ceballos in running in the Torremolinos Half marathon on Sunday. Cristian was 4th in his category running 1:19 for the distance, followed by Esther who recorded a PB with her time of 1:26. Tara ran a super 1:42 on what would be considered a hilly course (first half and finish) in otherwise excellent conditions.

We had a number of first finishers in Saturday morning’s parkruns. Our largest contingent was as usual in Poolbeg where Chris Russell was first across the line in 16:54. He led home at least 13 Crusaders in a field of 171. Chris was followed home by Stephen Hurley in 5th place in 17:59 and Luke Corcoran a little further back (11th in 20:10). Josie Ward was our first female runner home in 60th and 9th places in 24:20 and she was followed by Michael Fitzsimons (63rd in 24:27). Kevin Kenny followed Michael in 67th place in a time of 24:45 and he was followed by Russell Murphy (71st in 24:58), Tanja Narancic (78th and 13th in 25:48), Paul Campbell (81st in 25:56), Christina Campbell (83rd and 15th in 26:05), Maureen McGinley (116th and 33rd in 28:49), Jessica Norris (126th and 41st in 29:26) and Cynthia Perucca (152nd and 55th in 32:55).

Elsewhere, Paul Flynn was a first finisher in Griffeen Park where he ran 18:58 ahead of a field of 220. Colm Foley also ran there, placing 43rd in 23:40. Meanwhile Laura Flannelly (née Schwirz) placed 14th overall and first female runner across the line in the 108-strong field in Claremorris, recording a time of 23:31. She was preceded by John O’Donnell who finished in 3rd place in 19:13. Kate Murray took second spot and 20th overall in Mullingar. In a field of 129, Kate ran a time of 22:12. Meanwhile, Mairead Cashman ran in a modest field of 16 in Knockanacree Woods where she finished in 6th and 2nd in a time of 36:23, whilst, in River Valley Park, pacing the 25 minute runners, Darina Scully ran 25:02 for 21st and 5th places in a field of 109 runners.

Members of the Shine family ran in the 75-strong field in Hartstown, where Fiona placed 32nd and 8th in 28:01, Máirín took 38th and 13th spots in 29:08 and Lisa finished in 59th and 29th places in 36:20. Kieran Martin and Michael Maughan joined 504 other participants in St. Anne’s, Raheny, where Kieran placed 18th in 20:39 and Michael placed 91st in 23:59, whilst Toby Benham placed 34th in 22:26 in a field of 247 in Tramore Valley, Cork. Jill Nason ran in another Tramore parkrun, in Co. Waterford, where she placed 43rd and 11th in a time of 25:26. The field there measured 202.

Further afield, Sarah Lyons ran in her native Aylesbury where, in a field of 140, she placed 48th and 11th in 26:38, whilst Enda Currid joined 667 other runners in Oxford, where, in the University Parks parkrun, he placed 69th in 20:34.

Aoife Quigley and Harp Bhambra ran in the 461-strong field in Marlay Park, where Aoife placed 57th and 6th in 23:18, whilst Harp came home in 329th and 110th places in 32:37, whilst in Tolka Valley, Diarmuid Byrne placed 8th in 22:59 and Felipe de Sousa ran 28:05 for 25th place in a field of 50. Andy Deuser was our singleton runner in Fairview alongside 188 other participants where he placed 56th with a time of 25:36, whilst we had two runners in Bushy Park. Daniel Lowe made a welcome return to competitive running, placing 9th in 21:05, followed by Gillian Lyons (154th and 47th in 32:38). The field measured 211 there. Finally, our new club communications officer, Cría Dowling, joined Carina Davidson in Shanganagh, where, in a field of 213, Cría placed 195th and 75th in 37:04, followed by Carina who placed 202nd and 80th in a time of 42:31.

