Return of the goody bag in Dublin for one of its best races – huge club turnout for the Raheny 5-mile road race

30/1/2023

Colm Parnell and Andrea Rondina

Sunday was an amazing day, with nearly a record club turnout for the 39th running of the Raheny 5 miler, but, also, we saw some excellent performances in the AIT indoor track in Athlone at the AAI Indoor Games.

We start with indoor athletics, where we had 4 athletes in action on the track. The highlight of the day was Claire Mooney’s victory and super time in the women’s 800m. In a strong field of 8 runners, Claire knocked out a fabulous time of 2:05.59 for the win. In heat 3 of 5 of the graded men’s 200m races, Charlie Bastow placed 3rd in 23.45. Then, there were 2 series of men’s 60mH which featured Valantinos Goularas and Matt Behan, competing over hurdles at the adult height alongside a younger runner vaulting hurdles of a slightly lower height. In the first race Valantinos registered 8.15, with Matt unfortunately hitting a hurdle, whilst, in the second series, Matt ran 8.24, with Valantinos just behind on 8.25.

The Raheny 5-miler is famous for at least three things: one its start time of 3pm on a Sunday afternoon in late January, almost acting as a kickstart to the year for roadrunners, another its excessively calorific but wonderful goody bag, and, thirdly, its eclectic mix of prizes: toasters, irons, clock radios and air fryers, to name but a few. The goody bag was making a welcome return after a two-year hiatus and was chock full of guilty pleasures. The mid-afternoon start provides a bit of a dilemma for athletes regarding pre-race fuelling and it may well have been the case that those who dropped out during the race, of which there were a few, were suffering from having eaten too close to the event. Those of us who ran on practically empty stomachs possibly reaped the benefits. Still, of the 97 Crusaders we know who took part in the race, we had at least 94 who recorded a finishing time and with some smashing results. We made a big impact among the nearly 4,000 runners in the field and had, as usual, the most brilliant and vocal support around the course from our own and other clubs’ members. The singlet really does make a difference! Susan Walsh’s commentary provided some great highlights too!

As mentioned, this year’s race was the 39th running and, following last year’s unfortunate distance marking, resulting in a race being 500m long, went well, although, with the extremely bunched start for such a large field, there was at least one faller early on. Hopefully, there were no major issues arising from such an incident. The start line for the race was incredibly packed and because of this there was really no risk of anyone getting cold in their singlets waiting for about 20 minutes for the starting hooter.

Although the course is not too difficult with only a couple of drags early on and a nice long downhill between the 3rd and 4th kilometres, it is quite twisty in places with some tight turns. Additionally, in a chilly temperature, the blustery conditions were noticeable with a westerly wind at 32kph.

With 94 finishers, it is hard to list everyone who ran and how they fared, the results below hopefully speak for themselves. However, we can draw attention to a few results, particularly of those recording PBs or running their first 5-mile race.

We had 22 male athletes finish in the top 250 overall, with 7 in the top 100, led home by Colm Parnell in 44th place with a PB time of 26:18, swiftly followed by Andrea Rondina who also recorded a PB with his time of 26:22 for 45th spot, after a spectacular sprint for the line with Colm. Kevin Fitzgibbon placed 72nd with his PB time of 27:03 and he was followed by Michael Kiely, coming back into form, with a time of 27:23 for 84th place. Another of our top 100 finishers with a PB was Patrick Conlon who placed 87th in a time of 27:26 and he was followed by Stephen Hurley (95th in 27:34) and Daragh O’Reilly (99th in 27:33). Other notable results in the top 250 came from Chris Russell, running for the first time in the club singlet (113th in 27:48), Daniel Lowe (126th in a PB time of 28:08), Paul Cowhie (143rd and 2nd M55 (narrowly missing out on 1st place by 10 seconds) in 28:19), Thomas Vogée (155th in a PB time of 28:24), Gerard White (237th in a PB time of 29:30) and Cian Coughlan (240th in a PB time of 29:35, despite a fall at the tight turn on the out and back section in St. Anne’s Park).

Phelim Murray looked dead and buried after being passed at around 3 miles by James Cottle, but developed a second wind, shooting by James, who himself was pushing on, as we came into the park and recording a well-deserved PB time of 31:45 for 450th place. James placed 507th with his time of 32:25, which was good enough to win his M65 category, having put some distance between himself and the second placed athlete, after overtaking him around the first 2k mark. Additionally, there were PBs for Franky Keane (930th in 36:03), Andy Deuser (954th in 36:05) and Julian Callan (2065th in 42:53).

