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NEWS

Excellent running in the Grant Thornton 5k and other events

1/10/2023

 
Picture
L-R: Emily Glen, Emer Kenny, Richard Kavanagh, Fiona Shine, Miriam logan, Paula Bradshaw, Sophia Morgan, Ciara Regan, David Gillick, David Pepper, friend, Olwyn Dunne, Tanja Narancic, Russell Murphy, Anna Hernick, Fanny Trébouet, Cría Dowling
 ​We enjoyed an altogether different week to mark the end of September from the one that preceded it. It was indeed much quieter in racing terms this week for the club, despite including the Grant Thornton 5k and the various distances covered by the Ecotrail event series. Many of us continue to build up training mileage before the taper into the Dublin marathon in 30 days’ time now. And, also, several of us turned up to run in the Poolbeg Parkrun on Saturday to celebrate the 70th birthday of one of our members who has recently taken over the training of the Fit4Life group in the club.

We start with the Grant Thornton 5k, a race in the Docklands incorporating the course used by Crusaders in the Docklands 5k, but with an added twist as runners must cross the Samuel Beckett Bridge twice on their journey, which adds between 7 and 9 metres in ascent to the course, so that it possibly is not as fast as our race. There is also a detour around Hanover Quay at the Grand Canal marina, which adds to the number of turns. Despite these added challenges, we had some decent times from our clubmates.

At least 12 Crusaders joined the field of just over 3,000 participants racing solely in a team format. Recent new member Shane Egan, a runner training for the DCM, was our first athlete home in dry conditions in 16:56 for 13th place. Hot on his heels came Daragh O’Reilly, making a welcome return to road racing, who placed 14th in 16:58. Following Daragh came Alex Ainsworth who placed 19th in 17:19 and further back in 17:46 for 28th spot came Ross Neill, followed closely by John Mulvihill running 17:49 for 31st. Rory Goldsmith was next in 18:29, placing 57th, and he was followed across the line by the 3rd placed female athlete in the race, Clare Sullivan, who took 63rd place overall in a great time of 18:39. Clare had a good tussle throughout the event with Emma Rowe who finished in 4th place in the women’s race in 18:52 and 74th overall. Felipe de Sousa, like Shane and Emma, a recent new member to the club, placed 116th in 19:31 and he was followed by Simon Kenny (143rd in 19:48) and Gareth Phelan (156th in 19:55). Adam Kinch completed the contingent with a 21:29 run for 358th place.

On Saturday, we had several runners take part in the tough and challenging Ecotrail series of races along the trails of the Wicklow Mountains, starting and finishing in Bray. In wet conditions, and each course ascending by 300-400m depending on the length, we had two runners in the 19k, two also in the 30k and one runner in the 47k events.

Brandon Lai and Simon Kenny ran with 358 other runners in the 19k event, with Brandon completing the distance in 1:50:34 for 8th place overall. Simon probably placed in the low 20s; however, for some reason the organisers added a whole hour to his 2:00:53 result for reasons unknown. Currently he is recorded as having placed 247th, but this is likely to be amended. Christophe Marsan and Kevin Lynch, the latter, at least, training for the DCM, ran in the 30k edition along with 313 other participants. Christophe placed 50th in 3:28:15, whilst Kevin took 57th spot in 3:32:20. Finally, Gerald Hoare joined a field of 261 for the 47k race, where he placed a creditable 119th in 6:17:37.

On Saturday afternoon, again in wet conditions, we had at least two runners take part in the Very Pink 5k run on the track around Leopardstown race course. No results get posted, but we can say that Paula Bradshaw, another runner preparing for the DCM, completed the distance in 23:54, followed by Kelly Brown who ran 28:41 in support of the charity trying to eliminate breast cancer.

On Sunday morning, in much better weather conditions (i.e. warm and sunny), we had one runner in the Sanctuary Runners 5k that took place on the purpose-built cross-country track in Abbotstown. Lydia Bigley joined the field of 115 chip-timed runners, placing 33rd overall and first female across the line, in a time of 26:55. Congrats to Lydia.

Elsewhere, Diarmuid Fahey took part in the Hell and back adventure race, whilst, further afield, Italo Giancaterina, ran another good race in Italy. Our Italian exile took part in the Pescara EMACS half marathon where he completed the distance on a streets-based course in 69:04 for 2nd place overall. In Spain, news comes from Laura Garcia Gonzalez who placed 2nd in the masters category in a 5k race in Aranda de Duero. Laura's time was 20:47.

