Leaning towards Christmas

Mairead Cashman

It should come as no surprise that, with there being few races on offer in Ireland now this side of Christmas, this short report is almost exclusively focused on parkruns around the country and elsewhere. Indeed, our members seemed to be out in force on Saturday morning and, as usual, several featured on the podiums. Clearly, numbers were up generally around the country in mostly ideal running conditions.

There was, however, at least one race event outside Ireland in which a Crusader featured. Aitor Arribas Velasco ran in the Pisa Half marathon on Sunday morning, recording a chiptime of 1:57:18. Conditions looked great for running.

Back to park-running, and we had at least 6 first finishers on the day. Ciarain Kelly headed a field of 85 in Vicarstown where he recorded a time of 17:09, with Dale Whelehan following behind in 8th place in 22:06. Dee Lawlor crossed the line ahead of 127 other runners in Cabinteely in a time of 18:27, whilst Darina Scully took the opportunity of a trip to Finland to run in the Puolarmaari parkrun there, placing 10th and first finisher in 27:37 in a field of 25. Saoirse McGrath ran once again in Marlay Park where, in a field of 477, she placed 12th and 1st in a time of 18:32, followed by Killian Barry who took 21st spot in 19:51. Meanwhile, Aine Kenny placed 5th and 1st in the 27-strong field in Mountbellew Forest in a time of 23:30. Naturally, we had a first finisher once again in Poolbeg from the contingent of at least 20 Crusaders who took part in a field of 169. Ella Quinn placed 6th and 1st in 19:33, preceded by Kenan Furlong (2nd in 17:58), followed closely by Ciara Regan (7th and 2nd female finisher in 19:41), and then by Adrian Groarke (18th in 20:45), Luke Corcoran (20th in 20:57), just ahead of Ross Neill and Kevin Kavanagh (21st and 22nd in the same time of 20:58), Cría Dowling (31st and 6th in 22:05), Joanne Carey (32nd and 7th in 22:07), John Lohan (35th in 22:58), Lisa Branigan (39th and 8th in 23:12), Paul Campbell (41st in 23:21), Josie Ward (49th and 10th in 23:46), Fiona Bane (56th and 13th in 24:15), Franky Keane (81st in 26:15), Maureen McGinley (109th and 41st in 29:38), Cynthia Perucca (132nd and 56th in 32:33) and Niamh Trihy (142nd and 64th in 34:58), with Mari Hansen (on her birthday) and Tara Murphy tailwalking.

Karl Walsh took 2nd place in a time of 18:31 in Naas, with its field of 120, whilst Peter O’Toole, along with Paul F. Kelly and Michael Maughan joined 395 other runners in St. Anne’s. Peter placed 3rd in 17:45, followed by Paul (51st in 21:31) and Michael (131st in 25:55).  Máirín, Fiona and Lisa Shine joined 88 other runners in Darndale where Máirín placed 39th and 4th in 30:08, followed by Fiona (40th and 5th in 30:09) and Lisa (41st and 6th in 30:10), whilst Hannah Jones ran in Fairview alongside 128 other participants. Hannah placed 45th and 6th in 25:42, whilst Kevin Lambe also placed 6th in Sligo with its field of 83. Kevin’s time was 20:06. Our Scottish exile, Aidan Hudner, ran in the 309-strong field in Pollok in Glasgow, where he recorded a time of 24:25 for 76th spot, whilst Toby Benham ran in Tramore Valley, Cork, where, in a field of 147, he placed 28th in a time of 22:16. Janet McManus ran with 233 other runners in Shanganagh, placing 98th and 17th in 24:35, whilst, further afield, in Karkarook near Melbourne, Martina White Placed 93rd and 17th in a field of 328 there. Finally, whilst visiting family on the west coast, Mairead Cashman took part in only the third running of the University of Galway parkrun, where, in a field of 92, she placed 69th and 19th in 29:37.
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Poolbeg Parkrun (169)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Matthew McCullagh 1 00:17:35
6 Ella Quinn 1 00:19:33
Crusaders AC runners
2 Kenan Furlong 00:17:58
6 Ella Quinn 00:19:33 (1)
7 Ciara Regan 00:19:41 (2)
18 Adrian Groarke 00:20:45
20 Luke Corcoran 00:20:57
21 Ross Neill 00:20:58
22 Kevin Kavanagh 00:20:58
31 Cría Dowling 00:22:05 (6)
32 Joanne Carey 00:22:07 (7)
35 John Lohan 00:22:58
39 Lisa Branigan 00:23:12 (8)
41 Paul Campbell 00:23:21
49 Josie Ward 00:23:46 (10)
56 Fiona Bane 00:24:15 (13)
81 Franky Keane 00:26:15
109 Maureen McGinley 00:29:38 (41)
132 Cynthia Perucca 00:32:33 (56)
142 Niamh Trihy 00:34:58 (64)
165 Mari Hansen 00:53:27 (75)
168 Tara Murphy 00:53:37 (77)
Shanganagh Parkrun (234)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Nickolas Colyn 1 00:15:35
12 Eleanor Foot 1 00:19:17
Crusaders AC runner
98 Janet McManus 00:24:35 (17)
St. Anne’s Parkrun (398)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Daniel Horgan 1 00:17:10
12 Maire Nic Amhlaoibhe 1 00:18:48
Crusaders AC runners
3 Peter O’Toole 00:17:45
51 Paul F. Kelly 00:21:31
131 Michael Maughan 00:25:55
Mountbellew Forest Parkrun (27)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Gary McDonnell 1 00:21:40
5 Áine Kenny 1 00:23:30
Crusaders AC runner
5 Áine Kenny 00:23:30 (1)
Tramore Valley, Cork Parkrun (57)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Michael Byrne 1 00:17:38
25 Lara Byrne 1 00:21:58
Crusaders AC runner
28 Toby Benham 00:22:16
Darndale Parkrun (91)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 John Lyons 1 00:20:38
14 Annabelle O’Toole 1 00:24:40
Crusaders AC runners
39 Máirín Shine 00:30:08 (4)
40 Fiona Shine 00:30:09 (5)
41 Lisa Shine 00:30:10 (6)
University of Galway Parkrun (92)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Chris Jonker 1 00:16:44
20 Claire O’Sullivan 1 00:23:38
Crusaders AC runner
69 Mairead Cashman 00:29:37 (19)
Fairview Parkrun (129)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Daniel Toal 1 00:18:38
8 Roisin Vance 1 00:21:45
Crusaders AC runner
45 Hannah Jones 00:25:42 (6)
Naas Parkrun (120)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Cian Connolly 1 00:18:25
25 Siobhan O’Sullivan 1 00:23:06
Crusaders AC runner
2 Karl Walsh 00:18:31
Cabinteely Parkrun (128)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Derek Lawlor 1 00:18:27
21 Naoise Ni Bhroin 1 00:22:27
Crusaders AC runner
1 Derek Lawlor 00:18:27
Sligo Parkrun (81)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Oskar Szmyt 1 00:18:20
5 Caroline Coulter 1 00:19:56
Crusaders AC runner
6 Kevin Lambe 00:20:06
Vicarstown Parkrun (85)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ciarain Kelly 1 00:17:09
10 Paula Guinan 1 00:22:54
Crusaders AC runners
1 Ciarain Kelly 00:17:09
8 Dale Whelehan 00:22:06
Marlay Parkrun (477)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 August Benedicto 1 00:17:04
12 Saoirse McGrath 1 00:18:32
Crusaders AC runners
12 Saoirse McGrath 00:18:32 (1)
21 Killian Barry 00:19:51

Aitor Arribas Velasco (with Marta Cuesta)