Cheery Christmas and a prosperous New Year

1/1/2018

Niamh Boland and Adrienne Jordan

Crusaders kept themselves busy over the holidays and feasted off the myriad of races that were on offer over the festive period. We had participants in at least 4 events on St. Stephen’s Day with some excellent results.

On that day, in Tipperary, Eddie Nugent took part in the 4 mile MSD race organised by Clonmel AC. In a field of more than 450 finishers, 50 runners went under 25 minutes, including Eddie in 48th place (24:57), with both race winners, Sean Tobin and Lizzie Lee, registering course records. Then, we had 3 runners in the Streets of Wicklow 5k. Our first runner home was Ollie McGrath (44th in 18:52 and 4th in his age category), followed by Philip Hamilton (53rd in 19:14) making a welcome return to racing and then by Brian O’Kelly who performed pacing duties (252nd in 27:00). The field measured over 400 participants. On the same day, Mairead Cashman and Kate Murray ran together in a 5k organised by Bride Rovers GAA club in Rathcormac in Cork, but results have not been published. Finally, in chilly conditions on the undulating course of the Fields of Athenry 10K we had 6 Crusaders take part. They were joined by nearly 1100 other runners. First home was Vinnie McGuinness who took 9th spot in a great time of 34:16 and Vinnie was followed by Catherine Thornton (76th overall, 6th woman finisher, in 39:15). Irene Gorman followed closely behind, with a surprising and welcome PB in her first race since suffering a foot injury that kept her out for a lot of 2017 (83rd overall, 7th woman, in 39:23). Irene was followed by Brendan Glynn, with yet another PB (134th in 41:13) and Amy Wright (162nd overall, 21st woman, in 42:12). The contingent was completed by Conor Fahy (197th in 43:02). Catherine went on the following day to run in a local 5K in Galway, placing 3rd overall and winning the women’s race. Closer to home, Leo Lundy joined Sean Murphy, the United Striders runner who trains with us, in the Bull Island 7k race, run on a mix of trail and sand. It was won by Sean, but Leo was just using it as a warm up for the following day’s Portumna marathon in which he placed 32nd in a field of 52 in a time of 5:14:27.

On 27th December, we had a large turnout of Crusaders in the Howth Fat Turkey 10K, which involves almost a straight climb of nearly 150m over 5k followed by a similar sharp descent. Barry McGuire recorded a PB in taking 13th place (in a field exceeding 450) in a time of 39:02. Barry was followed by Matt Cranley (without the pushchair!) (27th in 42:09) and Colm Kernan (30th in 42:29 and 1st M50). Other runners were Denis Murphy (62nd in 44:51), Liam O’Brien (67th in 45:24), Olwyn Dunne (97th overall, 17th female finisher,1st F50, in 47:09), Aoife Quinn, in her first 10k since coming back from injury, (11th overall, 19th female, in 48:03), Russell Murphy (119th in 48:37), Darina Scully (153rd overall, 31st female, in 50:08) and Carina Davidson (177th overall, 37th female, in 51:35.

Then, at the weekend, there were several races to record. Two, in particular, stand out. The first was the Togher 5K down in Cork. We only had one participant among the 575 finishers, but she excelled herself in her first race back from a long injury. Our runner was Anna Reddin who placed 23rd overall, 2nd place woman in a great time of 17:27. On the same day, there was an improved turnout compared to previous years for Clonliffe in their Christmas Cracker 5K, held on the roads around the Santry Demesne and starting and finishing in the Morton Stadium. In sunny but cold and breezy conditions, the 200 runners were led home by Valdas Dopolskas, in the first of two victories in successive days. We had 3 participants, led by Olly McGrath (36th in 19:15) and followed by Michael Maughan (38th in 19:45) on the back of some mountain running immediately beforehand and by Geraldine Clements, making a welcome return to racing following injury, in 113th place overall (41st female finisher) in a time of 24:58. Also on Sunday, Pablo Sanchez took part in a race in Madrid (the San Silvestre Vallecana 10K), finishing in a super time of 35:06. Additionally, Leo Lundy finished 2017 with an ultra-marathon in Kent, running 49.8km, also in windy conditions, in a time of 6:22:53.

