Giving Half a Chance

29/3/2026

L-R standing: (anon), Emma O'Mahony, Kate Murray, Imogen Guinness, Carina Davidson, Fiona Shine, Lisa Harpur, Anousheh Alamir, Marie-Claire Daly, Laura O'Malley, Niamh Trihy, Lisa Corrigan, Luz Estevan. Kneeling L-R: Ellen Walsh, Paula Bradshaw, Máirín Shine, Mairead Cashman, Lisa Shine, Carmel Higgins, Georgina Loughrey.

It looks like we’ve have swapped incessant rain for gale-force winds, at least in Ireland. This weekend has been extremely blustery for anyone racing. Thankfully, there were not too many events on to be impacted.

On Sunday, the official start date of Summer Time, the 4th and last of the Women’s Meet & Train winter league took place in Abbotstown on the purpose-built course next to the FAI’s training ground, where, by all accounts, the Irish team was finally practicing penalties.

There were 135 plucky runners in the event, including 20 Crusaders, most running in teams. As usual, Luz Estevan was our first athlete home in the race which measured slightly over 2 miles over two 1500m loops and the usual long and uphill finish, in windy conditions. Luz placed 6th in 13:54, about 40 seconds behind Lorna Sheehan of Sportsworld which as usual packed the top 10 finishers (6 in all).

Luz was followed by Caoimhe O’Halloran (17th in 14:56) and by Fiona Shine (25th in 15:22) not too far behind. We had a lot of mid-pack runners, headed by Paula Bradshaw (29th in 15:39) and including Imogen Guinness (30th in 15:40) just ahead of Emma O’Mahony (31st in 15:40), Kate Murray (33rd in 15:54), Lisa Corrigan, running as an individual (38th in 16:01), Ellen Walsh (42nd in 16:13) and Carmel Higgins (45th in 16:21).
Next came Anousheh Alamir (72nd in 17:36) ahead of Lisa Shine (74th in 17:46) and Lisa was followed by Laura O’Malley (82nd in 17:56), Georgina Loughrey (87th in 18:00), Carina Davidson (103rd in 19:15) and Helen Finucane (109th in 19:48). The contingent was completed by Máirín Shine (123rd in 21:20), Marie-Claire Daly (129th in 22:18), Lisa Harpur (130th in 23:01) and Niamh Trihy (131st in 23:15), ably guided once again by Kevin Kenny.

In the team competition, Crusaders placed 3rd in the top division (Diamond) unsurprisingly behind two Sportsworld teams, 1st in the second division (Platinum) ahead of Esker and Blackrock and 1st in the fifth division (Bronze) ahead of Waterstown and Esker. Well done to all. Also, Máirín Shine won her age category by one point over the 4 races (432 to 433!). Congrats to her.

Saturday morning saw another round of BHAA XC races, this time in ALSAA up at the airport. Whilst we had no participants in the women’s 2-mile race, we did have 4 Crusaders in the field of 42 in the men’s 5-miler, modest by the standards of previous years. David O’Donnell was our first club-mate home, in 23rd place overall and 3rd M55 in 35:03. He was followed by Karl Walsh (30th in 36:55), Tony Hackett (33rd and 3rd M50 in 37:25) and Brendan Glynn (37th in 41:06).

Back to Sunday and we have two other races on the island to cover. Sarah Bradley was our lone competitor in the 36th running of the Omagh Half marathon, where, in a field of nearly 3500 finishers, she placed 1,426th overall and 330th female finisher in 1:50:30. Meanwhile, Luke Haran ran in the Dooneen AC-organised 10-miler starting from the Racecourse in Co. Limerick. Luke placed 86th in 74:01 in a field of 290.

Further afield, one of our exiles down under, Maurice Kelter, won the Run2Cure half marathon in Sydney on Sunday in a great time of 75:14, finishing 8 minutes ahead of the runner in 2nd place in the field of over 800 finishers. Last year he had placed 2nd in 77:56. Then, in the Berlin Half marathon on Sunday morning, Emma Noonan surprised herself with a terrific 88:33, placing just outside the top 2,500 in a field of more than 40,000. Also running was Lorenzo Battistin with a PB time of 84:16 along with two of our continental exiles. Lukasz Batruch, now in Switzerland, ran 1:26:25, and he was followed by Florian Mormont (1:41:24).

