Mass Running over Easter

21/4/2025

Liam O'Brien and Paula Bradshaw

The report starts on Thursday evening with the latest race in the Peugeot Race Series, the Streets of Kilkenny 5k. On a fast 2-lap course, there were nearly 900 in the race, with 40 runners crossing the line under 16 minutes and nearly one third finishing under 20 minutes. We had 3 runners in the event and they were led home by Alex Ainsworth with a controlled run to place 71st in a time of 16:41. Brian Regan was next (79th in 16:52) with Henry Griffin close behind (86th in 16:58).

Then, on Saturday morning we had another 3 runners in the challenging Hardman Valentia Half Marathon. The race involved a climb of 130m over the first 5k having started on the coast. After traversing almost the entire length of the island, the race descended from 10k through 15k to a flat finish just beyond the start line to complete the loop. On a trip back to Ireland, one of our exiles in Australia, Maurice Kelter, shaking off jet lag with participation in the race, went on to win it with a 2:30 minutes cushion in a time of 74:53. Tom Gleeson was next in the field of 315, placing 38th in 99:09, followed by Daniel Gleeson (99th in 1:47:35).

Seven more races with Crusaders participation on Monday, bookended by the Battle of Clontarf 10-miler and, finally, the 129th running of the Boston Marathon in Massachusetts on Patriots Day. We had at least 10 runners in each of them too.

The Battle of Clontarf, incorporating the Leinster Championships, took place as usual entirely within the confines of St. Anne’s Park in Raheny. By necessity it is a twisting course with a couple of out-and backs as well as a repeat of a hill at around 3.5 and 7.5 miles. It is not really a PB course, as a consequence. Nevertheless, apart from the hill, the course is otherwise quite flat. It was also conducted in conditions that seemed fine for distance road racing without much wind to speak of and otherwise dry. The field measured 362 finishers.

In a race won convincingly by two veterans, Sean Hehir and Fiona Roche, late entrant Stephen Hurley led our contingent home in 18th place in a time of 59:13 (also becoming the 2nd scorer in the County Dublin gold-winning O/35 men’s team). Stephen was followed by Yvonne Macauley who held on well for 49th place overall and 5th female to cross the finish line in a time of 65:23. Yvonne was also 2nd scorer on the gold-winning Co. Dublin senior women’s team as well as taking gold in the F35 age category. Aoife Quigley was next, placing 90th and 10th, in 69:15, earning silver in the F40 age category as the podium winners were all F40s. Aoife was also a scorer on the Co. Dublin gold-winning senior women’s team. She was followed across the line by Nina Holmes (103rd and 15th in 70:28), who also took bronze in the F40 category. Nina was also second scorer on the gold-winning Co. Dublin O/35 women’s team. Most importantly, even though they are masters athletes, Yvonne, Aoife and Nina won for Crusaders the senior women’s silver medal (behind Raheny and ahead of Tullamore in a 10-team contest).

Adding to our medal haul, Olwyn Dunne crossed the line in 76:35 for 164th and 35th places, winning the bronze medal in the F55 age category and also scoring on the Co. Dublin gold-winning O/50 women’s team.

Robbie Moore followed Olwyn home in 168th place in a time of 76:40 and he was followed by Dee Ni Chearbhaill (178th and 40th in 77:43, Emily Glen (202nd overall, 52nd female finisher, 4th F35 and individual bronze medallist in the F35 age category in 79:54), Brendan Glynn (259th in 85:50), Kevin Kenny (274th in 87:57) and Lisa Branigan in a loosener before she takes part in the Madrid marathon next weekend (304th and 104th in 91:35). Peter Rosenshine also ran on Sunday morning, but his chiptime and place were not recorded.

There was another 10-mile race on Monday morning, over in Kinsale where we had just one competitor. Paula Nolan placed 432nd and 117th in the 803-strong field in a time of 88:21.

Over in Sligo, Ross Neill appears to have overcome Achilles difficulties with a storming run in the Carney Half marathon, where, in a field of 225, he placed 5th in 79:37.

Then, down in Rosslare, we had several runners, holidaying in the region, take part in the two races on offer on Easter Monday. Gary Park finished in 8th spot alongside a field of 233 with a time of 19:56 in the 5k race, followed by Anna Shine (131st and 64th in 31:48), whilst we had at least 5 runners in the 10k with its field of 275. On a last-minute whim, Eugene McDonough decided to run the race, despite enjoying a few glasses the night before, and still managed to place 6th in a time of 38:45. Fiona Shine ran well for 78th and 8th in 48:48, followed by Emer Kenny (107th and 16th in 50:58. John Corish was next (115th in 51:39) and he was followed by Lisa Shine (180th and 43rd in 56:26). Máirín Shine also ran. However her result of just over the hour was not recorded.

