High Days and Holidays - Super running over the St. Patrick's Day weekend

21/3/2022

Paul Dempsey

The club enjoyed some excellent results over the past few days of the St. Patrick’s Day bank holiday period, starting on St. Patrick’s Day itself with the fast and furious Streets of Portlaoise 5k and the Mullingar Half marathon and closing with the inaugural MSB XC 5k in Abbotstown, the Mallow 10 miler, the Windmill 10k and the Craughwell 10 miler. The long weekend has been action-packed on the roads, and, sandwiched in between all those events, was the Wicklow Way Half marathon in the hills.

We start on Thursday with the Streets of Portlaoise 5k which enjoyed a super field of some 550 runners. By all accounts the field was one of quality, with both men’s and women’s race winners claiming course records. Nevertheless, the course was by no means as flat as advertised (it seems our own Docklands 5k is the one of few that can accurately claim that!) and involved a 4k lap with the first 1k being repeated at the end. Conditions were otherwise good with little wind and the sun shone. We had 3 runners in the race and they were led home by Michael Wycherley placing 62nd and 4th M45 in a time of 17:05. Next came Joe McDermott, who had hung onto Michael for the first half of the race and was only 13 seconds back in 71st place (17:18). Alan Kavanagh was our third runner and he placed 157th with a PB time of 20:23, 40 seconds faster than his previous best set two weeks earlier. In fact, Alan was our only competitor in this Sunday’s MSB St. Patrick’s Festival 5k which for some reason was held as a cross-country event in Abbotstown. It is perhaps unsurprising that the adult event attracted far fewer participants than when it was last held in the city centre, with only 68 runners trying their hand. It is also not surprising that Alan’s time was slower on the grass than on the tarmac of Portlaoise. He placed 15th in a time of 21:40.

Next came the Mullingar half marathon in which we had 10 members of the club take part. The number of finishers at 1178 was substantial and we had some excellent results from the race which was held in good conditions. The course is undulating, but not too challenging. Darran Lovely, in training for the Hamburg marathon, placed 72nd in a time of 1:26:21, and he was followed by Robert Browne (74th in 1:26:53), Rory Goldsmith (93rd in 1:28:35) and newcomer Michael Judge (105th in 1:28:52). Alan Kinsella was next (232nd in 1:37:47) and he was followed by Ciara Lynch (255th and 25th in 1:38:55). As an F55 runner Olwyn Dunne did well to place 6th F50 in 1:41:06. Her overall and gender places were 295th and 36th, respectively. Olwyn was followed by Aitor Arribas Velasco who placed 484th in a time of 1:49:25 and he was followed by Lydia Bigley, who, like Olwyn, is in training for Boston. In her first race for the club, Lydia ran 1:53:35 for 585th and 124th places. On the other hand, Brian Langton was running in his last race as a Crusader before he transfers to Dunboyne and he placed 841st in a time of 2:03:35. We wish him well in his new club.

On Sunday we saw a couple of podium places in the races on offer. In Garristown, Co. Dublin, Paul Dempsey took part in the Windmill Run, a 10k that this year also doubled as the Co. Dublin men’s 10k road race championships. On a one loop course with a significant change in elevation from the middle to the end of the race (i.e., a 70m drop followed by a 70m climb over 4 km), the masters athlete, who is in training for the Rotterdam marathon, placed an excellent third, taking the bronze medal in a time of 36:38.

Further west, on Sunday, Catherine Thornton continued to impress with a series of recent podium places, by finishing 2nd woman in the Craughwell 10-mile road race in her native Co. Galway. In a field of 201 runners, Catherine took 23rd place overall in a time of 1:02:40, nearly 5 minutes faster than she ran the same race previously, and pretty close to her PB for the distance generally. The one loop course on country lanes is hilly in the middle and conditions were quite blustery. Further south, Toby Benham raced in Co. Cork on Sunday, in the Mallow 10 miler, where, in a field of 962, and a race won by serial winners Sergiu Ciobanu and Michelle Finn, he placed 24th in a time of 59:06. This was Toby’s first attempt at the distance, in a figure of 8-shaped race that is considered relatively flat after a slightly hilly start with a strong-ish wind on the day.

There is also road racing news from abroad this weekend. In Frosinone, halfway between Rome and Naples, our Italian exile, Italo Giancaterina, continued his winning ways, by taking first place in the Corritalia Frosinone, which measured slightly under 10k, in a time of 31:26 ahead of a field of 420 runners. Then, in Greece, Richie Phelan ran in the Athens half marathon on a hilly course in wind and snow and, despite that, finishing in a super PB time of 1:24:31.