On Saturday, we had 5 members take part in the Prague half marathon, with a better outcome than the Irish football team had experienced two days earlier. Rebecca Kelly recorded a PB with her finishing time of 1:42:43 and she was followed by Patricia Velasquez (1:47:06), Lieze Verberght (2:05:36), David Pepper (2:08:14) and Fanny Trébouet (2:14:28).

Up in the Wicklow mountains this weekend, IMRA organised the annual running of the Maurice Mullins 50.5k ultra with a climb of 1900m and in the field of 236 finishers there were at least three Crusaders. The contingent was led across the line by Paul Flynn (33rd in 5:05:14) and he was followed by Gavan Doherty (202nd in 7:28:17 and by Paul Daniels (213th in 7:40:17). Further afield, one of our French exiles, Valentin Akdim, took part in 50:5km trail race partly run on snow on Mont Ventoux. Valentin finished in 200th place in a substantial field in a time 5:49:00.

On to Saturday’s parkruns and inter alia there was a super turnout for Aoife McCarthy’s 150th parkrun in Poolbeg.

We start as usual with the first finishers and podium places. Áine Kenny placed 4th and 1st in 22:33 in the 41-strong field in Mountbellew Forest, whilst, in Tramore, Rob Cross led the field of 154 across the line in 17:50. Rob was followed by Fiona Bane (39th and 7th in 24:51) and Grainne Regan (48th and 10th in 25:13). Bex Fleming placed 10th and 3rd with Gill Earley placing 11th and 4th in respectively 21:03 and 21:05 in the 214-strong field in Naas, whilst Conor MacGuinness paced his young niece Naomi (who was the female first finisher and who runs for Bermuda at under-age level), finishing in 6th spot in 20:25 in the 107-strong field in Dundalk.

As usual, by far and away this week, we had the largest turnout from the club this week in Poolbeg. At least 33 Crusaders took part and they were led home alongside 241 other runners by Kenan Furlong (5th in 18:54). Kenan was followed by Ashley Hayes (8th in 19:25), Ryan Murphy (10th in 19:51), Shane Egan (15th in 20:55), Paddy Gaynor (20th in 21:07), Donal O’Malley (23rd in 21:13), Diarmuid Finan (25th in 21:23), Kabir Sala (26th in 21:31), Zlatko Kulic (27th in 21:36), Ryan Preston (28th in 21:41) and Stephen Mulligan (33rd in 21:48).

Further back came Sharon Woods (53rd and 4th in 22:44), James Sherry (57th in 22:59), just ahead of Mark McGovern (58th in 23:00), Aoife McCarthy (64th and 8th in 23:27), Josie Ward (71st and 10th in 23:46). Next came Ciara Regan (125th and 33rd in 27:21) alongside Emily Glen (126th and 34th in the same time) just ahead of Louise O’Riordan (127th and 35th in 27:22) and Franky Keane (128th in 27:25). Anousheh Alamir was next (134th and 39th in 27:36), followed by Cathal Murphy (144th in 28:17), Ellen Walsh (156th and 51st in 28:51), Diarmuid Bolger (164th in 29:06), Una McCullagh (166th and 56th in 29:09), Tara Murphy (170th and 58th in 29:18), just ahead of Aisling O’Riordan (171st and 59th in 29:19).

The contingent was completed by Carina Davidson (183rd and 67th in 29:51), Maureen McGinley (193rd and 74th in 30:29) just ahead of Siobhan Russell (194th and 75th in 30:31), Cynthia Perucca (218th and 86th in 32:24), Máirín Shine (248th and 108th in 36:19) and Lisa Shine (249th and 109th in 36:20).