The most notable highlight of Saturday morning’s parkruns was the substantial turnout by Crusaders, many of whom were there for Richard Kavanagh’s surprise (at least for him!) 70th birthday celebrations. 28 of us (18% of the field) participated in a field of 156, graced also by David Gillick with the VHI team who sponsor parkruns here in Ireland. We did not disappoint either as the first three men across the line, along with three of the first four women (the other, an ex-Crusader being now apparently with Blackrock, who placed 2nd), in their respective gender categories, were from the club. The field was led home from start to finish by Stephen Hurley in 17:52 and he was followed closely by Michael Wycherley (2nd in 17:57) and Dee Lawlor (3rd in 18:03). Next came Kevin Lambe (9th in 20:36), followed closely by the first female finisher, Ciara Regan, who placed 10th overall in 20:43. Running a cooldown following a training session on the track beforehand, James Cottle placed 15th in 21:34 and he was followed by Sophia Morgan (18th and 3rd in 21:43). Anna Gallo (27th and 4th in 22:33) and Paul Campbell (32nd in 22:43), along with others, used the event as part of a 3 x 5k marathon training session and they were followed by Richard Kavanagh in his first event in 15 months since picking up an injury. Richard placed 35th in 22:53 and, in so doing, established a new O/70 record for the Poolbeg parkrun (already holding the record for the M65 age category). A great way to celebrate coming into a new age category!

Richard was followed by John Lohan (36th in 22:54), Cría Dowling (41st and 7th in 23:36), Josie Ward (45th and 10th in 23:57), Olwyn Dunne, who is preparing for next week’s Munich marathon (46th and 11th in 24:00), David Pepper (48th in 24:13), Emily Glen (49th and 12th in 24:15), Russell Murphy (52nd in 24:22), Emer Kenny, like Olwyn, a week away from running the Munich marathon (53rd and 13th in 24:26), Tanja Narancic, who incorporated the event in an otherwise long run (70th and 19th in 25:56), Franky Keane (71st in 25:57), Tara Murphy (74th and 20th in 26:18), Máirín and Fiona Shine, who will be running the relay in Munich (respectively 98th and 36th and 99th and 37th in the same time of 28:58), followed closely by Fiona Bane (99th and 38th in 28:59), Fanny Trébouet, who was also celebrating a birthday (120th and 54th in 30:41) in her first ever parkrun, Anna Hernick (121st and 55th in 30:41), Cynthia Perucca (139th and 67th in 34:31) followed by Maureen McGinley, tailwalking.

Elsewhere, we had some excellent results too. Kathryn Sweeney joined 126 other participants in Omagh, where she placed 7th and 1st female finisher in 19:31. Then, in Mullingar, Sarah Lyons was a first finisher in 21:29. In a field of 81, Sarah placed 5th overall, followed by Kate Murray who placed 8th and 2nd in 26:50. Caroline Crowley and her husband Eoghan Corrigan joined 36 other runners in Tolka Valley park where Caroline, who is pregnant, placed 4th and 2nd in 23:12, followed by Eoghan (8th in 24:08). Darina Scully also did well in River Valley Park, where, in a field of 83, she placed 8th and 2nd in 23:39, whilst Lisa Shine, in preparing for the Munich relay next week, ran on Wexford Racecourse where, in a field of 47, she placed 21st and 3rd in 26:19.

Gemma Cooper placed 22nd and 7th in 26:50 in a field of 61 in Tramore, Waterford, whilst Paul F. and Aoife Kelly joined an enormous field of 911 (possibly mostly Sanctuary runners) in St. Anne’s where Paul placed 234th in 26:16 (part of a much longer training run) and Aoife ran 30:48 for 462nd and 195th places. Dale Whelehan took 20th spot in Bushy Park where he ran alongside 152 other participants. Dale’s time was 23:44, whilst, in Dodder Valley Park, Mairead Cashman ran 33:42 for 45th and 20th spots in a field of 64. Kevin Flynn placed 78th in 36:11 in the field of 95 in Porterstown, whilst Niamh Quinn joined 361 other runners in Marlay Park where she placed 311th and 110th in 34:18. Finally, Carina Davidson, rehabbing her injured hamstring, placed 133rd and 55th in a time of 31:37 in the 177-strong field in Shanganagh.

