Killer of a cross country race in the BHAA (less so in the WM&T) and PBs in road racing

18/2/2024

Standing L-R: Susan Walsh, Emer Liddy, Catriona Egan, Laura O'Malley, Anna Shine, Carina Davidson, Lydia Bigley, Darina Scully, Tanja Narancic, Fiona Shine, Richard Kavanagh. Kneeling L-R: Cría Dowling, Carmel Higgins, Máirín Shine, Kate Murray, Lisa Shine, Niamh Trihy, Rebecca Fleming, Paul E. Kelly

The club was involved in quite a bit of racing this weekend, from XC in the latest local BHAA and WM&T races via the Senior Indoor Championships in Abbotstown to road racing around the country and further afield.

We start with the Senior indoor track and field championships in the National Arena that took place over both days of the weekend. This year, just four of our club mates competed. The standout performance came from our masters athlete, Mary Horgan, who ran on both days, qualifying in the women’s 1500m in the 1st heat of 2 in 4th place with a time of 4:38.41. In the final, Mary improved significantly on her time, placing 4th in a super time of 4:29.95. Victor Michalak took on 2 events, placing 3rd in heat 5 of the 200m sprint, in a time of 26.76, but unfortunately not progressing further. Then, he placed 8th in heat 2 of the 60m in a time of 8.14, again not qualifying for the next round. Charlie Bastow and Pierre Villemin took on the 400, but neither athlete progressed beyond the heats. In heat 2 Charlie placed 3rd in 51.41, whilst Pierre ran 51.39 in heat 4, also finishing in 3rd place.

On Saturday morning the latest BHAA event took place in rainy conditions in Kiltipper Park in southwest Co. Dublin, situated just below the Hellfire Club. The 4-mile mixed race in an unfamiliar location was sponsored by the Central Bank and involved a field of 109 runners. By all accounts it was something of a challenge, involving 3.5 anticlockwise laps of a 2-looped and extremely hilly course. No one found it easy, particularly as it measured slightly long!

There were at least 19 Crusaders in the race, representing over 17% of the field. It was won by Colm Parnell in 24:45 and he was followed by Michael O’Conor who placed 4th in 26:32, with John Mulvihill (5th in 26:36), right on his heels. Next came Joe McDermott (11th and 3rd M40 in 27:59) and he was followed by Joe Walsh (20th and 1st M45 in 29:26). Clare Sullivan crossed the line not too far back in 2nd place in the women’s race and 21st overall in 29:40. Saoirse McGrath also finished on the podium in 3rd place (28th overall in 30:39) with Eddie Nugent in between (24th and 4th M50 in 30:07). Rachael Yorke took 32nd and 5th places in 31:04 and she was followed further back by Robbie Moore (55th in 33:31), Karl Walsh (57th and 3rd M45 in 33:54), Kate Murray (66th, 15th and 2nd F50 in 34:55) and Miriam Logan (68th, 16th and 2nd F40 in 35:12). Behind Miriam came Tony Hackett (69th and 4th M45 in 35:25), immediately followed by Tomás Dunne (70th in 35:29) and Tomás was followed by David O’Donnell (76th in 36:04), Patrick Needham (82nd in 36:55), Susan Walsh (98th, 25th and 2nd F60 in 40:44) and Paul E. Kelly (104th in 43:59).

The next XC race took place on the familiar western side of Tymon Park next to the National Basketball Arena on Sunday morning, involving at least 16 Crusaders. The event was the 3rd race in the winter league of the Women’s Meet & Train. The contingent was led home in the field of 116 by Rebecca Fleming who flew round the 3-lap course in 12:45 for 14th place. Rebecca was followed by Cría Dowling in 24th place with a time of 13:22. Cría was followed by Kate Murray, two weeks before her upcoming run in the Tokyo marathon (34th in 13:41), with Carmel Higgins right behind (36th in 13:43). Darina Scully was next (39th in 13:47) and she was immediately followed by Tanja Narancic (40th in 13:48). Further back came Laura O’Malley (81st in 15:08), just ahead of Catriona Egan (82nd in 15:10) and Lydia Bigley (83rd in 15:11). The contingent was completed by Carina Davidson (91st in 15:32), Emer Liddy (92nd in 15:35), Máirín Shine (107th in 17:22), Anna Shine, who had to stop briefly with a sugar low (111th in 18:13), helped by Fiona Shine (112th in 18:14) and then came Niamh Trihy (114th in 20:23) who was guided by Lisa Shine (115th in 20:24). The race was hosted by Esker AC and was described as slightly soft and mucky in parts, but generally considered to be conducted on a relatively flat loop. Well done to all.

