Building Confidence

21/9/2026

Máirín Shine and Lucas Ryan

It was a lovely weekend for running. The sun shone and there was little wind. Our athletes were out in droves, many of them taking on more half marathons in preparation for the Dublin marathon as well as some of those on the continent, a means of benchmarking for the upcoming challenges. Many of our clubmates would have got a huge boost of confidence from their races, which for some formed just part of much longer runs on the day.

We start, however, with Sunday’s Griffith Avenue Mile which has been held as an annual event since 1983. This year the race incorporated the National One-Mile road championships and we came home with some medals. Lucas Ryan narrowly missed winning the entire 300-strong event by one second, finishing in 2nd place with the senior silver in a great time of 4:08. Lucas was followed by Abdé Boumaza who ran 4:36 for 25th spot, with Senan Garvey coming home in 40th place in 4:47 to win the U18 age category.

Charlotte Myers was next, taking senior bronze with a super run of 4:49 to place 41st overall and she was followed further back by Garret Connolly (102nd in 5:46), Myles Nolan (115th in 5:56), Lisa Shine (162nd overall and 34th female finisher in 7:18), Anna Shine (184th and 49th in 7:57) and Máirín Shine who won the F70 age category with an age category course record of 8:06 for 190th and 53rd places.

There were several half marathons taking place around the country over the weekend and we had Crusaders in at least two of them, the more local one, the Race Series Half Marathon, also incorporating the Dublin Half marathon championships. Again, we took some individual medals away and might have increased the haul. Unfortunately, however, not everyone identified Crusaders as their club or declared for the Dublin Championships.

There were nearly 6500 finishers in the hilly race in the Phoenix Park and our large contingent of more than 40 clubmates was led home by Dimitri Jeannon who placed 23rd in 75:57. Dimitri was followed by Andy Dunne who recorded a PB time of 78:18 for 45th place. Next came Benjamin Carter (96th in 81:10) and he was followed by Tim Bowen (106th in 81:39), Donal O’Malley (152nd in 83:29), Steven Michel, getting over injury (165th in 83:57), Derek Boland (199th in 84:36), John O’Donnell (234th in 85:44), Alby Allan (266th in 86:46), Simon Kenny (282nd in 86:40), Dee Lawlor (341st in 85:06), Eugene McDonough, preparing for Amsterdam (380th in 89:17), Isabella Gyori (412th and 25th in 89:14), Ray Walsh (444th and 3rd M60, gold in the Dublin championships, in 90:02), Adrian Groarke (695th in 94:10), Karl Walsh (875th in 94:29), Gavan Doherty (901st in 97:18), Noel Carr (992nd in 98:32), Paul Campbell (1099th in 98:43), Triona Quill (1229th, 141st and 3rd F55, silver in the Dublin championships, in 1:41:27), Ciara Lynch who ran 1:40 but whose place and time were not recorded, Stephen O’Connor, training for Lisbon and who started quite far back (1271st in 89:43), Lisa Branigan (1295th and 156th in 1:40:18), Caroline Fleming (1391st and 177th in 1:40:47), Aitor Arribas Velasco (2418th in 1:51:48), Kabir Sala (2645th in 1:56:19), Julienne Kelly (2846th and 657th in 1:53:40), Fanny Trébouet (3494th and 918th in a PB time of 1:56:25), Divya Sardana (3531st and 936th in 1:56:35), Kevin Kenny (3574th in 2:01:48), Olwyn Dunne, pacing the 2 hours runners (3863rd and 1091st in 1:59:37), Alan Martin (40110th in 2:01:03), Ella Campbell (4172nd and 1248th in 2:02:50), Mauro Verrocchio (4242nd in 2:04:14), Noel Higgins (4319th in 1:57:43), Bo Chicoine (4523rd in 2:07:55), Michelle English (4539th and 1461st in 2:08:09), Gian Piero Allerta (4728th in 2:10:37), Anousheh Alamir (4755th and 1576th in 2:07:03), Joe Dunne, pacing the 2:10 runners (4841st in 2:09:54), Laura O’Malley (4856th and 1637th in 2:12:02), Ryan Hoey (4999th in 2:11:03) and Darren Kelly (6300th in 2:43:17).