There was also a team competition within the event, and our leading men (of Colm, Andrea and Kevin) took 7th place overall out of 57 teams listed. Our men’s O/40 team (of Stephen Hurley, Peter O’Toole and Paul Cowhie), placed 4th (just 4 points behind 3rd -placed North Belfast Harriers) in a competition comprising 41 teams. Well done to each of them.

We had at least 35 female members of the club in the race, a super turnout, and had some excellent results too, 11 finishing inside the top 100 women’s places, and 23 in total inside the top 250. They were led home by Emily Sheils with quite possibly a PB. Emily ran 30:16 for 313th overall (30th female finisher), having run 31:53 in Clontarf last November. Not so far behind came Aoife Quigley with quite definitely a PB result, placing 377th and 32nd in 31:01 and Aoife was followed by Kathryn Sweeney (517th and 49th in a PB time of 32:27). The three leading women placed 4th out of 41 teams, just 4 points behind 3rd-placed Sportsworld.

Kathryn was followed by the regularly-improving Irene Gorman (586th and 55th in 33:10) and by Kathryn Gibbons (600th and 57th in 33:11). Isabelle Cairns recorded a PB, placing 645th and 67th in 33:53, and she was followed by Rachael Yorke (656th and 73rd in 33:58), Paula Bradshaw (715th and 79th in a PB time of 34:15), newcomer Laura Garcia, running her first ever race in Ireland (717th and 80th in 34:28), Ciara Lynch (764th and 90th in a PB time of 34:22) and Joanne Carey (814th and 97th in 34:28). Just outside the top 100 came ladies captain Rebecca Fleming (840th and 104th in 34:42) and she was followed by Sophia Morgan (925th and 123rd in a PB time of 35:24). Other top 150 finishers were Emily Quinlan (927th and 124th in 34:25, just behind Rebecca) and Triona Quill (1032nd and 149th in 36:49) who was 7th F50, moving into a new age category later this year.

Tanja Narancic reported another PB with her time of 36:23 for 1055th place overall (156th female finisher) having started out at the back of the field. Emily Glen was another runner to record a PB again, placing 1155th and 184th in 37:05, whilst mention should be made of Olwyn Dunne, club president, and Áine Crotty, both in training for the Donadea national 50k championships in two weeks’ time, who incorporated the race into their long run. Olwyn placed 1330th and 232nd in 38:21 and Áine crossed the finish line in 1361st and 242nd places in 38:34. Finally, Aoife Cowhie ran 2 minutes faster than her previous best for the distance (1632nd and 318th in 40:33), whilst Evelyn Neary also made a great improvement (1919th and 475th in a PB time of 42:59). The women’s O/40 team (of Paula, Joanne and Sophia) showed remarkable consistency with 2 of our other teams, also placing 4th (just 2 points this time behind Lusk in 3rd place) in a competition involving 32 teams. Members may be interested to hear that Catherine Thornton, now of GCH, who has recently been training with us, placed 179th overall and 16th female finisher in a PB time of 28:54, her first time breaking 29 minutes and maintaining the strong form she has developed over the past year or so. Well done to everyone! A great time was had by all!

Further afield on the same day, Brian Rainey took part in the Seville half marathon. He reported that conditions were bright and gorgeous on what he described was a lovely course. He was delighted with a time of 1:29 to start off the year.

