Happy Returns (an ongoing story)

Ashley Hayes and Kenan Furlong

It has been a relatively straightforward day of results compiling by your race reporter for this week as it seems the number of road races featuring Crusaders participation could be found on the fingers of one hand. It has been perhaps the calm before the storm as many of our members are in full swing now preparing for races in the build up to the Autumn season of marathons. Indeed, some of such racing has already begun.

As is happening so often now, we are witnessing the annual return of old friends in the form of the Dingle marathon and half marathon, as well as the Ireland West ¾ marathon, this last with perhaps a shorter history, but a favourite among some all the same since its inception in 2023.

The ¾ marathon took place in East Mayo on Saturday morning, taking in views of the river Moy and various other iconic sights in the Swinford area, with a downhill start and an uphill finish (80m or so of descent and climb). Two of our clubmates joined the field of 200, with Ashley Hayes taking 3rd place overall in 2:00:14, followed by Kenan Furlong (8th in 2:09:38).

Then, down in Kerry on the same day, we had runners returning to Dingle to take part in the equally scenic (and hilly) full and half marathons there. In the marathon, Anthony Craig placed 343rd in a field of 747 and in a time of 4:09:07, whilst, in the half with a significant field of 2021 finishers, Barry O’Neill placed 846th in 2:04:57, followed by Carina Davidson (1178th overall and 517th female finisher in 2:16:54) who was joined later in the race by Mark Browne (1179th in 2:14:23). Incidentally, some of the longer serving members may notice that the half marathon field was led home by ex-Crusader Shane Collins in 71:53, running for some time now with Leevale.

On Sunday, we had a runner in the Run the Bridges 10k that took place around Nenagh in Co. Tipperary. On a testing and undulating course with a severe climb at 6k, Mark Culleton placed 28th in a field of 350 and in a time of 44:45.

A late entry to the report has come from Áine Kenny who has just finished the gruelling challenge that is the Fire and Ice Ultra held over 6 days in Iceland. The official measurement of the course is 250km. However, Áine reported that she covered a distance closer to 258km by the finish, placing 6th overall and first female finisher. At the end there were 22 who survived the challenge, with Áine recording an overall time of 40:01:25, just under 14 hours behind the race winner. The course took in lava fields, ash and barren desert. It went up and around volcanoes and across rivers and participants encountered snow, rain and wind along the way. 

Another late entry  comes from Kerry, where Patricia Velasquez and Rebecca Kelly took part in the 58k Kerry Way Ultra Lite. In a field of 194 finishers, Rebecca placed 151st and 33rd in 9:45:51, followed immediately after by Patricia, who placed 152nd and 34th in 9:45:54.
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We had at least three first finishers in Saturday morning’s parkruns. Once again, Dee Lawlor took the honours in Shanganagh where he led the field of 328 home in 17:27. Dee was followed by Paul Flynn in 2nd place (17:39) and by John O’Donnell (13th in 19:04), David Carter (34th in 20:26), Máirín Shine (224th and 66th in 30:21) and Lisa Shine (254th and 85th in 33:00). Grainne Regan placed 21st overall and first woman home in Ardgillan with its field of 74. Grainne’s time was 25:30. Meanwhile, Stephen Hurley led the field of 221 home in Poolbeg in a time of 17:44. Stephen was followed across the line by Ronan Walsh (16th in 20:44), Daniel Littlewood (27th in 22:22), Claire Reidy (35th and 4th in 23:23), Sharon Woods (37th and 5th in 23:26) right behind, Eamon MacFhionnlaoich (40th in 23:51) and Aoife McCarthy (43rd and 6th in 24:19). Further back came Bo Chicoine (76th in 26:50) and he was accompanied by Stephen Ryan (77th in 26:51) and then followed by Iseult Ni Chuinneagain (89th and 24th in 27:30). Siobhan Russell (90th and 25th in 27:35), Aisling O’Riordan (114th and 43rd in 28:47) just ahead of Tanja Narancic *115th and 44th in 28:49), Franky Keane (118th in 28:54), alongside Louise O’Riordan (119th and 46th in 28:55) and then ahead of Josie Ward (121st and 47th in 28:57), Anousheh Alamir (123rd and 49th in 29:07), Kevin Kenny (127th in 29:13) and Edwina Hogan (187th and 88th in 33:58).

Felipe De Sousa appeared on the podium in Tolka Valley. In a field of 75, he placed 2nd in 20:16, followed by Kabir Sala (12th in 23:47), Laura O’Malley (27th and 5th in 26:44) and Maria Pertl (54th and 18th in 32:57). Michael O’Shea was also on the podium in Fort William in Scotland, where, in a field of 99, he placed 2nd in 20:34. Kate Murray took 25th and 4th places in the 136-strong field in Lough Key in a time of 26:09, whilst Ross Neill also placed 4th in Sligo, where alongside 123 other runners, he ran 18:38.

