Decent Rewards from the Grant Thornton 5k

8/9/2019

It’s a reflection of, and tribute to, the size and strength of our great club that not only were we able to provide over 100 stewards on the night for the GT5K, for which the club is in deep gratitude, particularly following the stellar effort at our Docklands race in June, but also we had at least 22 Crusaders in the race which added to the excitement for those of us stewarding. Indeed, we had some super results, including two podium places among the 4,233 runners who finished the event last Wednesday.

On a breezy evening that was otherwise dry (unlike last year) our contingent was led home by Brendan Murphy, who will be running his first marathon in Dublin in October. Brendan was in 4th place heading out along the North Wall, but by the time he turned on to the Sam Beckett Bridge, he had managed to secure 3rd place and which he held onto for the remainder of the race coming across the line in 15:01, with Dave Willis, recently arrived from the USA and a new club member (in marathon training too) in 4th place in 16:01. Adam Flanagan was next in 16:31 in 9th place, giving us as a club 3 finishers in the top 10, and Adam was followed by Joe O’Donoghue (14th in 16:46), Joe McDermott (28th in 17:10 and a victim of careless number distribution by his employer, who inadvertently gave him the bib of one of his female colleagues, making him, for a brief time, the first female runner across the line (ahead of several others who found themselves in the same boat for a while)). More top 50 places went to Dee Lawlor (35th in 17:22), John Thuillier (36th in 17:23 and making an excellent return to competitive road racing), Rob Browne (44th in 17:33), Joe Walsh, (45th in the same time as Rob with a PB) and Garret Dunne (47th, just behind in 17:34). In fact, all of Joe, Joe, Adam, Dee and Rob are all in marathon training. Top 100 places went to Jim Stagg (74th in 18:09), John Fahy (85th in 18:15) and Maurice Kelter, another marathoner in training for Dublin and who used the race as a tempo run (92nd in 18:20) before taking on the Dingle marathon at the weekend. Likewise, Catherine Thornton, our first female runner home and training for her first marathon, ran well within herself and comfortably took 3rd place in the women’s race (175th overall) in 19:07, after having to do a lot of weaving early in the race. The contingent was completed by Enda Currid (184th in 19:12) coming back from injury, Tom Dunne (334th in 20:11), Gary Park (412th in 20:34), Gearoid Grogan (420th in 20:36), Antonios Gkogkakis (449th in 20:45), Dave Tuohy, another marathoner (518th in 20:58), Louise Vanwildermeersch (798th overall, 69th female finisher, in an excellent 21:58) and Sharon Woods (1,501st and 180th, in 23:52). Well done to all, both runners and stewards, with the race conducted without incident. The biggest surprise on the night was how many Deliveroo cyclists there are in Dublin, all wanting to cross the race route at the most inappropriate moments. Thankfully, we managed their crossings without mishap!

At the weekend, we had one runner in the Lakes 10k in Blessington, the latest race in the Kia Series. The overall event was won by Sean Hehir in a great time of 30:21. Our runner, Kate Murray, on the hilly course, placed 75th overall, 14th female finisher and 6th in her age category, in a field of 272, in a time of 46:09. Further west, we had runners in both the Dingle half marathon and marathon. In the latter event, after his excellent run on Wednesday, Maurice Kelter treated the race as a long distance training run, placing 38th in a field of 605 and a time of 3:26:38, which bodes well for Dublin in October. Likewise, Susie Keeling approached the race in the same vein. Again, Susie is training for the Dublin marathon and she enjoyed the Kerry event immensely where she placed a creditable 16th female finisher (148th overall) in 3:53:26. In the half marathon, which enjoyed a significant field on the scenic course of nearly 1,450 finishers, Carina Davidson placed 258th overall (and 70th) in 1:50:35, and Carina was followed closely by Barry O’Neill who ran 1:50:59 for 266th place.

Over the weekend, Pat Quill reported that he ran in the Kerry Way Ultramarathon, covering a challenging and hilly (a gain of 5,526m) 175km in just over 30 hours. Also, on Sunday, Aisling O'Connor took part in the Great North Run, the famous half marathon from Newcastle to Gateshead in North Eastern England, where she ran 2:04 in warm conditions. Finally, Frank Halligan (who's training potentially for both Berlin and Dublin) travelled to County Cavan where he ran along with 123 other participants in the Lough Sheelin 16 mile Challenge, taking a highly satisfying 3rd place in 1:40:13, this despite only recently coming back from injury.

