Podium places in the Dublin Novices and Three-quarters of the way there for the Marathoners

9/10/2023

L-R: Cría Dowling, Kathryn Sweeney, Emma Rowe, Ciara Regan, Isabelle Cairns, Nina Holmes, Saoirse McGrath and coach Susan Walsh

It was a busy weekend of racing, with, on the one hand the start of the XC season with the Dublin Novices on an unseasonably warm day on Sunday and, on the other, many of our clubmates were involved in ¾ marathons, full marathons and other road races.

We start with the cross-country. On the plus side, the ground was not too soft on what is a hilly course at the southern end of Tymon Park near the National Basketball Arena, and several runners did not bring out their spikes for the races. However, it was extremely warm and this definitely had an impact on those who went out too fast.

The first adult race of the afternoon involved novice women and it brought out at least one runner who benefitted this year from a change in the rules. In previous editions, members of gold winning teams in previous races would not have been eligible. Now, a runner is only ineligible after winning an individual medal.

The women’s race involved 80 runners and, in the 4k event, a group of 3 runners soon broke free of the rest of the field, and even though towards the end gaps appeared between the three, they were not to be overtaken. Nevertheless, Emma Rowe made a valiant effort to work her way through the field and was not too far behind in 4th place at the finish. Emma ran 15:37 for the distance and she was followed just a few seconds back by a strong-running Kathryn Sweeney, nursing a slight injury, who placed 6th in 15:48. The third scorer was Saoirse McGrath who placed 10th in 16:08 and she was followed by Isabelle Cairns, another runner with a strong finish, who placed 13th in 16:20. The four runners were our team scorers who, with 33 points, took the silver medal, only 4 points behind DCH who won gold with 29 points (two of their young athletes placing 1st and 2nd) and 7 ahead of a Clonliffe team with 40 points from a significant contingent of 15 runners in the race. There were 10 teams in the event. In addition to our 4 scorers we had 3 “spoilers” and they were led home by Ciara Regan in her second race of the day (16th in 16:26, just behind Isabelle). Ciara was followed by Nina Holmes (27th in 16:59) and the 7-woman team was completed by Cría Dowling (52nd in 18:20).

If the women’s race was not exciting enough, the men’s 6k event gave us much to cheer about too and was fun to watch and support. Runners were quite disciplined for much of the race, having seen how the heat affected the earlier race, and the leading group probably amounted to about 10 until the last lap. Among them was Colm Parnell who tucked in for much of the race, only to break free in the last lap to come in with an extremely strong finish for third place in a field of 110 finishers. It was possibly our first men’s individual medal in the event for some time.

Colm ran 19:26 for his podium place and he was followed by Luke Corcoran (17th in 20:51). The remaining 9 athletes from the club were led home by Alex Ainsworth (32nd in 21:36) and he was followed by Patrick Conlon (36th in 21:45), just ahead of Stephen Hurley coming back from injury (37th in 21:47), men’s captain Joe McDermott, otherwise in training for November’s Athens Marathon (43rd in 22:10), Ross Neill (45th in 22:16), Jan Manschot (60th in 22:53), another marathoner Dee Lawlor (71st in 23:09), Tomás Bradley (81st in 23:58) and Cathal O’Hara (83rd in 23:59). The scoring team of Colm, Luke, Alex and Patrick took 5th place on 88 points in a competition involving 11 clubs. Well done to everyone who ran for the club on the day and many congrats to all.

Now, on to road racing. In the Phoenix Park in calm conditions on Saturday morning on a 5-mile course that took in much of the southwest quadrant of the park and finishing uphill on the Khyber Pass, Chris Russell joined a field of 820, taking 2nd place in a great time of 28:06.

