Change of Course

6/1/2025

L-R: Aoife Quigley, Yvonne Macauley, Rebecca Fleming, Nina Holmes, Miriam Logan, Dee Ni Chearbhaill, Julie McGrath, Caroline Crowley

It was both brilliant and horrible in equal measure, a true test of cross country. For so many years, we were used to a flat course at the top of St. Anne’s Park in Raheny as the test of cross country in the Dublin’s Masters’ Championships. It was sometimes waterlogged at the start and then muddy (and in places it could be really muddy) and in years gone by there was a small obstacle of a fallen log to jump over, but for the most part it was a relatively easy course, half under trees, and not really regarded as being much of a challenge. In fact, it could be said that the major headache was in dealing with the congestion with the large fields taking part.

This year, the masters events on Sunday were run in conjunction with the Dublin intermediate championships. With the ever-increasing amounts of freezing rain we witnessed on the day, the new course, of which more below, became a total mudbath by the time the final race took place. Nevertheless, everyone who ran found the experience exhilarating!

Not only did we have the additional events, but also Raheny Shamrock, who normally oversee the championships, were able to produce a new course, and what a gem of a course it is, situated at the estuary end of the park on a hill and in a meadow. The races involved negotiation of a 1500m lap. For all the women’s races (intermediates and masters) and for the O/65 men, the distance was 3000m, whilst the remaining men (intermediates and masters) all ran 6000m, so that each race was either two laps or four. If there was any complaint on the day it was that the organisers started at least two of the 6k races ahead of their published time (perhaps because they had allowed more time than was necessary between the 3ks and 6ks). As a consequence, several runners got caught out, including at least one of ours, starting way back after the gun had been fired.

The start and finish of the loop were at the top of the hill and the course wound its way anti-clockwise from the top, down a hill alongside mount Prospect Avenue, known apparently as the “sleeve”, to the coast road where it was flat but with at least one nasty chicane which got progressively muddier as the day went on, producing at least a couple of fallers. The route then continued on a straight line as it hugged the trees along the Clontarf Road towards Howth, turning after about 300m to come back, again on the flat to the first uphill, short and sharp, turning before it got to the top of the slope only to come back down again, runners going at breakneck speed. Taking the racing line on this descent, which turned towards the city to have runners go back up another side of the sleeve to finish the lap, became increasingly hazardous with several fallers, particularly in the final event of the day, the men’s 35-49 masters’ race. Many runners wisely took a wider line to stay out of the mud on this descent.

Our runners acquitted themselves well from the first race, the ladies’ intermediates, to the last. It was such an exciting event. Although the field was relatively modest and we had 5 athletes among the 41 to take part, nothing could be taken for granted. Saoirse McGrath, with her third success in 10 days, led our contingent home, working her way through a couple of athletes during the race and placing 3rd for the bronze medal in 11:38, just ahead of Orla Walsh who also had a strong race to place 4th in 11:39. After needing to put on her spikes at the start line, Kathryn Gibbons ran a super race, working her way through the field to place 6th in 11:46, followed by Annie Hughes (8th in 12:04). Isabelle Cairns completed the picture by placing 19th in 12:29. The team had packed well and it showed with the team result, the first 4 runners scoring 21 points for the silver medal, just one short of Clonliffe, who had 2 runners on the podium and our team was well ahead of Sportsworld in third (68 points).

The masters O/50 women ran two races later and we were represented by Olwyn Dunne, Mairead Cashman and Máirín Shine. In a field of 71, Olwyn placed 30th overall and 8th F55 in 14:47, followed by Mairead (67th and 6th F60 in 17:59) and Máirín (68th and 5th F65 in 18:12). The team of 3 placed 10th overall.

Next up were the masters 50-64 men, with 5 of our clubmates running in the 6k. In the field of 88, Eddie Nugent came home in 28th place and 23rd M50 in 24;12, followed by Neil Brown (50th and 15th M55 in 25:56), Robbie Moore (75th and 24th M55 in 28:25), David O’Donnell, who, despite his tough late start, placed 76th and 25th M55 in 28:44 and Gian Piero Allerta (80th and 42nd M55 in 29:15). With 4 to score, the team also placed 10th.

