On the Road Again

1/6/2026

L-R: Kevin Fitzgibbon, Conor Kilkenny, Brian Regan

After adventures on the track and in the field, which dominated last week’s report, it’s back to reporting mainly on road races this week.

We start with the annual visit to Dunboyne by the BHAA for its 5-mile country road race that takes in a bit of the Dunboyne 10k and finishes on the local club's track. In warm conditions on Tuesday evening, there was a field of 166, among them at least 6 Crusaders. They were led home by Karl Walsh (33rd in 30:53) and he was followed by Simon Kenny (41st in 31:21). Next came David O’Donnell (65th in 34:13) and he was followed by Tony Hackett (97th in 37:47), Chris Bannon (115th in 39:28) and Robbie Moore (124th in 39:55).

Also, during the week, Seamus Moore took part in his local Balbriggan Summerfest 5k. In a field of 393, Seamus placed 40th in a time of 21:21.

Then, there were two races on Saturday. In the morning, a returning US exile, Frank Renehan, ran in the Tullaroan Half marathon, where he placed 66th in a field of 89 and in a time of 2:10:37. Meanwhile, in the evening, Aoife Quigley took on the Dunleer 5k with its field of 365 runners. Placing 49th overall Aoife also finished 7th female and 2nd F40 in a time of 19:23.

On Sunday, we had the national half marathon championships included in the Cork City festival of races which also saw the traditional marathon along with a 10k.

Whilst we did not win any national medals, we did have some excellent performances.

In the half marathon, with its field exceeding 4300, and on a twisty-turny course and in warm conditions, Kevin Fitzgibbon was our first runner home, placing 23rd and 4th M40 in 75:29. Kevin was followed closely by Brian Regan (26th in 76:02) and Conor Kilkenny (27th in 76:07). Between them they placed 5th in the senior team competition involving 103 clubs.

Aoife Cleary was next, suffering at one stage from muscle cramp, but still managing a highly respectable 80:18 for 52nd place overall and 6th female finisher. Joe McDermott was just behind, placing 54th in 80:22. The next runner across the line was Simon Everard (310th in 93:31) and he was followed by one of our exiles in Australia, Katie O’Keeffe (née Rogers), who placed 539th and 74th in 99:00. Louise O’Riordan was next to finish (744th and 123rd in 1:43:32) and she was followed further back by Aitor Arribas Velasco (1410th in 1:53:45), Jack Cahalane (1572nd in 1:54:16) and Joy Flaherty (3493rd overall in 2:19:58).

Tim O’Donnell was our lone runner in the 3367-strong 10k, where he placed 152nd in 42:24, whilst, in the marathon we had at least three finishers. Emma Noonan ran a super race to place 147th and 12th in a PB time of 3:03:34, an unexpected outcome for Emma, having been under physio supervision over the past few weeks. She was followed by Aisling Harrington (497th and 54th in 3:28:59) and by Áine Crotty (568th and 66th in 3:33:38). Spare a thought for Molly Hyland who had to drop out after 30k.

On the same day, we saw the latest running of the Women’s Mini-Marathon in South Dublin, from City centre to City centre via the N11 and UCD. Like Cork, also in warm conditions, albeit with a bit of a breeze in places, the race enjoyed a field of over 24,000, which, although large in itself, was much reduced from its heyday of 40,000 participants a few years back.

We had at least 22 Crusaders in the race, with Cría Dowling in 33rd, recording a time of 39:10, and Emma Rowe, 35th in 39:24, being our first two runners home. Jade Murphy (62nd in 41:33) and Rachael Yorke (68th in 41:45) were next and not too far behind. Ciara Lynch was next (118th in 43:43), followed by Dee Ni Chearbhaill (162nd in 44:39), just ahead of Caroline Fleming (165th in 44:40), and then by Sharon Woods (243rd in 46:04).

Further back came April Dunne (463rd in 48:49) and she was followed by Carmel Higgins (471st in 48:40), Ellen Walsh (480th in 48:44), Caoimhe O’Halloran (491st in 48:48) and Aoife McCarthy (545th in 49:08). The next cohort was led by Sophia Morgan (670th in 50:05), followed by Juliane Frydenlund (854th in 51:09) and then by Amy O’Donoghue (1485th in a PB time of 53:43), Aoife Cowhie (1981st in 55:05), Lisa Shine (2192nd in 55:39), Ruby McMahon (2667th in 56:46), Máirín Shine (4971st in 61:08), Tanja Narancic (7573rd in 65:44), Mari Hansen (7783rd in 66:09) and Mairead Cashman who ran 68:00 for 8821st place.