In 544-strong field in St. Anne’s, Felipe De Sousa placed 8th in 19:01, and he was followed by Paul F. Kelly (199th in 26:48), whilst in Fairview, Michael O’Shea joined 209 other runners, placing 10th in 21:43. Meanwhile, Lorraine McMahon placed 56th and 12th in 28:06 in the field of 139 on the Midleton Greenway, whilst Martina White took 76th and 20th spots in the 168-strong field in Porterstown with a time of 28:28. Garret Dunne ran 25:32 for 48th place alongside 122 other participants in Tymon Park, whilst in Ormeau, Ross Neill placed 44th in 22:30 in a field of 555.

We had at least 3 runners in Marlay Park, where, in a field of 551, John Lohan placed 106th in 24:44, followed by Conor Kilkenny (likely 195th in 27:17) and Kate Murray (211th and 55th in 27:36). Meanwhile, Kevin Kenny joined a field of 211 in Cabinteely, where he placed 57th in 28:00, whilst, in Shanganagh, Fiona Shine placed 168th and 46th in 29:26 and Orlaith de Burca placed 198th and 62nd in 30:44. The field there measured 306.

WM&T 2-mile XC (135)
Overall place Name Guntime
1 Lorna Sheehan 00:13:13
Crusaders AC runners
6 Luz Estevan 00:13:54
17 Caoimhe O’Halloran 00:14:56
25 Fiona Shine 00:15:22
29 Paula Bradshaw 00:15:39
30 Imogen Guinness 00:15:40
31 Emma O’Mahony 00:15:48
33 Kate Murray 00:15:54
38 Lisa Corrigan 00:16:01
42 Ellen Walsh 00:16:13
45 Carmel Higgins 00:16:21
72 Anousheh Alamir 00:17:36
74 Lisa Shine 00:17:46
82 Laura O’Malley 00:17:56
87 Georgina Loughrey 00:18:00
103 Carina Davidson 00:19:15
109 Helen Finucane 00:19:48
123 Máirín Shine 00:21:20
129 Marie-Claire Daly 00:22:18
130 Lisa Harpur 00:23:01
131 Niamh Trihy 00:23:15
Full results here: Meet & Train - Race 4 - March 2026 results
BHAA ALSAA Men’s 5-mile XC (42)
Overall place Name Guntime
1 Sean Doran 00:25:43
Crusaders AC runners
23 David O’Donnell 00:35:03
30 Karl Walsh 00:36:55
33 Anthony Hackett 00:37:25
37 Brendan Glynn 00:41:06
Full results here: https://members.bhaa.ie/results/race/547
Omagh Half Marathon (3448)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Stephen McAuley 1 01:06:57
17 Ann-Marie Glynn 1 01:14:14
Crusaders AC runner
1426 Sarah Bradley 01:50:30 (330)
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/36th_spar_omagh_half_marathon__5k/6178/results
Michal Rejmer Dooneen 10-miler (290)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Conor O’Brien 1 00:53:22
17 Kealey Tideswell 1 01:00:29
Crusaders AC runner
86 Luke Haran 01:13:59
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/michal_rejmer_dooneen_10_mile_2026/6100/results
IMRA Maurice Mullins 50.5k (236)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Luke Weldon 1 04:00:23
16 Sorcha Loughnane 1 04:37:47
Crusaders AC runners
33 Paul Flynn 05:05:14
202 Gavan Doherty 07:28:17
213 Paul Daniels 07:40:17
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2800/category/O/
Ormeau Parkrun (555)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Steven Cannell 1 00:17:10
6 Natasha Kelly 1 00:18:17
Crusaders AC runner
44 Ross Neill 00:22:30
Tymon Parkrun (123)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Anthony O’Rourke 1 00:18:41
8 Sinead Tighe 1 00:20:41
Crusaders AC runner
48 Garret Dunne 00:25:32