With the 5-mile race taking place on Sunday, most of the Cru competitors were running easy the day before, but there was still a significant turnout for the parkruns, some of our runners preparing themselves for the following day. We had at least two first finishers, with Toby Benham, in Tramore Valley, leading the field of 218 home in 17:39. He was followed by Helena O’Keeffe (116th and 27th in 27:10). Poolbeg dominated the results, with at least 19 members of the club taking part. The first finisher was Ross Neill (17:49) and he was followed in the field of 197 by Dale Whelehan (15th in 20:36), John Lohan (26th in 21:27), Kevin Lynch (31st in 21:49), Kevin Lambe (32nd in 22:01), Tony Hackett (46th in 22:38), Josie Ward (53rd and 5th in 23:05), Olwyn Dunne (58th and 7th in 23:29), Russell Murphy (62nd in 23:45), Sharon Woods (82nd and 13th in 24:36), Kevin Kenny (85th in 25:00), Franky Keane (86th in 25:01), Tara Murphy (91st and 15th in 25:25), Maureen McGinley (116th and 29th in 27:19), Kenan Furlong (119th in 27:25), Neil Brown (134th in 28:12), Louise O’Riordan, just coming back from injury (154th and 53rd in 29:50), Niamh Trihy (176th and 64th in 32:57) and Mari Hansen (177th and 65th in 33:28). Karl Walsh ran in Naas, where, in a field of 142, he placed 9th in a time of 20:13, whilst Darina Scully ran with Brian Scanlan and another 105 participants in River Valley Park. Darina placed 15th and 5th in 24:16, whilst Brian took 43rd spot in 28:29. Daniel Lowe ran with 186 other runners in Bushy Park, where he placed 34th in 24:01, whilst Andy Deuser joined the field of 122 in Fairview Park, where he took 31st spot in 25:37. Stephen Mulligan crossed the finish line in Cabinteely in 64th position (29:14) out of a field of 149, whilst Diarmuid Byrne ran once again in Poppintree where, in a field of 171, he placed 50th in 25:14.

We had at least 4 Crusaders join 364 other runners in St. Anne’s, with William Ralph placing 63rd in 22:37, followed by Phelim Murray (218th in 29:05) who in usual fashion sprinted ahead of his wife Sarah Lyons (222nd and 69th in 29:07) and Emer Kenny (221st and 68th in the same time) just at the finish line. Then, in Tymon, members of the Shine family ran in the field of 103. Máirín placed 57th and 17th in 29:54, with Lisa alongside her (58th and 198th in the same time) and Fiona just behind (59th and 19th in 29:55). Orlaith de Burca ran in Vicarstown this week where, in a field of 106, she placed 58th and 17th in 31:54, whilst we had two runners in Shanganagh. David Carter came across the line in 25th in a field of 209 with a time of 21:36, followed by Carina Davidson (81st and 16th in 25:57).