We had significant participation in parkruns over the weekend, with Crusaders featuring in at least 19 events. First finisher places went to Michael Kiely, Brian Hyland, Caroline Crowley and Caroline Mehigan. Michael and Caroline took advantage of a trip west to attend club members Yvonne Macauley and Alan Sheehy’s wedding in Galway, with Michael running in Westport where he ran 17:33. In Clonbur Woods in Galway Caroline placed 8th overall in 21:46, followed by Rebecca Fleming (9th and 2nd in 22:01), Emer Kenny (21st and 5th in 24:57), Coaches Mike Mcgovern (22nd in 24:59) and Susan Walsh (23rd and 6th in 25::02) in their first ever parkruns and Dee Ni Chearbhaill (25th and 7th in 25:11). Also in Galway, newcomer Brian Hyland placed first in Knocknacarra where he ran 18:34. Then, in our home parkrun in Poolbeg, Caroline Mehigan, recently returned from France, placed 10th overall in 19:50 with Aine Kenny (24th and 2nd in 21:22). In the same event John Fahy crossed the line in a photo finish with the frist placed runner in a time of 18:22, followed extremely closely by Michael Wycherley (3rd in 18:23). Further back came Kenan Furlong (7th in 18:50) and the huge contingent of at least 15 Crusaders included Barry O’Mahony (9th in 19:39), David Timoney (12th in 20:01), David O’Donnell (23rd in 21:19), Sarah Lyons (30th and 6th in 21:35), Russell Murphy (79th in 24:39), Aitor Arribas Velasco (81st in 24:42), Ava Rose Clarke (89th and 22nd in 25:34), Mari Hansen (110th and 29th in 27:05), Paul F. Kelly (128th in 29:05) and Don Anderton, tailwalking. Elsewhere, we had a podium finish from Fiona Bane (27th and 3rd in 24:19) in Brickfields and Olwyn Dunne (27th and 3rd in 26:27) in Glen River. Also, Gerard Whyte placed 2nd in Listowel in a time of 20:19, whilst Brian Scanlan took 3rd spot in 20:58. Elsewhere, Brian Carroll came across the line in 11th place in 20:27 in Griffeen Park, whilst Maria Kennedy placed 32nd and 8th in 23:45 in Kilkenny. Dominick Branigan placed 23rd in 19:51 in Marlay Park, whilst Darina Scully ran in Malahide and again systematically bringing her times down. This week she recorded 24:28 for 107th and 20th. In Tralee, Aisling O’Riordan picked up 90th place overall (26th) in 27:57, whilst Gemma Nagle placed 92nd and 34th in 30:54 in Cabinteely. Aoife Kelly tailwalked in Oranmore, whilst Leo Lundy ran 30:07 in Fairview for 68th place. In Avondale Forest, Anna Shine took 29th place overall (11th) in 31:55, followed by Mairin Shine (30th and 12th in the same time) and sister Lisa Shine (54th and 31st in an easy 44:39). Finally, in Gunnersbury Park in Ealing, Thom Martini joined 577 other runners, where he placed 372nd in 29:26.