Then, on Sunday, as mentioned, Ciara Regan joined others to take part in the Fastlane series of races along the Grand Canal towpath and around Clondalkin in west Dublin. Ciara and Annie Hughes ran with 273 others in the 10k race, with Ciara placing 17th overall and 2nd female finisher in a time of 41:17, followed not too far behind by Annie, placing 19th and 3rd in 42:00. Gian Piero Allerta was our sole representative in the half marathon there, where he took 173rd spot in a field of 318 and in a time of 1:59:00. Stephen Mulligan placed 18th in a field of 489 in the ¾ marathon. He ran 2:07:53, whilst Niamh Quinn placed 467th overall in a time of 3:58:22.

By far the largest turnout from the club, however, was in Longwood, Co. Meath where 32 of those training for the Dublin marathon ran in the Irish ¾ Marathon there, organised by Bear Events. At least 7 of our clubmates paced, whilst the others used the event as a training run. In a field of well over 1,000 runners Robert Browne was our first athlete home in 13th place and a time of 2:03:45 and he was followed by two of our pacers, Kieran Martin (58th in 2:19:58) and Kevin Fitzgibbon (59th in 2:19:59). Michael Fitzsimons was next in 80th spot in 2:24:43 and he was followed by Karl Walsh (94th in 2:28:19). Ciara Lynch was next (162nd and 20th in 2:38:14) and she was followed by the pacing couple of ladies’ captain Rebecca Fleming (240th and 38th in 2:45:28) and Áine Crotty (241st and 39th in 2:45:29) with Ciara Lehane (278th and 50th in 2:48:54) not too far behind. Further back came Franky Keane (411th in 2:59:38) and he was followed by David Pepper (504th in 3:06:23) and Joe Green (507th in 3:06:29). David McDonald ran 3:07:32 for 521st place, with another couple of pacers just behind. Emily Glen and Tanja Narancic ran the same time of 3:09:07 for 544th and 128th and 545th and 129th places, respectively. The contingent was completed by Lindsay Butler (603rd and 153rd in 3:14:15), Evelyn Neary (606th and 154th in 3:13:59), Darina Scully (652nd and 175th in 3:17:51), Gillian Curran (675th and 186th in 3:20:00), Lisa Branigan (678th and 187th in 3:16:11), Mairead Cashman (819th and 270th in 3:33:29) and pacer Aitor Arribas Velasco (842nd in 3:33:46).

Áine Kenny, John Lohan and Tara Murphy ran in another ¾ marathon on Sunday, one in Tarmonbarry in Co. Roscommon. In a field of 177 Áine placed 8th overall and came across the line winning the women’s race in a time of 2:29:11. She was followed by John (13th in 2:38:25) and Tara (90th and 35th in 3:16:16). In Limerick, Luke Haran took part in the non-chiptimed mini marathon there where he ran 44:44 for the 10k event.

Further afield, we had runners in full marathons in Chicago and Lisbon, as well as the full marathon, marathon relay and 10k in Munich, along with races elsewhere.

In Chicago, in great cool conditions and unusually little wind, and where both winners of this year’s London marathon, Kelvin Kiptum and Sifan Hassan, won again, Kiptum with a new World record of an incredible 2:00:35, we had 5 runners. The contingent was led home by David Willis who ran 2:43:30 and David was followed by Eóin Ó’Rathallaigh in 2:49:03. Next came Kate Murray (3:41:19), followed by Liam O’Brien (3:53:38) and Andrea (Andy) Garcia (5:57:49).

In Lisbon, Kevin Kenny ran 4:15:37, whilst, in Munich, in a field of over 4,000 finishers, Olwyn Dunne placed 706th, 52nd female finisher and winner of her F55 age category in a super 3:29:49. Olwyn was followed by Emer Kenny who unfortunately suffered from severe foot pain for much of the race (1,453rd and 160th in 3:50:12). Fiona and Lisa Shine each ran two legs of the four-leg marathon relay, placing 276th overall out of 638 teams and 13th female team overall in a time of 3:54:16, whilst we had 3 runners in the 10k there. In a field of nearly 2,500, Julian Callan placed 488th in 51:01 and he was followed by Anna Shine (1082nd and 311th in 57:36) and by Máirín Shine (1,251st, 385th female finisher and 3rd in her F65 age cat in a time of 59:31).

