On the Road Again

2/9/2024

Back L-R: Enda Clarke, Rebecca Fleming, Joe McDermott, Catherine Thornton, Dee Ni Chearbhaill and Ilona McElroy. Front: Olwyn Dunne

Among the events in which Crusaders participated last week there were two championship road races on offer over the weekend and we managed to medal in both with reasonable turnouts.

We start with the BHAA 5k race, sponsored by Bristol Myers Squibb, that took place on the grass of the cross-country course in Abbotstown on Wednesday evening. The race involved 3 laps of the course. In a field of 120 runners, Michael O’Conor placed 2nd in 17:53, with Karl Walsh coming home in 17th spot in 20:12. One of our latest new members, but a runner well known to the club, Sean Murphy, placed 26th in 21:23 and he was followed by Sharon Woods who came across the line in 59th place overall, 9th female finisher and 1st F55.

On the same evening, the Cork BHAA organised a 5k road race sponsored by Amazon. In a substantial field by comparison of 473 and in a race won by last year’s Docklands 5k runner-up, East Cork’s Michael Harty in 15:11, Gian Piero Allerta placed 231st in 24:02.

Then, on Saturday morning, in the first of two half marathons on offer on the day, we had two runners in the Greenway Half marathon held down in Co. Waterford. Both athletes recorded PBs on what was described as a well-organised and fun event. In a field of 665, Emily Glen placed 145th and 20th in 98:37, whilst late entrant David O’Donnell, also, like Emily, training for an autumn marathon, placed 159th in his first attempt at the distance in a time of 99:38.

The second half marathon took place in Tullamore and doubled up as the Leinster Half marathon championships. We fielded 7 athletes among the 1162 runners who completed the race, bringing home team and individual medals. The contingent was led home by Ciarain Kelly in 18th spot in a time of 76:04 and he was followed by Vinnie McGuinness who was actually guiding Thurles visually-impaired runner Declan Ryan, well-known to Crusaders. Vinnie placed 23rd alongside Declan in a time of 77:22 and was followed by Niall Fitzgerald (60th in 81:52). Next came the first of our female runners, Ciara Regan who placed 172nd and 9th in 89:45 and she was followed by Mags Foley (252nd and 27th in 94:56) and Ciara Lynch (257th and 30th in 95:07), with the three athletes likely picking up the Leinster Senior bronze medal. Our last runner home was Sharon Woods, who placed 575th and 131st in 1:49:50 and likely earning the individual F55 bronze medal.

Sunday saw the running of the Lucan Harriers AC-organised 5-mile road race that finished on Lucan’s track. It incorporated the Dublin 5-mile road championships and we distinguished ourselves in that race too. In a field of 524 finishers Joe McDermott placed 20th in 28:11, followed closely by Enda Clarke (21st in 28:25). Rebecca Fleming (120th and 19th in 35:10), Deirdre Ni Chearbhaill (147th and 25th in 36:22) and Olwyn Dunne (179th and 35th in 37:43) between them likely won the O/35 team bronze medal, with Olwyn also likely taking individual silver in the F55 age category. To cap a successful race, Anna Brown placed 210th and 46th in a PB time of 39:05. Members may be interested to hear that recent ex-Crusader Kieran Little placed 6th in 25:59, whilst Catherine Thornton who trains with us from time to time placed 34th and 4th in 29:51.

Further afield, Aitor Arribas Velasco took part in the tough Lezamako Mugetatik, a tough 25k trail race near his home town of Bilbao in Northern Spain. Aitor completed the distance in 4:26:51 for 121st place.

As usual, we also had around 50 members participating in parkruns on Saturday morning, with at least one first finisher.

Orla Kennedy ran in the 483-strong field in St. Anne’s in Raheny where she placed 41st overall and first female finisher in 20:53. Orla was followed by Áine Crotty (225th and 56th in 27:57) and Cian Coughlan (275th in 29:26). We also saw some podium finishers too. Kate Murray ran in Mullingar alongside 110 other participants where she placed 19th and 2nd in 24:05, whilst Toby Benham also placed 2nd in Bere Island where, in a field of 145, he ran 20:48. Over in London Richard Morrissey placed 2nd in the 323-strong field in Brockwell Park. Richard recorded a time of 18:01. Over in Sligo, Ross Neill crossed the line in 2nd place in a time of 17:50 in a field of 124, whilst Mary Donnelly also placed 2nd in Bushy Park, where she ran 22:57. In a field of 186, Mary was preceded by Kev Moore (5th in 20:12) and followed by Mairead Cashman (134th and 48th in 32:36) and Natasha Murray (176th and 74th in 43:03).