Marlay Parkrun (551)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Donal Brennan 1 00:18:07
17 Elizabeth Maher 1 00:20:03
Crusaders AC runners
106 John Lohan 00:24:44
195 Conor Kilkenny 00:27:17
211 Kate Murray 00:27:36 (55)
Mountbellew Forest Parkrun (41)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Conor O’Brien 1 00:21:43
4 Áine Kenny 1 00:22:33
Crusaders AC runner
4 Áine Kenny 00:22:33 (1)
Fairview Parkrun (210)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
2 Adam Ewart 1 00:18:57
22 Sarah Sharkey 1 00:23:14
Crusaders AC runner
10 Michael O’Shea 00:21:43
Tramore, Waterford Parkrun (154)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Rob Cross 1 00:17:50
6 Jean Murphy 1 00:20:27
Crusaders AC runners
1 Rob Cross 00:17:50
39 Fiona Bane 00:24:51 (7)
48 Grainne Regan 00:25:13 (10)
Shanganagh Parkrun (306)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Chun Man Tam 1 00:17:15
16 Isabelle Higgins 1 00:21: 21
Crusaders AC runners
168 Fiona Shine 00:29:26 (46)
198 Orlaith de Burca 00:30:44 (62)
Midleton Greenway Parkrun (139)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 David Carrasco Coquillat 1 00:17:22
6 Emily O’Shea 1 00:19:25
Crusaders AC runner
56 Lorraine McMahon 00:28:06 (12)
Dundalk Parkrun (107)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Daniel McArdle 1 00:18:49
5 Naomi MacGuinness 1 00:20:24
Crusaders AC runner
6 Conor MacGuinness 00:20:25
Naas Parkrun (214)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ben Crampton 1 00:18:01
3 Emma Boland 1 00:19:29
Crusaders AC runners
10 Rebecca Fleming 00:21:03 (3)
11 Gillian Earley 00:21:05 (4)
St. Anne’s Parkrun (544)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Anthony Sharkey 1 00:17:24
4 Laura Behan 1 00:18:36
Crusaders AC runners
8 Felipe De Sousa 00:19:01
199 Paul F. Kelly 00:26:48
Poolbeg Parkrun (274)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Darragh Halpenny 1 0:17:17
35 Ava Rose Clarke 1 00:21:52
Crusaders AC runners
5 Kenan Furlong 00:18:54
8 Ashley Hayes 00:19:25
10 Ryan Murphy 00:19:51
15 Shane Egan 00:20:55
20 Patrick Gaynor 00:21:07
23 Donal O’Malley 00:21:13
25 Diarmuid Finan 00:21:23
26 Kabir Sala 00:21:31
27 Zlatko Kulic 00:21:36
28 Ryan Preston 00:21:41
33 Stephen Mulligan 00:21:48
53 Sharon Woods 00:22:44 (4)
57 James Sherry 00:22:59
58 Mark McGovern 00:23:00
64 Aoife McCarthy 00:23:27 (8)
71 Josie Ward 00:23:46 (10)
125 Ciara Regan 00:27:21 (33)
126 Emily Glen 00:27:21 (34)
127 Louise O’Riordan 00:27:22 (35)
128 Franky Keane 00:27:25
134 Anousheh Alamir 00:27:37 (39)
144 Cathal Murphy 00:28:17
156 Ellen Walsh 00:28:51 (51)
164 Diarmuid Bolger 00:29:06
166 Una McCullagh 00:29:09 (56)
170 Tara Murphy 00:29:18 (58)
171 Aisling O’Riordan 00:29:19 (59)
183 Carina Davidson 00:29:51 (67)
193 Maureen McGinley 00:30:29 (74)
194 Siobhan Russell 00:30:31 (75)
218 Cynthia Perucca 00:32:24 (86)
248 Máirín Shime 00:36:19 (108)
249 Lisa Shine 00:36:20 (109)
Porterstown Parkrun (168)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Nickolas Colyn 1 00:15:15
7 Caroline McCarthy 1 00:20:45
Crusaders AC runner
76 Martina White 00:28:28 (20)
Cabinteely Parkrun (211)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Simon Donohoe 1 00:19:10
4 Philippa Dew 1 00:20:46
Crusaders AC runner
57 Kevin Kenny 00:28:00