We also saw some excellent results in other events on the continent. Zlatko Kulic ran in the Zagreb Half marathon, where, in a field of 1,318, he placed 56th in a time of 1:32:47. Then, in Spain, Esther Requena Ferri placed 6th overall and won the women’s race in the El Torcal - La Paz 10k in a time of 39:56, whilst Cristian Vilchez Ceballos placed 3rd in a PB time of 35:59.

In terms of trail-running this weekend there were several races organised by IMRA in the context of the Kilmac Running Festival. Donatas Jocius and Brian McGuckin started out in the 12k Long Hill Run, which was a race of moderate difficulty, in principle on a marked course from Kilmacanogue to Paddock Hill in Co. Wicklow, with a climb of 415m. Unfortunately, whilst leading the event, Donatas was directed by a marshall onto the 30k long course (a race from Kilmacanogue to Djouce on an unmarked course of extreme difficulty with a climb of 1500m. Once the smoke cleared, Donatas found himself at the tail end of the field of 10 finishers (out of 12 who started) on the long event in a time of 4:04:02, which probably does not represent his true time. On the other hand, Brian was able to complete the 12k event, in 8th place overall in a field of 33, 1st M50, and in a time of 1:20:40. Further north, we had at least two competitors in the challenging hilly Gaelforce Howth 10k race, Anna Hoesl and Anna Gallo. In a field of 555 finishers, Anna H. placed 52nd overall, 16th female finisher, in 49:32, whilst Anna G. ran 53:16 for 87th and 19th spots.

Our tradition of having at least one first finisher in the parkruns each week was maintained on Saturday morning by Michael Wycherley in Poolbeg. Michael led home the field of 132 in a time of 18:11 and he was followed by Adam Kinch (14th in 22:21), Diarmuid Fahey (17th in 22:29), Josie Ward (36th and 7th in 24:11), John Lohan (46th in 25:07), Fiona Bane (49th and 12th in 25:18), Franky Keane (60th in 26:23), Maureen McGinley (93rd and 34th in 30:20), Cynthia Perucca (111th and 49th in 34:15) and Una McCullagh (112th and 50th in 34:32). Paul Cowhie took 2nd place in Marlay Park. In a field of 399, Paul ran 17:38, whilst, in River Valley, with its field of 98, Darina Scully placed 12th and 3rd in 23:46. David Carter was our sole representative in Shanganagh, where, in a field of 225, he placed 4th in 18:59, whilst Toby Benham ran in Tramore Valley, Cork, where, in a field of 209, he placed 8th in 18:02.

Kieran Martin and Áine Crotty ran with 409 other runners in St. Anne’s where Kieran placed 9th in 19:17 and Áine (and her dog Lulu) took 345th and 135th spots in 34:41, whilst Karl Walsh placed 10th in 21:30 in Naas having joined a field of 141. In the Milleneum parkrun in Canada Orlaith de Burca ran in a modest field of 25 where she placed 16th and 7th in 32:38, whilst Luke Corcoran took 19th spot in 23:24 in the 168-strong field in Bushy Park. In Donabate Brendan Glynn ran 23:39 for 28th spot in a field of 225, whilst Eoghan Corrigan placed 41st in 24:11 in the field of 192 in Griffeen Park in Lucan.

Finally, all 7 of our Munich runners on the Sunday took part in Saturday’s Riemer parkrun. In a field of 67, they were led home by Julian Callan (19th in 25:28) and Julian was followed by Anna Shine (43rd and 10th in 32:02), Máirín Shine (44th and 11th in 32:03), Olwyn Dunne (45th and 12th in the same time), Emer Kenny (46th and 13th in 32:04), Fiona and Lisa Shine (47th and 14th and 48th and 15th in the same time of 32:05).