We still had an interest in two more races, the first of which provided significant spoils. We had 8 runners in the women’s 35-49 masters’ race which enjoyed a quality field of 106 runners. With 4 to score, we ended up taking silver, again just missing out on gold by one point. This time, the gold went to Sportsworld, whose leading scorer, Noreen Brouder, was nearly caught on the line by Caroline Crowley, our first scorer. They were given the same guntime.

The resurgent Caroline placed a highly creditable 5th and also won individual gold in the F35 competition, running 11:53. She was followed across the line by Julie McGrath (10th overall and 2nd F35, taking the silver medal) and Aoife Quigley (13th and 6th F40 in 12:35) who was able to fend off a Sportsworld athlete, at least ensuring it was a close result. Yvonne Macauley (19th and 6th F35 in 12:51) was next, followed by our “spoilers”, Nina Holmes (25th and 13th F40 in 13:01), Rebecca Fleming (50th and 12th F35 in 13:51), Dee Ni Chearbhaill (60th and 22nd F45 in 14:26) and Miriam Logan (61st and 26th F40), given the same time. Sportsworld finished on 46 points, followed by Crusaders on 47 and MSB (whose scoring team included recent Crusader Amy McGuinness who placed 23rd in 12:57) on 54 points.

The last race to take place, with conditions significantly worsening (underfoot and in the icy rain, even for the spectators, who by this time were soaked right through and covered in mud too!) was the masters men 35-49. It enjoyed the largest field of the day with 139 athletes taking part in a quality event. We had 6 runners, with 4 to score. Once the smoke had cleared, the team had placed 5th.

The contingent was led home by John Mulvihill (23rd and 10th M40 in 21:58). Ciarain Kelly and Stephen Hurley were not too far back at the finish, with Ciarain placing 30th and 9th M35 in 22:41, followed by Stephen (31st and 15th M40 in 22:50). Joe McDermott followed the trio in, in 39th spot overall (19th M40) in a time of 23:13, followed by Tim O’Donnell who ran solidly for his 109th and 41st M45 places (26:29) and Karl Walsh, with a solid finish (115th and 45th M45 in 26:53).

Well done to all!

On the roads this week, the year started out with a bang! The iconic Tom Brennan Memorial 5k in the Phoenix Park kicked things off. In windy conditions, we had at least 10 Crusaders in the field of 569. The well-known course is two laps of the Furze and Ordnance Survey Roads, with a slight descent of Chesterfield Avenue between them for good measure. Once again, Saoirse McGrath, who is enjoying much success at the moment, podiumed, placing 74th overall and 3rd female finisher in 18:14. Saoirse was preceded by Joe McDermott (53rd in 17:31) and then followed by Irene Gorman (128th and 13th in 19:55) and by Rebecca Fleming (159th and 23rd in 21:01) who also won the F35 age category. Rebecca was followed by GianPiero Allerta (168th in 21:24) and by Dee Ni Chearbhaill (183rd and 33rd in 21:54), who also won the F45 age category. Brendan Glynn was next (211th in 23:14), followed by David Tilly (227th in 24:02), Phelim Murray (305th in 23:23) and Lorraine Fitzsimons (453rd and 162nd in 32:47).

On the same day, we had two runners in the 5k Resolution Run in Co. Galway. In a field of 453, Brian Regan placed 8th in 16:49, followed by Brian Hyland (53rd in 19:00).

Further afield over the New Year period, Thomas Vogée ran in his native Germany where, in the Bietigheim Silvesterlauf 10.5k, he placed 63rd overall in a field of 3,233 and in a time of 38:35. Luz Estevan also ran, this time in fancy dress in the 5k San Silvestre in her native Zaragoza in northern Spain. Despite the cumbersome outfit, Luz distinguished herself with a time of 19:52 for 300th place overall, 37th female finisher. On Sunday, in Nice, Florian Mormont took part in the coastal Prom Classic de Nice 10k, which he completed in 46:00.