Finally, to round up our record of road races, on New Year's Day there was the Tom Brennan 5K organised by Liffey Valley AC at the northern end of the Phoenix Park (Furze Road, Ordnance Survey Road and Chesterfield Road circuited twice). In windy conditions (a strong head wind along the Furze Road), it was not a day for PBs. We had at least 14 Crusaders in the race which involved nearly 600 runners. The women’s race was won by Ciara Durkan in 17:36. However, Niamh Boland and Adrienne Jordan worked together throughout, managing to see off the challenge of 3 Liffey Valley runners, to place respectively 3rd and 4th (38th and 40th, respectively, overall) in 18:48 and 18:54. Moreover, Adrienne was able to secure her F40 age category win. Dee Ni Chearbhaill was next (65th overall, 14th woman, 4th F40, in 20:41), and between them the three athletes (all, incidentally, masters) were able to take second senior team place (21) only one point behind Liffey Valley (20) and ahead of Sportsworld (29). Rachel Yorke was next home, in 20:51 (71st overall, 17th woman), followed by Emer Kenny (87th overall, 21st woman, in 21:18), Rebecca Fleming (93rd overall, 23rd woman, in 21:37) back home from Malta for Christmas, Helena Walsh (93rd overall, 23rd woman, in 21:37) and Olwyn Dunne (102nd overall, 28th woman, 4th F50, in 22:26). On the men’s side, Vinnie McGuinness was showing no signs of a sore head when he placed 11th in a time of 16:37. Mention should be made of Declan Ryan, a visually-impaired runner from Thurles who trains with us, who placed 23rd in 17:25. Brendan Glynn ran a smart and steady race to take 53rd place in 19:52 and he was followed by another visually-impaired athlete, Donnacha McCarthy, who with his guide, Dave Tilly, a recent new Crusader, placed 63rd in 20:39. Finally, hats should be doffed in a big way to the 80-year old John Fitzsimons (342nd in 31:58), who ran with his daughter Mary (343rd overall, 166th woman, in 32:00). John will be facing a challenge of a different sort in the next few days when he will have to go through a major operation. We all wish John the very best in recovering from his upcoming surgery.

The results of 3 rounds of parkruns are listed below (with size of fields indicated). Some results should be highlighted and details of others provided where not recorded below. Of those omitted, on 23 December Sarah Lyons took part in a parkrun in Aylesbury in England and, in a field of 165 runners, Sarah placed 41st overall, 7th female, in 24:12. Likewise, in Chichester in England on the same day, Michael Wycherley placed 2nd in a field of 168 in a time of 19:13. Then on Christmas Day, James Cottle took part in a parkrun in Didcot in Oxfordshire. In a field of 171 runners, and on a twisty course of grass and tarmac, James placed 13th in a time of 19:55. Finally, in this list, Kris Ryan resumed park-running in her native Australia at the weekend, participating in the Coomera parkrun and placing 28th overall out of 137 participants, in a time of 24:29.

In terms of notable performances in parkruns, on 23 December, Peter O’Toole placed 8th in St. Anne’s, an event in which we fielded 17 runners among the 381 participants on the day. Paul Flynn placed 4th out of nearly 200 runners in Kilkenny, in a time of 19:19. Similarly, on the same day, Dave Carter took 4th place (19:31) in the 138-strong field in Cabinteely, whilst David Timony placed 6th in Poolbeg in a time of 19:52. We fielded 7 runners in the event with its field of 274. Also, it was good to see that Lesley Ann Doughan placed 33rd overall (3rd woman) in 19:59 in the 459-strong field in Marlay on the same day.

On 30 December, Brian Scanlan placed 10th out of 262 in a time of 19:36 in Malahide, whilst Timothy O’Donnell finished in 4th place in Clonakilty. The field measured just under 40 and Timothy’s time was 20:42. Kate Murray took 61st place overall (9th woman) in Marlay. Kate’s time was 23:58 and the field measured 303.Two other runners placed 5th in their respective events. Sharon Woods took 34th place overall, 5th woman, in a time of 24:32 in the 106-strong field in Tymon, whilst Anthony O’Reilly likewise placed 5th in the nearly 40-strong field in Cootehill. His time was 20:42. Finally, Darina Scully and Russell Murphy also had strong placings on Saturday, with Darina placing 12th overall in the 75-strong field in River Valley (3rd woman finisher) in a time of 24:29 and Russell placing 9th in Poolbeg in the nearly 50-strong field. Russell’s time was 22:53.

