Double-Edged Swords

14/7/2025

Standing back row L-R: Sean Brady, Aitor Arribas Velasco, Ciara Lynch, Emer Kenny, Paul E. Kelly, Adam Doyle, Chris Bannon, James Cottle. Kneeling middle row L-R: Bo Chicoine, Kevin Kenny, Clare Sullivan, Emily Glen, Paula Bradshaw, Luz Estevan, Kabir Sala. Front row L-R: Olwyn Dunne, Kieran Martin, Lisa Branigan

The warm sunny weather has been most welcome in many ways. However, for those racing over the weekend, runners had to ensure they were well-hydrated going into the various competitions. For several the heat came back to bite and caught a few athletes out, even though they may have thought they were well-prepared, and many had to trim back their time expectations in the heat. This was certainly the case in the Fingal 10k on Sunday morning.

We start as usual, however, with action on the track. Midweek, Colm Parnell headed down to his native county to compete in the invitational 3000m in the Cork City Sports meet, coming home with a PB time of 8:38.55 for 8th place in the packed race. Colm described conditions as hot and sweaty.

Moving on to road racing, on Thursday evening, the club hosted the 9th edition under its stewardship of the Docklands 5k, supported by more than 100 members from all sections of the club, registering, stewarding and manning water, refreshments and bag drop. With a super field of 1766 finishers on a warm and sunny evening, with a bit of an easterly breeze, there were a number of Crusaders in the race, several pacing for the club. All the Crusaders that could be identified, several running for their companies, are listed below. In a field with quality in depth, we had hoped that the men’s course record of 14:30, set in 2017, might be broken this year, but it remains elusive. After DCH's Pierre Murchan ran 14:32 two years ago, David McCarthy of West Waterford AC recorded 14:33 this year, worthy efforts! The field included a number of Couch25k runners from the club who are listed below. Congrats to them and many thanks to our pacers on the night too, who performed their responsibilities to perfection. The evening was concluded with a super get-together after the race in Three Locks Square for refreshments and prize-giving. Members may be interested to hear that we had new winners of the men's and women's club team trophies. The winner of the John Fitzsimons Cup was Clonliffe Harriers and the winner of the women's trophy, the Mary Purcell Cup, was Dublin City Harriers. They join a list that includes Sportsworld, Raheny Shamrock, Leevale and Kilkenny Harriers.

On Saturday, Margaret Foley ran in the 10k race, one of three races of different distances in Glenbeigh/Glencar in Kenmare in her native Co. Kerry. In a field of 144, Mags placed 14th overall and 3rd female finisher in a time of 45:24.

Then, on Sunday, Ciarain Kelly ran in the Frank Kilrane 10-mile road race in Edenderry, where, in a field of 294, he placed 15th in a time of 60:25. The event was the latest in the Peugeot Race Series.

The major race of the weekend took place in and around Swords on Sunday morning. This was the Dublin Marathon race series Fingal 10k. There were 2838 finishers on the course, which had a newly-designed start and finish this year. However, unfortunately, there were a few casualties enroute, several in the last kilometre, suffering from heat exhaustion, and unable to finish the race. This was the case, despite their preparations for the heat, for at least two of our contingent too, Conor Kilkenny and Robbie Moore, thankfully with no lasting effects.

As a consequence, the first Crusader home was Michael O’Conor who placed 28th in 35:41, followed by Paul Reidy (46th in 36:57). Paul was followed by Morgan Evans (52nd in 37:17) who in turn was followed by his partner Sarah-Grace Breen (78th and 5th in 37:57). James Sherry (111th in 38:46) was next, followed by Eddie Nugent (215th in 41:45) and then by Oisin Browne (316th in 43:48) who admitted that he found the going tough in the heat after 8k. Oisin was followed by Ciara Lynch (285th and 18th in 42:52) and then by our first pacers, Clare Sullivan and Kieran Martin. In fact, all the pacers were provided by Crusaders and despite most of their balloons inevitably popping in the overhanging trees along the country lanes on the course, they all met their objectives admirably. Clare placed 393rd and 33rd in 44:18, whilst Kieran ran 44:28 for 400th spot. Next came Noel Carr (447th in 45:25), Lisa Branigan (505th and 50th in 46:27), followed by Paul F. Kelly (525th in 46:29), Greg Marnotte (574th in 47:32), Derek Boland (616th in 48:21) and Dee Ni Chearbhaill (674th and 98th in 48:22).

