Proper Cross-Country

18/1/2026

Back row L-R: Lisa Harpur, Anna Shine, Luz Estevan, Annabelle Morris, Olwyn Dunne, Ailish Hassett, Anna Brown, Anna Hernick, Marie-Claire Daly, Tilde Martinsen, Ellen Walsh, Lisa Branigan, Lorraine McMahon, Caoimhe O'Halloran and Anoushe Alamir. Front row L-R: Emer Kenny, Máirín Shine, Imogen Guinness, Paula Bradshaw, Joanne Carey, Kate Murray, Carmel Higgins, Sophia Morgan and Gabriela Segura

The second race in the Women’s Meet & Train Winter League XC took place on Sunday morning and it is clear that the event is going from strength to strength with a field of more than 200 runners taking part on a new course in fields around the DSD track complex in Tibradden. Many of the 32 Crusaders who took part (15% of the field) also featured in the previous day’s parkruns too.

We start, however, with events on the track, the indoor track to be precise, with the holding firstly of the NIA Live Meet on Wednesday evening and then the AAI Games in Abbotstown at the National Indoors Arena there, on Saturday.

On Wednesday evening, Enda Clarke ran in heat 1 of 3 heats in the 800m, winning it in a time of 2:08:09. Then, on Saturday, Charlotte Myers ran in the faster of 2 heats of the women’s 800m, clearly winning that in a time of 2:10.70 in a field of 6 runners. Annie Hughes placed 3rd in heat 2 of the women’s 1500m with a field of 8 runners, in a time of 4:56.83. All were great times and super results.

Meanwhile, we had several runners in the sprint events. In heat 2 of 11 of the men’s 200m, and running in lane 5, Hugo Magee placed 2nd in 21.90. Then, there were two series of each of the men’s and women’s 60m dash. In the first series of the women’s event, Karen Hughes placed 6th in heat 5 (of 7) in a time of 8.54, going on to finish in 6th place in series 2 (heat 5) in 8.52.

Charlie Bastow ran in heat 5 of series 1, placing 4th in 7.29, going onto place 2nd in heat 3 of the 2nd series in 7.21. Interestingly in the latter race he was in a photo finish with Saad Ashraf who placed 3rd in the same time, after having placed 2nd in heat 4 of the first series in 7.27. Liam Beaumont only ran in the first series, where, in heat 5, he placed 8th in 7.55, whilst Leo Foster and Victor Michalak ran in heat 7 in the first series, placing respectively 4th and 5th in 7.75 and 8.25. Leo went on to place 2nd in heat 7 of the second series in 7.78, followed by Victor who placed 5th in 8.27.

Back to the WM&T, which was a really fun race to watch. Last year, the event had only one major hill to negotiate, up and down a berm protecting the DSD track. This year, because of construction works for a community facility next to the track, the course was majorly changed so that the berm ended up as the last 50m to the finish on its crest and the route of the course, which was just under 3k in length, involved traversing 3 fields, the circumnavigation of one of which was repeated. There was hardly any flat ground except perhaps towards the end before the climb to the finish, and that was on the muddiest part too. The furthest field was extremely spongey as well as hilly with a steep climb and descent on a gravelly path and then the field that had to be circled twice was quite hilly. In any event, to a woman, everyone pronounced it a true and proper cross-country course and, despite its clear and unexpected shock to everyone's system, was most enjoyable in retrospect and to be recommended. It was also fun to watch. If anyone involved with the BHAA reads these reports they should take note and perhaps reach out to DSD. It does not involve any council parkland and any race on the course should be considered a true test!

The front of the race was dominated by Sportsworld, who perhaps were giving some of their faster runners, capable of running a track 3k in 12 minutes, a means to benefit from a cross-country race, with 7 runners in the top 15. We packed well, and our first finisher was, unsurprisingly, Luz Estevan who placed 9th in 14:06. Luz was followed by Annabelle Morris in 15th in a time of 14:27 after having fallen twice, once at the very start of the race, as she did not have spikes, with Tilde Martinsen not too far behind in 25th in 14:51, just ahead of Fiona Shine (27th in 14:53). Caoimhe O’Halloran (32nd in 15:02) was next, followed by Joanne Carey (36th in 15:17) and then by Imogen Guinness (59th in 16:04), just ahead of Emer Kenny (60th in 16:05), Kate Murray (63rd in 16:07), Susan Clarke (64th in 16:08) and Olwyn Dunne, taking it carefully on the downhills (65th in 16:09). Carmel Higgins was next across the line (69th in 16:16) and she was followed by Ellen Walsh (74th in 16:28) and then further back by Paula Bradshaw (88th in 17:16), Sophia Morgan, fighting a cold (91st in 17:23), Darina Scully (92nd in 17:25), Anna Brown (97th in 17:36), Lisa Shine (100th in 17:41) and Lisa Branigan (114th in 18:03).