Dublin XC Novices Women’s 4k (80)
Overall place Name Guntime
1 Elizabeth Gahan 00:14:44
Crusaders AC runners
4 Emma Rowe 00:15:37
6 Kathryn Sweeney 00:15:48
10 Saoirse McGrath 00:16:08
13 Isabelle Cairns 00:16:20
16 Ciara Regan 00:16:26
27 Nina Holmes 00:16:59
52 Cría Dowling 00:18:20
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/dublin_uneven_age_junior_and_novice_cross_county_championships/4935/results
Dublin XC Novices Men’s 4k (110)
Overall place Name Guntime
1 Dara Donoghue 00:19:14
Crusaders AC runners
3 Colm Parnell 00:19:26
17 Luke Corcoran 00:20:51
32 Alex Ainsworth 00:21:36
36 Patrick Conlon 00:21:45
37 Stephen Hurley 00:21:47
43 Joe McDermott 00:22:10
45 Ross Neill 00:22:16
60 Jan Manschot 00:22:53
71 Derek Lawlor 00:23:09
81 Tomás Bradley 00:23:58
83 Cathal O’Hara 00:23:59
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/dublin_uneven_age_junior_and_novice_cross_county_championships/4935/results
Gaelforce Howth 10k (555)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Daniel Cogswell 1 00:40:26
6 Emma-Kate Reilly 1 00:41:54
Crusaders AC runners
52 Anna Hoesl 00:49:32 (16)
87 Anna Gallo 00:53:16 (19)
Full results here: http://redtagtiming.com/results/GFHowth_2023.html
Simon Community 5-miler (820)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Robin Mooney 1 00:27:29
13 Carmel Ward 1 00:31:49
Crusaders AC runner
2 Chris Russell 00:28:06
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/simon_home_run_2023/4833/results
Fastlane 10k (275)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Conor Burke 1 00:31:38
7 Laura Buckley 1 00:37:25
Crusaders AC runners
17 Ciara Regan 00:41:17 (2)
19 Annie Hughes 00:42:00 (3)
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/fast_lane_3_4_half_marathon__10k_2023/4766/results
Fastlane Half marathon (318)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Gael Hernandez 1 01:18:47
29 Sarah Karpinski 1 01:31:44
Crusaders AC runner
173 Gian Piero Allerta 01:59:00
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/fast_lane_3_4_half_marathon__10k_2023/4766/results
Fastlane 3/4 marathon (489)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 James Doran 1 01:54:04
22 Niamh Staunton 1 02:09:46
Crusaders AC runners
18 Stephen Mulligan 02:07:53
467 Niamh Quinn 03:58:22
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/fast_lane_3_4_half_marathon__10k_2023/4766/results
Irish 3/4 marathon (1048)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Tudor Moldovan 1 01:47:02
30 Fiona Stack 1 02:13:31
Crusaders AC runners
13 Robert Browne 02:03:45
58 Kieran Martin 02:19:58 Pacer
59 Kevin Fitzgibbon 02:19:59 Pacer
80 Michael Fitzsimons 02:24:43
94 Karl Walsh 02:28:19
162 Ciara Lynch 02:38:14 (20)
240 Rebecca Fleming 02:45:28 (38) Pacer
241 Áine Crotty 02:45:29 (39) Pacer
278 Ciara Lehane 02:48:54 (50)
411 Franky Keane 02:59:38
504 David Pepper 03:06:23
507 Joe Green 03:06:29
521 David McDonald 03:07:32
544 Emily Glen 03:09:07 (128) Pacer
545 Tanja Narancic 03:09:07 (129) Pacer
603 Lindsay Butler 03:14:15 (153)
606 Evelyn Neary 03:13:59 (154)
652 Darina Scully 03:17:51 (175)
675 Gillian Curran 03:20:00 (186)
678 Lisa Branigan 03:16:11 (187)
819 Mairead Cashman 03:33:29 (270)
842 Aitor Arribas Velasco 03:33:46 (Pacer)
Full results here: http://www.redtagtiming.com/results/Irish3Quarter2023.html?fbclid=IwAR1dZXZNghaZa0C_SiQd855NUuVr36-jXdilol09ovkwJiyDti43yECfu9Q