Further afield, we had runners take part in at least two continental marathons at the weekend, along with Cork among the last of the Spring marathon season. Simon Catteau ran in Utrecht in Belgium where he recorded a time of 2:56:20, whilst, in Stockholm, Conor Macguinness ran 3:07:35 on a hot and hilly “beautiful brute of a course”. Also, in France, one of our exiles there, Raphael Crueyze, ran in a 9k trail race, the Trail des Vignes Marigny Brizay near Chatellerault, which he completed in 35:18, placing 6th overall and 1st master. Then, in San Jose, California, Andrea Rondina, one of our exiles in the state, ran in the half marathon there, completing it in a PB time of 71:06.

On Wednesday evening, a few of our members took part in the usual midweek IMRA run. This time it was the 9k Sugar Bowl, a race around and over Sugarloaf, involving a climb of some 575m. In a field of 173, Warren Swords placed 15th and 1st M45 in 60:56, followed by Tristan Freeman (33rd in 66:38) and Gavan Doherty (63rd in 74:17).

Possibly because of the bank holiday weekend, we appear to have had fewer runners out in the parkruns, and those that did run were spread across several events on the island and elsewhere.

Kenan Furlong was a first finisher in the 248-strong field in Poolbeg where he ran 18:02. Kenan was followed by Diarmuid Finan (23rd in 21:15), Oisin Browne (25th in 21:35), Ed Joyce (33rd in 21:58) and Ryan Preston (34th in 21:59) just behind.

Further back came Aoife McCarthy (77th and 9th in 24:31), followed by John Lohan (88th in 24:59), Djinn Von Noorden (121st and 24th in 27:01), Sharon Woods (123rd and 26th in 27:13), Conor Kilkenny (137th in 27:41), just ahead of Ellen Walsh (139th and 33rd in 27:47), and then Iseult Ni Chuinneagain (145th and 38th in 28:01) and Carina Davidson (161st and 47th in 29:04). The contingent was completed by Edwina Hogan (201st and 75th in 31:24), Maureen McGinley (203rd and 77th in 31:33) and Cynthia Perucca (213th and 84th in 32:53).

Brian O’Kelly led the field of 60 home in Castlerea in a time of 20:10, whilst, in Donabate, with a field of 235, Rob Cross placed 3rd in 17:58, followed by Fiona Bane (45th and 6th in 24:08) and Brendan Glynn (56th in 24:45). Kate O’Malley, one of our London exiles, joined a field of 966 on Clapham Common where she placed 24th and 2nd in 19:44, whilst Ross Neill, on a visit to South Africa, ran in the Green Point parkrun, placing 7th in a field of 491 and in a time of 19:59.

Meanwhile, Peter O’Toole ran in the 297-strong field in Fairview, taking 6th spot in 19:49, whilst Michelle Geoghegan joined 89 other runners in Navan, placing 33rd and 4th in 27:55. Daniel Lowe took 5th place in Tymon alongside 107 other participants in a time of 19:31, whilst Mikel Crisostomo was another runner to place 5th, this time in Marlay Park, in a time of 18:54. Mikel was followed by Mairead Cashman in the field of 500 in 382nd and 128th places in a time of 33:13.

On a visit to Wales, Áine Kenny took part in the Cardiff parkrun, where, in a field of 882, she placed 118th and 12th in 21:48, whilst Enda Currid took 12th spot in the 91-strong field in Brickfields. Enda’s time was 22:48. Aitor Arribas Velasco ran in Clonakilty where alongside 51 other participants, he placed 10th in 25:06, whilst Lorraine McMahon also ran in Cork, where, in the Midleton Greenway parkrun, she placed 81st and 17th in 28:51. Dave carter and members of the Shine family ran in Shanganagh with its field of 250. Dave placed 17th in 19:53, whilst Máirín and Lisa ran side by side placing 236th and 90th and 237th and 91st in 39:11 and 39:12.

On the eve of the Cork half marathon, Louise O’Riordan ran in Tramore Valley, where, in a field of 271, she placed 172nd and 33rd in 30:11, whilst, in Poppintree, Paul F. Kelly placed 35th in a time of 23:59. Luke Haran joined 204 other runners in Killarney House where he placed 29th in 22;46, whilst, once again, Niall O’Connell ran in Cabinteely. In a field of 190, Niall placed 20th in 23:25. Martina White ran 28:50 for 85th and 23rd places in Porterstown with its field of 156, whilst Fanny Trébouet headed to Denmark where she ran in the Faelledparken parkrun in Copenhagen, placing 119th in a field of 133 and in a time of 35:59. Finally, our exile Kris Ryan ran again in Paradise Point in Australia where she placed 89th and 28th in 25:37 in a field of 393.