In the Dublin championships both of our men’s and women’s senior teams of Benjamin, Tim, Derek and Donal and Isabella, Triona, Lisa and Caroline placed 7th.

Over in Co. Clare, we had 4 runners take part in the Lahinch half marathon, with one of them, Kev Moore, unfortunately not recording a time, having started a little after the gun went. In a field of 572 finishers, David O’Donnell placed 47th and 1st M60 in 97:55, and he was followed by Mary Donnelly (87th and 15th in 1:43:33) and then by Chris Bannon (147th in 1:49:56).

Further afield, also in great weather, we had clubmates over in Copenhagen for the 5k and half marathon there, part of a range of races involving different distances and strong elite fields in the World Athletics Road Running Championships. Our contingent in the half marathon was led home by Brian Regan who ran 75:51 for 816th place in a huge field. Brian was followed by Cillian Traynor who ran 88:14, with, further back, Ellen Walsh (1:47:32) and Patricia Velasquez (1:51:43). Members may remember Markus Rossel, who now lives in Stockholm. He ran 86:53. Meanwhile, in the 5k, Sean Brady and his father Frank recorded times, respectably, of 22:12 and 27:37.

Also abroad, Lieze Verberght ran in the 10-mile Dam tot Dam Loop from Amsterdam to Zaandam, which she completed in 1:29.

We had a few first finishers in Saturday’s parkruns, as usual. In Shanganagh, with its field of 289 runners, Miriam Logan placed 18th and 1st in 21:45. Miriam was followed by Aoife McCarthy (64th and 9th in 25:13), Olwyn Dunne (87th and 15th in 26:08), Carina Davidson (139th and 33rd in 28:33), Máirín Shine (245th and 94th in 35:21), Lisa Shine (247th and 95th in 35:26) and Órlaith de Burca, tailwalking.

Louise Dobbyn was a also a first finisher, in Poolbeg, where she placed 24th overall in a field of 215. Louise was preceded by Stephen Hurley (2nd in 17:44) and by Ross Neill (6th in 18:35) and then followed by John Lohan (53rd in 24:34), Mark Browne (76th in 26:05) alongside Franky Keane (77th in 26:06) and then by Louise O’Riordan (81st and 14th in 26:17) alongside Ciara Regan, just coming back from injury (82nd and 15th in 26:18), Paul Campbell (83rd in the same time) and Aitor Arribas Velasco (84th in 26:19). Further back came Tara Murphy, also coming back from injury (146th and 47th in 29:42), Maureen McGinley (150th and 50th in 29:54) and Edwina Hogan (167th and 58th in 32:24).

In Mountbellew Forest, Áine Kenny placed 5th and 1st in 23:04, in a field of 41, whilst, on the Achill Greenway, Ashley Hayes led the field of 29 home in 17:38. In his first parkrun, Alex Ainsworth ran 16:35, to place 1st in a field of 519 in Marlay Park, whilst, in Tolka Valley, Felipe De Sousa placed 2nd in 20:19. In the field of 70 there, Laura O’Malley placed 27th and 9th in 27:46, followed by Maria Pertl who placed 45th and 20th in 30:53.
In Bushy Park, Kev Moore ran 20:46 for 5th place, ahead, in the field of 199, of Mary Donnelly who took 23rd and 2nd spots in 22:46. Meanwhile, in Fairview, Jamie Renehan ran alongside 167 other participants, placing 6th in 20:08, whilst, in Naas, Karl Walsh joined 143 other runners, where he took 6th place also in 20:43. Kabir Sala headed down to Kilkenny, where, in a field of 161, he placed 16th in 23:14, whilst, in Mungret, Luke Haran joined 105 other runners, placing 17th in 23:01. In Donabate, with its field of 221, Ryan Hoey took 23rd spot in 23:23, whilst in Ballincollig, Helena O’Keeffe ran 27:23 for 85th and 13th spots in a field of 266. In Avondale Forest Darina Scully took 34th and 12th places in 29:01 in a field of 98, whilst Kevin Kenny ran 29:15 for 83rd place alongside 211 other participants in Dodder Valley.

