Necessary Journeys

5/10/2025

L-R standing: Olwyn Dunne, Emily Quinlan, Emily Glen, Ciara Lynch, Mark McGovern, James Bradshaw, Franky Keane, April Dunne, Susan Clarke. Kneeling: Paul Campbell

Several races were cancelled or postponed over the weekend on account of Storm Amy that made its presence known on Friday night and was still going strong on Saturday morning. However, there were a few that were left to take place (notably on Sunday), among them, three of the scheduled ¾ marathons, used by some of those intending to run the Dublin marathon as a way to assist pacing on the big day and, at the other extreme, the Clonliffe Harriers 2-miler, the oldest continuous road race in Ireland since 1891.

At least 24 Crusaders joined the field of more than 1200 in Longwood, Co. Meath on Sunday morning for the roughly 32k Irish ¾ marathon. Conditions were certainly a lot easier than the previous day. However, there was still a decent westerly breeze of around 24kph on the winding course which had around 4 different loops. Hopefully, the effort will not have taken too much out of the runners who will likely now be beginning their three-week taper to the big day over the bank holiday weekend to come.

Our first athlete home was John O’Donnell who completed the distance in 2:18:24 for 80th spot and he was followed by two of our pacers, Kieran Martin and Dee Lawlor, who were keeping to an equivalent pace for a 3-hours finish in the marathon. Kieran ran 2:20:26 for 96th spot, alongside Dee who placed 97th in 2:20:27. Isabella Gyori would have derived enormous confidence from her 2:20:02 result, placing 99th overall and 5th female finisher, as would Ronan Moynihan, David Carter and Ciara Lynch. Ronan placed 137th in 2:26:53, followed by David (150th in 2:29:06), with Ciara placing 169th and 10th in 2:30:21.

Further back came Tara Gavin (209th and 17th in a decent time of 2:34:33) and Tara was followed by Orla O’Flynn (312th and 32nd in 2:43:50) and Emily Quinlan (314th and 33rd in 2:43:33) with Gavan Doherty also running well (318th in 2:44:32), just ahead of Olwyn Dunne (320th and 35th in 2:44:37). Mikel Crisostomo and Paul Campbell were our next two pacers (3h30 equivalent) and they placed, respectively, 337th in 2:45:27, and 356th in 2:45:55.

The next cohort of Crusaders was led home by Diarmuid Finan (415th in 2:45:54), ahead of Phil Sykes (469th in 2:49:09), April Dunne (490th and 66th in 2:54:11), Mark McGovern (495th in 2:54:32), Franky Keane (497th in 2:54:36), Susan Clarke (498th and 68th in 2:54:42), James Bradshaw (500th in 2:54:45) and Emily Glen (513th and 71st in 2:55:40). Our final contributor was Joe Dunne who paced the 4-hour equivalence, placing 747th in 3:09:50.

Another, much smaller 3/4 marathon took place on Sunday in Lifford, Co. Donegal, with one of our members taking part. Ryan Hoey joined a field of 191, where he placed 155th in 3:14:05. Similarly, in Tarmonberry, Co. Roscommon, Áine Kenny took part in a 3/4 marathon there, where she placed 14th overall and 2nd female finisher in a time of 2:27:16 in a field of 210.

The Clonliffe 2-mile road race had a smaller field than perhaps in previous years at around 111. However, there was still plenty of quality. Our first runner home was Fearghal O’Hare (4th in 10:06), followed by Karl Fitzmaurice (13th in 11:32), Ollie McGrath (22nd in 12:19) and Philip Matthews (46th in 13:34).

There are a few results from outside Ireland to be reported. Lorraine McMahon ran in the Wythenshawe Community 5k in Greater Manchester on Sunday, which she completed in 29:18. Valentin Akdim, one of our French exiles, placed 4th in a time of 3h53m in the 41km Trail des Vallées in Argentonnay. Meanwhile, in Spain, on Friday Esther Requena Ferri won a women’s 5.9k street race in Archidona, north of Malaga, in a time of 24:26, whilst she and her partner, Cristian Vilchez Ceballos, ran in a slightly long 10k two days later, around the streets of Nerja, which Cristian completed in a time of 36:36, placing 12th overall and 3rd M35 and Esther took 3rd spot in the women’s race in a time 40:28. The distance was closer to 10.2k.

For the most part, with the impact of Storm Amy, many parkruns were cancelled and among those that passed the green light on the morning, several enjoyed greater numbers as participants from cancelled runs joined those that did take place. Most who took part experienced slower times in the gale force conditions which produced heavy rain and westerly winds in excess of 50kph at that time.

