Broad Band of Crusaders for BHAA Eir XC and WM&T races in Cherryfield

19/1/2020

Standing: Aine Crotty, Marta Imaz, Emer Kenny, Iseult Ni Chuinneagain, Maureen McGinley, Laura O'Malley, Dorothy Maguire, Georgina Hawkins, Mairead Cashman, Marie Theresa Murphy, Maria del Carmen Jimenez Campos, Kate Murray, Sarah Lyons. Kneeling: Deirdre Kennedy, Louise O'Riordan, Niamh Seery, Anna Shine, Lisa Shine, Geraldine Clements, Fiona Shine, Olwyn Dunne, Tanja Narancic.

This weekend provided perfect conditions on both days for cross country racing. Chilly, but sunny and with frost underfoot. Most importantly, there was no wind. There were two big events involving Crusaders over the weekend, both taking place in Cherryfield Park just inside the M50 near Knocklyon.

On Saturday morning we witnessed a decent turnout in otherwise relatively modest fields for the second BHAA race in 7 days. Cherryfield Park is familiar territory for BHAA runners, involving laps of playing fields at one end and a wooded area at the other. Apart from a couple of hills, it is not too challenging, although there are a few twists and turns in it and some tight spots early on before the field spreads out. As usual, there were two events, the first of them being the women’s 2 mile race, involving 2 laps of the course, short and sharp, and the smallish field of 43 runners was pretty much home within 20 minutes. We had 10% of the field with 4 runners in the race, led home by Niamh Corby who is gradually racing herself back to fitness and who took 3rd place in a decent time of 12:59. Susan Walsh was next across the line in 19th place overall and 4th in her age category with a time of 14:43, followed by Maureen McGinley (37th in 17:27) and Mairead Cashman (41st in 19:12), running her second event of the morning, having participated in the parkrun in nearby Bushy Park an hour or so earlier.

The second race was the mixed 5 miler (although it measured slightly shorter than that). There were 3 women in the race, taking advantage of the hard work-out, joining 148 men. Again, our 15 runners made up 10% of the field and left their mark. Niamh Allen was the first female runner across the finish line, repeating her feat of the previous week, in 11th place overall, in a super time of 28:09. Indeed, she was 3rd Crusader home. Rachael Yorke also took part, placing 66th overall and 2nd woman home, in 33:00. We didn’t have any runners among the men on the podium, but Michael Kiely ran a good race for 5th place in 26:44, only 34 seconds behind the race winner and under 15 seconds off a podium place. He was followed by John Mulvihill (9th in 27:57) and Michael Wycherley who enjoyed a course PB despite thinking he was on lap 4 when in fact he was on lap 3, of 5. Michael, who's enjoying super form right now, ran an extremely steady race otherwise and was only 4 seconds off winning his age category, placing 14th and 2nd M45 in 28:14. Joe McDermott made a late surge to come in just behind in 15th in a time of 28:26 and further back he was followed by Joe Walsh, coming back from injury, who placed 45th in 31:27. John McAuley was right on Joe’s heels in 46th place and a time of 31:39 and he was followed by Michael Maughan for a top 50 finish (49th in 31:59). The next male runner across the line for the club was Karl Walsh (64th in 32:52), followed by Anthony O’Reilly (81st in 34:30), Pat Quill (83rd in 34:33), Robbie Moore (97th in 36:05), Michael McGovern (112th in 38:27) and Paul E. Kelly (142nd in 46:55).

