Racing Over and Under

18/9/2023

Thomas Vogée

It was a relatively quieter time for racing this week. Nevertheless, we had some excellent results in several of the races that did take place, some of which had tough weather conditions with which to contend.

We should start perhaps outside Ireland, with Niamh Allen, our exile in Australia, chalking up yet another victory. This time she ran a superb 33:30 to win the women’s race and placing 13th overall in the field of more than 10,000 in the Sydney marathon 10k. Deirdre Kennedy also ran in the 10k, where she finished in 54:43, placing 1,522nd overall and 429th female finisher. Maurice Kelter and Katie Rogers took part in the full marathon. In a field of more than 13,000 runners, Maurice placed 122nd in 2:51:12, whilst Katie (in what was her first marathon) ran 3:21:40 for 888th place overall (81st female finisher). Conditions were reported to be unusually hot with several heatstroke victims being admitted to hospital.

Back home, we continued with the half marathon running that has been notable over the last couple of weeks for those preparing for an Autumn marathon. Eddie Nugent joined a field of 284 to run in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary in the Boston Scientific half marathon. Part of the undulating out-and back, east-west oriented course, had to be changed because of flooding from the River Suir, but that seemed to have no major impact on the times.

Eddie ran an excellent 1:27:16 for 17th place. Further north, we had two runners take part in the Kilkenny Mediaeval Half marathon. In a field of 290, Conor Macguinness, who like Eddie is preparing for the DCM, placed 9th in a similar super time of 1:27:31. Maria Kennedy, who is not marathon training, also took on the challenge despite suffering from a head cold during the week. Maria ran 2:08:03 for 205th and 61st places. Leo Lundy completed his 373rd full marathon in Kilkenny. In a field of 137, Leo placed 128th in 5:34:55. Then, in the 30k event, Tara Murphy placed 174th and 65th in a time of 3:02:59 in a field of 235 finishers. Conditions for all the races on Saturday were definitely not ideal, with strong winds at around 25 kph from the north, which certainly impacted the events which largely involved a north-south out-and-back, with a distinct headwind on the return. To complete the half marathon results in Ireland, Kathryn Sweeney paced a friend to a PB in the Belfast Half marathon on Sunday. Kathryn’s time was 1:46:00, placing 1198th overall and 231st female finisher.

Also, over the weekend we had a runner in the Griffith Ave 1 mile that took place on Sunday morning in the rain. In a quality field of 221, Aoife Kelly ran 7.29 for 143rd and 44th places. Then, down in Cork, Louise O’Riordan ran in the 5k Women’s Mini Marathon where, in a field of 2664 runners, she placed 520th in 32:02.

Further afield, another runner training for the DCM, Thomas Vogée, ran in the Copenhagen half marathon, which he completed with a strong run in 1:20:22, for 675th place overall in a field of nearly 25,000 finishers. Continuing with half marathons abroad, Eoghan Kerins, another runner preparing for Dublin, ran the DC half marathon in Washington DC on Sunday. Eoghan also ran a great time of 1:28:10 to place 170th in a field of over 4000 finishers. Conditions would have been quite pleasant, with little wind on an extremely flat course which would have taken in quite a few of the memorials and monuments. In the UK, Louise Van Wildermeersch, our London-based exile, ran in the Truro half marathon which she completed in 1:52:09. On Saturday evening, Esther Requena Ferri and Cristian Vilchez Ceballos took part in the Legua nocturna torre del Mar along the seafront on the coast east of Malaga in Spain. Esther won the women’s event in the flat 5.8k race in 21:56, with Cristian running 20:35.

Finally, closer to home, Isabelle Cairns took part in a duathlon (run/bike/run) in Wexford, involving a 5k road race (21:13) and also a 10k leg (46:37).

There may have been an IMRA event in the mountains this weekend, with Crusader participation. If that turns out to be the case, the report will be updated with the results.

There was increased participation by members of the club on Saturday morning. At least 11 club members took part in the parkrun in Poolbeg, being led home by Stephen Hurley (18:11) and swiftly followed by Michael Wycherley (2nd in 18:20). Further back in the field of 148 came David O’Donnell (26th in 21:28), who finished ahead of Ailsa Berkeley (62nd and 7th in 24:39), Kenan Furlong (70th in 24:57) who incorporated the parkrun into his long run, Kevin Kenny (77th in 25:37), Aisling O’Riordan (101st and 27th in 28:56), Anna Hernick (116th and 39th in 30:35), Mary Dolan (125th and 44th in 32:27), Gillian Curran (126th and 45th in 32:28) right behind, and Evelyn Neary who arrived late for the event and so ran much faster than the time attributed to her (133rd and 48th in 37:03).