So, we did have a few first finishers among those hardy Crusaders who took part. A day before his pacing exploits in the ¾ marathon, Dee Lawlor led the field of 203 home in Shanganagh in a time of 18:05. He was followed by another runner in the ¾ marathon, John O’Donnell, who took 5th spot in 19:30. John was joined by Saketh Ravuluri (6th in 19:32) ahead of Fiona Shine (134th and 36th in 29:15) alongside Lisa Shine (135th and 37th in 29:16) and ahead of Máirín Shine (168th and 55th in 32:06).

Elsewhere, Aoife Quigley joined a significant contingent of Crusaders who arranged to meet with two of our Cork exiles (Cian Coughlan and Áine Crotty) at the Poolbeg parkrun. Aoife placed 13th and first female finisher in 21:20, behind Conor Kilkenny (11th in 20:31) and ahead of Zlatko Kulic (19th in 22:30) in the smaller than usual field of 163 there. In her first ever parkrun Tilde Martinsen placed 23rd and 5th in 22:52, followed by Kabir Sala (26th in 22:59), Sharon Woods (33rd and 6th in 23:33), David McEvoy (34th in 23:41), running in one of his last events for Crusaders before transferring to Donore, and Aoife McCarthy (36th and 7th in 23:59).

Next came Ryan Preston (41st in 24:14), just ahead of James Cottle (43rd in 24:17) in his first hard outing since a severe foot injury sustained in November 2024, and they were followed by Kenan Furlong (48th in 24:37), Josie Ward (49th and 10th in 24:39), just ahead of Rebecca Fleming (52nd and 11th in 24:55).

Dee Ni Chearbhaill was the next runner across the line (56th in 25:43) and she was followed by Sophia Morgan (75th and 19th in 26:47), Bo Chicoine (76th in 26:53), Olwyn Dunne (80th and 22nd in 27:06), Franky Keane (81st in 27:07), Iseult Ni Chuinneagain (84th and 24th in 27:12), Amy O’Donoghue (99th and 30th in 28:04), Sarah Lyons (120th and given 30:44), Linda Walsh (130th and 48th in 32:31) coming back from injury, with Tara Murphy tailwalking. Arriving late for the gun start, Irene Gorman and Phelim Murray ran strongly but their times and places were not recorded, with Sarah Lyons actually closer to 22 minutes for the distance. It was good to see John Fitzsimons also take part after a long injury lay-off. However, his time was also not recorded.

Rob Cross and Fiona Bane ran in Malahide, with Rob placing 2nd in the 145-strong field in a time of 17:49, followed by Fiona who ran 24:23 for 30th and 6th places. Meanwhile, Darina Scully joined the 75 other runners in River Valley once again, placing 20th and 4th in 25:28, whilst, in Vicarstown, Kev Moore placed 3rd in 19:45 in a field of 101.

Karl Walsh took 4th spot in Naas with its field of 120, Karl running 19:47, whilst, in Poppintree, Paul F. Kelly ran alongside 94 other participants placing 27th in 26:52. Helena O’Keeffe ran with 279 other runners in Ballincollig, where she placed 114th and 21st in 27:24, whilst, in Cabinteely, with its field of 122, Carina Davidson placed 67th and 26th in 31:35.

Further afield, Lorraine McMahon ran in Bramhall, Cheshire. In a field of 280, Lorraine placed 174th and 42nd in 31:28, whilst, in Zeger Plas near Den Haag in the Netherlands, Mairead Cashman placed 44th and 12th in 30:42 in a field of 63. On a trip to Montréal in Canada, Kevin Kenny placed 46th in 27:32 in a field of 97 in the Frédéric Back parkrun there, whilst Barry O’Neill joined 140 other runners in the East Coast parkrun in Singapore where he placed 68th in 27:42. Meanwhile, two of our UK exiles were in action. Toby Benham ran once again in Worthing, where, in a field of 490, he placed 8th in 19:08, whilst Thom Martini joined 773 other runners in Ealing’s Gunnersbury Park, where he placed 64th in 21:46.

