Festive Fun

28/12/2025

Brian Regan

Nollaig Shona! As expected, there were loads of opportunities to race over the Christmas period, helping everyone to undo possibly all the over-indulgence of Christmas Day!

One of the highlights of St. Stephen’s Day was the annual Fields of Atheny 10k, which always attracts a quality field. This year was its 22nd running and it did not disappoint. In chilly conditions (around 4 degrees Celsius) with a biting northeasterly wind (a feature across the island of this year’s festive period ) of around 15kph, the women's race was won by the 2025 national marathon champion, young Ava Crean, in 33:40, a course record. In the field were at least 7 Crusaders. The contingent was led across the line by Brian Regan jus behind Ava with a PB time of 33:48 for 19th spot. Doireann Hughes also had an excellent run (89th overall and 6th female finisher in 37:34) and she was followed further back by Brian Hyland (172nd in 39:30). In a field of 2322 finishers Ronan Walsh was next (204th in 40:24) and he was followed by Áine Kenny (245th and 30th in 41:15) and by Claire Reidy (421st and 59th in 43:59). Mary Dolan also ran, but her time and place may not have been recorded. Members may be interested to know that Liz and Michelle Maher, two GCH athletes who train with us, also ran, with Liz placing 127th and 13th in 38:42 and Michelle crossing the line in 184th and 18th in 39:51.

Jade Murphy and Cillian Traynor took part in the Cavan 5k Christmas Dash. In a field of 357, Cillian placed 39th in 20:14, followed by Jade who placed 60th and 7th in 21:10. On the same day, Margaret Foley ran once again in the Farranfore Maine Valley 5k down in her native Co. Kerry. Mags placed 69th and 6th in 19:33 in the field of 485. Importantly, she placed 2nd F40.

Another race taking place on the same day was the Shane Brennan 5k in Co. Longford with a field of 402. Rachael Yorke was our representative in that event, and she placed 58th and 11th in a time of 21:07. Meanwhile, Ciarain Kelly joined a field of 450 in Navan, Co. Meath, where he placed 12th in a time of 17:16. Two other races with Crusaders involvement took place. However, their results have yet to be published. In Tubbercurry, South Sligo AC organised its annual St. Stephen's Day 5k. Ciara Regan ran in it, recording a time of 19:22. Also, Michael Kiely ran in a 5k in Borrisoleigh in Co. Tipperary, placing 2nd in a time of 18:22.

The following day saw the usual running of the Fat Turkey Run, a challenging 10k taking runners over and down Howth. We had at least 3 athletes taking part there. In a field of 519, Liam O’Brien placed 75th in 44:46, followed by Olwyn Dunne (174th and 26th in 49:48) and Darina Scully (324th and 84th in 56:53).

There were at least two races available on Sunday morning. Gary Mills joined a field of 400 in Blanchardstown for the D15 Running Club AC-organised Suicide Awareness 5k, where he placed 12th in 17:51. Then, down in Co. Cork, there was a strong field of 812 for the Togher 5k. Ronan Moynihan was our leading runner, placing 81st in a PB time of 18:19 and he was followed by Paula Nolan (295th and 61st in 22:44), Mairead Cashman (622nd and 220th in 28:47), Louise O’Riordan (651st and 241st in 29:28) and Tim O’Donnell (697th in 30:57).

Further afield, on Friday evening, two of our Spanish exiles, Esther Requena Ferri and Cristian Vilchez Ceballos, ran in the 4.75k Carrera Nocturna Ciudad de Las Gabias. Esther won the women’s race in 19:28, with Cristian placing 3rd overall in 16:36. Then on Saturday they both ran in the 1500m San Silvestre in Alhendin, where they both placed 1st. Cristian recorded a time of 4:29, with Esther running 5:15.