Unusually, there were some parkruns organised on New Years Day, all credit to the volunteers needed for such events, and they had some decent, if somewhat reduced, fields in the circumstances. We had no first finishers this time. However, we did record some podium places.

Eoghan Corrigan joined 199 other runners in Griffeen Park where he placed 2nd in 19:47. Eoghan was followed across the line by Orlaith de Burca (124th and 31st in 31:41). Garret Connolly remained in Claremorris, where he placed 3rd in a field of 89 and in a time of 20:08. Meanwhile, among the 145 runners in Bushy Park, Alma Hanevy placed 18th and 2nd in 22:04, followed by Mary Donnelly (24th and 3rd in 22:48). Kev Moore and Mairead Cashman also ran there, with Kev placing 11th in 21:04 and Mairead taking 94th and 25th in 30:09.

We had at least 14 athletes running in Poolbeg. In a field of 109, they were led home by Alby Allan (3rd in 18:37) who was followed by Kenan Furlong (5th in 18:44), Kabir Sala, back from Italy (10th in 20:37), Stephen Hurley (14th in 21:11), Bo Chicoine (27th in 24:05), John Lohan (31st in 25:02), Alan Martin (39th in 25:32), Franky Keane (44th in 26:05), Louise O’Riordan (45th and 9th in 26:06), Kevin Kenny (53rd in 26:45), Tara Murphy (58th and 16th in 27:07), Iseult Ni Chuinneagain (61st and 17th in 27:20), just ahead of Amy O’Donoghue (62nd and 18th in 27:21) and Maureen McGinley (78th and 28th in 29:47).

Ailish Hassett spent some time on Bere Island (and wrote quite beautifully about her parkrun experience there on their FB page (https://www.facebook.com/bereislandparkrun). In a field of 59, Ailish placed 6th and 3rd in 26:17.

Members of the Shine family headed down to Wexford Racecourse where Fiona placed 61st and 21st in 29:29, followed by Lisa (78th and 29th in 32:09) and Máirín (85th and 32nd in 34;23). The field there measured 106. Finally, we had three runners in St. Anne’s with its field of 335. Cian Coughlan placed 196th in 28:38, followed by Áine Crotty (239th and 79th in 30:52) and Emer Kenny (240th and 80th in 31:04).

Parkruns on Saturday morning were severely curtailed by the weather. However, we had a good number of runners taking part in those that went ahead, where numbers were largely increased as a result.

24 of our clubmates participated in the field of 265 in Poolbeg. They were led home by Kev Moore (11th in 19:35). Kev was followed by Ciara Regan (25th and 3rd in 20:44), Mary Donnelly (39th and 6th in 21:56), Isabelle Cairns (43rd and 7th in 22:18), Aoife Quigley (66th and 9th in 24:00), Luke Clarke (69th in 24:04), Zlatko Kulic (81st in 24:38), Franky Keane (84th in 24:41) with 300 parkruns now under his belt, Olwyn Dunne (88th and 13th in 24:49), Kabir Sala pacing the 25 minute finishers (94th in 25:06), Josie Ward (100th and 16th in 25:20), Fiona Bane (101st and 17th in 25:21), Ellen Walsh (104th and 20th in 25:33), Alan Martin (117th in 26:06), Tanja Narancic (150th and 38th in 27:25) alongside Emer Kenny (151st and 39th in 27:26), Sharon Woods (161st and 46th in 27:44), Anna Hernick (165th and 50th in 27:49), Lisa Branigan (166th and 51st in 27:50), Louise O’Riordan (170th and 54th in 27:57), Lorraine McMahon (193rd and 70th in 29:21), Cliodhna O’Reilly (225th and 86th in 31:07), Niamh Trihy and Tara Murphy, her guide), 243rd and 97th and 244th and 98th in 36:40 and 36:41. Gerard Moore, Adrian Groarke and Joe Dunne also ran, but their times and places were not recorded.