John Treacy Dungarvan 10-mile race (2835)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Oisin Spillane 1 00:51:56
65 Ciara Wilson 1 00:59:14
Crusaders AC runners
28 Ciarain Kelly 00:56:51 (PB)
51 Ger Forde 00:58:30
57 Michael Kiely 00:58:54
80 John Mulvihill 01:00:04
235 Mikey Coleman 01:04:43
236 Kathryn Gibbons 01:04:53 (PB) (15)
290 Eddie Nugent 01:06:25
334 Conor Macguinness 01:07:36
419 Gillian Earley 01:08:59 (36)
800 Dee Ni Chearbhaill 01:14:37 (123)
951 Miriam Logan 01:16:56 (155)
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/john_treacy_dungarvan_10_mile/4982/results
Trim AC 10-mile race (1687)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Conor Duffy 1 00:51:31
14 AnnMarie McGlynn 00:56:23
Crusaders AC runners
33 Derek Lawlor 00:58:27 (PB)
56 Joe McDermott 00:59:44
67 Kevin Kavanagh 01:00:08
89 Robert Browne 01:01:07
112 Kieran Martin 01:01:58
206 Kevin Lambe 01:05:21 (PB)
219 Adrienne Jordan 01:05:56 (22)
269 James Cottle 01:07:49
284 Aoife Quigley 01:08:38 (34)
349 Anna Gallo 01:10:29 (PB) (43)
707 Sharon Woods 01:18:56 (156)
735 Olwyn Dunne 01:19:40 (168) PACER
1475 Joe Dunne 01:39:33 PACER
Full results here: https://www.popupraces.ie/race/trim-10-mile-road-race-2024/
BHAA Garda 2-mile XC women’s race (48)
Overall place Name Guntime
1 Laura McDonnell 00:12:17
Crusaders AC runners
2 Clare Sullivan 00:13:13
4 Saoirse McGrath 00:13:29
6 Amy McGuinness 00:13:37
10 Rachael Yorke 00:14:16
17 Rebecca Fleming 00:15:09
24 Olwyn Dunne 00:16:29
26 Susan Walsh 00:17:10
Full results here: https://irp.cdn-website.com/15e8030f/files/uploaded/Race%20Master%202024%20Garda%202m%20-%204m%20CC%20races.pdf
BHAA 4-mile XC mixed race (94)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Daniel O’Brien 1 00:22:57
71 Pauline Hilliard 1 00:32:18
Crusaders AC runners
5 Michael O’Conor 00:24:26
11 Ross Neill 00:25:00
21 Joe Walsh 00:26:00
33 Karl Walsh 00:27:23
51 Neil Brown 00:30:07
58 Robbie Moore 00:30:33
60 David O’Donnell 00:30:44
62 Anthony Hackett 00:30:50
72 Tomás Dunne 00:32:56
81 Michael McGovern 00:35:04
92 Paul E. Kelly 00:40:28
Full results here: https://irp.cdn-website.com/15e8030f/files/uploaded/Race%20Master%202024%20Garda%202m%20-%204m%20CC%20races.pdf
Poolbeg Parkrun (171)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Chris Russell 1 00:16:54
24 Ava Rose Clarke 1 00:21:26
Crusaders AC runners
1 Chris Russell 00:16:54
5 Stephen Hurley 00:17:59
11 Luke Corcoran 00:20:10
60 Josie Ward 00:24:20 (9)
63 Michael Fitzsimons 00:24:27
67 Kevin Kenny 00:24:45
71 Russell Murphy 00:24:58
78 Tanja Narancic 00:25:48 (13)
81 Paul Campbell 00:25:56
83 Christina Campbell 00:26:05 (15)
116 Maureen McGinley 00:28:49 (33)
126 Jessica Norris 00:29:26 (41)
152 Cynthia Perucca 00:32:55 (55)
Shanganagh Parkrun (213)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Nickolas Colyn 1 00:15:41
10 Muirna Twomey 1 00:20:39
Crusaders AC runners
195 Cría Dowling 00:37:04 (75)
202 Carina Davidson 00:42:31 (80)
St. Anne’s Parkrun (506)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Kevin Donagher 1 00:16:14
7 Helen Marshall 1 00:19:03
Crusaders AC runners
18 Kieran Martin 00:20:39
91 Michael Maughan 00:23:59
Fairview Parkrun (189)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Rory Hearne 1 00:18:51
23 Aine Ni Ghloinn 1 00:22:58
Crusaders AC runner
56 Andy Deuser 00:25:36
Griffeen Parkrun (220)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Paul Flynn 1 00:18:58
36 Jiaojiao Wang 1 00:23:16
Crusaders AC runners
1 Paul Flynn 00:18:58
43 Colm Foley 00:23:40
River Valley Parkrun (109)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Declan McGrath 1 00:21:14
4 Cecile Ollagnier 1 00:22:18
Crusaders AC runner
21 Darina Scully 00:25:02 (5)
Hartstown Parkrun (75)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 John Brogan 1 00:18:54
17 Olivia Barrett 1 00:25:56
Crusaders AC runners
32 Fiona Shine 00:28:01 (8)
38 Máirín Shine 00:29:08 (13)
59 Lisa Shine 00:36:20 (29)
Marlay Parkrun (461)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 August Benedicto 1 00:17:38
3 Amy Pollmann-Daamen 1 00:17:57
Crusaders AC runners
57 Aoife Quigley 00:23:18 (6)
329 Harp Bhambra 00:32:37 (110)
Mullingar Parkrun (129)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
2 Oisin Quinn 1 00:19:03
14 Michelle Langan 1 00:21:39
Crusaders AC runner
20 Kate Murray 00:22:12 (2)
Tramore Waterford Parkrun (202)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Brian Gallagher 1 00:17:48
11 Sarah Whelan 1 00:21:26
Crusaders AC runner
43 Jill Nason 00:25:26 (11)
Tramore Valley, Cork Parkrun (247)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Fergal Sargent 1 00:17:59
6 Teresa Murphy 1 00:19:32
Crusaders AC runner
34 Toby Benham 00:22:26
Bushy Parkrun (211)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Peter Gray 1 00:19:25
4 Caroline McCarthy 1 00:20:18
Crusaders AC runners
9 Daniel Lowe 00:21:05
154 Gillian Lyons 00:32:38 (47)
Claremorris Parkrun (108)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Cian O’Mahony 1 00:18:33
14 Laura Flannelly 1 00:23:31
Crusaders AC runners
3 John O’Donnell 00:19:13
14 Laura Flannelly 00:23:31 (1)
Knockanacree Parkrun (16)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 William Delahunty 1 00:22:28
5 Sorcha Holohan 1 00:30:08
Crusaders AC runner
6 Mairead Cashman 00:36:23 (2)
Tolka Valley Parkrun (50)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Mindaugas Igaris 1 00:19:46
6 Miriam Kearney 1 00:22:16
Crusaders AC runners
8 Diarmuid Byrne 00:22:59
25 Felipe de Sousa 00:28:05