Grant Thornton 5k (4233)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Peter Arthur 1 00:15:33
43 Jill Hodgins 1 00:17:33
Crusaders AC runners
3 Brendan Murphy 00:15:49
4 David Willis 00:16:01
9 Adam Flanagan 00:16:31
14 Joe O’Donoghue 00:16:46
28 Joe McDermott 00:17:10
35 Dee Lawlor 00:17:22
36 John Thuillier 00:17:23
44 Rob Browne 00:17:33
45 Joe Walsh 00:17:33 (PB)
47 Garret Dunne 00:17:34
74 Jim Stagg 00:18:09
85 John Fahy 00:18:15
92 Maurice Kelter 00:18:20
175 Catherine Thornton 00:19:07 (3)
184 Enda Currid 00:19:12
334 Tomas Dunne 00:20:11
412 Gary Park 00:20:34
420 Gearoid Grogan 00:20:36
449 Antonios Gkogkakis 00:20:45
518 Dave Tuohy 00:20:58
798 Louise Vanwildermeersch 00:21:58 (69)
1501 Sharon Woods 00:23:52 (180)
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/grant_thornton_corporate_5k_team_challenge_dublin/3077/results
The Lakes Blessington 10K (272)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Sean Hehir 1 00:30:21
8 Sinead O’Connor 1 00:34:58
Crusaders AC runner
75 Kate Murray 00:46:09 (14)
Full results here: https://www.popupraces.ie/race/the-lakes-blessington-10k/
Dingle Marathon (605)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Sean Murphy 1 02:29:41
3 Celine Bradley 02:53:35
Crusaders AC runners
38 Maurice Kelter 03:26:38
148 Susie Keeling 03:53:26 (16)
Full results here: https://www.sportsplits.com/races/16744/events/1/
Dingle Half Marathon (1449)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 John Meade 1 01:12:10
7 Leanne Butler 1 01:22:13
Crusaders AC runners
258 Carina Davidson 01:50:35 (70)
266 Barry O’Neill 01:50:59
Full results here: https://www.sportsplits.com/races/16744/events/2/
Lough Sheelin 16 mile Challenge (124)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Michael Canty 1 01:36:49
25 Sonya Tobin Reilly 1 02:00:39
Crusaders AC runner
3 Frank Halligan 01:40:13
Full results here: https://www.popupraces.ie/race/lough-sheelin-challenge-2019-16-mile-10k/#2_9D70EA
Westport Parkrun #304 (118)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Michael Kiely 1 00:17:33
22 Esme Pearson 1 00:22:12
Crusaders AC runner
1 Michael Kiely 00:17:33
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/westport/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=304
Marlay Parkrun #318 (525)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Valter Valente 1 00:17:07
4 Sarah Baryga 1 00:18:45
Crusaders AC runner
23 Dominick Branigan 00:19:51
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/marlay/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=318
Knocknacarra Parkrun #271 (135)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Brian Hyland 1 00:18:34
7 Sinead Kelly 1 00:21:27
Crusaders AC runner
1 Brian Hyland 00:18:34
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/knocknacarra/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=135
Fairview Parkrun #110 (111)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 unknown 1 00:17:54
10 Emilia Enqvist 1 00:22:07
Crusaders AC runner
68 Leo Lundy 00:30:07
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/fairview/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=110
Poolbeg Parkrun #107 (163)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Cristian Vilchez Ceballos 1 00:18:22
10 Caroline Mehigan 1 00:19:50
Crusaders AC runners
2 John Fahy 00:18:22
3 Michael Wycherley 00:18:23
7 Kenan Furlong 00:18:50
9 Barry O’Mahony 00:19:39
10 Caroline Mehigan 00:19:50 (1)
12 David Timoney 00:20:01
23 David O’Donnell 00:21:19
24 Aine Kenny 00:21:22 (3)
30 Sarah Lyons 00:21:35 (6)
79 Russell Murphy 00:24:39
81 Aitor Arribas Velasco 00:24:22
89 Ava Rose Clarke 00:25:34 (22)
110 Mari Hansen 00:27:05 (29)
128 Paul F. Kelly 0:29:05
162 Don Anderton 00:50:00
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/poolbeg/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=107
Malahide Parkrun #357 (315)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Wesley O’Brien 1 00:16:32
27 Jenny Johnston 1 00:20:41
Crusaders AC runner
107 Darina Scully 00:24:28 (20)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/malahide/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=357
Griffeen Parkrun #326 (206)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Karl Fitzgerald 1 00:17:16
19 Patricia Fitzmaurice 1 00:21:34
Crusaders AC runner
11 Brian O’Carroll 00:20:27
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/griffeen/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=326
Kilkenny Parkrun #252 (166)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Paul Deegan 1 00:18:09
6 Louise Fogarty 1 00:20:06
Crusaders AC runner
32 Maria Kennedy 00:23:45 (8)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/kilkenny/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=252
Tralee Parkrun #244 (258)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 John Walshe 1 00:20:00
4 Suzanne Neilan 1 00:20:02
Crusaders AC runner
90 Aisling O’Riordan 00:27:57 (26)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/tralee/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=244
Cabinteely Parkrun #230 (160)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Ted Burke 1 00:19:16
14 Geraldine Lacey 1 00:22:21
Crusaders AC runner
92 Gemma Nagle 00:30:54 (34)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/cabinteely/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=230
River Valley Parkrun #162 (115)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Shane Ainsworth 1 00:19:05
13 Clare Fitzpatrick 1 00:22:39
Crusaders AC runner
3 Brian Scanlan 00:20:58
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/rivervalley/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=162
Tolka Valley Parkrun #81 (62)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Ben Allen 1 00:17:56
5 Amelee Liljegranath 1 00:21:42
Crusaders AC runner
7 Cormac McGuire 00:22:19
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/tolkavalley/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=81
Brickfields Parkrun #86 (87)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Aaron Mullan 1 00:19:10
7 Margaret Galvin 1 00:20:42
Crusaders AC runner
27 Fiona Bane 00:24:19 (3)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/brickfields/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=86
Listowel Parkrun #124 (52)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Robert Purcell 1 00:19:56
5 Sarah Leahy 1 00:22:52
Crusaders AC runner
2 Gerard White 00:20:19
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/listowel/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=124
Oranmore Parkrun #159 (121)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Thomas Scarry 1 00:18:53
8 Geraldine Moffat 1 00:20:21
Crusaders AC runner
119 Aoife Kelly 00:47:01 (58)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/oranmore/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=159
Glen River Parkrun #42 (78)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Brian Sexton 1 00:18:21
24 Clare Keaveney Jimenez 1 00:25:50
Crusaders AC runner
27 Olwyn Dunne 00:26:27 (3)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/glenriver/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=42
Clonbur Woods Parkrun #17 (144)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Aiden O’Donnell 1 00:18:03
8 Caroline Crowley 1 00:21:46
Crusaders AC runners
8 Caroline Crowley 00:21:46 (1)
9 Rebecca Fleming 00:22:01 (2)
21 Emer Kenny 00:24:57 (5)
22 Michael McGovern 00:24:59
23 Susan Walsh 00:25:02 (6)
25 Dee Ni Chearbhaill 00:25:11 (7)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/clonburwoods/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=17
Avondale Forest Parkrun #65 (69)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Cormac Conroy 1 00:19:17
9 Hannah Grene 1 00:24:29
Crusaders AC runners
29 Anna Shine 00:31:55 (11)
30 Mairin Shine 00:31:55 (12)
54 Lisa Shine 00:44:39 (31)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/avondaleforest/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=65