Ailish Hassett was the next runner home (130th in 18:22) and she was followed by Georgina Loughrey (153rd in 19:31), Carina Davidson (154th in 19:32), Anousheh Alamir (160th in 19:48), Lorraine McMahon (161st in 19:50) , Anna Shine (163rd in 19:52), Gabriela Segura (166th in 20:06), Anna Hernick (167th in 20:07), Emily Ashford (177th in 20:58), Máirín Shine (182nd in 21:36), Lisa Harpur (199th in 36:11), Marie-Claire Daly (202nd in 36:27) and Niamh Trihy (208th in 37:49), once again ably guided by Kevin Kenny. It's possibly a bit too early to say how the teams are doing as there are 4 races in total, with 3 to count. It can be said that for the 8 teams involved there's all to play for!

Michael O’Conor was our only representative down in Carlow for the 7k Leinster Masters XC Championships. In a race that measured closer to 7.2k, Michael placed 38th overall in a field of 105, coming home in 15th place in his M35 category in a time of 28:06.

Other races over the weekend, involved at least one Crusader. Peter Rosenshine took part in the Art O’Neill 25k Pursuit that started from Dublin Castle at Midnight down to Co. Wicklow on Friday night, placing 92nd in a field of 132, in a time of 3:10:42. It appears we had no participants in the longer 62k Art O’Neill Challenge this year. Then, on Sunday, down in Cork, Orla Drumm joined a field of 419 for the Cork BHAA Roquette 5k road race. Orla was given a time of 17:20 (33rd overall, 6th female finisher and 1st F40). However, she feels she ran closer to 17:45 and that the timing clock may not have been working properly on what may also have been a course that measured short. We will keep an eye on the results to see if they get amended at all.

Further afield, two of our Spanish exiles, Cristian Vilchez Ceballos and Esther Requena Ferri ran a 9.8k street race in San Antón Jean, in the hills behind Malaga. Esther ran 40:47, whilst Cristian ran 34:35. One of our London-based exiles, Conor Parle, ran in the Chingford League 8k XC, which he completed in 51:41.

As mentioned, several of our WM&T runners took part in parkruns the previous morning, preparing for Sunday’s race. Indeed, there was in any event a significant number of Crusaders celebrating Paul Kelly’s birthday and move to Ringsend in the Poolbeg parkrun, where the club’s representatives measured 20% at 46 of the field of 211.

Sebastian finished the event there a country mile ahead of the field in a time of 17:25, with our next runner, Ronan Walsh, placing 8th in 19:38. Adrian Groarke followed (15th in 20:15), just ahead of Kenan Furlong (16th in 20:23). They were followed by Diarmuid Finan (20th in 21:19) ahead of Claire Reidy (24th and 2nd in 21:34). David Timoney was next (29th in 21:59), ahead of Kabir Sala (39th in 22:29), Ciara Regan (40th and 6th in 22:30), Luke Haran (41st in 22:35), Luz Estevan (42nd and 7th in 22:36), Aoife McCarthy (56th and 8th in 23:28), Emily Glen (67th and 11th in 24:06), Mark McGovern (69th in 24:23), Charles Cartledge (80th in 24:51), Josie Ward (81st and 13th in 24:52) and Franky Keane (97th in 25:47).

Next came Russell Murphy (100th in 26:07) followed by Juliane Frydenlund (102nd and 23rd in 26:30), Alan Martin (105th in 26:50), David Pepper (108th in 26:54), Tanja Narancic (113th and 29th in 27:07), Louise O’Riordan (114th and 30th in 27:08), Simon Catteau (117th in 27:10), Darina Scully (124th and 35th in 27:25), Olwyn Dunne (125th and 36th in 27:26), Sophia Morgan (127th and 38th in 27:32) and Djinn Von Noorden (129th and 39th in 27:40).

Ellen Walsh placed 144th and 48th in 28:48, followed by Emer Kenny (157th and 56th in 29:46), Carina Davidson (159th and 57th in 29:56), Lorraine McMahon (163rd and 59th in 30:10), Michelle English (164th and 60th in 30:14), Maureen McGinley (168th and 63rd in 30:39), Fiona Shine (plus buggy) (175th and 68th in 31:15), Paul E. Kelly (185th in 31:47), Mikel Crisostomo (188th in 31:52), Anna Shine (194th and 79th in 32:30), Lisa Shine (195th and 80th in 32:32), Marie-Claire Daly (197th and 82nd in 32:36), Máirín Shine (204th and 86th in 33:11), Sam Osborne (215th in 34:25), Cynthia Perucca (228th and 101st in 51:47), with Neil Brown and Don Anderton tailwalking.