There were several parkruns run on Christmas Day. Conor Kilkenny was the first to finish in Dodder Valley, where, in a field of 440, he recorded a time of 16:48. Meanwhile, in Limerick, Rob Cross placed 2nd in 17:48, followed by Kev Moore (15th in 19:29) and Eoghan Kerins (39th in 21:15). Shane Egan placed 2nd in the 168-strong field in Sligo, where he recorded a time of 18:36 and was followed by Ellen Walsh (63rd and 7th in 27:25). Also placing 2nd, Jade Murphy took 20th place overall in a time of 21:47 in Cootehill with its field of 109. Michael Wycherley headed to Ipswich, placing 8th in a field of 496 in Christchurch Park there in a time of 18:45, whilst Scott Thomas, who has now left Ireland, ran in Chelmsford Central with its field of 1152, placing 14th in 17:53. Michael O’Conor joined 712 other runners in Wallace Park in Lisburn where he placed 17th in 19:34, whilst Ailish Hassett ran in Glengarriff with its field of 85. Ailish placed 54th and 17th in 35:35. Meanwhile, Mairead Cashman joined 131 other participants in Glen River, where she finished in 99th and 40th spots in 31:59, whilst, also in Co. Cork, Louise O’Riordan ran with 519 other runners in Ballincollig, where she placed 216th and 36th in 27:22. Finally, we had at least 7 runners in Porterstown on Christmas Day. In a field of 349, our first runner home was Paul Moloney (81st in 24:21) and he was followed by Martina White (230th and 79th in 30:57), Fiona Shine (268th and 102nd in 33:13), Anna Shine (272nd and 106th in 33:37), Lisa Shine (273rd and 107th in 33:42), Máirín Shine (275th and 108th in 34:05) and Kevin Flynn (312th in 40:51).

On Saturday morning, we had Crusaders in at least 27 parkruns in Ireland and elsewhere.

Once again, Gill Earley was a first finisher in Naas, where, in a field of 213, she was 13th overall in a time of 20:55. Gill was followed by Miriam Logan (28th and 4th in 22:01) and by Paul F. Kelly (55th in 24:45). Mags Foley was also a first finisher, placing 4th overall in the 54-strong field on Inch Beach and with a time of 22:02.

In Sligo, Shane Egan once again podiumed, placing 3rd in a field of 81 and in a time of 19:11, whilst, in Bognor Regis, Michael Wycherley placed 2nd in a field of 410 in a time of 18:18. Michael O’Shea joined a field of 61 in Newcastle West where he placed 3rd in 22:14, whilst Ciara Regan ran alongside 58 other runners in the Tubbercurry Trail parkrun, where she took 8th and 3rd spots in 26:46. Meanwhile, Kate Murray joined a field of 157 in lough Key where she placed 18th and 4th in 25:25, whilst, Michael O’Conor ran once again in Wallace park in Lisburn where he placed 4th in 18:56.

In St. Anne’s Raheny, the scene of next month’s Dublin masters XC championships, Peter O’Toole placed 5th in 18:25 in a field of 392, whilst Kev Moore ran this time in Mungret, where he placed 5th in 20:13. Daniel Lowe took 8th place in Bushy Park, where he ran 21:12, followed in the field of 147 by Eva Kennedy, one of our London exiles returned for the holidays, in a time of 30:07 for 91st and 32nd spots.

As usual, our largest contingent was in to be found in Poolbeg with at least 11 crusaders taking part in the field of 155. Joe Murphy placed 5th in 18:59, followed by Jamie Renehan (6th in 19:06), with Eddie Nugent in 10th place with a time of 20:09. He was followed by Aoife McCarthy (38th and 6th in 23:40), Russell Murphy (49th in 25:00), Emily Glen (52nd and 10th in 25:17), Tanja Narancic (59th and 12th in 25:50), David Pepper (61st in 26:04), Orla McTiernan, just 2 seconds off her PB (88th and 26th in 28:10), Maureen McGinley (123rd and 6th in 32:31) and Cynthia Perucca, tailwalking.

Felipe De Sousa was our lone runner in the 59-strong field in Tolka Valley Park, where he placed 6th in 20:32, whilst Ross Neill joined 456 other runners in Ormeau Park in Belfast, where he placed 8th in 18:50. Down in Cork, Lorraine McMahon took 77th and 16th spots in the 140-strong field on Midleton Greenway, behind Ger Forde (2nd in 18:03) who is in the process of transferring to Naas AC.