Kevin Lambe ran in the Moynalty 4-miler, where, in a field of 390, he placed 117th in 31:30.

Conditions in Boston Mass. were, in general, quite good. Although there was a headwind developing over the course of the race it would have been more likely a help than a hindrance in keeping athletes relatively cool in warm temperatures of around 13-14 degrees Celsius. Wind direction is quite important on a point-to-point course such as Boston as runners head from Hopkinton in the west to downtown Boston in the east.

The net downhill course is nevertheless extremely challenging, with a largely downhill first half, but with several hills, even in the last 5k, in the second half (runners noticeably slowing generally in the 5k after 30k). Kevin Fitzgibbon did well to pace the race evenly, finishing in a great time of 2:49:21, knowing also that he would be heading to London next weekend for the marathon there. Ger Forde, whose training had been a little truncated, also maintained a good degree of self-discipline, finishing in 2:55:54 despite a stitch towards the end. Ger was followed by Derek Boland who recovered well towards the end to finish in 2:57:10. Next came Maeve Lochrie in 3:24:51 followed by Mags Foley running 3:26:35 and Carolyn O’Reilly in 3:42:42. They were followed by Liam O'Brien in 3:44:50, earning his 6-majors medal, and Kate Murray in 4:04:34. Finally, Paula Bradshaw, whose preparation for the marathon can hardly have been harder with an injury that has refused to go away, more than just survived and completed the challenge in a highly creditable 4:21:12, despite having her calf popping with 5k to go.

Despite the poor weather on the East coast over the Easter weekend, Crusaders were out in droves in the parkruns, although Dublin-based events were about half their normal size, benefiting those further afield, as runners took their breaks in the country.

We had several first finishers and podium places around the country on Saturday morning. In Kilcock on the Royal Canal, Ciarain Kelly led the field of 177 home in a time of 17:05, whilst in the 52-strong field in the Tubbercurry Trail parkrun, Ciara Regan also headed the field outright in 22:07. Dee Lawlor was a first finisher again in Cabinteely, where, in a field of 104, he ran 19:26, whilst Luke Clarke headed the depleted field of 133 home in Poolbeg, where he ran 19:24.

Kev Moore placed 3rd in Poolbeg in 20:19 and the 16 other Crusaders who ran were Mary Donnelly (14th and 2nd in 21:45), Josie Ward (18th and 3rd with an exceptional 22:26), John Lohan (20th in 22:52), Kabir Sala (23rd in 23:12), Mikel Crisostomo (27th in 23:35), Sharon Woods (29th and 5th in 23:47), Aoife McCarthy (37th and 7th in 24:43), Bo Chicoine (40th in 25:06), Tanja Narancic (49th and 14th in 25:54), Russell Murphy (50th in 25:57), Olwyn Dunne (52nd and 15th in 26:04), Aisling O’Riordan (63rd and 20th 27:27), Franky Keane (90th in 29:35), Michelle English (93rd and 37th in 29:50), Kevin Kenny (95th in 30:03) and Maureen McGinley (97th and 39th in 30:55).

Thomas Vogée headed down to Inch Beach for the weekend, running in the parkrun there alongside 54 other runners, placing 2nd in 19:30, whilst, in Porch Field in Trim, Eugene O’Neill joined a field of the same size, where he placed 2nd in 19:06. Peter O’Toole placed 2nd in 19:13 in a field of 103 in Fairview, whilst James Sherry also placed 2nd in 19:40 in the 110-strong field in Monaghan Town. Ivan Kinehan was our lone runner in St. Anne’s, where, in a field of 291, he also placed 2nd in 17:25, whilst Daniel Lowe improved his time in Bushy Park, placing 3rd in 20:33 in a field of 109.

Up north, Ross Neill took on Orangefield in Belfast where he placed 8th in 20:27 in a field of 96, whilst Michael O’Conor ran in Wallace Park, Lisburn, where, in a field of 202, he placed 4th in 18:04.

Elsewhere, John O’Donnell took 4th spot in the 97-strong field in Claremorris, finishing in a time of 21:00, whilst Karl Walsh also placed 4th in 18:40 in Naas. Karl was followed home in the field of 156 by Martina White who placed 132nd and 43rd in 33:50, whilst Darina Scully joined 108 other participants in Gorey, running 26:35 for 47th and 13th places. Maria Pertl ran alongside 34 other runners in Tolka Valley Park, where she placed 22nd and 7th in 30:41, whilst Killian Barry was our sole runner in Marlay Park, where, in a field of 338, he placed 12th in 19:09.