In Marlay Park with its field of 495, Myles Nolan took 38th spot in a time of 22:34, whilst, in Russborough, with a field of 141, Ellen Walsh placed 61st and 20th in 29:03. Paul F. Kelly ran once again in Poppintree where, alongside 140 other participants, he placed 56th in 27L:27, whilst, down in Ballincollig, Helena O’Keeffe joined 304 other runners, placing 119th and 29th in 28:02. Martina White took on Porterstown again, where, in a field of 157, she placed 116th and 63rd in 34:43, whilst Mairead Cashman tackled Bushy Park, placing 189th and 65th in 33:38. Finally, Darina Scully ran in the 308-strong field in Malahide where she placed 268th and 94th in 34:40, whilst, Órlaith de Burca ran in the Burgess parkrun in Camberwell in London, where, in a field of 628, she placed 326th and 67th in 28:22.
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Dingle Half marathon (2021)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Shane Collins 1 01:11:53
15 Jette Beermann 1 01:23:29
Crusaders AC runners
846 Barry O’Neill 02:04:57
1178 Carina Davidson 02:16:54 (517)
1179 Mark Browne 02:14:23
Full results here: https://myrunresults.com/events/dingle_half_marathon__full_marathon_2026/6031/results
Dingle marathon (747)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Ben Mathewson 1 02:47:04
3 Lillian Bradley 1 02:48:37
Crusaders AC runner
343 Anthony Craig 04:09:07
Full results here: https://myrunresults.com/events/dingle_half_marathon__full_marathon_2026/6031/results
Ireland West 3/4 marathon (200)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Keelan Kilrehill 1 01:49:29
17 Sinead Egan 1 02:17:25
Crusaders AC runners
3 Ashley Hayes 02:00:14
8 Kenan Furlong 02:09:38
Full results here: https://myrunresults.com/events/ireland_west_3_4_marathon_10k__5k_2026/6220/results
Run the Bridges 10k (350)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Peter Power 1 00:37:51
7 Eimear O’Leary 1 00:39:59
Crusaders AC runner
28 Mark Culleton 00:44:45
Full results here: https://my.raceresult.com/420781/
Kerry Way Ultra Lite marathon  58k (194)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Cillian Fleming 1 05:06:59
10 Jade Van Deventer 1 06:07:31
Crusaders AC runners
151 Rebecca Kelly 09:45:51 (33)
152 Patricia Velasquez 09:45:54 (34)
Full results here: https://results.primaltracking.com/event/kerrywaylite26
Ardgillan Parkrun (74) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Jim McCafferty 1 00:20:49
21 Grainne Regan 1 00:25:30
Crusaders AC runner
21 Grainne Regan 00:25:30 (1)
Russborough Parkrun (141) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Jude Connolly 1 00:20:10
2 Hayley McAteer 1 00:20:25
Crusaders AC runner
61 Ellen Walsh 00:29:03 (20)
Porterstown Parkrun (157)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Niall Sherlock 1 00:17:52
5 Gillian Kelly 1 00:21:19
Crusaders AC runner
116 Martina White 00:34:43 (63)
Lough Key Parkrun (136)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Anthony Kelly 1 00:20:31
10 Jacinta Ní Chonghaile 1 00:23:35
Crusaders AC runner
25 Kate Murray 00:26:09 (4)
Bushy Parkrun (225)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Tom Joyce 1 00:18:13
9 Laura Cullen 1 00:20:23
Crusaders AC runner
189 Mairead Cashman 00:33:38 (65)
Poolbeg Parkrun (221)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Stephen Hurley 1 00:17:44
11 Sophie Coman1 00:20:25
Crusaders AC runners
1 Stephen Hurley 00:17:44
16 Ronan Walsh 00:20:44
27 Daniel Littlewood 00:22:22
35 Claire Reidy 00:23:23 (4)
37 Sharon Woods 00:23:26 (5)
40 Eamon MacFhionnlaoich 00:23:51
43 Aoife McCarthy 00:24:19 (6)
76 Bo Chicoine 00:26:50
77 Stephen Ryan 00:26:51
89 Iseult Ni Chuinneagain 00:27:30 (24)
90 Siobhan Russell 00:27:35 (25)
114 Aisling O’Riordan 00:28:47 (43)
115 Tanja Narancic 00:28:49 (44)
118 Franky Keane 00:28:54
119 Louise O’Riordan 00:28:55 (46)
121 Josie Ward 00:28:57 (47)
123 Anousheh Alamir 00:29:07 (49)
127 Kevin Kenny 00:29:13
187 Edwina Hogan 00:33:58 (88)
Poppintree Parkrun (141)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Pádraig Mac Criostail 1 00:18:07
20 Molly Higgins-Jackson 1 00:23:25
Crusaders AC runner
56 Paul F. Kelly 00:27:27
Ballincollig Parkrun (305)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Sheldon Kirkwood 1 00:19:01
2 Catherine Murphy 1 00:19:15
Crusaders AC runner
119 Helena O’Keeffe 00:28:02 (29)
Shanganagh Parkrun (328) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Derek Lawlor 1 00:17:27
16 Olatz Cole Garcia 1 00:19:41
Crusaders AC runners
1 Derek Lawlor 00:17:27
2 Paul Flynn 00:17:39
13 John O’Donnell 00:19:04
34 David Carter 00:20:26
224 Mairín Shine 00:30:21 (66)
254 Lisa Shine 00:33:00 (85)
Marlay Parkrun (495) 
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 John Golden 1 00:18:00
10 Eva Kelly 1 00:20:34
Crusaders AC runner
38 Myles Nolan 00:22:34
Tolka Valley Parkrun (75)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Wayne Bevan 1 00:19:22
5 Caroline Monk 1 00:21:23
Crusaders AC runners
2 Felipe De Sousa 00:20:16
12 Kabir Sala 00:23:47
27 Laura O’Malley 00:26:44 (5)
54 Maria Pertl 00:32:57 (18)
Hillsborough Forest Parkrun (134)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Josh Mulligan 1 00:19:22
13 Emma Clapton 1 00:22:33
Crusaders AC runner
104 Mairead Cashman 00:32:56 (29)
Malahide Parkrun (308)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Conor Grant 1 00:16:34
6 Annette Kealy 1 00:18:40
Crusaders AC runner
268 Darina Scully 00:34:40 (94)
Sligo Parkrun (124)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ottokar Callewaert 1 00:17:47
21 Ann McNamara 1 00:22:47
Crusaders AC runner
4 Ross Neill 00:18:38

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Carina Davidson and Mark Browne

Áine Kenny

Rebecca Kelly and Patricia Velasquez