On New Year’s Day there was the opportunity to run in two parkruns. Colm Kernan, Orlaith de Burca, Lisa Shine and Kate Murray took full advantage of this. Colm ran 19:39 (13th out of 292) in St. Anne’s as well as 19:49 (15th out of 244) in Father Collins. Kate ran 24:06 (53rd overall out of 233, 3rd woman) in Tymon and also 26:27 (80th overall out of 180, 22nd woman) in Bushy Dublin. Meanwhile, Orlaith and Lisa ran in Porterstown and Hatstown. Orlaith ran 29:13 (142nd out of 220, 45th female) and 28:23, respectively(84th overall, out of 143, 27th female)whilst Lisa ran 32:32 (172nd overall out of 220, 66th female) and 37:04 (133rd overall, out of 143, 62nd female), respectively. Darina Scully placed 34th overall, 4th woman, in 22:27 in Father Collins alongside Colm. Finally, it was good to see the husband and wife team of Tomas Dunne and Suzanne Martin in a rare appearance together in Cabinteely. In a field of 109 runners, Suzanne placed 35th overall, 2nd woman, in a time of 25:34, whilst Tom took 8th spot in 22:12.

Many thanks to Peter Mooney for several of the photos in this report.

Streets of Wicklow 5K
Overall place Name Cat. Place Gross time
1 Tom Hogan 1 00:15:46
10 Noelle Kavanagh 1 00:17:10
Crusaders AC runners
44 Ollie McGrath 00:18:52
53 Philip Hamilton 00:19:14
252 Brian O’Kelly 00:27:00
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/inbhear_dee_ac_5k_streets_of_wicklow/2385/results
MSD 4 mile race
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Sean Tobin 1 00:18:34
15 Lizzie Lee 1 00:21:32
Crusaders AC runner
48 Eddie Nugent 00:24:57
Full results here: http://www.premiertimingsystems.ie/2017-Race-Results/MSD-4-Mile-Race
Togher 5K
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 David Fox 1 00:15:56
17 Aoife Cooke 1 00:17:14
Crusaders AC runner
23 Anna Reddin 00:17:27 (2)
Full results here: http://www.premiertimingsystems.ie/2017-Race-Results/Togher-AC-5K-Road-Race
Fields of Athenry 10K
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Mick Clohisey 1 00:30:21
41 Jane-Ann Meehan 1 00:37:39
Crusaders AC runners
9 Vinnie McGuinness 00:34:16
76 Catherine Thornton 00:39:15 (6)
83 Irene Gorman 00:39:23 (PB) (7)
134 Brendan Glynn 00:41:13 (PB)
162 Amy Wright 00:42:12 (21)
197 Conor Fahy 00:43:02
Full results here: http://www.redtagtiming.com/
Fat Turkey Run10K
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Ian Conroy 1 00:34:20
21 Zoe Quinn 1 00:40:48
Crusaders AC runners
13 Barry McGuire 00:39:02 (PB)
27 Matt Cranley 00:42:09
30 Colm Kernan 00:42:29
62 Denis Murphy 00:44:51
67 Liam O’Brien 00:45:24
97 Olwyn Dunne 00:47:09 (17)
111 Aoife Quinn 00:48:03 (19)
119 Russell Murphy 00:48:37
153 Darina Scully 00:50:08 (31)
177 Carina Davidson 00:51:35 (37)
Full results here: www.fatturkeyrun.com
Clonliffe Christmas Cracker 5K
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Valdas Dopolskas 1 00:15:17
29 Eleanor Alexander 1 00:18:25
Crusaders AC runners
36 Olly McGrath 00:19:15
38 Michael Maughan 00:19:45
113 Geraldine Clements 00:24:58 (41)
Full results here: http://clonliffeharriersac.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/ERP-Xmas-Cracker-5k-2017.pdf
Tom Brennan 5K
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Valdas Dopolskas 1 00:15:16
24 Ciara Durkan 1 00:17:36
Crusaders AC runners
11 Vinnie McGuinness 00:16:37
38 Niamh Boland 00:18:48 (3)
40 Adrienne Jordan 00:18:54 (4)
53 Brendan Glynn 00:19:52
63 Donnacha McCarthy 00:20:39
65 Dee Ni Chearbhaill 00:20:41 (14)
71 Rachel Yorke 00:20:51 (17)
87 Emer Kenny 00:21:18 (21)
93 Rebecca Fleming 00:21:37 (23)
102 Helena Walsh 00:22:02 (24)
107 Olwyn Dunne 00:22:26 (28)
342 John Fitzsimons 00:31:58
343 Mary Fitzsimons 00:32:00 (166)
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/tom_brennan_5k_road_race/2447/results
Malahide Parkrun #268 (322)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Mark Lally 1 00:17:11
4 Annette Kealy 1 00:18:08
Crusaders AC runner
19 Ronan Moynihan 00:19:35
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/malahide/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=268
Cabinteely Parkrun #142 (138)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Niall Bourke 1 00:18:25
10 Ciara Brady 1 00:20:40
Crusaders AC runners
4 David Carter 00:19:31
12 Tomas Dunne 00:21:05
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/cabinteely/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=142