Apart from Sebastian and Claire podiuming, we also had some super results elsewhere. Ross Neill headed the field of 151 in Sligo in a time of 18:47, whilst Gill Earley placed 15th and 1st in Naas with its field of 235 in a time of 20:46. Gill was followed by Mary Donnelly (23rd and 4th in 21:47) and preceded by Kev Moore (7th in 19:33). Ciarain Kelly joined 152 other runners in Father Collins parkrun, heading the field in 16:49, whilst Dee Lawlor did the same in Cabinteely. In a field of 167, Dee ran 18:19, followed by John O’Donnell (4th in 19:56) and Georgina Loughrey (81st and 26th in 30:48).

Rob Cross and Ryan Hoey ran alongside 337 other runners in Malahide, where Rob placed 3rd in 17:42, followed by Ryan in 126th in 25:36, whilst, in Marlay Park, Emma Flynn placed 39th and 4th in 21:28, followed in the field of 595 by Kathryn Sweeney who goes from strength to strength (72nd and 9th in 22:53), Barry O’Neill (136th in 25:06) and Kate Murray (324th and 86th in 29:21).

In Navan with its field of 176, Michelle Geoghegan placed 91st and 37th in 31:00, whilst in St. Anne’s, Brian O’Kelly placed 32nd in 20:54, followed in the field of 444, by Enda Currid (55th in 22:01). Orlaith de Burca took 169th and 49th spots in the 290-strong field in Shanganagh with a time of 29:44, whilst in Porterstown, with a field of 187, Martina White placed 85th and 23rd in 29:37, followed by Kevin Flynn (165th in 38:46). Finally, in Coomera in Australia, one of our exiles there, Kris Ryan joined a field of 183, placing 40th and 6th in 27:26.