We had a least 3 runners in Marlay Park. Conor Kilkenny led them home in 11th spot in a field of 470 and in a time of 18:28. Conor was followed by Ryan Preston (49th in 21:21) and by Kevin Kenny (356th in 32:03), whilst, on Wexford Racecourse, Chris Bannon placed 22nd in a field of 136 and in a time of 23:06, and whilst Ailish Hassett ran on Bere Island, where, in a field of 44, she placed 27th and 13th in 36:47.

Kabir Sala returned to his native Milan where in the Milano Nord parkrun with its field of 183, he placed 19th in 20:37, whilst our UK exile Toby Benham ran alongside 590 other runners in Worthing again, where he placed 230th in 26:19.

David Carter placed 17th in 20:43 in the 244-strong field in Shanganagh, ahead of Carina Davidson (159th and 44th in 28:31) and Orlaith de Burca (175th and 53rd in 30:04), whilst, in Cabinteely, Lisa Shine took 94th and 31st spots in 29:38, ahead of Máirín Shine (138th and 54th in 34:47) and Georgina Loughrey, who tailwalked in the field of 179.

Garret Connolly took 10th place in Claremorris with its field of 89. Garret’s time was 22:05, whilst, in Ballincollig, Helena O’Keeffe ran 2:56 for 122nd and 17th spots in a field of 307. In Cabinteely, with its field of 229, Mairead Cashman placed 164th and 41st in 29:55, ahead of Áine Crotty (211th and 67th in 39:19), whilst, in Porterstown, Martina White placed 65th and 19th in 27:53 in a field of 143. Finally, having run in the Kerrigans annual charity 5k in Mullingar the previous day (recording a time of 26:04), Franky Keane ran in the parkrun there, placing 47th in 23:58 in a field of 194.