In the Midleton Greenway parkrun with 143 runners, Ronan Walsh placed 32nd in 23:13 with Barry O’Neill following behind in 53rd place in a time of 24:56. Holidaying down in Co. Wexford, Lisa and Máirín Shine took part in the Wexford Racecourse parkrun once again, with Lisa placing 69th and 27th in 31:43 alongside Máirín who placed 70th and 28th in 31:44 in the field of 99. Meanwhile, Paul F. Kelly placed 44th in 26:35 in the 194-strong field in Poppintree.

Taking advantage of their trip to Boston, Paula and James Bradshaw ran in the parkrun at Jamaica Pond, where, in a field of 645, James placed 209th in 25:08 and Paula ran 30:53 for 431st and 159th spots. John Reidy ran in Perth in Scotland where, in a field of 354, he placed 68th in 22:57, whilst in Centennial Park in Sydney, one of our exiles there, Deirdre Kennedy, ran 28:28 for 265th place overall in a field of 456.

Battle of Clontarf 10-miler (Leinster Championships) (362)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Sean Hehir 1 00:54:53
22 Fiona Roche 1 01:00:02
Crusaders AC runners
49 Yvonne Macauley 01:05:23 (5)
90 Aoife Quigley 01:09:15 (10)
103 Nina Holmes 01:10:28 (15)
164 Olwyn Dunne 01:16:35 (35)
168 Robbie Moore 01:16:40
178 Deirdre Ni Chearbhaill 01:17:43 (40)
202 Emily Glen 01:19:54 (52)
259 Brendan Glynn 01:25:50
274 Kevin Kenny 01:27:57
304 Lisa Branigan 01:31:35 (104)
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/battle_of_clontarf_10_mile_leinster_championships/5647/club-team-results?runnerClass=10%20mile&type=Team6&category=F&categoryType=Category
Kinsale 10-miler (803)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Ryan Creech 1 00:49:16
22 Catherine Murphy 1 01:03:30
Crusaders AC runner
432 Paula Nolan 01:28:21 (117)
Full results here: https://www.popupraces.ie/race/kinsale-10mile-road-race-2025/
Rosslare 5k (233)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Jack Butler 1 00:16:48
10 Annaleigh Kehoe 1 00:20:16
Crusaders AC runners
8 Gary Park 00:19:56
131 Anna Shine 00:31:48 (64)
Full results here: https://redtagtiming.com/results/Rosslare2025_5km.pdf
Rosslare 10k (275)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Brendan Dunne 1 00:34:55
12 Nicola Moorehouse 1 00:40:00
Crusaders AC runners
6 Eugene McDonough 00:38:45
78 Fiona Shine 00:48:48 (8)
107 Emer Kenny 00:50:58 (16)
115 John Corish 00:51:39
180 Lisa Shine 00:56:26 (43)
XXX Máirín Shine 01:00:07 (XX)
Full results here: https://redtagtiming.com/results/Rosslare2025_10km.pdf
Carney/Sligo Half Marathon (225)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Brian Kinsella 1 01:15:51
12 Aela Stewart 1 01:25:51
Crusaders AC runner
5 Ross Neill 01:19:37
Full results here: https://coretiming.ie/events/carney-10km-and-half-marathon25/#1_876FAE
Hardman Valentia Half Marathon (315)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Maurice Kelter 1 01:14:53
9 Aisling Mohan 1 01:28:08
Crusaders AC runners
1 Maurice Kelter 01:14:53
38 Tom Gleeson 01:39:09
99 Daniel Gleeson 01:47:35
Full results here: https://my.raceresult.com/335921/
Moynalty AC 4-miler (390)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Peter Somba 1 00:20:42
13 Rachel Birt 1 00:23:50
Crusaders AC runner
117 Kevin Lambe 00:31:30
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/moynalty_ac_m4m_4_mile_road_race/5545/results
Tubbercurry Trail Parkrun (52)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ciara Regan 1 00:22:07
3 Francis Mannion 1 00:22:52
Crusaders AC runner
1 Ciara Regan 00:22:07 (1)
Tolka Valley Parkrun (35)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Paddy Murphy 1 00:18:33
10 Aleksandra Sobota 1 00:23:41
Crusaders AC runner
22 Maria Pertl 00:30:41 (7)