On Saturday morning, we had 5 runners among the 192 who finished the Wicklow Way Half marathon, organised by IMRA. The course is described as an out and back from Lough Tay to Crone over some 22k with a climb of 840m and would have been held this year in dry but gusty conditions. Conor Greenan was the first Crusader home, in 9th place and a time of 1:49:32. He was followed by Warren Swords, who is recovering from a bad bout of Covid (and trying to prepare for the Boston marathon in mid-April) and accordingly ran about 15 minutes slower than his previous effort in the race. Warren placed 20th in 2:01:46 and he was followed by John McAuley (22nd in 2:02:52), Lean Ni Chiobhain (28th and 5th (3rd F35) in 2:04:36) and by Redmond Murphy in a rare outing (88th in 2:29:54).

Finally, we come to Saturday morning’s parkruns and, as usual, we had some super results in the 15 runs in which Crusaders participated. Toby Benham prepared himself for his Cork outing the following day by running in Brickfields where he placed 2nd in a field of 32 and a time of 22:08, whilst Anthony Owens took part in his first parkrun in a while by placing 3rd in a field of 58 in Fairview and a time of 21:50. Fiona Shine was one of our three first finishers on the morning. She ran in Cabinteely along with Stephen Mulligan and 126 other runners and recorded a time of 23:26 for 11th place overall, whilst Stephen placed 36th in 27:18. Our biggest turnout as usual was in Poolbeg, where once again we recorded both first finishers. Stephen Hurley led the field of 90 home in 18:02 and he was followed after David Timoney in 15th (21:43) by Sharon Woods who placed 19th and 1st in 21:59. 2nd woman home was the indefatigable Paula Bradshaw who placed 24th in 22:22. Just behind Paula came Gian Piero Allerta who placed 26th in 22:26. Aoife and Paul F. Kelly were next in 39th (and 4th) and 40th places overall in times of 24:37 and 24:38. The couple were followed by Kate Healy (51st and 7th in 26:15), Donna Barry (65th and 12th in 27:11), Maureen McGinley (69th and 16th in 28:14), with Mari Hansen tailwalking in 35:27. Orlaith de Burca took on Navan, where, in a field of 83, she placed 29th and 4th in 25:43, whilst Colm Foley ran in Portrush, recording a time of 25:26 for 44th place in a field of 181. Meanwhile, Brian Scanlan was our lone runner in Malahide where he placed 9th in a field of 182 and a time of 20:24, whilst Brendan Glynn headed to Portumna once again where, in a field of 64, he ran 23:19 for 13th place. David O’Donnell joined 60 other runners in Gorey where he placed 10th in 22:33, whilst Darina Scully was our lone representative in River Valley Park where she tailwalked. Padraig Walsh placed 29th in a time of 26:20 in Mullingar in a field of 92, whilst Carina Davidson ran once again in Shanganagh where she placed 52 and 11th in 25:59 and in a field of 114. Mairead Cashman and Lisa Shine headed down to Ballincollig in Co. Cork, where, in a field of 234, Mairead ran 28:09 for 112th and 29th place, whilst Lisa tailwalked, whilst Fiona Lane ran in Marlay Park where, in a field of 288, she placed 180th and 47th in 28:42. Lastly, Cristian Vilchez Ceballos and Esther Requena Ferri ran in St. Anne’s Park, Raheny, where, in a field of 308, Cristian placed 3rd in 17:16, whilst Esther ran 23:59 for 79th and 13th places.