Tarmonbarry 3/4 marathon (177)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 David Tiernan 1 02:01:47
8 Áine Kenny 1 02:29:11
Crusaders AC runners
8 Áine Kenny 02:29:11 (1)
13 John Lohan 02:38:25
90 Tara Murphy 03:16:16 (35)
Full results here: https://coretiming.ie/events/tarmonbarry-3-4-marathon-1-2-marathon-and-8km-23/
IMRA Kilmac Running Festival - 5 Tops ans 1 drop 30k (10)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Brian Furey 1 03:23:22
4 Elizabeth Wheeler 1 03:59:32
Crusaders AC runner
10 Donatas Jocius 04:04:02
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2408/
IMRA Kilmac Running Festival - Long Hill 12k (33)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Rob Tobin 1 01:08:17
6 Eilis Connery 1 01:17:00
Crusaders AC runner
8 Brian McGuckin 01:20:40
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2409/
Griffeen Parkrun (192)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 John Canny 1 00:18:23
10 Breda Smith 1 00:20:22
Crusader AC runner
41 Eoghan Corrigan 00:24:11
Donabate Parkrun (169)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 John O’Hare 1 00:18:52
5 Geraldine McHale 1 00:21:24
Crusaders AC runner
28 Brendan Glynn 00:23:39
Tramore Valley Cork Parkrun (209)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Eoghan O’Connor 1 00:15:39
26 Sophie O’Callaghan 1 00:20:59
Crusaders AC runner
8 Toby Benham 00:18:02
Bushy Parkrun (168)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 August Benedicto 1 00:18:30
15 Christine Kinsella 1 00:22:32
Crusaders AC runner
19 Luke Corcoran 00:23:24
Marlay Parkrun (399)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ruben Bartelink 1 00:17:24
6 Sophie Hartley-Green 1 00:19:12
Crusaders AC runner
2 Paul Cowhie 00:17:38
Poolbeg Parkrun (132)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Michael Wycherley 1 00:18:11
11 Ava Rose Clarke 1 00:21:52
Crusaders AC runners
1 Michael Wycherley 00:18:11
14 Adam Kinch 00:22:21
17 Diarmuid Fahey 00:22:29
36 Josie Ward 00:24:11 (7)
46 John Lohan 00:25:07
49 Fiona Bane 00:25:18 (12)
60 Franky Keane 00:26:23
93 Maureen McGinley 00:30:20 (34)
111 Cynthia Perucca 00:34:15 (49)
112 Una McCullagh 00:34:52 (50)
Naas Parkrun (141)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Michelle Cox 1 00:18:45
2 Peter Tuohy 1 00:18:46
Crusaders AC runner
10 Karl Walsh 00:21:30
Shanganagh Parkrun (225)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Nickolas Colyn 1 00:16:00
17 Ciara Peelo 1 00:21:06
Crusaders AC runner
4 David Carter 00:18:59
Porterstown Parkrun (89)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Niall Sherlock 1 00:18:55
5 Joan O’Callaghan 1 00:22:00
Crusaders AC runner
71 Kevin Flynn 00:35:21
River Valley Parkrun (98)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Peter Fenyvasi 1 00:19:34
8 Cassia Kelly 1 00:23:09
Crusaders AC runner
12 Darina Scully 00:23:46 (3)
St. Anne’s Parkrun (411)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Liam Barry-Carroll 1 00:17:01
38 Fiona Skelly 1 00:21:55
Crusaders AC runners
9 Kieran Martin 00:19:17
345 Áine Crotty 00:34:41 (135)

L-R: Stephen Hurley, Jan Manschot, Patrick Conlon, Luke Corcoran, Tomás Bradley, Ross Neill, Alex Ainsworth, Joe McDermott, Dee Lawlor, Cathal O'Hara, Colm Parnell