Life in the Fast Lane

12/10/2025

L-R: Donatas Jocius, Oisin Browne, Jan Manschot, David O'Donnell, Henry Griffin, Pablo Monteagudo Lago, Kevin Darcy, Tim O'Donnell, Stephen Hurley, Alex Ainsworth, Eddie Nugent

This weekend marked the beginning of cross-country competition for athletics clubs based in Dublin, with the Co. Dublin Novice XC Championships which were held on Sunday afternoon in the Phoenix Park on a familiar course that took in a lot of the flat on the east side of the Acres near the Magazine Fort, but also rounding the tree copses to the west of the Khyber Pass. There may have been a slight difference this year, in that the final turn of the 1500m loop appeared to be wider and shallower than the usual tightness against the edge of the trees in previous races. It led to a slightly easier, but nonetheless challenging, climb, which runners in the women’s 4k race had to ascend twice (following a loop of 1000m) and the men had to negotiate 4 times in their 6k race.

In quite benign conditions, with little wind and on firm ground, the women’s race came first with a field of 72 runners, among them 4 Crusaders, with 3 to score. Sarah Lyons had a strong and steady run placing well in 11th in a time of 15:21, just around 50 seconds behind the race winner from Rathfarnham. Tessa O’Neill was next in 18th place in 15:44, having enjoyed a stormer of a race, continuously working her way through the field to the very end. Darina Scully was next, in 66th place with a time of 19:10 and the contingent was completed by Michelle English who placed 70th in 21:48. The women’s team placed 7th overall.

There was a runaway winner in the men’s race, in Mahad-Mohamed Egaal, leading a well-packed Clonliffe team to the gold medal. With 4 to score, they had 6 of their 17 runners among the top 12 finishers. Nevertheless, our 11-man team acquitted itself well, placing 5th and only 4 points off a team bronze medal.

Newcomer Pablo Monteagudo Lago enjoyed a strong finish just pipping Alex Ainsworth, who had led the contingent for most of the race, at the line placing 11th in 19:49, with Alex placing 13th in 19:50. Henry Griffin and Stephen Hurley also enjoyed a good dogfight, with Henry placing 29th in 20:45 and Stephen finishing in 30th place 1 second behind in 20:46. Further back came Donatas Jocius, also with a steady race (47th in 21:32) and he was followed by Jan Manschot (60th in 22:05), Kevin Darcy (95th in 23:24), just ahead of Eddie Nugent (97th in 23:32). A little further back came Oisin Browne, running his first XC race (107th in 24:13), and he was followed by Tim O’Donnell (116th in 24:46) and David O’Donnell (123rd in 25:33).

So, no medals on the day, but a commendable and sterling effort by our athletes!

Also, over the weekend, we had two athletes compete on the island of Madeira, this year's staging of EMACS, the European Masters Athletics Championships. Gary Park ran in the 3000m steeplechase in the M50 category, placing 13th in the final with a new Irish national record for the category of 11:32.07. Then Karl Fitzmaurice qualified for the 1500m final from the 2nd of three semi-final heats, also in the M50 category. In the semis he ran a season's best of 4:32.48 for 7th place, finishing 11th in the final in a time of 4:36.46. Many congrats to both athletes.

There was little going on in the road racing scene around Dublin this weekend. The re-scheduled Fastlane series of races took place on Saturday morning, but little else of note. We appeared to have one runner in each of the half marathon and the 10k conducted on a relatively flat course around the Grange Castle Business Park and on the Grand Canal towpath. In the half, with a field of 477, Marta Dobric placed 126th and 24th in 1:50:30, whilst, in the 10k, Felipe De Sousa joined a field of 353, where he placed 13th in a great time of 39:01.

Further afield, we had 5 runners in the Chicago marathon which was run this year in mild conditions (around 15-18 degrees) and with a breeze of around 14kph. Sebastian Hansen was our first athlete home, in a super PB time of 2:37:10 and recording a positive split of around 3 minutes. Ciarain Kelly was next, with around a 2 minutes positive split, in a time of 2:45:49 and he was followed by one of our London-based exiles, Kate O’Malley, who ran a PB time of 2:55:21 (again a positive split of around 2 minutes). Another runner with a similar split differential was Gerard White who was next in 2:56:54 and he was followed by Luke Clarke who ran a respectable 3:14:10. The contingent was completed by Kevin Kenny who ran his umpteenth marathon this year in 4:07:40.

Closer to home, but abroad nonetheless, our Swiss-based exile Lukasz Batruch ran in the Munich marathon which he completed in 2:58:13, whilst Anna Hoesl, who is now back in Germany, ran in the 10k there, finishing it in 42:39. Earlier in the week, one of our London-based exiles, Conor Parle, ran in the first race of the Chingford 5k league, which he completed in 22:49.