Luz Estevan, just back from injury, was next (803rd and 132nd in 49:29) followed by two of our other pacers, Joanne Carey and Olwyn Dunne (821st and 135th and 828th and 140th in 49:44 and 49:49). Olwyn also placed 3rd F55.

They were followed by Brian O’Neill (848th in 50:26), Kevin Kenny (1051st in 52:28), Laura O’Malley, who briefly stopped to help a Crusader in distress (1277th and 309th in 55:50), Kabir Sala (1371st in 57:06), Emily Glen and Paula Bradshaw, both pacing the 55 minutes runners (1452nd and 377th and 1458th and 379th in 54:51 respectively). They were followed by Alan Martin (1781st in 58:35), Aitor Arribas Velasco who was another pacer (1905th in 59:20), just ahead of Chris Bannon who had also joined Laura and who stayed a bit longer to help out (1906th in 63:55) and Joe Dunne (1907th in 59:23, with Aitor, pacing the 60 minutes runners). The contingent was completed by Paul E. Kelly (2176th in 63:22), Adam Doyle (2289th in 64:58) and Bo Chicoine (2373rd in 68:05) who combined the race with a long run.

There was the usual midweek race in the mountains last week. This was the Carrick Mountain 7.9k run, in Co. Wicklow, involving a climb of 450m. We had at least 4 Crusaders in the race, with the contingent led home by Clare Sullivan (46th and 4th in 59:55). Clare was also the 1st F40. She was followed by Caoimhe Dempsey (58th and 7th in 61:58), Paul McNamara (81st in 63:29) and Berndt Heim (139th in 93:47). On Saturday morning, Áine Kenny took part in another Wicklow race, the Trooperstown and Clara Vale Loop conducted over a distance of 21.5k and involving a climb of 750m. In a field of 110, Áine won the women’s race, placing 19th overall, in 2:19:49 and she was followed home by Gavan Doherty (82nd in 3:03:10). There was another race on Saturday morning, the Brandon Ridge Half Marathon in Co. Kerry. In really hot conditions Warren Swords ran 2:46:50 for 22nd place and 2nd M45 and he was followed by Donatas Jocius who ran 2:54:27 for 29th in the field of 97. This event had been preceded on Friday by the Brandon Vertical, a race of 3.9k, involving a climb of 750m. In a modest field of 35, Donatas placed 4th and 1st M40 in 37:49, followed by Paul Flynn who placed 7th and 2nd M40 in 39:56.

In the fine weather on Saturday morning, we had loads of runners taking part in parkruns, with several first finishes around the country.

Kate Murray was one such first finisher, placing 18th overall in Brickfields in a time of 24:23, in a field of 65, whilst Aoife Quigley ran 20:11 to place 6th and 1st in the 164-strong field in Tramore Valley, Cork. Meanwhile, Jade and Tara Murphy ran over in the Delaware and Raritan Canal parkrun in the USA, where, in a field of 51, Jade placed 5th and 1st in 22:22 and Tara placed 11th and 2nd in 28:07. Down in Waterford, Kev Moore and Mary Donnelly ran in Tramore, where, in a field of 203, Kev ran 19:51 for 9th place, followed by Mary (18th and 2nd in 22:09), whilst Peter O’Toole ran alongside 442 other runners in St. Anne’s, placing 3rd in 18:38. On the Midleton Greenway, Ciara Regan placed 18th and 2nd in 21:54, followed by Aitor Arribas Velasco (34th in 24:55). The field measured 140.

Aoife McCarthy took 31st and 3rd spots in 23:07 in Shanganagh alongside 281 other participants, whilst Crusader triallist, Dimitri Jeannon, placed 3rd in 17:01 in Poolbeg.

Dimitri was followed by Stephen Hurley (6th in 18:02) as part of a large Crusader contingent, which also included Paul Cowhie (8th in 18:33) recording an amazing 87% age grade result. Paul was followed by Luke Clarke (10th in 19:04) and he was followed by Joe Murphy (11th in 19:12), Ross Neill (19th in 20:22), Gerard Moore (23rd in 21:13), Thomas Vogée (27th in 21:52), Adrian Groarke (31st in 22:09), Kabir Sala (33rd in 22:21), Sharon Woods (63rd and 7th in 25:14) and John Lohan (84th in 26:56).