Further afield, Ronan Walsh and Claire Reidy joined 616 other runners in the Mile End parkrun in London, where Claire placed 125th and 9th in 23:58, followed immediately later by Ronan who placed 126th in 24:00. Mairead Cashman headed to Hilversum in the Netherlands where she ran in the Zonrestraal parkrun. In a field of 43, Mairead placed 38th and 12th in 33:13. Lastly, Kris Ryan ran once again in Coomera in Australia. Our Australian exile placed 32nd and 7th in 25:28.

Race Series Dublin Half marathon (including the Dublin Half marathon Championships) (6464)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 James Hyland 1 01:08:51
28 Meghan Ryan 1 01:16:46
Crusaders AC runners
23 Dimitri Jeannon 01:15:57
45 Andrew Dunne 01:18:18 (PB)
96 Benjamin Carpenter 01:21:10
106 Timothy Bowen 01:21:39
152 Donal O’Malley 01:23:29
165 Steven Michel 01:23:57
199 Derek Boland 01:24:36
234 John O’Donnell 01:25:44
266 Alby Allan 01:26:46
282 Simon Kenny 01:26:40
341 Derek Lawlor 01:25:06
380 Eugene McDonough 01:29:17
412 Isabella Gyori 01:29:14 (25)
444 Ray Walsh 01:30:02
695 Adrian Groarke 01:34:10
875 Karl Walsh 01:34:29
901 Gavan Doherty 01:37:18
992 Noel Carr 01:38:32
1099 Paul Campbell 01:38:43
1229 Triona Quill 01:41:27 (141)
1271 Stephen O’Connor 01:29:43
1295 Lisa Branigan 01:40:18 (156)
XXXX Ciara Lynch 01:40:00 (XXX)
1391 Caroline Fleming 01:40:47 (177)
2418 Aitor Arribas Velasco 01:51:48
2645 Kabir Sala 01:56:19
3494 Fanny Trébouet 01:56:25 (PB) (918)
3531 Divya Sardana 01:56:35 (936)
3574 Kevin Kenny 02:01:48
3863 Olwyn Dunne 01:59:37 (1091) PACER
4010 Alan Martin 02:01:03
4172 Ella Campbell 02:02:50 (1248)
4242 Mauro Verrocchio 02:04:14
4319 Noel Higgins 01:57:43
4523 Bo Chicoine 02:07:55
4539 Michelle English 02:08:09 (1461)
4728 Gian Piero Allerta 02:10:37
4755 Anousheh Alamir 02:07:03 (1576)
4841 Joseph Dunne 02:09:54 PACER
4856 Laura O’Malley 02:12:02 (1637)
4999 Ryan Hoey 02:11:03
6300 Darren Kelly 02:43:17
Full results here: https://www.tdleventservices.co.uk/en/results-embed.php?event=4253#1_0EF5D0
Lahinch Half marathon (572)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Christopher Prendiville 1 01:21:29
15 Leah O’Neill 1 01:30:30
Crusaders AC runners
47 David O’Donnell 01:37:55
87 Mary Donnelly 01:43:33 (15)
147 Chris Bannon 01:49:56
Full results here: https://my.raceresult.com/420871/
Griffith Avenue 1 mile (National road championships) (300)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Patrick Sheridan 1 00:04:07
27 Elizabeth Gahan 1 00:04:38
Crusaders AC runners
2 Lucas Ryan 00:04:08
25 Abdéssamed Boumaza 00:04:36
40 Senan Garvey 00:04:47
41 Charlotte Myers 00:04:49 (3)
102 Garret Connolly 00:05:46
115 Myles Nolan 00:05:56
162 Lisa Shine 00:07:18 (34)
184 Anna Shine 07:57 (49)
190 Máirín Shine 00:08:06 (CR) (53)
Full results here: https://myrunresults.com/events/griffith_avenue_mile__family_fun_mile_2026/6228/results
Mountbellew Forest Parkrun (41)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Domnick Sharkey 1 00:21:44
5 Áine Kenny 1 00:23:04
Crusaders AC runner
5 Áine Kenny 00:23:04 (1)