Donatas Jocius warmed up for the Dublin Novices with a race on Friday night in the Wicklow mountains, an 11k Night Challenge organised by IMRA, involving a climb of around 450m on open mountain side around Djouce and alongside Ballinastoe Wood. In the field of 77, Donatas placed 2nd in a time of 59:46.

The weather was much kinder for parkrunning this weekend and the number of participants, particularly in the Dublin area, was significantly increased as a consequence.

Indeed, we had a good few running on Saturday morning, with several podium results. Dee Lawlor led home the field of 172 in Cabinteely in a time of 18:46 and he was followed by Aitor Arribas Velasco (62nd in 27:27). Annie Hughes placed 20th overall and 1st female finisher in a time of 19:48 in the 475-strong field in St. Anne’s. Annie was preceded by Rob Cross (4th in 17:33) and followed across the line by Fiona Bane (99th and 13th in 23:21) and by Paul F. Kelly (211th in 26:56). In Marlay Park, Aoife Quigley placed 11th and 1st alongside 486 other runners and in a time of 20:17, followed by Kate Murray (75th and 7th in 23:37), whilst Kev Moore took 3rd spot in 19:17 in the 150-strong field in Limerick.

In the Shanganagh parkrun where Carina Davidson marked her 150th parkrun, Aoife McCarthy placed 35th and 2nd in a time of 22:49. Running in a field of 248, Aoife was followed by Carina (156th and 46th in 29:06) who ran alongside Darina Scully (157th and 47th in the same time) and Fiona Shine (158th and 48th in 29:07). Then came Orlaith de Burca (171st and 55th in 30:18), just ahead of Lisa Shine (172nd and 56th in 30:21) and Máirín Shine (173rd and 57th in 30:22).

In Tullow, Laura O’Malley joined 86 other runners, placing 29th and 5th in 25:01, whilst, in Fairview, Hannah Jones ran with 128 other participants, where she placed 71st and 14th in 29:13.

As usual, our largest turnout was in Poolbeg. In a field of 219, Ross Neill took 9th spot in 19:28, followed by Stephen Hurley (13th in 19:44), Piarais Neary (22nd in 20:21), Kenan Furlong (26th in 20:28), Dale Whelehan (43rd in 22:29), Kabir Sala (55th in 23:15), just ahead of Josie Ward (56th and 5th in 23:17). Charles Cartledge was next (60th in 23:42) and he was followed by Tanja Narancic (69th and 7th in 24:34), Juliane Frydenlund (85th and 14th in 25:48), John Corish (97th in 26:16), Djinn Von Noorden (108th and 26th in 26:55), Fanny Trébouet (139th and 43rd in 28:47), Maureen McGinley (166th and 63rd in 31:05), Mari Hansen (173rd and 68th in 31:28) and Cynthia Perucca (176th and 71st in 32:06).

Hannah Jones was our lone runner in Fairview, where, alongside 128 other runners, she placed 71st and 14th in 29:13, whilst, similarly, in Ballincollig, Helena O’Keeffe joined a field of 325 where she placed 127th and 25th in 27:37. Martina White ran in the 118-strong field in Porterstown where she took 77th and 30th spots in 30:41, whilst, in Tolka Valley, Maria Pertl ran 40:32 for 42nd and 16th places. The field measured 48. Lorraine McMahon placed 62nd and 14th in 28:32 in the Midleton Greenway parkrun with its field of 121, whilst Mairead Cashman headed to the north east of England to run the Jesmond Dene parkrun in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, placing 208th and 60th in the field of 274 and in a time of 34:03. Also, in the UK, Aidan Hudner ran once again in Pollok in Glasgow where, in a field of 416, he placed 44th in 23:24, whilst John Reidy ran in Perth where he placed 37th in 21:33 in a field of 331.