Áine Kenny was again a first finisher in Mountbellew where she placed 3rd overall in a time of 22:51 and in a field of 33, whilst Yvonne Macauley mirrored the feat in nearby Clonbur Woods. Yvonne ran 22:37, finishing ahead of the whole field of 35. Gareth Dunne also led the field of 96 home in Tymon where he ran 18:58, followed `by Sharon Woods (12th and 2nd in 22:47), whilst Annie Hughes placed 14th and 2nd in a PB time of 19:36 in the 372-strong field in St. Anne’s, Raheny. Annie was joined by Michael Maughan who placed 53rd in 22:02.

Another 2nd place finish was recorded by Kate Murray who ran a time of 22:23 for 14th place overall in a field of 102 runners in Dodder Valley, whilst Michael O’Conor took 2nd place too in Brickfields where he joined 58 other participants. Michael’s time was 18:44. Dee Lawlor and Carina Davidson ran in Shanganagh with unfortunately mixed outcomes. Dee placed 3rd in a field of 172 and in a time of 18:10, whilst Carina struggled on gamely after her hamstring went after 4k to record a time of 40:08 and 169th and 74th places. Fingers crossed that Carina can resume training for the DCM soon.

Paul Cowhie placed 4th in Marlay Park. Alongside 383 other runners, Paul recorded a time of 17:51 and he was followed home by his wife, Aoife, who placed 152nd and 34th in 25:37. Toby Benham finished in 8th place in Mallow Castle, in a time of 22:06 and in a field of 49, whilst, not so far away, in Ballincollig, Louise O’Riordan prepared for the following day’s mini marathon, placing 234th and 62nd in a field of 302 and in a time of 32:53. Another runner warming up for the following day’s racing was Aoife Kelly who ran in Poppintree, where, in a field of 127, she placed 70th and 18th in 29:56.

John Lohan went down to Kilkenny to support Tara Murphy and ran there in a field of 126, placing 7th in a time of 21:57, whilst Karl Walsh ran once again in Naas, where, in a field of 109, he placed 16th in 22:09. Lisa Shine ran down in Tramore Valley in Cork where, in a field of 193 runners, she placed 162nd and 66th in 32:31, whilst her mother Máirín took on the Grand Canal Way parkrun in Tullamore, where she placed 15th and 5th in a time of 28:07 alongside 36 other participants. In Corkagh Eoghan Corrigan came home in 23rd place in a time of 23:37, with the field measuring 160, whilst Mairead Cashman ran once again in Bushy Park where, in a field of 103, she crossed the line in 82nd and 29th places in a time of 32:45. Over in the UK, John Reidy ran in the 232-strong field in Perth in Scotland, where he placed 34th in 21:41, whilst Orlaith de Burca ran in Oxford in the University Parks, where, in a field of 436, she came home in 319th and 93rd places.