Streets of Portlaoise 5k (551)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Sean Tobin 1 00:14:13 (CR)
27 Aoife Cooke 1 00:15:54 (CR)
Crusaders AC runners
62 Michael Wycherley 00:17:05
71 Joe McDermott 00:17:18
157 Alan Kavanagh 00:20:23 (PB)
Full results here: https://www.popupraces.ie/race/the-streets-of-portlaoise-2022/
Mullingar Half marathon (1178)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Stephen Conroy 1 01:10:38
24 Elizabeth Carr 1 01:19:56
Crusaders AC runners
72 Darran Lovely 01:26:21
74 Robert Browne 01:26:53
93 Rory Goldsmith 01:28:35
105 Michael Judge 01:28:52
232 Alan Kinsella 01:37:47
255 Ciara Lynch 01:38:55 (25)
295 Olwyn Dunne 01:41:06 (36)
484 Aitor Arribas Velasco 01:49:25
585 Lydia Bigley 01:53:30 (124)
841 Brian Langton 02:03:35
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/aon_mullingar_half_marathon/4250/results
Windmill Run 10k (186)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Tudor Moldovan 1 00:32:34
14 Jill Horan 1 00:41:42
Crusaders AC runner
3 Paul Dempsey 00:36:38
Full results here: http://my.raceresult.com/195485/info
Craughwell 10 miler (201)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Aaron Brennan 1 00:52:46
21 Neasa De Burca 1 01:02:17
Crusaders AC runner
23 Catherine Thornton 01:02:40 (2)
Full results here: https://www.popupraces.ie/race/craughwell-10mile-10k-2022/#2_9D70EA
MSB St. Partrick’s Festival XC 5k (68)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Sean Doran 1 00:16:25
10 Ruth Kennedy 1 00:19:16
Crusaders AC runner
15 Alan Kavanagh 00:21:40
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/msb_st_patrick%E2%80%99s_festival_of_races_5k/4321/results
Mallow 10 miler (962)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Sergiu Ciobanu 1 00:50:56
8 Michelle Finn 1 00:55:09
Crusaders AC runner
24 Toby Benham 00:59:06 (PB)
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/mallow_10_mile_road_race/4311/results
IMRA Wicklow Way Half (192)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Barry McEvoy 1 01:33:30
10 Isobel Oakes 1 01:49:38
Crusaders AC runners
9 Conor Greenan 01:49:32
20 Warren Swords 02:01:46
22 John McAuley 02:02:52
28 Lean Ni Chiobhain 02:04:36 (5)
88 Redmond Murphy 02:29:54
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2141
Brickfields Parkrun (32)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Peter Fenyvesi 1 00:20:13
8 Stephanie Hawkins 1 00:25:03
Crusaders AC runner
2 Toby Benham 00:22:08
Malahide Parkrun (182)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Fergal Cassin 1 00:18:06
2 Annette Kealy 1 00:18:19
Crusaders AC runner
9 Brian Scanlan 00:20:24
Navan Parkrun (83)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Bryan Renton 1 00:17:47
11 Philippa Renton 1 00:22:26
Crusaders AC runner
29 Orlaith de Burca 00:25:43 (4)
Portrush Parkrun (181)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 David O’Neill 1 00:19:58
17 Sandra Dunseath 1 00:23:22
Crusaders AC runner
44 Colm Foley 00:25:26
River Valley Parkrun (80)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 John Tindley 1 00:21:31
9 Marian O’Herlihy 1 00:23:43
Crusaders AC runner
80 Darina Scully 00:56:45 (37)
Gorey Parkrun (61)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Sean Hehir 1 00:15:59
9 Suzanne Keane 1 00:22:07
Crusaders AC runner
10 David O’Donnell 00:22:33
St. Anne’s Parkrun (308)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Jamie Gahan 1 00:15:26
38 Adrienne Atkins 1 00:21:34
Crusaders AC runners
3 Cristian Vilchez Ceballos 00:17:16
79 Esther Requena Ferri 00:23:59 (13)
Mullingar Parkrun (92)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Mark Ronan 1 00:17:24
17 Judith Flynn 1 00:24:49
Crusaders AC runner
29 Padraig Walsh 00:26:20
Poolbeg Parkrun (90)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Stephen Hurley 1 00:18:02
19 Sharon Woods 1 00:21:59
Crusaders AC runners
1 Stephen Hurley 00:18:41
15 David Timoney 00:21:43
19 Sharon Woods 00:21:59
24 Paula Bradshaw 00:22:22 (2)
26 Gian Piero Allerta 00:22:26
39 Aoife Kelly 00:24:37 (4)
40 Paul F. Kelly 00:24:38
51 Kate Healy 00:26:15 (7)
65 Donna Barry 00:27:11 (12)
69 Maureen McGinley 00:28:14 (16)
89 Mari Hansen 00:35:27 (29)
Shanganagh Parkrun (114)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ben Mitchell 1 00:17:50
15 Emily Kane 1 00:20:59
Crusaders AC runner
52 Carina Davidson 00:25:59 (11)
Cabinteely Parkrun (128)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Paul Hunt 1 00:19:19
11 Fiona Shine 1 00:23:26
Crusaders AC runners
11 Fiona Shine 00:23:26 (1)
36 Stephen Mulligan 00:27:18
Fairview Parkrun (58)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Kenneth Nolan 1 00:20:39
7 Orla Deighan 1 00:23:57
Crusaders AC runner
3 Anthony Owens 00:21:50
Portumna Parkrun (64)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 John Hayes 1 00:18:48
4 Maria Coone 1 00:20:04
Crusaders AC runner
13 Brendan Glynn 00:23:19
Marlay Parkrun (288)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ruben Bartelink 1 00:17:29
9 Amy Moran 1 00:18:50
Crusaders AC runner
180 Fiona Lane 00:28:42 (47)
Ballincollig Parkrun (234)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Jer O’Sullivan 1 00:17:31
17 Nollaigh O’Neill 1 00:20:58
Crusaders AC runners
112 Mairead Cashman 00:28:09 (29)
225 Lisa Shine 00:45:06 (84)