Conor Kilkenny was next (99th in 27:50), followed by Maureen McGinley (155th and 43rd in 32:37), Mairead Cashman (157th and 45th in 32:46), Emer Kenny (158th and 46th in the same time) Anna Hernick (160th and 48th in 32:58), Linda Walsh (166th and 52nd in 33:57), Cynthia Perucca (175th and 58th in 35:11), Carina Davidson, celebrating her birthday (192nd and 70th in 39:36) and Kevin Kenny (211th in 45:23). Orla O’Flynn also ran. However, her result was not recorded.

It was great to see Ian Kinsella, one of our exiles in Canada, running once again in Ireland. He participated in the Gorey parkrun, placing 6th in a field of 138 and a time of 22:09. Meanwhile, two of our runners celebrated the 500th edition of the Bere Island parkrun down in Co. Cork. In a field of 154, Louise O’Riordan placed 22nd and 9th in 26:32, followed by Ailish Hassett (84th and 33rd in 38:26).

Emma Rowe ran in the Oranmore parkrun, where, alongside 93 other runners, she placed 16th and 5th in 24:42, whilst, in Cabinteely with 160 in the field, Barry O’Mahony took 4th spot in 20:38, followed by Niall O’Connell (11th in 21:34), GianPiero Allerta (20th in 23:53) and Olwyn Dunne (82nd and 15th in 30:01). Lorraine McMahon took part in the run in Vandeleur in Kilrush, where, in a field of 84, she placed 33rd and 13th in 31:50. In Claremorris Garret Connolly placed 57th in 41:22 in a field of 68, whilst Darina Scully joined 120 other runners in Avondale Forest, where she placed 45th and 11th in 28:13.
Placing 72nd in 28:28, Paul F. Kelly ran alongside 158 other runners in Poppintree, whilst Colm Foley ran once again in Griffeen Park, where, in a field of 167, he finished in 46th spot in 25:14. Liam Lyster ran once again in Strokestown, where, in a field of 23, he placed 14th in 39:25, whilst in a field of the same size in Fethard Town, Máirín Shine took 16th and 7th in 34:35, followed by Lisa Shine (17th and 8th in 34:38).

Over in the UK, David Pepper joined 908 other participants in Battersea, where he placed 396th in 25:25. Meanwhile, Kevin Kavanagh ran in Stretford, where, in a field of 622, he placed 80th in 21:58. Finally, our London-based exile, Thom Martini, placed 52nd in 22:38 in a field of 472.