BHAA Irish Life 5-miler (166)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Tomás Fitzpatrick 1 00:26:12
55 Mairead Hogan 1 00:32:50
Crusaders AC runners
33 Karl Walsh 00:30:53
41 Simon Kenny 00:31:21
65 David O’Donnell 00:34:13
97 Anthony Hackett 00:37:47
115 Chris Bannon 00:39:28
124 Robbie Moore 00:39:55
Full results here: https://members.bhaa.ie/results/race/550
Balbriggan Summerfest 5k (393)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Anthony Brady 1 00:17:00
32 Niamh Coughlan 1 00:20:37
Crusaders AC runner
40 Seamus Moore 00:21:21
Full results here: https://myrunresults.com/events/balbriggan_summerfest_5k_2026/6170/results
Tullaroan Half marathon (89)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 John Scott 1 01:22:22
11 Helen O’Connor 1 01:40:13
Crusaders AC runner
66 Frank Renehan 02:10:37
Full results here: https://myrunresults.com/events/_tullaroan_festival_of_running_2026/6159/results
Dunleer 5k (365)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Charlie White 1 00:15:13
24 Laura McDonnell 1 00:18:07
Crusaders AC runner
49 Aoife Quigley 00:19:23 (7)
Full results here: https://myrunresults.com/events/dunleer_5k/6186/results?class=5k&perPage=100
Cork City 10k (3367)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Ibrahim Samow 1 00:30:58
5 Niamh Allen 1 00:32:14
Crusaders AC runner
152 Tim O’Donnell 00:42:24
Full results here: https://www.popupraces.ie/race/analog-devices-cork-city-marathon-2026/#2_47D931
Cork City Marathon (2095)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Stephen McAuley 1 02:22:42
26 Melissah Gibson 1 02:40:41
Crusaders AC runners
147 Emma Noonan 03:03:34 (12)
497 Aisling Harrington 03:28:59 (54)
568 Áine Crotty 03:33:38 (66)
Full results here: https://www.popupraces.ie/race/analog-devices-cork-city-marathon-2026/#2_47D931
Cork City Half Marathon (inc. the National Half Marathon Championships) (4307)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Ryan Creech 1 01:04:51
22 Heather Murphy 1 01:15:08
Crusaders AC runners
23 Kevin Fitzgibbon 01:15:29
26 Brian Regan 01:16:02
27 Conor Kilkenny 01:16:07
52 Aoife Cleary 01:20:18 (6)
54 Joe McDermott 01:20:22
310 Simon Everard 01:33:31
539 Katie O’Keeffe 01:39:00 (74)
744 Louise O’Riordan 01:43:32 (123)
1410 Aitor Arribas Velasco 01:53:45
1572 Jack Cahalane 01:54:16
3493 Joy Flaherty 02:19:58 (XX)
Full results here: https://www.popupraces.ie/race/analog-devices-cork-city-marathon-2026/#2_47D931
VHI Women’s Mini-Marathon 10k (24132)
Overall place Name Chiptime
1 Chaltu Dida 00:31:39
Crusaders AC runners
33 Cría Dowling 00:39:10
35 Emma Rowe 00:39:24
62 Jade Murphy 00:41:33
68 Rachael Yorke 00:41:45
118 Ciara Lynch 00:43:43
162 Deirdre Ni Chearbhaill 00:44:39
165 Caroline Fleming 00:44:40
243 Sharon Woods 00:46:04
463 April Dunne 00:48:49
471 Carmel Higgins 00:48:40
480 Ellen Walsh 00:48:44
491 Caoimhe O’Halloran 00:48:48
545 Aoife McCarthy 00:49:08
670 Sophia Morgan 00:50:05
854 Juliane Frydenlund 00:51:09
1485 Amy O’Donoghue 00:53:43 (PB)
1981 Aoife Cowhie 00:55:05
2192 Lisa Shine 00:55:39
2667 Ruby McMahon 00:56:46
4971 Máirín Shine 01:01:08
7673 Tanja Narancic 01:05:44
7783 Mari Hansen 01:06:09
8821 Mairead Cashman 01:08:00
Full results here: https://www.tdleventservices.co.uk/en/results-embed.php?event=4206#0_3AF9CB
IMRA Sugar Bowl 9k (173)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Brian Melia 1 00:51:03
19 Isabel O’Reilly 1 01:01:47
Crusaders AC runners
15 Warren Swords 01:00:56
33 Tristan Freeman 01:06:38
63 Gavan Doherty 01:14:17