Monaghan Town Parkrun (110)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Damien McCaffrey 1 00:19:14
13 Judith Nixon 1 00:22:30
Crusaders AC runner
2 James Sherry 00:19:40
Fairview Parkrun (103)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Adam Tango Holland 1 00:17:10
15 Sophie Barc 1 00:23:36
Crusaders AC runner
2 Peter O’Toole 00:19:13
Poolbeg Parkrun (133)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Luke Clarke 1 00:19:24
6 Ava Rose Clarke 1 00:20:53
Crusaders AC runners
1 Luke Clarke 00:19:24
3 Kev Moore 00:20:19
14 Mary Donnelly 00:21:45 (2)
18 Josie Ward 00:22:26 (3)
20 John Lohan 00:22:52
23 Kabir Sala 00:23:12
27 Mikel Crisostomo 00:23:35
29 Sharon Woods 00:23:47 (5)
37 Aoife McCarthy 00:24:43 (7)
40 Bo Chicoine 00:25:06
49 Tanja Narancic 00:25:54 (14)
50 Russell Murphy 00:25:57
52 Olwyn Dunne 00:26:04 (15)
63 Aisling O’Riordan 00:27:27 (20)
90 Franky Keane 00:29:35
93 Michelle English 00:29:50 (37)
95 Kevin Kenny 00:30:03
97 Maureen McGinley 00:30:55 (39)
Porch Field Parkrun (55)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ernest Asensio Blasco 1 00:17:56
11 Amy-May O’Neill 1 00:21:18
Crusaders AC runner
2 Eugene O’Neill 00:19:06
Royal Canal, Kilcock Parkrun (177)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ciarain Kelly 1 00:17:05
6 Sinead O’Reilly 1 00:18:56
Crusaders AC runner
1 Ciarain Kelly 00:17:05
Bushy Parkrun (109)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Cian Buckley 1 00:18:45
14 Christine Kinsella 1 00:22:53
Crusaders AC runner
3 Daniel Lowe 00:20:33
St. Anne’s Parkrun (291)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Anthony Sharkey 1 00:17:13
33 Ali Kinehan 1 00:21:55
Crusaders AC runner
2 Ivan Kinehan 00:17:25
Wexford Racecourse Parkrun (99)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Anthony Dowd 1 00:18:46
5 Annaleigh Hore 1 00:20:53
Crusaders AC runners
69 Lisa Shine 00:31:43 (27)
70 Máirín Shine 00:31:44 (28)
Cabinteely Parkrun (104)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Derek Lawlor 1 00:19:26
6 Lara Woods 1 00:22:43
Crusaders AC runner
1 Derek Lawlor 00:19:26
Orangefield Parkrun (96)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Andrew McIntyre 1 00:18:29
11 Anne Moore 1 00:21:40
Crusaders AC runner
8 Ross Neill 00:20:27
Midleton Greenway Parkrun (143)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Barry Walsh 1 00:17:49
9 Mary Duckett 1 00:19:48
Crusaders AC runners
32 Ronan Walsh 00:23:13
53 Barry O’Neill 00:24:56
Inch Beach Parkrun (55)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Juraj Skupnjak 1 00:19:12
9 Shannon McAuley 1 00:24:17
Crusaders AC runner
2 Thomas Vogée 00:19:30
Poppintree Parkrun (194)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Mark O’Connor 1 00:19:08
29 Christine O’Connor 1 00:23:52
Crusaders AC runner
44 Paul F. Kelly 00:26:35
Gorey Parkrun (109)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Paul O’Beirne 1 00:17:51
5 Donna Mahon 1 00:21:28
Crusaders AC runner
47 Darina Scully 00:26:35 (13)
Claremorris Parkrun (97)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Neil Campbell 1 00:19:43
3 Olivia Duffy 1 00:20:47
Crusaders AC runner
4 John O’Donnell 00:21:00
Wallace, Lisburn Parkrun (202)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Thomas Coy 1 00:17:00
10 Faye Morgan 1 00:20:09
Crusaders AC runner
4 Michael O’Conor 00:18:04
Marlay Parkrun (338)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Andrew Gillart 1 00:17:06
13 Lauren O’Sullivan 1 00:19:13
Crusaders AC runner
12 Killian Barry 00:19:09
Naas Parkrun (156)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Darren O’Sullivan 1 00:18:24
5 Iris McCartan 1 00:19:10
Crusaders AC runners
4 Karl Walsh 00:18:40
132 Martina White 00:33:50 (43)