Grant Thornton 5k (3011)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Richie Gardner 1 00:15:28
29 Sheila O’Byrne 1 00:17:47
Crusaders AC runners
13 Shane Egan 00:16:56
14 Daragh O’Reilly 00:16:58
19 Alex Ainsworth 00:17:19
28 Ross Neill 00:17:46
31 John Mulvihill 00:17:39
57 Rory Goldsmith 00:18:29
63 Clare Sullivan 00:18:39 (3)
74 Emma Rowe 00:18:52
116 Felipe de Sousa 00:19:31
143 Simon Kenny 00:19:48
156 Gareth Phelan 00:19:55
358 Adam Kinch 00:21:29
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/grant_thornton_corporate_5k_team_challenge_dublin/4844/results
Sanctuary Runners 5k (115)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Kahumburuka Tuahuku 1 00:19:57
33 Lydia Bigley 1 00:26:55
Crusaders AC runner
33 Lydia Bigley 00:26:55 (1)
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/the_permanent_tsb_sanctuary_run/4941/results
Ecotrail 19k (360)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Des Kennedy 1 01:37:32
12 Erin Gillingham 1 01:52:43
Crusaders AC runners
8 Brandon Lai 01:50:34
2X Simon Kenny 02:00:53
Full results here: http://redtagtiming.com/results/EcotrailWicklow2023_19km.html
Ecotrail 30k (315)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Luke Weldon 1 02:37:46
5 Kaisa Laapas 1 02:50:54
Crusaders AC runners
50 Christophe Marsan 03:28:15
57 Kevin Lynch 03:32:20
Full results here: http://redtagtiming.com/results/EcotrailWicklow2023_30km.html
Ecotrail 47k (261)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Enda Cloake 1 04:25:35
12 Hillary Allen 1 05:07:13
Crusaders AC runner
119 Gerald Hoare 06:17:37
Full results here: http://redtagtiming.com/results/EcotrailWicklow2023_46km.html
Omagh Parkrun (127)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Sean Diamond 1 00:17:21
7 Kathryn Sweeney 1 00:19:31
Crusader AC runner
7 Kathryn Sweeney 00:19:31 (1)
Mullingar Parkrun (81)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Colm Butler 1 00:20:15
5 Sarah Lyons 1 00:21:29
Crusaders AC runners
5 Sarah Lyons 00:21:29 (1)
8 Kate Murray 00:22:04 (2)
Tolka Valley Parkrun (38)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Brian Fay 1 00:20:08
3 Aisling Ahern 1 00:22:41
Crusaders AC runners
4 Caroline Crowley 00:23:12 (2)
8 Eoghan Corrigan 00:24:08
Dodder Valley Parkrun (64)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Alan Brady 1 00:20:11
3 Lauren Murnaghan 1 00:20:39
Crusaders AC runner
45 Mairead Cashman 00:33:42 (55)
Marlay Parkrun (362)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ruben Bartelink 1 00:17:43
25 Rachel McArdle 1 00:21:34
Crusaders AC runner
311 Niamh Quinn 00:34:18 (110)
Poolbeg Parkrun (156)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Stephen Hurley 1 00:17:52
10 Ciara Regan 1 00:20:43
Crusaders AC runners
1 Stephen Hurley 00:17:52
2 Michael Wycherley 00:17:57
3 Derek Lawlor 00:18:03
9 Kevin Lambe 00:20:36
10 Ciara Regan 00:20:43 (1)
15 James Cottle 00:21:34
18 Sophia Morgan 00:21:43 (3)
27 Anna Gallo 00:22:33 (4)
32 Paul Campbell 00:22:43
35 Richard Kavanagh 00:22:53
36 John Lohan 00:22:54
41 Cría Dowling 00:23:36 (7)
45 Josie Ward 00:23:57 (10)
46 Olwyn Dunne 00:24:00 (11)
48 David Pepper 00:24:13
49 Emily Glen 00:24:15 (12)
52 Russell Murphy 00:24:22
53 Emer Kenny 00:24:26 (13)
70 Tanja Narancic 00:25:56 (19)
71 Franky Keane 00:25:57
74 Tara Murphy 00:26:18 (20)
97 Máirín Shine 00:28:58 (36)
98 Fiona Shine 00:28:58 (37)
99 Fiona Bane 00:28:59 (38)
120 Fanny Trébouet 00:30:41 (54)
121 Anna Hernick 00:30:41 (55)
139 Cynthia Perucca 00:34:31 (67)
154 Maureen McGinley 00:47:25
Wexford Racecourse Parkrun (47)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Padraig Coone 1 00:18:18
11 Annaleigh Hore 1 00:22:36
Crusaders AC runner
21 Lisa Shine 00:26:19 (3)
Bushy Parkrun (153)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Shane O’Neill 1 00:19:50
10 Mary Donnelly 1 00:22:17
Crusaders AC runner
20 Dale Whelehan 00:23:44
Shanganagh Parkrun (177)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 August Benedicto 1 00:17:15
3 Sarah Baryga 1 00:18:17
Crusaders AC runner
133 Carina Davidson 00:31:37 (55)
Porterstown Parkrun (95)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Niall Sherlock 1 00:18:31
5 Caroline McCarthy 1 00:20:05
Crusaders AC runner
78 Kevin Flynn 00:36:11
Tramore Waterford Parkrun (61)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 David Power 1 00:18:22
5 Ciara Peelo 1 00:22:23
Crusaders AC runner
22 Gemma Cooper 00:26:50
River Valley Parkrun (83)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Viktoras Kuzminas 1 00:19:59
6 Cécile Ollagnier 1 00:22:17
Crusaders AC runner
8 Darina Scully 00:23:39 (2)
St. Anne’s Parkrun (911)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Dermot Coffey 1 00:17:17
13 Megan Roberts 1 00:19:21
Crusaders AC runners
234 Paul F. Kelly 00:26:16
462 Aoife Kelly 00:30:48 (195)
Picture
Gerald Hoare
Picture
Kevin Lynch
Picture
Simon Kenny (2nd from right)
Picture
Laura Garcia Gonzalez

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