Women’s Meet & Train XC race 2 (211)
Overall place Name Guntime
1 Rebekah Vickery 00:12:32
Crusaders AC runners
9 Luz Estevan 00:14:06
15 Annabelle Morris 00:14:27
25 Tilde Martinsen 00:14:51
27 Fiona Shine 00:14:53
32 Caoimhe O’Halloran 00:15:02
36 Joanne Carey 00:15:17
59 Imogen Guinness 00:16:04
60 Emer Kenny 00:16:05
63 Kate Murray 00:16:07
64 Susan Clarke 00:16:08
65 Olwyn Dunne 00:16:09
69 Carmel Higgins 00:16:16
74 Ellen Walsh 00:16:28
88 Paula Bradshaw 00:17:16
91 Sophia Morgan 00:17:23
92 Darina Scully 00:17:25
97 Anna Brown 00:17:36
100 Lisa Shine 00:17:41
114 Lisa Branigan 00:18:03
130 Ailish Hassett 00:18:22
153 Georgina Loughrey 00:19:31
154 Carina Davidson 00:19:32
160 Anousheh Alamir 00:19:48
161 Lorraine McMahon 00:19:50
163 Anna Shine 00:19:52
166 Gabriela Segura 00:20:06
167 Anna Hernick 00:20:07
177 Emily Ashford 00:20:58
182 Máirín Shine 00:21:36
199 Lisa Harpur 00:36:11
202 Marie-Claire Daly 00:36:27
208 Niamh Trihy 00:37:49
Art O’Neill Pursuit 25k (132)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Dean Comerford 1 02:11:24
10 Stephanie Bergin 1 02:35:42
Crusaders AC runner
92 Peter Rosenshine 03:10:42
Full results here: https://www.popupraces.ie/race/the-art-o-neill-2026/
Leinster Masters Men’s XC Championships 7k (105)
Overall place Name Guntime
1 Alexander Wallace 1 00:24:40
Crusaders AC runner
38 Michael O’Conor 00:28:06 (15)
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/leinster_intermediate__masters_xc_championships_2026/6077/results
[Cork BHAA Roquette Little Island 5k (419)*
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 David Carter 1 00:14:42
11 Sinead O’Connor 1 00:16:24
Crusaders AC runner
33 Orla Drumm 00:17:20 (6)
Full results here: https://www.corkbhaa.com/live/
(* May need to be updated)]
Sligo Parkrun (151)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ross Neill 1 00:18:47
14 Emily McGettrick 1 00:23:00
Crusaders AC runner
1 Ross Neill 00:18:47
Poolbeg Parkrun (230)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Sebastian Hansen 1 00:17:25
22 Ciara Gallagher 1 00:21:26
Crusaders AC runners
1 Sebastian Hansen 00:17:25
15 Adrian Groarke 00:20:15
16 Kenan Furlong 00:20:23
20 Diarmuid Finan 00:21:19
24 Claire Reidy 00:21:34 (2)
29 David Timoney 00:21:59
39 Kabir Sala 00:22:29
40 Ciara Regan 00:22:30 (6)
41 Luke Haran 00:22:35
42 Luz Estevan 00:22:36 (7)
56 Aoife McCarthy 00:23:28 (8)
67 Emily Glen 00:24:06 (11)
69 Mark McGovern 00:24:23
80 Charles Cartledge 00:24:51
81 Josie Ward 00:24:52 (13)
97 Franky Keane 00:25:47
100 Russell Murphy 00:26:07
102 Juliane Frydenlund 00:26:30 (23)
105 Alan Martin 00:26:50
108 David Pepper 00:26:54
113 Tanja Narancic 00:27:07 (29)
114 Louise O’Riordan 00:27:08 (30)
117 Simon Catteau 00:27:10
124 Darina Scully 00:27:25 (35)
125 Olwyn Dunne 00:27:26 (36)
127 Sophia Morgan 00:27:32 (38)
129 Djinn Von Noorden 00:27:40 (39)
144 Ellen Walsh 00:28:48 (48)
157 Emer Kenny 00:29:46 (56)
159 Carina Davidson 00:29:56 (57)
163 Lorraine McMahon 00:30:10 (59)
164 Michelle English 00:30:14 (60)
168 Maureen McGinley 00:30:39 (63)
175 Fiona Shine 00:31:15 (68)
185 Paul E. Kelly 00:31:47
188 Mikel Crisostomo 00:31:52
194 Anna Shine 00:32:30 (79)
195 Lisa Shine 00:32:32 (80)
197 Marie-Claire Daly 00:32:36 (82)
204 Máirín Shine 00:33:11 (86)
215 Sam Osborne 00:34:25
228 Cynthia Perucca 00:51:47 (101)
229 Neil Brown 00:55:27
230 Don Anderton 00:55:32
Father Collins Parkrun (153)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ciarain Kelly 1 00:16:49
18 Maura Ginty 1 00:22:19
Crusaders AC runner
1 Ciarain Kelly 00:16:49
Naas Parkrun (235)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 David Joyce 1 00:18:37
15 Gillian Earley 1 00:20:46
Crusaders AC runners
7 Kev Moore 00:19:33
15 Gillian Earley 00:20:46 (1)
23 Mary Donnelly 00:21:47 (4)
St. Anne’s Parkrun (444)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Anthony Dorran 1 00:17:17
18 Ailish Malone 1 00:19:50
Crusaders AC runners
32 Brian O’Kelly 00:20:54
55 Enda Currid 00:22:01
Porterstown Parkrun (187)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Niall Sherlock 1 00:17:34
4 Patricia McLoughlin 1 00:21:06
Crusaders AC runners
85 Martina White 00:29:37 (23)
165 Kevin Flynn 00:38:46
Malahide Parkrun (339)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Niki Aleksandrovics 1 00:17:12
7 Eimear Marie English 1 00:18:28
Crusaders AC runners
3 Rob Cross 00:17:42
126 Ryan Hoey 00:25:36
Navan Parkrun (176)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Evan O’Sullivan 1 00:19:07
9 Harriette Duffy 1 00:22:00
Crusaders AC runner
91 Michelle Geoghegan 00:31:00 (37)
Shanganagh Parkrun (290)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Matthew McConnell 1 00:16:16
2 Isabel O’Reilly 1 00:17:48
Crusaders AC runner
169 Orlaith de Burca 00:29:44 (49)
Marlay Parkrun (595)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Eamon Spillane 1 00:18:34
12 Lauren McCambridge 1 00:19:44
Crusaders AC runners
39 Emma Flynn 00:21:28 (4)
72 Kathryn Sweeney 00:22:53 (9)
136 Barry O’Neill 00:25:06
324 Kate Murray 00:29:21 (86)
Cabinteely Parkrun (167)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Derek Lawlor 1 00:18:19
14 Derval Devaney 1 00:22:43
Crusaders AC runners
1 Derek Lawlor 00:18:19
4 John O’Donnell 00:19:56
81 Georgina Loughrey 00:30:48 (26)