Then, on Sunday, 23 intrepid runners turned out for the 3rd two mile event of the 4 race Women's Meet and Train winter league, organised on this occasion by Brothers Pearse who train in the park. The course is similar to that of the BHAA, but not exactly the same and in fact measured slightly long. Formal results have yet to appear, and when they do, we will try to update. However, we can say that we fielded nearly 15% of the field of 160 or so. There is a fear that, because some of the runners were missing or slightly under the weather, the A team may have slipped into 2nd place at this stage behind Sportsworld, but at the end of the day the final outcome will be decided on the best 3 races of 4 and so the club can afford to slip slightly. But, it will need a determined effort for the last race of the season, to take place on Sunday 16 February in Abbotstown. in any event, we had some excellent results all the same. Sarah Lyons was first Crusader across the line in 9th place followed by Georgina Hawkins in 20th, Fiona Shine in 27th and Maria Del Carmen Jimenez Campos in 30th. Next came Aine Crotty in 36th place, followed by Dorothy Maguire in 42nd. Louise O'Riordan also placed in the top 50 with 46th place. Kate Murray led the next batch across the finish in 53rd, followed by Emer Kenny in 61st, Geraldine Clements, 62nd and Lisa Shine, on her birthday, 63rd. Tanja Narancic was not too far behind in 65th place and she was followed by Olwyn Dunne in 66th and Anna Shine in 69th. We really did pack the middle of the field, as next came Laura O'Malley in 71st followed by Marta Imaz in 83rd position. Marie Theresa Murphy was the next Crusader home in 87th place, followed by newcomer Niamh Seery in 107th spot, Deirdre Kennedy, in 100th, Maureen McGinley in 127th, Carina Davidson in 129th, Iseult Ni Chuinneagain in 138th and Mairead Cashman, in her 3rd event of the weekend, in 144th place.

It looks like we only had one runner in the Friday night/Saturday morning Art O’Neill Challenge, that took runners, starting at midnight from Dublin Castle, across the mountains 53km into the heart of County Wicklow. It was a particularly cold but clear night for the event this year. Gerald Hoare was one of the participants, completing the event in 9 hours. Also, over the weekend, our inveterate ultra marathoner, Leo Lundy, has continued his goal, it appears, to compete in marathons in as many counties as he can in Ireland and the UK. Right now he is up to 47, his latest being in Devon. He then cooled down with a marathon in London, the Thunderbolt.

The great running conditions on Saturday morning appear to have encouraged a lot of runners to come out and participate in parkruns. Numbers were generally up and, in the benign weather, times were generally faster than the previous weekend. We had our usual smattering of first finishers. One, who we are going to lose temporarily as she shortly embarks on a 3 month long trip around South America, was, as usual these days, Caroline Crowley, whose times seem to be coming down with each event she enters. Caroline placed 13th overall in St. Anne’s in 18:53, followed home by Eoghan Corrigan who also seems to be getting his times down (43rd in 20:26). Paul F. Kelly and his wife Aoife also ran, with Paul placing 153rd in 23:27 and Aoife 371st and 106th in 28:29. Another first finisher was Maurice Kelter in Tralee, where he ran 19:14 to lead the field home, among whom was Helena O’Keeffe (80th and 15th in 25:52). Finally, yet another Crusader can be added to the list of those first home in Poolbeg. Cristian Vilchez Ceballos ran 17:39 to cross the line in first place, just ahead of Kenan Furlong (2nd in 17:42) who is knocking on the door and whose times continue to fall. They were followed by Esther Requena Ferri (37th and 4th in 21:03), Patrick Carthy (66th in 22:32), John Lohan (80th in 22:59), Fiona Bane (93rd and 14th in 23:33), Ava Rose Clarke (103rd and 15th in 23:58, Aine Kenny (134th and 14th in 25:07), Paul Campbell (144th in 25:26), Ali May Hann (163rd and 39th in 26:23), Niamh Quinn (164th and 40th in 26:34), Gillian Curran (166th and 42nd in 26:38), Cliodhna O’Reilly (172nd and 45th in 26:47), Neil Brown (192nd in 27:35), Siobhan Russell (211th and 68th in 29:05), Mairin Shine (244th and 86th in 32:10), Lisa Shine (247th and 87th in 32:21), Ciara McElligott (265th and 97th in 35:58) and Don Anderton, tailwalking. Elsewhere, Ronan Moynihan and two others ran in Malahide. Ronan placed 7th in 18:06, followed by Brian Scanlan (17th in 18:56) and Darina Scully (501st and 184th in 45:02). Luke Davis ran in Marlay Park, where he took 11th spot in 19:10, whilst Brian Carroll was our lone runner in Griffeen Park, where he picked up 21st place in 22:05. In Faelldparken in Copenhagen, Mari Hansen placed 80th and 19th in a field of 107 in a time of 26:42, whilst Andrej Kujikis appears to have taken it easily in Edinburgh where he placed 760th in a field of 787 and a time of 42:29. Diarmuid Byrne ran in Tolka Valley, taking 10th spot in 21:31, whilst Brian McGuckin ran 20:35 in Brickfields for 6th place. We had a runner this weekend in the Progression Parkrun in Mountjoy Prison. It’s restricted to 40 runners and David Long locked himself into 29th place in a time of 26:18. It’s great to see David back running, along with Martina White who placed 132nd and 52nd in 30:56 in Porterstown. Martina was joined by Kevin Flynn who placed 178th in 36:33. Meanwhile, a previous participant from the Progression Parkrun, Olwyn Dunne, ran in Avondale Forest where she placed 37th and 5th in 25:52. Janet McManus ran in Shanganagh, placing 124th and 23rd in 27:33 and she was followed across the line by Orlaith de Burca who ran 27:49 for 129th and 27th places. Barry O’Mahony was our only runner in Cabinteely this week, where he took 15th spot in 22:09, whilst David O’Donnell came home in 11th place in 21:55 in Athlone. Finally, Kate Murray and Mairead Cashman ran in Bushy park, where, respectively, they placed 101st (and 18th) and 178th (and 52nd) in times of 26:44 and 29:57.