St. Anne’s Parkrun #213 (381)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 John Moroney 1 00:16:29
15 Erin Minchin 1 00:18:59
Crusaders AC runners
8 Peter O’Toole 00:17:51
17 John Thuillier 00:19:04
34 Denis Murphy 00:19:47
36 Colm Kernan 00:19:48
49 Matt Cranley 00:20:40
84 Darina Scully 00:22:04 (9)
92 Russell Murphy 00:22:26
104 Leo Lundy 00:22:57
106 Fiona Bane 00:23:01 (12)
108 Aoife Quinn 00:23:02 (13)
190 Fiona Shine 00:26:07 (39)
191 Lisa Shine 00:26:08 (40)
269 Paul Kelly 00:28:55
272 Orlaith de Burca 00:28:57 (78)
299 Emer Kenny 00:30:06 (98)
311 Lorraine Fitzsimons 00:30:31 (106)
381 Maria Pertl 00:50:52 (152)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/stannes/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=213
Marlay Parkrun #238 (459)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Gareth Murran 1 00:16:31
11 Ciara Hickey 1 00:18:10
Crusaders AC runners
30 Anthony O’Reilly 00:19:55
33 Lesley Ann Doughan 00:19:59 (3)
106 Kate Murray 00:22:57 (14)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/marlay/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=238
Tymon Parkrun #183 (173)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Paul Martin 1 00:16:58
12 Ruth Kelly 1 00:19:58
Crusaders AC runner
50 Sharon Woods 00:24:17 (11)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/tymon/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=183
Kilkenny Parkrun #164 (197)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Derek Kehoe 1 00:18:18
6 Hannah Kehoe 1 00:19:23
Crusaders AC runner
4 Paul Flynn 00:19:19
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/kilkenny/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=164
Poolbeg Parkrun #18 (92)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Turlough Conway 1 00:17:02
28 Mary Butler 1 00:23:53
Crusaders AC runners
6 David Timoney 00:19:52
10 Timothy O’Donnell 00:20:22
22 Zalan Kovacs 00:23:00
36 Cuan Moore 00:25:06
41 Gillian Curran 00:26:20 (7)
54 Iseult Ni Chuinneagain 00:28:26 (14)
89 Ciara McElligott 00:38:24 (34)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/poolbeg/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=18
Porterstown Parkrun #114 (110)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Aidan O’Gara 1 00:19:45
9 Ann Foran 1 00:22:34
Crusaders AC runner
50 Kevin Flynn 00:28:02
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/porterstown/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=114
Ballincollig Parkrun #79 (274)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Alan Lehane 1 00:17:32
4 Ailbhe McDaid 1 00:19:13
Crusaders AC runner
185 Mairead Cashman 00:28:59 (40)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/ballincollig/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=79
Malahide Parkrun #269 (262)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Wesley O’Brien 1 00:16:56
17 Kate Maslin 1 00:20:29
Crusaders AC runner
10 Brian Scanlan 0:19:36
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/malahide/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=269
Clonakilty Parkrun #193 (37)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Louis O’Loughlin 1 00:17:42
10 Eileen McCarthy 1 00:20:42
Crusaders AC runner
4 Timothy O’Donnell 00:20:42
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/clonakilty/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=193
St. Anne’s Parkrun #214 (295)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Peter O’Toole 1 00:17:21
6 Fiona Stack 1 00:19:00
Crusaders AC runners
1 Peter O’Toole 00:17:21
65 Colm Kernan 00:22:46
107 Denis Murphy 00:23:54
174 Aoife Quinn 00:27:05 (37)
190 Fiona Shine 00:26:07 (39)
212 Olwyn Dunne 00:29:03 (63)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/stannes/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=214
Marlay Parkrun #239 (303)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Brian Glynn 1 00:17:22
38 Niamh Shea 1 00:22:39
Crusaders AC runners
61 Kate Murray 00:23:58 (9)
171 Mairead Cashman 00:28:20 (43)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/marlay/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=239
Tymon Parkrun #184 (106)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Kevin English 1 00:19:11
11 Sinead Tighe 1 00:20:59
Crusaders AC runner