We had at least three PB results on the roads this weekend. Down in Co. Kerry Mags Foley recorded yet another significant improvement in her time in the Tralee Valentine’s 10-mile run, placing 27th overall and 2nd woman home in a great time of 68:36. The field there measured 203. Then, on Sunday morning, Alby Allan headed down to Co. Wexford, where he ran in the Enniscorthy 10k. Alby reported that he misjudged the finish and could have finished faster, but still recorded a super 1-minute improvement by running 38:05 for the distance, placing 36th in a field of 251. The last of the PBs of which we are aware came in Mullingar in the Fore Marathon, organised by the Marathon Club of Ireland. On a hilly course, involving several out-and-backs and a couple of small loops, all conducted on country roads surrounded by farmland, Kevin Lambe ran a PB time of 3:11:24.

Further afield, our exile in Dubai, John Cunnane, ran in the Town Square 5k there where he finished in a time of 23:06. We also saw Esther Requena Ferri and her partner Cristian Vilchez Ceballos in action on the roads of Southern Spain again. In El Bonillo, Esther came first in a race which measured just shy of 8k in a time of 33:22, whilst Cristian placed 2nd in his race, which was about 6.75k, in a time of 24:50.

There were at least two IMRA races taking place at the weekend. However, at time of writing, results had yet to be posted and so it is unknown if any Crusaders took part in either or both of them. Once determined, the report may need to be updated.

The parkruns proved quite popular this weekend, with Crusaders featuring in at least 18 of them, mostly in Ireland. This week we did not see any first finishers. However, we did record a few podium places. Ross Neill took 2nd place in Poolbeg where he ran with at least 13 other Crusaders in a field of 237. Ross was followed across the line by Stephen Hurley (4th in 19:16), Cathal O’Hara (10th in 20:01), Tom Gleeson (11th in 20:04) just behind, Michael Fitzsimons (36th in 23:04), Sharon Woods (39th and 4th in 23:07), Russell Murphy (51st in 24:00), Josie Ward (73rd and 14th in 25:09), Kevin Kenny (74th in 25:09), Aisling O’Riordan (123rd and 38th in 28:02), Una McCullagh (154th and 57th in 30:00), Cynthia Perucca (195th and 91st in 33:42), Faeed Faeedi (201st in 34:58) and Mari Hansen (208th and 100th in 36:50).

Nina Holmes joined Caroline Crowley and Eoghan Corrigan in Brickfields. In a field of 103, Nina placed 8th and 2nd in 20:39, followed by Caroline, celebrating the recent birth of her second child (43rd and 11th in 26:50) and Eoghan, tailwalking. Two other of our athletes placed 2nd in their respective events. Louise O’Riordan joined Toby Benham in Tramore Valley, Cork, where Toby placed 4th in 19:29 and Louise took 23rd and 2nd spots in a field of 142 and in a time of 22:52. Then, in Templemore, Serena Moloney ran 24:13 also for 23rd and 2nd places in the 85-strong event.

Dee Ni Chearbhaill and her husband Sean Murphy, the United Striders athlete who trains with us, ran in Malahide. Dee placed 39th and 5th in 22:01, whilst Sean placed 19th in 20:12 in the 332-strong field. In Tolka Valley, alongside 63 other runners, Felipe de Sousa took 7th spot in 21:41, whilst in the 517-strong field in Marlay Park, David Long placed 23rd in 20:05. Michael Judge ran with 539 other runners in St. Anne’s where he placed 18th in 20:00, whilst we had two runners in Fairview. In a field of 202, Andy Deuser took 38th spot in 23:33, whilst Hannah Jones crossed the finish line in 45th and 6th places in a time of 24:23.