In Shanganagh, Dee Lawlor placed 4th in a field of 306 and with a time of 17:55. He was followed by Orlaith de Burca who placed 226th and 66th in 30:27. Meanwhile, in Griffeen Park, Eoghan Corrigan and Caroline Crowley joined a field of 217 where Eoghan placed 47th pushing the double buggy in a time of 24:07, whilst Caroline ran 24:40 for 58th and 7th. They were joined by Barry O’Neill (59th in 24:44) and Colm Foley (64th in 25:02). Then, in St. Anne’s, Áine Crotty, who is pregnant, placed 304th and 99th in 30:27. The field there measured 502.

As part of a longer run, David Carter took 9th place, running alongside 187 other participants in Cabinteely in a time of 21:10, whilst Darina Scully joined 92 other runners in River Valley Park where she placed 40th and 8th in 30:59. Members of the Shine family ran once again around Wexford Racecourse where, in a field of 95, Máirín placed 67th and 24th in 30:32, followed by Lisa (80th and 34th in 35:30) and Fiona (81st and 35th in 35:31). Finally, Fergal Morrissey returned to his native island of Guernsey where he joined 214 other runners, placing 52nd in 26:45, whilst Thom Martini, one of our London exiles, ran once again in Gunnersbury Park in Ealing where, in a field of 679, he placed 411th in 30:07.

Tom Brennan Memorial 5k (569)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Tadgh Donnelly 1 00:14:38
38 Laura Mooney
Crusaders AC runners
53 Joe McDermott 00:17:31
74 Saoirse McGrath 00:18:14 (3)
128 Irene Gorman 00:19:55 (13)
159 Rebecca Fleming 00:21:01 (23)
168 GianPiero Allerta 00:21:24
183 Deirdre Ni Chearbhaill 00:21:54 (33)
211 Brendan Glynn 00:23:14
227 David Tilly 00:24:02
305 Phelim Murray 00:26:23
453 Lorraine Fitzsimons 00:32:47 (162)
Full results here: https://myrunresults.com/events/tom_brennan_memorial_5k_2025/5473/results
Resolution Run 5k (453)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Abaas Edris 1 00:15:31
41 Helena O’Keeffe 1 00:18:28
Crusaders AC runners
8 Brian Regan 00:16:49
53 Brian Hyland 00:19:00
Full results here: https://redtagtiming.com/results/ResolutionRun5km_2025.pdf
New Year’s Day Parkruns:
Wexford Racecourse Parkrun (106)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Anthony Dowd 1 00:18:46
2 Nicole Moorehouse 1 00:19:16
Crusaders AC runners
61 Fiona Shine 00:29:29 (21)
78 Lisa Shine 00:32:09 (29)
85 Máirín Shine 00:34:23 (32)
Griffeen Parkrun (200)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Oliver Warren 1 00:18:32
29 Caroline O’Sullivan 1 00:23:13
Crusaders AC runners
2 Eoghan Corrigan 00:19:47
124 Orlaith de Burca 00:31:41 (31)
Bushy Parkrun (145)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ethan Bramhill 1 00:17:16
17 Ellie Woulfe 1 00:21:57
Crusaders AC runners
11 Kev Moore 00:21:04
18 Alma Hanevy 00:22:04 (2)
24 Mary Donnelly 00:22:48 (3)
94 Mairead Cashman 00:30:09 (25)
Cabinteely Parkrun (188)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Colm Costello 1 00:19:17
16 Isla Graham 1 00:23:24
Crusaders AC runner
132 Carina Davidson 00:33:11 (40)
Claremorris Parkrun (89)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ian Feerick 1 00:19:09
15 Rhona Mowat 1 00:22:39
Crusaders AC runner
2 Garret Connolly 00:20:08
Bere Island Parkrun (59)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Garry Hilliard 1 00:21:59
3 Michelagh Murphy 1 00:23:58
Crusaders AC runner
6 Ailish Hassett 00:26:17 (3)
St. Anne’s Parkrun (335)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Terry Keogh 1 00:18:05
12 Crona Clohisey 1 00:19;54
Crusaders AC runners
196 Cian Coughlan 00:28:38
239 Áine Crotty 00:30:52 (79)
240 Emer Kenny 00:31:04 (80)
Poolbeg Parkrun (109)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 George Callery 1 00:17:23
11 Ava Rose Clarke 1 00:20:59
Crusaders AC runners
3 Alby Allan 00:18:37
5 Kenan Furlong 00:18:44
10 Kabir Sala 00:20:37
14 Stephen Hurley 00:21:11
27 Bo Chicoine 00:24:05
31 John Lohan 00:25:02
39 Alan Martin 00:25:32
44 Franky Keane 00:26:05
45 Louise O’Riordan 00:26:06 (9)
53 Kevin Kenny 00:26:45
58 Tara Murphy 00:27:07 (16)
61 Iseult Ni Chuinneagain 00:27:20 (17)
62 Amy O’Donoghue 00:27:21 (18)
78 Maureen McGinley 00:29:47 (28)
04/01/25 Parkruns
Shanganagh Parkrun (306)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 George Callery 1 00:16:59
19 Abby Stephenson 1 00:20:12
Crusaders AC runners
4 Derek Lawlor 00:17:55
226 Orlaith de Burca 00:30:27 (66)
Cabinteely Parkrun (188)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Sean Terek 1 00:19:39
11 Heather Crowley 1 00:21:50
Crusaders AC runner
9 David Carter 00:21:10
Wexford Racecourse Parkrun (95)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Anthony Dowd 1 00:18:33
10 Annette Moroney
Crusaders AC runners
67 Máirín Shine 00:30:32 (24)
80 Lisa Shine 00:35:30 (34)
81 Fiona Shine 00:35:31 (35)
St. Anne’s Parkrun (502)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Rio Murphy 1 00:18:13
12 Bernadette Bruen 1 00:19:34
Crusaders AC runner
304 Áine Crotty 00:30:27 (99)