Irish ¾ Marathon (1205)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 James Moran 1 01:53:33
42 Fiona Stack 1 02:11:48
Crusaders AC runners
80 John O’Donnell 02:18:24
96 Kieran Martin 02:20:26 (PACER)
97 Derek Lawlor 02:20:27 (PACER)
99 Isabella Gyori 02:20:02 (5)
137 Ronan Moynihan 02:26:53
150 David Carter 02:29:06
169 Ciara Lynch 02:30:21 (10)
209 Tara Gavin 02:34:33 (17)
312 Orla O’Flynn 02:43:50 (32)
314 Emily Quinlan 02:43:23 (33)
318 Gavan Doherty 02:44:32
320 Olwyn Dunne 02:44:37 (35)
337 Mikel Crisostomo 02:45:27 (PACER)
356 Paul Campbell 02:45:55 (PACER)
415 Diarmuid Finan 02:45:54
469 Phil Sykes 02:49:09
490 April Dunne 02:54:11 (66)
495 Mark McGovern 02:54:32
497 Franky Keane 02:54:36
498 Susan Clarke 02:54:42 (68)
500 James Bradshaw 02:54:45
513 Emily Glen 02:55:40 (71)
747 Joe Dunne 03:09:50 (PACER)
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/irish_3_4_marathon_2025/5836/results
Clonliffe 2-miler (111)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Sean Carrigg 1 00:09:56
8 Rachel Murphy 1 00:11:07
Crusaders AC runners
4 Fearghal O’Hare 00:10:06
13 Karl Fitzmaurice 00:11:32
22 Ollie McGrath 00:12:19
46 Philip Matthews 00:13:34
Full results here: https://speaker.racetimer.se/live_results?race_i
Donegal East 3/4 miler (191)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Stephen McAuley 1 01:45:56
46 Teresa Gallagher 1 02:31:34
Crusaders AC runner
155 Ryan Hoey 03:14:05
Full results here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555717735585
Tarmonbarry 3/4 miler (210)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1Darren Melia 1 02:02:17
5 Anna Dooner 1 02:14:48
Crusaders AC runner
14 Áine Kenny 02:27:16 (2)
Full results here: https://coretiming.ie/events/tarmonbarry-3-4-marathon-1-2-marathon-and-8km-25/
Malahide Parkrun (145)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
2 Rob Cross 1 00:17:49
18 Mairead Boland 1 00:22:45
Crusaders AC runners
2 Rob Cross 00:17:49
30 Fiona Bane 00:24:23 (6)
Poppintree Parkrun (95)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Nicholas Gold 1 00:19:16
12 Frances Leogue 1 00:23:19
Crusaders AC runner
27 Paul F. Kelly 00:26:52
Naas Parkrun (120)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Dave Courtney 1 00:19:21
18 Ava Lombard 1 00:22:39
Crusaders AC runner
4 Karl Walsh 00:19:47
Poolbeg Parkrun (163)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Maxim Bondarenko 1 00:17:44
13 Aoife Quigley 1 00:21:20
Crusaders AC runners
11 Conor Kilkenny 00:20:31
13 Aoife Quigley 00:21:20 (1)
19 Zlatko Kulic 00:22:30
23 Tilde Martinsen 00:22:52 (5)
26 Kabir Sala 00:22:59
32 Sharon Woods 00:23:33 (6)
33 Kieran Martin 00:23:40
34 David McEvoy 00:23:41
36 Aoife McCarthy 00:23:59 (7)
41 Ryan Preston 00:24:14
43 James Cottle 00:24:17
48 Kenan Furlong 00:24:37
49 Josie Ward 00:24;39 (10)
52 Rebecca Fleming 00:24:55 (11)
56 Deirdre Ni Chearbhaill 00:25:43 (12)
75 Sophia Morgan 00:26:47 (19)
76 Bo Chicoine 00:26:53
80 Olwyn Dunne 00:27:06 (22)
81 Franky Keane 00:27:07
84 Iseult Ni Chuinneagain 00:27:12 (24)
99 Amy O’Donoghue 00:28:04 (30)
120 Sarah Lyons 00:30:44 (43)
130 Linda Walsh 00:32:31 (48)
120 Lorraine McMahon 00:28:35 (31)
162 Tara Murphy 00:46:33
Shanganagh Parkrun (203)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Derek Lawlor 1 00:18:05
30 Claire Dunwoody 1 00:23:58
Crusaders AC runners
1 Derek Lawlor 00:18:05
5 John O’Donnell 00:19:30
6 Saketh Ravuluri 00:19:32
134 Fiona Shine 00:29:15 (36)
135 Lisa Shine 00:29:16 (37)
168 Máirín Shine 00:32:06 (55)
Ballincollig Parkrun (280)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 David Butler 1 00:19:15
20 Lorraine O’Sullivan 1 00:21:56
Crusaders AC runner
114 Helena O’Keeffe 00:27:24 (21)
River Valley Parkrun (76)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Viktoras Kuzminas 1 00:19:11
7 Cecile Ollagnier 1 00:23:39
Crusaders AC runner
20 Darina Scully 00:25:28 (4)
Cabinteely Parkrun (122)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Tom Moran 1 00:19:35
8 Heather Walden 1 00:23:31
Crusaders AC runner
67 Carina Davidson 00:31:35 (26)
Vicarstown Parkrun (101)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Fergal Phelan 1 00:19:07
9 Ruth Comerford 1 00:21:24
Crusaders AC runner
3 Kev Moore 00:19:45