We had two runners in Shanganagh. In a field of 230, Carina Davidson placed 122nd and 27th in 27:42, followed by Orlaith de Burca who ran 29:37 for 156th and 48th places. Darina Scully was our lone representative in River Valley Park where, in a field of 97, she placed 64th and 19th in 32:18, whilst, in the University of Galway, Olwyn Dunne placed 160th and 38th in 28:40 alongside 95 other participants. Mairead Cashman took 160th and 38th positions in a time of 28:40 in Victoria Park in Belfast where she accompanied 244 other runners, whilst John Reidy headed to Perth in Scotland where, in a field of 284, he placed 60th in 23:17. Áine Crotty and Cian Coughlan joined 53 other runners in Coole in Co. Galway, where Áine placed 27th and 7th in 29:41, with Cian right behind in 29:42 for 28th spot. Maureen McGinley joined 71 other participants in Illaunmanagh in Co. Clare, where she placed 49th and 14th in 30:01, whilst Máirín Shine ran in the 172-strong field in Cabinteely, where she ran 33:44 for 135th and 45th places. Finally, Kevin Flynn ran 38:04 in Porterstown, where, in a field of 101, he placed 77th.

BHAA Central Bank of Ireland mixed 4-mile XC (109)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Colm Parnell 1 00:24:45
12 Laura McDonnell 1 00:28:10
Crusaders AC runners
1 Colm Parnell 00:24:45
4 Michael O’Conor 00:26:32
5 John Mulvihill 00:26:36
11 Joe McDermott 00:27:59
20 Joe Walsh 00:29:26
21 Clare Sullivan 00:29:40 (2)
24 Eddie Nugent 00:30:07
28 Saoirse McGrath 00:30:39 (3)
32 Rachael Yorke 00:31:04 (5)
55 Robbie Moore 00:33:31
57 Karl Walsh 00:33:54
66 Kate Murray 00:34:55 (15)
68 Miriam Logan 00:35:12 (16)
69 Anthony Hackett 00:35:25
70 Tomás Dunne 00:35:29
76 David O’Donnell 00:36:04
82 Patrick Needham 00:36:55
98 Susan Walsh 00:40:44 (25)
104 Paul E. Kelly 00:43:59
Full results here: https://irp.cdn-website.com/15e8030f/files/uploaded/BHAA%20Central%20Bank%204m%20CC%202024%20Results.pdf
Tralee Valentine’s 10-mile run (203)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Tadgh O’Sullivan 00:55:17
19 Yuliya Tarasova 1 01:06:34
Crusaders AC runner
27 Margaret Foley 01:08:36 (PB) (2)
Full results here: https://results.sporthive.com/events/7164930607274760960/races/1
Enniscorthy 10k (251)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Shane Spring 1 00:32:25
23 Becky Woods 1 00:36:12
Crusaders AC runner
36 Alby Allan 00:38:05 (PB)
Full results here: https://www.popupraces.ie/race/enniscorthy-10k-2024/
WM&T 2-mile XC (3rd race Tymon Park) (116)
Overall place Name Guntime
1 Lisa Gaughran 00:11:49
Crusaders AC runners
14 Rebecca Fleming 00:12:45
24 Cría Dowling 00:13:22
34 Kate Murray 00:13:41
36 Carmel Higgins 00:13:43
39 Darina Scully 00:13:47
40 Tanja Narancic 00:13:48
81 Laura O’Malley 00:15:08
82 Catriona Egan 00:15:10
83 Lydia Bigley 00:15:11
91 Carina Davidson 00:15:32
92 Emer Liddy 00:15:35
107 Máirín Shine 00:17:22
111 Anna Shine 00:18:13
112 Fiona Shine 00:18:14
114 Niamh Trihy 00:20:23
115 Lisa Shine 00:20:24
Poolbeg Parkrun (237)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Seán Cahill 1 00:17:52
17 Ava Rose Clarke 1 00:20:59
Crusaders AC runners
2 Ross Neill 00:18:03
4 Stephen Hurley 00:19:16
10 Cathal O’Hara 00:20:01
11 Tom Gleeson 00:20:04
36 Michael Fitzsimons 00:23:04
39 Sharon Woods 00:23:07 (4)
51 Russell Murphy 00:24:00