Irish Life Fingal 10k (2838)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Tadgh Donnelly 1 00:29:48
17 Ann-Marie McGlynn 1 00:34:14
Crusaders AC runners
28 Michael O’Conor 00:35:41
46 Paul Reidy 00:36:57
52 Morgan Evans 00:37:17
78 Sarah-Grace Breen 00:37:57 (5)
111 James Sherry 00:38:46
285 Ciara Lynch 00:42:52 (18)
316 Oisin Browne 00:43:48
393 Clare Sullivan 00:44:18 (33) PACER
400 Kieran Martin 00:44:28 PACER
447 Noel Carr 00:45:25
505 Lisa Branigan 00:46:27 (50)
525 Paul F. Kelly 00:46:29
574 Grégoire Marnotte 00:47:32
616 Derek Boland 00:48:21
674 Deirdre Ni Chearbhaill 00:48:22 (98)
803 Luz Estevan 00:49:29 (132)
821 Joanne Carey 00:49:44 (135) PACER
828 Olwyn Dunne 00:49:49 (140) PACER
848 Brian O’Neill 00:50:26
1051 Kevin Kenny 00:52:28
1277 Laura O’Malley 00:55:50 (309)
1371 Kabir Sala 00:57:06
1452 Emily Glen 00:54:47 (377) PACER
1458 Paula Bradshaw 00:54:51 (379) PACER
1781 Alan Martin 00:58:35
1905 Aitor Arribas Velasco 00:59:20 PACER
1906 Chris Bannon 01:03:55
1907 Joe Dunne 00:59:23 PACER
2176 Paul E. Kelly 01:03:22
2289 Adam Doyle 01:04:58
2373 Bo Chicoine 01:08:05
Full results here: https://www.tdleventservices.co.uk/en/results-embed.php?event=4138#0_816792
Glenbeigh/Glencar 10k (144)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Connor O’Mahony 1 00:35:46
4 Lilly Riordan 1 00:39:47
Crusaders AC runner
14 Margaret Foley 00:45:24 (3)
Full results here: https://myrunresults.com/events/glenbeigh_glencar_marathon_half_marathon_10k_and_5k_2025/5732/results
Frank Kilrane 10-mile road race (294)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Paul O’Donnell 1 00:52:39
24 Edel Gaffney 1 01:04:10
Crusaders AC runner
15 Ciarain Kelly 01:00:25
Full results here: https://www.popupraces.ie/race/frank-kilrane-10-mile-road-race-2025/
Docklands 5k (1766)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 David McCarthy 1 00:14:33
27 Mary Mulhare 1 00:16:46
Crusaders AC runners
14 Scott Thomas 00:16:19
84 Lorenzo Battistin 00:18:10
88 Peter O’Toole 00:18:12
105 Felipe De Sousa 00:18:27
124 Damien O’Brien 00:18:36
XXX Kieran Martin 00:19:45 PACER
221 Aoife Quigley 00:19:45 PACER
XXX Kieran Martin 00:19:45 PACER
245 Killian Lynskey 00:20:03
275 Marcus Phelan 00:20:13
295 Florian Mormont 00:20:38
316 Luke Haran 00:21:05
352 Gavan Doherty 00:21:20
382 Sarah Lyons 00:21:20
502 Aoife McCarthy 00:22:28
792 Emer Kenny 00:24:53 PACER
795 Emily Glen 00:24:54 PACER
799 Michael Fitzsimons 00:24:56 PACER
1300 Joe Dunne 00:29:51 PACER
1301 Fanny Trébouet 00:29:51 PACER
1302 Fiona Shine 00:29:51 PACER
1341 Daniel Sexton 00:29:28
1406 Orla McTernan 00:30:25
1413 Conor Kilkenny 00:30:42
1470 Alan Murphy 00:31:51
1471 Kabir Sala 00:31:51 PACER
1592 Tara Cioni 00:34:29
1594 Lisa Harpur 00:34:30
1595 Kate Phelan 00:34:29
1596 Máirín Shine 00:34:30 PACER
1620 Philip Matthews 00:35:10 PACER
1621 Julia Cleto 00:35:09
1626 Paula Bradshaw 00:35:22 PACER
1627 Etain Deenihan 00:35:24
1646 Hannah Byrne 00:39:30
1718 Deirdre Roche 00:41:13
Full results here: https://myrunresults.com/events/docklands_5k_2025/5683/results
IMRA Carrick Mountain 7.9k (139)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Derek Crammond 1 00:44:49
14 Anna Michael 1 00:50:37
Crusaders AC runners
46 Clare Sullivan 00:59:51 (4)
58 Caoimhe Dempsey 01:01:58 (7)
81 Paul McNamara 01:02:39
139 Berndt Heim 01:33:47
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2665
IMRA Brandon Vertical 3.9k (35)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ian Conroy 1 00:32:39
6 Sorcha Loughnane 1 00:38:28
Crusaders AC runners
4 Donatas Jocius 00:37:49
7 Paul Flynn 00:39:56
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2619
IMRA Brandon Ridge Half marathon (97)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Henry Browne 1 02:15:30
5 Sorcha Loughnane 1 02:24:41
Crusaders AC runners
22 Warren Swords 02:46:50
29 Donatas Jocius 02:54:27
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2620
IMRA Trooperstown and Clara Vale Loop 21.5k (110)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Pierre Murchan 1 01:46:05
19 Áine Kenny 1 02:19:49
Crusaders AC runners
19 Áine Kenny 02:19:49 (1)
82 Gavan Doherty 03:03:10