BHAA Eir Women’s 2 mile XC (43)
Overall place Name Guntime
1 Grainne Butler 00:12:53
Crusaders AC runners
3 Niamh Corby 00:12:59
19 Susan Walsh 00:14:43
37 Maureen McGinley 00:17:27
41 Mairead Cashman 00:19:12
Full results here: https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3Ae267d2f6-cf77-4e29-b3d1-eda20614b278&fbclid=IwAR3ueqUcSa67xNoX9JdEtiEqQ2v29lGHQ1OUPEc0ypT5RbaqXToyKlLKyn8
BHAA Eir Mixed 5 mile XC (151)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Colin Turner 1 00:26:10
14 Niamh Allen 1 00:28:09
Crusaders AC runners
5 Michael Kiely 00:26:44
9 John Mulvihill 00:27:57
11 Niamh Allen 00:28:09 (1)
14 Michael Wycherley 00:28:14
15 Joe McDermott 00:28:26
45 Joe Walsh 00:31:27
46 John McAuley 00:31:39
49 Michael Maughan 00:31:59
64 Karl Walsh 00:32:52
66 Rachael Yorke 00:33:00 (2)
81 Anthony O’Reilly 00:34:30
83 Pat Quill 00:34:33
97 Robbie Moore 00:36:05
112 Michael McGovern 00:38:27
142 Paul E. Kelly 00:46:55
Full results here: https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3Aff6ee5d3-fdd7-4858-99e2-5db6a4685ff2&fbclid=IwAR0ZJ0-SF6OzjPMlkFNTUcQzlb7DWPp1pbhNL90Rlwmv2MSqiAm-A2mOduk
Malahide Parkrun #377 (527)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Ciaran McCarthy 1 00:16:23
25 Jenny Johnston 1 00:19:17
Crusaders AC runners
7 Ronan Moynihan 00:18:06
17 Brian Scanlan 00:18:56
501 Darina Scully 00:45:02 (184)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/malahide/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=377
Griffeen Parkrun #346 (229)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Dylan Wright 1 00:17:48
15 Deirdre Collins 1 00:21:26
Crusaders AC runner
21 Brian Carroll 00:22:05
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/griffeen/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=346
Porterstown Parkrun #224 (242)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Niall Sherlock 1 00:18:40
19 Niamh Forristal 1 00:22:13
Crusaders AC runners
132 Martina White 00:30:56 (52)
178 Kevin Flynn 00:36:33
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/porterstown/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=224
Marlay Parkrun #337 (728)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 James Kelly 1 00:16:46
24 Carole Bray 1 00:19:55
Crusaders AC runner
11 Luke Davis 00:19:10
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/marlay/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=337
Poolbeg Parkrun #127 (301)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Cristian Vilchez Ceballos 1 00:17:39
30 Eva McCartan 1 00:20:43
Crusaders AC runners
1 Cristian Vilchez Ceballos 00:17:39
2 Kenan Furlong 00:18:20
37 Esther Requena Ferri 00:21:03 (4)
66 Patrick Carthy 00:22:32
80 John Lohan 00:22:59
93 Fiona Bane 00:23:33 (14)
103 Ava Rose Clarke 00:23:58 (15)
134 Aine Kenny 00:25:07 (28)
144 Paul Campbell 00:25:26
163 Ali May Hann 00:26:23 (39)
164 Niamh Quinn 00:26:34 (40)
166 Gillian Curran 00:26:38 (42)
172 Cliodhna O’Reilly 00:26:47 (45)
192 Neil Brown 00:27:35
211 Siobhan Russell 00:29:05 (68)
244 Mairin Shine 00:32:10 (86)
247 Lisa Shine 00:32:21 (87)
265 Ciara McElligott 00:35:58 (97)
301 Don Anderton 00:53:21
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/poolbeg/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=127