Fields of Athenry 10k (2322)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Jamie Fallon 1 00:30:34
18 Ava Crean 1 00:33:40 (CR)
Crusaders AC runners
19 Brian Regan 00:33:48 (PB)
89 Doireann Hughes 00:37:34 (6)
118 Emma Rowe 00:38:27 (11)
172 Brian Hyland 00:39:30
204 Ronan Walsh 00:40:24
245 Áine Kenny 00:41:15 (30)
421 Claire Reidy 00:43:59 (59)
Full results here: https://redtagtiming.com/results/FoA2025.pdf
Cavan Christmas Dash 5k (357)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Cian O’Reilly 1 00:15:48
9 Rachel Birt 1 00:18:03
Crusaders AC runners
39 Cillian Traynor 00:20:14
60 Jade Murphy 00:21:10 (7)
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/cavan_christmas_5k_dash_2025/6055/results
Rita and Robbie 5k (450)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Eoin Smyth 1 00:14:27
17 Karen Costello 1 00:17:54
Crusaders AC runner
12 Ciarain Kelly 00:17:16
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/rita__robbie_christmas_5k_2025/5950/results
Fat Turkey Run 10k (519)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 David Kirwin 1 00:34:34
8 Jennifer Clancy 1 00:36:30
Crusaders AC runners
75 Liam O’Brien 00:44:46
174 Olwyn Dunne 00:49:48 (26)
324 Darina Scully 00:56:53 (84)
Full results here: https://fatturkeyrun.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/doc-20251227-wa0001.pdf.pdf
Farranfore Maine Valley (485)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Oisin Murray 1 00:14:48
9 Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill 1 00:16:18
Crusaders AC runner
69 Margaret Foley 00:19:33 (6)
Full results here: https://www.sportsplits.com/races/farronfore-maine-valley-ac-5km-2025/events/1?page=1
Shane Brennan 5k (402)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Rian McCaffrey 1 00:16:18
9 Ashley Ryan 1 00:17:43
Crusaders AC runners
58 Rachael Yorke 00:21:07 (11)
Full results here: https://coretiming.ie/events/shane-brennan-5k-2025/#0_789982
Togher 5k (812)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Sean Doyle 1 00:14:54
12 Michelle Finn 1 00:15:48
Crusaders AC runners
81 Ronan Moynihan 00:18:19 (PB)
295 Paula Nolan 00:22:44 (61)
622 Mairead Cashman 00:28:47 (220)
651 Louise O’Riordan 00:29:28 (241)
697 Tim O’Donnell 00:30:57
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/togher_ac_5k/6008/results
D15 Running Club Suicide Awareness 5k (400)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Lee Duddy 1 00:15:56
19 Jane Bandila 1 00:18:44
Crusaders AC runner
12 Gary Mills 00:17:51
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/d15_suicide_awareness_5k_race_2025/5957/results
Christmas Day Parkruns:
Dodder Valley Parkrun (440)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Conor Kilkenny 1 00:16:48
12 Aoife McCavana 1 00:18:25
Crusaders AC runner
1 Conor Kilkenny 00:16:48
Porterstown Parkrun (349)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Fintan Kerins 1 00:15:58
37 Jennifer Lee 1 00:21:08
Crusaders AC runners
81 Paul Moloney 00:24:21
230 Martina White 00:30:57 (79)
268 Fiona Shine 00:33:13 (102)
272 Anna Shine 00:33:37 (106)
273 Lisa Shine 00:33:42 (107)
275 Máirín Shine 00:34:05 (108)
312 Kevin Flynn 00:40:51
Limerick Parkrun (333)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Conor Reale 1 00:17:34
12 Ailbhe McDaid 1 00:19:14
Crusaders AC runners
2 Rob Cross 00:17:48
15 Kev Moore 00:19:29
39 Eoghan Kerins 00:21:15
Ballincollig Parkrun (520)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Evan Fitzgerald 1 00:15:17
28 Laura Cussen 1 00:20:08
Crusaders AC runner
216 Louise O’Riordan 00:27:22 (36)
Glen River Parkrun (132)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Finbarr Murphy 1 00:18:48
11 Orla Coffey 1 00:22:17
Crusaders AC runner
99 Mairead Cashman 00:31:59 (40)
Wallace Park Parkrun (713)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Arthur Taylor 1 00:17:46
7 Helen Perry 1 00:18:47
Crusaders AC runner
17 Michael O’Conor 00:19:34
Glengarriff Parkrun (85)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Darragh Coppinger 1 00:19:07
12 Niamh Cotter 1 00:20:48
Crusaders AC runner
54 Ailish Hassett 00:35:35 (17)
Sligo Parkrun (168)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 James Chapman 1 00:18:06
5 Emma Stuart 1 00:19:45
Crusaders AC runners
2 Shane Egan 00:18:36
63 Ellen Walsh 00:27:25 (7)
Cootehill Parkrun (109)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Niall Scorr 1 00:17:31
12 Hayley McAteer 1 00:20:06
Crusaders AC runner
20 Jade Murphy 00:21:47 (2)
Parkruns on 27/12/25
Poolbeg Parkrun (155)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
2 Malcolm O’Connell 1 00:18:11
16 Ava Rose Clarke 1 00:21:17
Crusaders AC runners
5 Joe Murphy 00:18:59