Griffeen Parkrun (217)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Oliver Warren 1 00:18:24
26 Maia Hannon 1 00:22:45
Crusaders AC runners
47 Eoghan Corrigan 00:24:07
58 Caroline Crowley 00:24:40 (7)
59 Barry O’Neill 00:24:44
64 Colm Foley 00:25:02
Poolbeg Parkrun (265)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Joshua Griffiths 1 00:16:42
15 Eden O’Dea 1 00:19:55
Crusaders AC runners
11 Kev Moore 00:19:35
25 Ciara Regan 00:20:44 (3)
39 Mary Donnelly 00:21:56 (6)
43 Isabelle Cairns 00:22:18 (7)
66 Aoife Quigley 00:24:00 (9)
69 Luke Clarke 00:24:04
81 Zlatko Kulic 00:24:38
84 Franky Keane 00:24:41
88 Olwyn Dunne 00:24:49 (13)
94 Kabir Sala 00:25:06
100 Josie Ward 00:25:20 (16)
101 Fiona Bane 00:25;21 (17)
104 Ellen Walsh 00:25:33 (20)
117 Alan Martin 00:26:06
150 Tanja Narancic 00:27:25 (38)
151 Emer Kenny 00:27:26 (39)
161 Sharon Woods 00:27:44 (46)
165 Anna Hernick 00:27:49 (50)
166 Lisa Branigan 00:27:50 (51)
170 Louise O’Riordan 00:27:57 (54)
193 Lorraine McMahon 00:29:21 (70)
225 Cliodhna O’Reilly 00:31:07 (86)
243 Niamh Trihy 00:36:40 (97)
244 Tara Murphy 00:36:41 (98)
River Valley Parkrun (93)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Cecile Ollagnier 1 00:22:57
2 Luke Moore 1 00:23:09
Crusaders AC runner
40 Darina Scully 00:30:59 (8)