Tralee Parkrun #265 (340)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Maurice Kelter 1 00:19:14
19 Mary Fitzsimons 1 00:21:23
Crusaders AC runners
1 Maurice Kelter 00:19:14
80 Helena O’Keeffe 00:25:52 (15)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/tralee/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=265
Bushy Parkrun #153 (342)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Shane Prendergast 1 00:19:30
12 Clare Kinsella 1 00:21:43
Crusaders AC runners
101 Kate Murray 00:26:44 (18)
178 Mairead Cashman 00:29:57 (52)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/bushydublin/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=153
St. Anne’s Parkrun #318 (680)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Peter Mullane 1 00:16:44
13 Caroline Crowley 00:18:53
Crusaders AC runners
13 Caroline Crowley 00:18:53 (1)
43 Eoghan Corrigan 00:20:26
153 Paul F. Kelly 00:23:27
371 Aoife Kelly 00:28:29 (106)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/stannes/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=318
Cabinteely Parkrun #250 (241)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Rob Asher 1 00:19:25
20 Niamh Ryan 1 00:22:38
Crusaders AC runner
15 Barry O’Mahony 00:22:09
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/cabinteely/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=250
Tolka Valley Parkrun #100 (146)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 John Moroney 1 00:16:41
26 Marissa O’Callaghan 1 00:23:21
Crusaders AC runner
10 Diarmuid Byrne 00:21:31
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/tolkavalley/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=100
Shanganagh Parkrun #248 (308)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Lyall Guiney 1 00:17:53
15 Ann Marie Kenny 1 00:19:54
Crusaders AC runners
124 Janet McManus 00:27:33 (23)
129 Orlaith de Burca 00:27:49 (27)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/shanganagh/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=248
Athlone Parkrun #225 (73)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Mick Fogarty 1 00:19:30
4 Olivia McCartin 1 00:20:43
Crusaders AC runner
11 David O’Donnell 00:21:55
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/athlone/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=225
Brickfields Parkrun #105 (142)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Wesley Harrison 1 00:18:28
12 Ruth Kelly 1 00:21:06
Crusaders AC runner
6 Brian McGuckin 00:20:35
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/brickfields/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=105
Progression Parkrun #72 (40)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Ciaran O’Raghallaigh 1 00:17:03
11 Brenda Mulligan 1 00:23:27
Crusaders AC runner
29 David Long 00:26:18
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/progression/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=72
Avondale Forest Parkrun #84 (135)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Gerald Forde 1 00:16:06
21 Dervla Batt 1 00:23:49
Crusaders AC runner
37 Olwyn Dunne 0:25:52 (5)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/avondaleforest/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=84