Dublin Novices XC Championships, women’s 4k (72)
Overall place Name Guntime
1 Edel McCreery 00:14:28
Crusaders AC runners
11 Sarah Lyons 00:15:21
18 Tessa O’Neill 00:15:44
66 Darina Scully 00:19:10
70 Michelle English 00:21:48
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/dublin_novice_xc_/5909/details
Dublin Novices XC Championships, men’s 6k (130)
Overall place Name Guntime
1 Mahad-Mohamed Egaal 00:18:15
Crusaders AC runners
11 Pablo Monteagudo Lago 00:19:49
13 Alex Ainsworth 00:19:50
29 Henry Griffin 00:20:45
30 Stephen Hurley 00:20:46
47 Donatas Jocius 00:21:32
60 Jan Manschot 00:22:05
95 Kevin Darcy 00:23:24
97 Eddie Nugent 00:23:32
107 Oisin Browne 00:24:13
116 Tim O’Donnell 00:24:46
123 David O’Donnell 00:25:33
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/dublin_novice_xc_/5909/details
Fastlane Half Marathon (477)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Andrew McMahon 1 01:22:52
11 Deirdre Lyons 1 01:28:50
Crusaders AC runner
126 Marta Dobric 01:50:30 (24)
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/lifestyle_sports_fastlane_3_4_half_marathon__10k_autumn_edition/5834/results
Fastlane 10k (353)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Munichnyam Aldarbayart 1 00:35:36
Crusaders AC runner
13 Felipe De Sousa 00:39:01
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/lifestyle_sports_fastlane_3_4_half_marathon__10k_autumn_edition/5834/results
IMRA Night Challenge 11k (77)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Rob Tobin 1 00:56:06
13 Niamh Murphy 1 01:09:02
Crusaders AC runner
2 Donatas Jocius 00:59:46
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2703/category/O/
St. Anne’s Parkrun (475)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Dylan O’Brien 1 00:17:13
20 Annie Hughes 1 00:19:48
Crusaders AC runners
4 Rob Cross 00:17:33
20 Annie Hughes 00:19:48 (1)
99 Fiona Bane 00:23:21 (13)
211 Paul F. Kelly 00:26:56
Porterstown Parkrun (118)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Finlay Zanna 1 00:17:30
8 Joan O’Callaghan 1 00:21:41
Crusaders AC runner
77 Martina White 00:30:41 (30)
Tullow Parkrun (87)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Rory Nolan 1 00:20:38
13 Breda Monahan 1 00:23:16
Crusaders AC runner
29 Laura O’Malley 00:25:01 (5)
Poolbeg Parkrun (219)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Jonathan Girvan 1 00:17:51
30 Ava Rose Clarke 1 00:21:01
Crusaders AC runners
9 Ross Neill 00:19:28
13 Stephen Hurley 00:19:44
22 Piarais Neary 00:20:21
26 Kenan Furlong 00:20:28
43 Dale Whelehan 00:22:29
55 Kabir Sala 00:23:15
56 Josie Ward 00:23:17 (5)
60 Charles Cartledge 00:23:42
69 Tanja Narancic 00:24:34 (7)
85 Juliane Frydenlund 00:25:48 (14)
97 John Corish 00:26:16
108 Djinn Von Noorden 00:26:55 (26)
139 Fanny Trébouet 00:28:47 (43)
166 Maureen McGinley 00:31:05 (63)
173 Mari Hansen 00:31:05 (68)
176 Cynthia Perucca 00:32:06 (71)
Shanganagh Parkrun (248)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Alex Twomey 1 00:15:49
14 Emily Kane 1 00:20:05
Crusaders AC runners
35 Aoife McCarthy 00:22:49 (2)
156 Carina Davidson 00:29:06 (46)
157 Darina Scully 00:29:06 (47)
158 Fiona Shine 00:29:07 (48)
171 Orlaith de Burca 00:30:18 (55)
172 Lisa Shine 00:30:21 (56)
173 Máirín Shine 00:30:22 (57)
Ballincollig Parkrun (325)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Billy Moriarty 1 00:18:23
14 Aisling Long 1 00:20:45
Crusaders AC runner
127 Helena O’Keeffe 00:27:37 (25)
Fairview Parkrun (129)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Conor Lewis 1 00:18:58
32 Vanessa Carron 1 00:25:12
Crusaders AC runner
71 Hannah Jones 00:29:13 (14)
Cabinteely Parkrun (172)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Derek Lawlor 1 00:18:46
10 Heather Walden 1 00:21:35
Crusaders AC runner
62 Aitor Arribas Velasco 00:27:27
Limerick Parkrun (150)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Martin Horan 1 00:18:20
5 Pamela Kirby 1 00:19:26
Crusaders AC runner
3 Kev Moore 00:19:17
Tolka Valley Parkrun (48)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Mark O’Connor 1 00:19:01
8 Laura Mulhair 1 00:23:04
Crusaders AC runner
42 Maria Pertl 00:40:32 (16)
Marlay Parkrun (487)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 David Moore 1 00:17:44
11 Aoife Quigley 1 00:20:17
Crusaders AC runners
11 Aoife Quigley 00:20:17 (1)
75 Kate Murray 00:23:37 (7)
Midleton Greenway Parkrun (121)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Barry Twohig 1 00:15:32
17 Nicola Comer 1 00:22:26
Crusaders AC runner
62 Lorraine McMahon 00:28:32 (14)