Boston Scientific Half Marathon (284)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 John Meade 1 01:13:15
22 Clara Ryan 1 01:28:49
Crusaders AC runner
17 Eddie Nugent 01:27:16
Full results here: https://www.premiertimingsystems.ie/2023-Race-Results/Boston-Scientific-Half-Marathon-results?fbclid=IwAR3PKUnDwOw0VTDqFMyvmatQA7B85kicNIKKnsV9IQyTwq4BJB7-W2bCY00
Kilkenny (Mediaeval) Half Marathon (290)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Richard Hobson 1 01:19:57
12 Edel Byrne 1 01:29:10
Crusaders AC runners
9 Conor Macguinness 01:27:31
205 Maria Kennedy 02:08:03 (61)
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/medieval_marathon_2023/4743/results
Kilkenny (Mediaeval) Full Marathon (137)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Carlos Gonzalez 1 02:53:34
15 Lise Friis 1 03:25:57
Crusaders AC runner
128 Leo Lundy 05:34:55
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/medieval_marathon_2023/4743/results
Kilkenny (Mediaeval) 30k (235)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Aubrey Storey 1 01:47:02
14 Sarah Flanagan 1 02:06:42
Crusaders AC runner
174 Tara Murphy 03:02:59 (65)
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/medieval_marathon_2023/4743/results
Belfast Half marathon (4814)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Eskander Turki 1 01:09:10
23 Ann Marie Glynn 1 01:14:53
Crusaders AC runner
1198 Kathryn Sweeney 01:46:00 (231)
Full results here: https://www.popupraces.ie/race/2023-mash-direct-belfast-city-half-marathon/
Cork Mini marathon 5k (2664)
Overall place Name Chiptime
1 Lizzie Lee 00:17:19
Crusaders AC runner
520 Louise O’Riordan 00:32:02
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/the_echo_womens_minimarathon_2023/4903/results
Griffith Avenue 1 mile (2221)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 John Travers 1 00:04.01
22 Ide Nic Dhomhnaill 1 00:04.45
Crusaders AC runner
143 Aoife Kelly 00:07.29 (44)
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/griffith_avenue_mile__family_fun_mile_2023/4857/results
Mountbellew Parkrun (33)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Thomas Scarry 1 00:20:47
3 Áine Kenny 1 00:22:51
Crusader AC runner
3 Áine Kenny 00:22:51 (1)
Tramore Valley, Cork Parkrun (193)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Heywood Richardson 1 00:16;18
15 Clodagh Creedon 1 00:20:58
Crusaders AC runner
162 Lisa Shine 00:32:31 (66)
Ballincollig Parkrun (302)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Alan O’Sullivan 1 00:18:37
12 Niamh Cronin 1 00:20:01
Crusaders AC runner
234 Louise O’Riordan 00:32:53 (62)
Dodder Valley Parkrun (102)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Kahumburuka Ivan Tuahuku 1 00:17:41
12 Vanessa Sallier 1 00:22:03
Crusaders AC runner
14 Kate Murray 00:22:23 (2)
Marlay Parkrun (384)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ruben Bartelink 1 00:16:43
19 Ruth Wilson 1 00:19:59
Crusaders AC runners
4 Paul Cowhie 00:17:51
152 Aoife Cowhie 00:25:37 (34)
Poolbeg Parkrun (148)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Stephen Hurley 1 00:18:11
29 Ava Rose Clarke 1 00:21:47
Crusaders AC runners
1 Stephen Hurley 00:18:11
2 Michael Wycherley 00:18:20
26 David O’Donnell 00:21:28
62 Ailsa Berkeley 00:24:39 (7)
70 Kenan Furlong 00:24:57
77 Kevin Kenny 00:25:37
101 Aisling O’Riordan 00:28:56 (27)
116 Anna Hernick 00:30:35 (39)
125 Mary Dolan 00:32:27 (44)
126 Gillian Curran 00:32:28 (45)
133 Evelyn Neary 00:37:03 (48)
Kilkenny Parkrun (126)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Graham Bourne 1 00:18:35
8 Ellen Costelloe 1 00:22:01
Crusaders AC runner
7 John Lohan 00:21:57
Mallow Castle Parkrun (49)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Conor Lavery 1 00:19:27
5 Niamh Lavery 1 00:21:30
Crusaders AC runner
8 Toby Benham 00:22:06
Clonbur Woods Parkrun (35)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Yvonne Macauley 1 00:22:37
2 Theo Hampton 1 00:24:47
Crusaders AC runner
1 Yvonne Macauley 00:22:37 (1)
Shanganagh Parkrun (172)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Morgan Durston 1 00:17:19
13 Suzanne Foot 1 00:20:38
Crusaders AC runners
3 Derek Lawlor 00:18:10
169 Carina Davidson 00:40:08 (74)
Brickfields Parkrun (59)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Seán Cahill 1 00:18:39
29 Caroline Brogan 1 00:27:44
Crusaders AC runner
2 Michael O’Conor 00:18:44
Tymon Parkrun (96)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Gareth Dunne 1 00:18:58
10 Louise English 1 00:22:34
Crusaders AC runner
12 Sharon Woods 00:22:47 (2)
Bushy Parkrun (103)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Clara Kinsella 1 00:19:51
2 Edward Ahern 1 00:20:07
Crusaders AC runner
82 Mairead Cashman 00:32:45 (29)
Corkagh Parkrun (160)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Oliver Warren 1 00:18:18
5 Emma Hand 1 00:19:57
Crusaders AC runner
23 Eoghan Corrigan 00:23:37
The Grand Canal Way, Tullamore Parkrun (37)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Tim O’Brien 1 00:19:24
7 Siobhan Sellar 1 00:26:26
Crusaders AC runner
15 Máirín Shine 00:28:07 (5)
St. Anne’s Parkrun (372)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Dermot Coffey 1 00:17:49
2 Lucy Barrett 1 00:18:10
Crusaders AC runners
14 Annie Hughes 00:19:36 (PB) (2)
53 Michael Maughan 00:22:02
Naas Parkrun (109)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Conor McGrane 1 00:17:17
28 Cliona Kenny 1 00:23:47
Crusaders AC runner
16 Karl Walsh 00:22:09
Poppintree Parkrun (127)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Dean Hayden 1 00:19:15
8 Maura Matthews 1 00:20:49
Crusaders AC runner
70 Aoife Kelly 00:29:56 (18)