6 Jamie Renehan 00:19:06
10 Eddie Nugent 00:20:09
38 Aoife McCarthy 00:23:40 (6)
49 Russell Murphy 00:25:00
52 Emily Glen 00:25:17 (10)
59 Tanja Narancic 00:25:50 (12)
61 David Pepper 00:26:04
88 Orla McTernan 00:28:10 (26)
123 Maureen McGinley 00:32:31 (50)
152 Cynthia Perucca 00:46:14
Mungret Parkrun (106)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Brian Jenkins 1 00:17:58
2 Aoife Cooke 1 00:19:20
Crusaders AC runner
5 Kev Moore 00:20:13
Naas Parkrun (213)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Rory Morrissey 1 00:18:03
13 Gillian Earley 1 00:20:55
Crusaders AC runners
13 Gillian Earley 00:20:55 (1)
28 Miriam Logan 00:22:01 (4)
55 Paul F. Kelly 00:24:45
Ormeau Parkrun (457)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Connor Graham 1 00:15:58
28 Kerry Ardley 1 00:20:53
Crusaders AC runner
8 Ross Neill 00:18:50
Porterstown Parkrun (143)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Luke Costello 1 00:17:16
9 Joan O’Callaghan 1 00:21:27
Crusaders AC runner
65 Martina White 00:27:53 (19)
Newcastle West Parkrun (61)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ruban Morrissey-Fernandez 1 00:19:33
15 Claire Curtin 1 00:25:30
Crusaders AC runner
3 Michael O’Shea 00:22:14
Shanganagh Parkrun (244)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Jack Samuel 1 00:17:20
5 Naomi Wall 1 00:18:46
Crusaders AC runners
17 David Carter 00:20:43
159 Carina Davidson 00:28:31 (44)
175 Orlaith de Burca 00:30:04 (53)
Bushy Parkrun (147)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ciaran Buckley 1 00:18:24
10 Sarah Domoney 1 00:21:30
Crusaders AC runners
8 Daniel Lowe 00:21:12
91 Eva Kennedy 00:30:07 (32)
Marlay Parkrun (470)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Philip Simpson 1 00:16:47
13 Ruth Wilson 1 00:18:45
Crusaders AC runners
11 Conor Kilkenny 00:18:28
49 Ryan Preston 00:21:21
356 Kevin Kenny 00:32:03
Bere Island Parkrun (44)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Michelagh Murphy 00:21:39
2 Tom Dickinson 1 00:24:19
Crusaders AC runner
27 Ailish Hassett 00:36:47 (13)
Cabinteely Parkrun (179)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Brendan McGrath 1 00:17:39
2 Megan Brunt 1 00:17:46
Crusaders AC runners
94 Lisa Shine 00:29:38 (31)
138 Máirín Shine 00:34:47 (54)
160 Georgina Loughrey 00:50:10
Tolka Valley Parkrun (59)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Aaron Gibson 1 00:17:13
3 Celine Gavin 1 00:18:19
Crusaders AC runner
6 Felipe De Sousa 00:20:32
St. Anne’s Parkrun (392)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Senan Garvey 1 00:17:33
17 Sofia Malone 1 00:19:53
Crusaders AC runner
5 Peter O’Toole 00:18:25
Wallace, Lisburn Parkrun (208)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Alex James 1 00:18:15
8 Eleanor George 1 00:20:11
Crusaders AC runner
4 Michael O’Conor 00:18:56
Wexford Racecourse Parkrun (136)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Stephen McLeod 1 00:17:20
9 Maeve Boland 1 00:20:25
Crusaders AC runner
22 Chris Bannon 00:23:06
Midleton Greenway Parkrun (140)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Fionn Neville 1 00:16:49
17 Jo Kleibuk 1 00:22:19
Crusaders AC runner
77 Lorraine McMahon 00:29:00 (16)
Sligo Parkrun (81)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Darren Newman 1 00:18:44
9 Caroline Coulter 1 00:22:16
Crusaders AC runner
3 Shane Egan 00:19:11
Inch Beach Parkrun (54)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Aidan Power 1 00:20:07
4 Margaret Foley 1 00:22:02
Crusaders AC runner
4 Margaret Foley 00:22:02 (1)
Tramore Valley, Cork Parkrun (229)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Andrew Hobbs 1 00:17:20
4 Ailbhe McDaid 1 00:18:59
Crusaders AC runners
164 Mairead Cashman 00:29:55 (41)
211 Áine Crotty 00:39:19 (67)
Lough Key Parkrun (157)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Barry Lohan 1 00:21:01
9 Thelma Bell 1 00:24:00
Crusaders AC runner
18 Kate Murray 00:25:35 (4)
Mullingar Parkrun (194)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Stephen Bracken 1 00:18:02
19 Arlene McGann 1 00:21:28
Crusaders AC runner
47 Franky Keane 00:23:58
Ballincollig Parkrun (307)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Con O’Flynn 1 00:17:56
35 Deirbhile O’Keeffe 1 00:21:56
Crusaders AC runners
122 Helena O’Keeffe 00:26:56 (17)

Claremorris Parkrun (89)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Briain Breslin 1 00:16:42
2 Kirsty Maher 1 00:16:46
Crusaders AC runner
10 Garret Connolly 00:22:05
Tubbercurry Trail Parkrun (59)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Hugh Duffy 1 00:22:54
6 Geraldine McDonagh 1 00:25:50
Crusaders AC runner
8 Ciara Regan 00:26:46 (3)