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2688
Strokestown Parkrun (23)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Daire Dowd 1 00:20:12
2 Michelle McNeela 1 00:21:49
Crusaders AC runner
14 Liam Lyster 00:39:25
Fethard Town Parkrun (23)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Tony Toner 1 00:21:35
7 Deirdre Joyce 1 00:26:42
Crusaders AC Runners
16 Máirín Shine 00:34:35 (7)
17 Lisa Shine 00:34:38 (8)
Vandeleur Parkrun (84)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Thomas Garrahy 1 00:18:11
3 Laura Healy 1 00:20:21
Crusaders AC runner
33 Lorraine McMahon 00:31:50 (13)
Poolbeg Parkrun (215)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Oliver Young 1 00:16;52
20 Maire Ferguson 1 00:20:23
Crusaders AC runners
3 Dimitri Jeannon 00:17:01
6 Stephen Hurley 00:18:02
8 Paul Cowhie 00:18:33
10 Luke Clarke 00:19:04
11 Joe Murphy 00:19:12
19 Ross Neill 00:20:22
23 Gerard Moore 00:21:13
27 Thomas Vogée 00:21:52
31 Adrian Groarke 00:22:09
33 Kabir Sala 00:22:21
63 Sharon Woods 00:25:14 (7)
84 John Lohan 00:26:56
99 Conor Kilkenny 00:27:50
155 Maureen McGinley 00:32:37 (43)
157 Mairead Cashman 00:32:46 (45)
158 Emer Kenny 00:32:46 (46)
160 Anna Hernick 00:32:58 (48)
166 Linda Walsh 00@33:57 (52)
175 Cynthia Perucca 00:35:11 (58)
192 Carina Davidson 00:39:36 (70)
211 Kevin Kenny 00:45:23
Griffeen Parkrun (167)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
2 Plunkett Clarke 1 00:18:45
26 Caroline O’Sullivan 1 00:23:29
Crusaders AC runner
46 Colm Foley 00:25:14
Midleton Greenway Parkrun (140)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Adam Gray 1 00:17:50
12 Suzanne Alcock 1 00:21:15
Crusaders AC runners
18 Ciara Regan 00:21:54 (2)
34 Aitor Arribas Velasco 00:24:55
Gorey Parkrun (138)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Donal Redmond 1 00:19:44
17 Ailish Clare 1 00:23:40
Crusaders AC runner
6 Ian Kinsella 00:22:09
Avondale Forest Parkrun (121)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ed Byrne 1 00:18:21
9 Ciara Foster 1 00:22:11
Crusaders AC runner
45 Darina Scully 00:28:13 (11)
Brickfields Parkrun (65)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Andy Aiston 1 00:18:29
18 Kate Murray 1 00:24:23
Crusaders AC runner
18 Kate Murray 00:24:23 (1)
Claremorris Parkrun (68)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
2 Kai Connolly 1 00:20:41
8 Hilary Bond 1 00:23:34
Crusaders AC runner
57 Garret Connolly 00:41:22
Tramore Valley, Cork (164)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Darren McCann 1 00:17:06
6 Aoife Quigley 1 00:20:11
Crusaders AC runner
6 Aoife Quigley 00:20:11 (1)
Shanganagh Parkrun (282)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Timothy Bowen 1 00:18:27
6 Emily Kane 1 00:20:38
Crusaders AC runner
31 Aoife McCarthy 00:23:07 (3)
Cabinteely Parkrun (160)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 John Golden 1 00:19:54
39 Zepheniah Pudlao 1 00:26:09
Crusaders AC runners
4 Barry O’Mahony 00:20:38
11 Niall O’Connell 00:21:34
20 Gian Piero Allerta 00:23:53
82 Olwyn Dunne 00:30:01 (15)
St. Anne’s Parkrun (443)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Brian McFlynn 1 00:17:01
34 Adrienne Atkins 1 00:21:49
Crusaders AC runner
3 Peter O’Toole 00:18:38
Bere Island Parkrun (154)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Conor Lucey 1 00:20:14
2 Michelagh Murphy 1 00:21:37
Crusaders AC runners
22 Louise O’Riordan 00:26:32 (9)
84 Ailish Hassett 00:38:26 (33)
Poppintree Parkrun (159)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Bobby Bedford 1 00:18:19
9 Caoimhe Dowdall 1 00:20:24
Crusaders AC runner
72 Paul F. Kelly 00:28:28
Tramore Parkrun (203)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 James Kelly 1 00:17:59
17 Ailish Reid 1 00:21:33
Crusaders AC runners
9 Kev Moore 00:19:51
18 Mary Donnelly 00:22:09 (2)
Oranmore Parkrun (94)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Robert Cregg 1 00:18:11
4 Aoife Leahy 1 00:21:26
Crusaders AC runner
16 Emma Rowe 00:24:42 (5)

L-R: Emer Kenny, Emily Glen, Paula Bradshaw, Aitor Arribas Velasco, Joe Dunne, Joanne Carey, Paul E. Kelly, Luz Estevan, Clare Sullivan, Lisa Branigan, Olwyn Dunne, Kieran Martin