Bushy Parkrun (199)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Vic Wang 1 00:19:49
13 Marion Dolan 1 00:21:49
Crusaders AC runners
5 Kev Moore 00:20:46
23 Mary Donnelly 00:22:46 (2)
Kilkenny Parkrun (161)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Graham Bourne 1 00:19:09
20 Neasa Ruane 1 00:23:30
Crusaders AC runner
16 Kabir Sala 00:23:14
Tolka Valley Parkrun (70)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Steve Gilder 1 00:15:07
3 Caroline Monk 1 00:20:44
Crusaders AC runners
2 Felipe De Sousa 00:20:19
27 Laura O’Malley 00:27:46 (9)
45 Maria Pertl 00:30:53 (20)
Avondale Forest Parkrun (98)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Mick Byrne 1 00:19:30
6 Helen Winterbotham 1 00:22:25
Crusaders AC runner
34 Darina Scully 00:29:01 (12)
Poolbeg Parkrun (215)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 August Benedicto 1 00:17:42
24 Louise Dobbyn 1 00:21:25
Crusaders AC runners
2 Stephen Hurley 00:17:44
6 Ross Neill 00:18:35
24 Louise Dobbyn 00:21:25 (1)
53 John Lohan 00:24:34
76 Mark Browne 00:26:05
77 Franky Keane 00:26:06
81 Louise O’Riordan 00:26:17 (14)
82 Ciara Regan 00:26:18 (15)
83 Paul Campbell 00:26:18
84 Aitor Arribas Velasco 00:26:19
146 Tara Murphy 00:29:42 (47)
150 Maureen McGinley 00:29:54 (50)
167 Edwina Hogan 00:32:24 (58)
Dodder Valley Parkrun (212)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Robert Fagan 1 00:19:22
4 Aleksandra Rogalska 1 00:20:21
Crusaders AC runner
83 Kevin Kenny 00:29:15
Achill Greenway Parkrun (29)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ashley Hayes 1 00:17:38
5 Kate O’Brien 1 00:22:52
Crusaders AC runner
1 Ashley Hayes 00:17:38
Shanganagh Parkrun (289)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Michael Slevin 1 00:19:01
18 Miriam Logan 1 00:21:45
Crusaders AC runners
18 Miriam Logan 00:21:45 (1)
64 Aoife McCarthy 00:25:13 (9)
87 Olwyn Dunne 00:26:08 (15)
139 Carina Davidson 00:28:33 (33)
245 Mairín Shine 00:35:21 (94)
247 Lisa Shine 00:35:26 (95)
285 Órlaith de Burca 00:50:47
Marlay Parkrun (519)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Alex Ainsworth 1 00:16:35
25 Eimear Diskin 1 00:21:06
Crusaders AC runner
1 Alex Ainsworth 00:16:35
Naas Parkrun (144)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 David Joyce 1 00:18:27
14 Patricia Kelly 1 00:22:18
Crusaders AC runner
6 Karl Walsh 00:20:43
Fairview Parkrun (168)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Brent Gardner 1 00:18:17
7 Marie-Claire Healy 1 00:20:37
Crusaders AC runner
6 Jamie Renehan 00:20:08
Mungret Parkrun (106)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Daniel McCarthy 1 00:19:02
8 Sinead McDermott 1 00:21:45
Crusaders AC runner
17 Luke Haran 00:23:01
Donabate Parkrun (221)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Charlie Keogh 1 00:19:18
7 Geraldine McHale 1 00:21:38
Crusaders AC runner
23 Ryan Hoey 00:23:23
Ballincollig Parkrun (266)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
2 Noah Murphy 1 00:19:20
15 Siobhan Holland 1 00:21:51
Crusaders AC runner
85 Helena O’Keeffe 00:27:23 (13)