73 Josie Ward 00:25:09 (14)
74 Kevin Kenny 00:25:09
123 Aisling O’Riordan 00:28:02 (38)
154 Una McCullagh 00:30:00 (57)
195 Cynthia Perucca 00:33:42 (91)
201 Faeed Faeedi 00:34:58
208 Mari Hansen 00:36:50 (100)
Shanganagh Parkrun (230)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Bobby More 1 00:17:46
10 Holly O’Brien 1 00:18:45
Crusaders AC runners
122 Carina Davidson 00:27:42 (27)
156 Orlaith de Burca 00:29:37 (48)
St. Anne’s Parkrun (540)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Niall Simmonds 1 00:17:24
19 Simone Young-Alls 1 00:20:01
Crusaders AC runner
18 Michael Judge 00:20:00
Fairview Parkrun (202)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Francesco Hua Huang 1 00:19:38
12 Natasha Pointon 1 00:21:38
Crusaders AC runner
38 Andy Deuser 00:23:33
45 Hannah Jones 00:24:23 (6)
Victoria Park, Belfast Parkrun (245)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Paul Attley 1 00:16:39
26 Jennifer Black 1 00:20:20
Crusaders AC runner
160 Mairead Cashman 00:28:40 (38)
River Valley Parkrun (97)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 S Jenkinson 1 00:18:45
7 Cecile Ollagnier 1 00:21:59
Crusaders AC runner
64 Darina Scully 00:32:18 (19)
University of Galway Parkrun (96)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Eugene Feely 1 00:17:53
9 Kelsi Johnston 1 00:22:30
Crusaders AC runner
22 Olwyn Dunne 00:24:54
Malahide Parkrun (332)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Niall Baragwanath 1 00:18:30
4 Annette Kealy 1 00:19:05
Crusaders AC runner
39 Dee Ni Chearbhaill 00:22:01 (5)
Tolka Valley Parkrun (64)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Robert Mackey 1 00:18:57
13 Claire Gilligan 1 00:24:37
Crusaders AC runner
7 Felipe de Sousa 00:21:41
Marlay Parkrun (517)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 August Benedicto 1 00:17:43
17 Chloe Hartley-Green 1 00:19:51
Crusaders AC runner
23 David Long 00:20:05
Tramore Valley, Cork Parkrun (142)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Conrad Watt 1 00:17:05
10 Daniela Wright 1 00:21:08
Crusaders AC runners
4 Toby Benham 00:19:29
23 Louise O’Riordan 00:22:52 (2)
Brickfields Parkrun (103)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Richard Henderson 1 00:17:59
2 Emily McNicol 1 00:19:10
Crusaders AC runners
8 Nina Holmes 00:20:39 (2)
43 Caroline Crowley 00:26:50 (11)
98 Eoghan Corrigan 00:51:21
Cabinteely Parkrun (172)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Sean Terek 1 00:19:13
7 Phillippa Lloyd 1 00:21:40
Crusaders AC runner
135 Máirín Shine 00:33:44 (45)
Porterstown Parkrun (101)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Thomas Sherlock 1 00:17:10
22 Joanne Bruen 1 0:26:03
Crusaders AC runner
77 Kevin Flynn 00:38:04
Templemore Parkrun (85)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Alex Crowley 1 00:17:44
4 Eileen McCullagh 1 00:20:13
Crusaders AC runner
23 Serena Moloney 00:24:13 (2)
Coole Parkrun (54)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Michael McEnery 1 00:20:31
10 Cait McLoughlin 1 00:25:08
Crusaders AC runners
27 Áine Crotty 00:29:41 (7)
28 Cian Coughlan 00:29:42
Illaunmanagh Parkrun (72)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Christopher Hamilton 1 00:19:23
20 Barbara Gill 1 00:22:36
Crusaders AC runner
49 Maureen McGinley 00:30:01 (14)