34 Sharon Woods 00:24:32 (5)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/tymon/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=184
Cootehill Parkrun #165 (39)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 John McCutcheon 1 00:18:25
9 Joanne Rogers 1 00:23:31
Crusaders AC runner
5 Anthony O’Reilly 00:20:42
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/cootehill/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=165
Poolbeg Parkrun #19 (48)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Peter Kern 1 00:18:09
8 Mandy King
Crusaders AC runner
9 Russell Murphy 00:22:53
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/poolbeg/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=19
Porterstown Parkrun #115 (76)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Niall O’Reilly 1 00:19:31
7 Sophie Doland 1 00:22:11
Crusaders AC runner
43 Kevin Flynn 00:28:46
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/porterstown/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=115
Shanganagh Parkrun #144 (96)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Stephen O’Kennedy 1 00:17:58
10 Lynne Pomeroy 1 00:22:09
Crusaders AC runners
27 Neil Brown 00:24:14
44 Orlaith de Burca 00:26:45 (11)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/shanganagh/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=144
River Valley Parkrun #75 (75)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Ciaran Hayes 1 00:20:08
8 Rachel Steele 1 00:23:34
Crusaders AC runner
12 Darina Scully 00:24:29 (3)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/rivervalley/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=75
Killarney Parkrun #131 (49)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Gareth Murran 1 00:17:22
7 Siobhan Daly 1 00:22:21
Crusaders AC runner
11 Colm Foley 00:23:02
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/killarney/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=131
Father Collins Parkrun #120 (244)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Declan Power 1 00:16:51
27 Deirdre O’Malley 1 00:21:57
Crusaders AC runners
15 Colm Kernan 00:19:49
34 Darina Scully 00:22:27 (4)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/fathercollins/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=120
Bushy Dublin Parkrun #45 (180)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Kevin English 1 00:18:18
5 Harriette Ann-Marie Robinson 1 00:19:59
Crusaders AC runners
80 Kate Murray 00:26:27 (22)
125 Mairead Cashman 00:29:04 (41)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/bushydublin/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=45
St. Anne’s Parkrun #215 (292)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Graham O’Dwyer 1 00:17:49
32 Caitriona Costello 1 00:20:48
Crusaders AC runner
13 Colm Kernan 00:19:39
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/stannes/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=215
Tymon Parkrun #185 (233)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Kevin English 1 00:18:07
11 Paula Prendergast 1 00:20:50
Crusaders AC runner
53 Kate Murray 00:254:06 (3)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/tymon/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=185
Cabinteely Parkrun #144 (109)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 George Callery 1 00:20:00
12 Claire Curtin 1 00:23:12
Crusaders AC runners
8 Tomas Dunne 00:22:12
35 Suzanne Martin 00:25:34 (2)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/cabinteely/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=144
Porterstown Parkrun #116 (220)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Conor McGlynn 1 00:18:39
19 Louise Long 1 00:21:16
Crusaders AC runners
142 Orlaith de Burca 00:29:13 (45)
144 Fiona Shine 00:29:29 (46)
172 Lisa Shine 00:32:32 (66)
216 Mairin Shine 00:44:56 (95)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/porterstown/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=116
Hartstown Parkrun #164 (143)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Sean MacSeoin 1 00:18:07
13 Enkhtsetseg Lkhaguajav 1 00:22:44
Crusaders AC runners
84 Orlaith de Burca 00:28:23 (27)
133 Lisa Shine 00:37:04 (62)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/hartstown/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=164