Sarah Lyons placed 24th and 3rd in 27:09 in the 60-strong field in Tolka Valley Park, whilst Stephen Hurley also placed 3rd in Poolbeg alongside 187 other runners. As usual we had a large contingent there, with Stephen leading it home in a time of 17:38. He was followed by Adrian Groarke (10th in 19:32), Piarais Neary (28th in 21:21), Josie Ward (50th and 4th in 23:31), Fiona Bane (51st and 5th in 23:36), Ronan Walsh (59th in 24:13), Louise O’Riordan (67th and 10th in 24:48), John Lohan (72nd in 24:59), Tanja Narancic (76th and 12th in 25:28), Russell Murphy (78th in 25:39), Kevin Kenny (85th in 26:04), Lisa Branigan (88th and 17th in 26:40), Fanny Trébouet (94th and 21st in 27:06), Tara Murphy (109th and 27th in 28:08), Maureen McGinley (128th and 40th in 29:17) and Siobhan Russell (139th and 48th in 29:43).

In Russborough, with its field of 93, Eoghan Corrigan placed 4th in 20:55, whilst Darina Scully was also a lone runner in River Valley Park where, in a field of 109, she took 25th and 5th spots in 25:01. We had 7 Crusaders in Shanganagh, alongside 243 other participants. Stephen Milligan placed 46th in 24:02, followed by Olwyn Dunne (57th and 5th in 24:23), Máirín Shine (144th and 30th in 28:49), Jill Nason (156th and 38th in 29:27), Anna Shine (169th and 47th in 30:07), with Fiona and Lisa Shine tailwalking. As part of his long run, David Carter ran in Cabinteely where, in a field of 188, he placed 6th in 20:52, followed by Carina Davidson (130th and 59th in 33:23), whilst Andy Deuser ran with 154 other runners in Fairview Park, where he placed 43rd in 25:06. Finally, we had two runners in Marlay Park on Saturday morning. In a field of 442, Ronan Moynihan placed 7th in 19:44, followed by James Donlon who took 21st spot in 20:47.