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results?id=2844
Brickfields Parkrun (91)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Christopher Ostoich 1 00:18:55
15 Sheelagh Doyle 1 00:23:28
Crusaders AC runner
12 Enda Currid 00:22:48
Porterstown Parkrun (156)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Christopher McMahon 1 00:18:40
5 Alana Mills 1 00:19:40
Crusaders AC runner
85 Martina White 00:28:50 (23)
Tymon Parkrun (108)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Michael Sheehan 1 00:19:00
11 Christine Kinsella 1 00:21:18
Crusaders AC runner
5 Daniel Lowe 00:19:31
Shanganagh Parkrun (250)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Bobby More 1 00:17:16
22 Adele Heskin 1 00:20:36
Crusaders AC runners
17 David Carter 00:19:53
236 Máirín Shine 00:39:11 (90)
237 Lisa Shine 00:39:12 (91)
Castlerea Parkrun (60)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Brian O’Kelly 1 00:20:10
8 Nicola Bruen 1 00:24:01
Crusaders AC runner
1 Brian O’Kelly 00:20:10
Poolbeg Parkrun (248)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Kenan Furlong 1 00:18:02
19 Sophie Coman 1 00:21:02
Crusaders AC runners
1 Kenan Furlong 00:18:02
23 Diarmuid Finan 00:21:15
25 Oisin Browne 00:21:35
33 Ed Joyce 00:21:58
34 Ryan Preston 00:21:59
77 Aoife McCarthy 00:24:31 (9)
88 John Lohan 00:24:59
121 Djinn Von Noorden 00:27:01(24)
123 Sharon Woods 00:27:13 (26)
137 Conor Kilkenny 00:27:41
139 Ellen Walsh 00:27:47 (33)
145 Iseult Ni Chuinneagain 00:28:01 (38)
161 Carina Davidson 00:29:04 (47)
201 Edwina Hogan 00:31:24 (75)
203 Maureen McGinley 00:31:33 (77)
213 Cynthia Perucca 00:32:53 (84)
Clonakilty Parkrun (52)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Francesco Meroi 1 00:20:21
8 Eileen McCarthy 1 00:24:12
Crusaders AC runner
10 Aitor Arribas Velasco 00:25:06
Fairview Parkrun (297)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Barry Murphy 1 00:17:45
21 Sarah McDade 1 00:21:20
Crusaders AC runner
6 Peter O’Toole 00:19:49
Navan Parkrun (90)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Feargal Daly 1 00:18:51
24 Joy Cahill 1 00:26:35
Crusaders AC runner
33 Michelle Geoghegan 00:27:55 (4)
Marlay Parkrun (500)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Donal Brennan 1 00:17:51
21 Paula Grant 1 00:20:13
Crusaders AC runners
5 Mikel Crisostomo 00:18:54
382 Mairead Cashman 00:33:13 (128)
Cabinteely Parkrun (190)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Niall Sherlock 1 00:19:09
30 Sinéad Cullen 1 00:24:36
Crusaders AC runner
20 Niall O’Connell 00:23:25
Midleton Greenway Parkrun (139)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Derek Smyth 1 00:18:52
21 Elaine O’Callaghan 1 00:22:33
Crusaders AC runner
81 Lorraine McMahon 00:28:51 (17)
Tramore Valley, Cork Parkrun (271)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Max Wharton 1 00:15:37
7 Melissah Gibson 1 00:18:53
Crusaders AC runner
172 Louise O’Riordan 00:30:11 (33)
Poppintree Parkrun (210)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Harry Jenkins 1 00:17:31
10 Lucy McFetridge 1 00:20:22
Crusaders AC runner
35 Paul F. Kelly 00:23:59
Donabate Parkrun (235)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Shane Minogue 1 00:17:22
6 Alex Bell 1 00:18:59
Crusaders AC runners
3 Rob Cross 00:17:58
45 Fiona Bane 00:24:08
56 Brendan Glynn 00:24:45
Killarney House Parkrun (205)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Brendan Caffrey 1 00:17:42
4 Marie-Claire Healy 1 00:19:00
Crusaders AC runner
29 Luke Haran 00:22:46