BHAA BMS 5k (120)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Sean Doran 1 00:16:13
4 Laura McDonnell 1 00:18:36
Crusaders AC runners
2 Michael O’Conor 00:17:53
17 Karl Walsh 00:20:12
26 Sean Murphy 00:21:23
59 Sharon Woods 00:24:21 (9)
Full results here: https://irp.cdn-website.com/15e8030f/files/uploaded/BMS_5k_2024_Results.pdf
Cork BHAA Amazon 5k (473)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Michael Harty 1 00:15:11
23 Michelle Kenny 1 00:17:34
Crusaders AC runner
231 Gian Piero Allerta 00:24:02
Full results here: https://www.corkbhaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Amazon-5k-Results-Aug-28-2024.pdf
Tullamore Harriers Half Marathon (1162)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Colin Maher 1 01:09:04
47 Ciara Wilson 1 01:20:40
Crusaders AC runners
18 Ciarain Kelly 01:16:04
23 Vinnie McGuinness 01:17:21 (guiding)
60 Niall Fitzgerald 01:21:52
172 Ciara Regan 01:29:45 (9)
252 Margaret Foley 01:34:56 (27)
257 Ciara Lynch 01:35:07 (30)
575 Sharon Woods 01:49:50 (131)
Full results here: https://myrunresults.com/events/bord_na_mona_tullamore_harriers_half_2024/5079/results
Greenway Half Marathon (665)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Conor O’Brien 1 01:11:00
27 Katie Wilson 1 01:22:25
Crusaders AC runners
145 Emily Glen 01:38:37 (PB) (20)
159 David O’Donnell 01:39:38 (PB)
Full results here: https://myrunresults.com/events/greenway_half_marathon_2024/5083/results
Lucan Harriers AC 5 miler (Dublin Championships) (524)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Efrem Gidey 1 00:22:57
18 Faye Dervan 1 00:28:06
Crusaders AC runners
20 Joe McDermott 00:28:11
21 Enda Clarke 00:28:25
120 Rebecca Fleming 00:35:10 (19)
147 Deirdre Ni Chearbhaill 00:36:22 (25)
179 Olwyn Dunne 00:37:43 (35)
210 Anna Brown 00:39:05 (PB) (46)
Full results here: https://myrunresults.com/events/lucan_harriers_ac_5_mile/5080/results
Sligo Parkrun (124)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Sean Diamond 1 00:17:43
14 Saera Hosey 1 00:23:07
Crusaders AC runner
2 Ross Neill 00:17:50
Shanganagh Parkrun (250)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Asher Cook 1 00:16:49
18 Sarah Lewis 1 00:19:59
Crusaders AC runners
46 Stephen Mulligan 00:24:02
57 Olwyn Dunne 00:24:23 (5)
144 Máirín Shine 00:28:49 (30)
156 Jill Nason 00:29:27 (38)
169 Anna Shine 00:30:07 (47)
243 Fiona Shine 00:55:39 (910
244 Lisa Shine 00:55:41 (92)
Bere Island Parkrun (145)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Craig Woods 1 00:19:33
5 Michelagh Murphy 1 00:21:56
Crusaders AC runner
2 Toby Benham 00:20:48
Poolbeg Parkrun (188)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 August Benedicto 1 00:17:35
24 Kim-Ella Kenny 1 00:20:28
Crusaders AC runners
3 Stephen Hurley 00:17:38
5 Michael Wycherley 00:17:59
10 Adrian Groarke 00:19:32
28 Piarais Neary 00:21:21
50 Josie Ward 00:23:31 (4)
51 Fiona Bane 00:23:36 (5)
59 Ronan Walsh 00:24:13
67 Louise O’Riordan 00:24:48 (10)
72 John Lohan 00:24:59
76 Tanja Narancic 00:25:28 (12)
78 Russell Murphy 00:25:39
85 Kevin Kenny 00:26:04
94 Fanny Trébouet 00:27:06 (21)
109 Tara Murphy 00:28:08 (27)
128 Maureen McGinley 00:29:17 (40)
139 Siobhan Russell 00:29:43 (48)
Donabate Parkrun (173)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Karl King McDonnell 1 00:17:50
2 Sinead Farrell 1 00:18:53
Crusaders AC runner
26 Brendan Glynn 00:23:37
Bushy Parkrun (186)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 David Quinn 1 00:17:52
18 Sinead Mitchell 1 00:22:44
Crusaders AC runners
5 Kev Moore 00:20:12
22 Mary Donnelly 00:22:57 (2)
134 Mairead Cashman 00:32:36 (48)
176 Natasha Murray 00:43:03 (74)
Mullingar Parkrun (111)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Paul Whelehan 1 00:19:43
6 Mairi Clancy 1 00:22:27
Crusaders AC runner
19 Kate Murray 00:24:05 (2)
Russborough Parkrun (93)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Adam Burke 1 00:20:08
5 Caroline Ayton 1 00:21:16
Crusaders AC runner
4 Eoghan Corrigan 00:20:55
River Valley Parkrun (109)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Viktoras Kuzminas 1 00:17:56
8 Cecile Ollagnier 1 00:22:46
Crusaders AC runner
25 Darina Scully 00:25:01 (5)
Father Collins Parkrun (87)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Pawel Kaim 1 00:19:15
15 Treasa Wall 1 00:22:24
Crusaders AC runner
45 Emer Kenny 00:28:42 (10)
Poppintree Parkrun (236)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Anthony Dorran 1 00:17:59
19 Ava Fagan 1 00:21:23
Crusaders AC runner
32 Diarmuid Byrne 00:23:30
Marlay Parkrun (442)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Barry McCartin 1 00:17:13
5 Doireann Mullany 1 00:19:39
Crusaders AC runners
7 Ronan Moynihan 00:19:44
21 James Donlon 00:20:47
Cabinteely Parkrun (188)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Patrick Concannon 1 00:18:26
16 Dee O’Mahony 1 00:24:13
Crusaders AC runners
6 David Carter 00:20:52
130 Carina Davidson 00:33:23 (59)
Fairview Parkrun (155)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Wayne Loveridge 1 00:17:11
28 Kaylee Maddison 1 00:23:51
Crusaders AC runner
43 Andy Deuser 00:25:06
Tolka Valley Parkrun (60)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Andreas O’Neachtain 1 00:18:36
19 Klara Vicianova 1 00:25:31
Crusaders AC runner
24 Sarah Lyons 00:27:09 (3)
St. Anne’s Parkrun (483)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Anthony Sharkey 1 00:17:03
41 Orla Kennedy 1 00:20:53
Crusaders AC runners
41 Orla Kennedy 00:20:53 (1)
225 Áine Crotty 00:27:57 (56)
275 Cian Coughlan 00:29:26
Naas Parkrun (145)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ross Birkett 1 00:17:29
10 Ruth O’Loughlin 1 00:20:50
Crusaders AC runner
6 Karl Walsh 00:20:26