AXA Raheny 5 miles (3868)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Ryan Creech 1 00:23:53
55 Annmarie McGlynn 1 00:26:43
Crusaders AC runners
44 Colm Parnell 00:26:18 (PB)
45 Andrea Rondina 00:26:22 (PB)
72 Kevin Fitzgibbon 00:27:03 (PB)
84 Michael Kiely 00:27:23
87 Patrick Conlon 00:27:26 (PB)
95 Stephen Hurley 00:27:34
99 Daragh O’Reilly 00:27:33
113 Chris Russell 00:27:48
126 Daniel Lowe 00:28:08 (PB)
130 Peter O’Toole 00:28:10
134 Adam Flanagan 00:28:08
141 Frank Halligan 00:28:18
143 Paul Cowhie 00:28:19
155 Thomas Vogée 00:28:24 (PB)
156 Joe McDermott 00:28:31
159 John Mulvihill 00:28:30
205 Aaron Cashman 00:29:16
208 Barry McCarthy 00:29:17
229 Henry Griffin 00:29:27
237 Gerard White 00:29:30 (PB)
240 Cian Coughlan 00:29:35 (PB)
246 Robert Browne 00:29:34
256 Eddie Nugent 00:29:40
268 Kieran Martin 00:29:47
313 Emily Sheils 00:30:16 (30)
353 Michael Fitzsimons 00:30:50
362 David Mc Evoy 00:30:50
377 Aoife Quigley (PB) (32)
385 Ronan Moynihan 00:31:03
435 Rory Goldsmith 00:31:29
439 Karl Walsh 00:31:27
444 Zlatko Kulic 00:31:51
450 Phelim Murray 00:31:45 (PB)
507 James Cottle 00:32:25
517 Kathryn Sweeney 00:32:27 (PB) (49)
550 Tim O’Donnell 00:32:42
578 Simon Kenny 00:32:51
586 Irene Gorman 00:33:10 (55)
587 Brian McGuckin 00:33:00
600 Kathryn Gibbons 00:33:11 (57)
614 Conor Macguinness 00:33:19
630 Luca Marchesotti 00:33:39
639 Gareth Phelan 00:33:33
645 Isabelle Cairns 00:33:53 (PB) (67)
656 Rachael Yorke 00:33:58 (73)
715 Paula Bradshaw 00:34:15 (79)
717 Laura Garcia 00:34:28 (80)
764 Ciara Lynch 00:34:22 (PB) (90)
788 Neil Brown 00:34:51
814 Joanne Carey 00:34:28 (97)
840 Rebecca Fleming 00:34:42 (104)
891 Luke Haran 00:35:45
925 Sophia Morgan 00:35:24 (PB) (123)
927 Emily Quinlan 00:34:25 (124)
930 Franky Keane 00:36:03 (PB)
954 Andy Deuser 00:36:05 (PB)
963 Anthony Owens 00:35:27
974 John Cunnane 00:34:50
984 Brendan Glynn 00:36:46
1032 Triona Quill 00:36:49 (149)
1055 Tanja Narancic 00:36:23 (PB) (156)
1075 Gian Piero Allerta 00:37:00
1098 Emer Kenny 00:36:42 (168)
1124 Tara Gavin 00:36:51 (174)
1133 Robbie Moore 00:37:46
1153 David O’Donnell 00:36:21
1155 Emily Glen 00:37:05 (PB) (184)
1279 Rachel Calvey 00:35:55 (220)
1325 Daniel Cullen 00:37:35
1327 Mona Samir 00:38:22 (231)
1330 Olwyn Dunne 00:38:21 (232)
1361 Áine Crotty 00:38:34 (242)
1398 Mary Fitzsimons 00:39:22 (257)
1526 Fiona Shine 00:40:01 (294)
1529 Lisa Shine 00:40:02 (296)
1632 Aoife Cowhie 00:40:33 (PB) (318)
1641 Margaret Foley 00:40:23 (322)
1663 Ian Clifford 00:39:57
1719 Rheanna Waters 00:38:34 (353)
1848 Kevin Kenny 00:40:55
1839 Carina Davidson 00:41:58 (402)
1862 Martina White 00:41:37 (453)
1919 Evelyn Neary 00:42:59 (PB) (475)
2039 Séamas Bulaeir 00:40:28
2065 Julian Callan 00:42:53 (PB)
2085 Martin Joyce 00:43:43
2108 Aitor Arribas Velasco 00:41:39
2494 Patrick Needham 00:45:55
2516 Elad Solomon 00:44:27
2559 Mairead Cashman 00:46:24
2808 Máirín Shine 00:47:55
2968 Joe O’Reilly 00:48:51
3330 Lorraine Fitzsimons 00:53:40
3722 Alan Kavanagh 01:01:04
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/39th_axa_raheny_5_mile/4614/results
Vicarstown Parkrun (106)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Michael Parlon 1 00:19:48
3 Lisa Murphy 1 00:20:32
Crusaders AC runner
58 Orlaith de Burca 00:31:54 (17)
Tymon Parkrun (103)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Craig Ryan 1 00:19:13
7 Suzanne Lundy 1 00:20:59
Crusaders AC runners
57 Máirín Shine 00:29:54 (17)
58 Lisa Shine 00:29:54 (18)
59 Fiona Shine 00:29:55 (19)
Tramore Valley, Cork Parkrun (218)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Toby Benham 1 00:17:39
14 Annmarie Burns 1 00:20:59
Crusaders AC runners
1 Toby Benham 00:17:39
116 Helena O’Keeffe 00:27:10 (27)
Shanganagh Parkrun (209)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Luke Weldon 1 00:16:51
32 Tracy Broughan 1 00:22:57
Crusaders AC runners
25 David Carter 00:21:36
81 Carina Davidson 00:25:57 (16)
Fairview Parkrun (122)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Marcus Bishop 1 00:18:18
38 Geraldine Clements 1 00:26:52
Crusaders AC runner
31 Andy Deuser 00:25:37
Poppintree Parkrun (171)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Bobby Bedford 1 00:18:28
14 Miriam Kearney 1 00:21:51
Crusaders AC runner
50 Diarmuid Byrne 00:25:14
Cabinteely Parkrun (149)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Miguel Flores 1 00:18:56
30 Patricia Forde 1 00:25:11
Crusaders AC runner
64 Stephen Mulligan 00:29:14
Bushy Parkrun (187)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Paul O’Connell 1 00:18:47
10 Bernadette Crowley 1 00:21:34
Crusaders AC runner
34 Daniel Lowe 00:24:01
River Valley Parkrun (107)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Christopher Lynch 1 00:18:41
6 Cecile Ollagnier 1 00:21:48
Crusaders AC runners
15 Darina Scully 00:24:16 (5)
43 Brian Scanlan 00:28:29
Poolbeg Parkrun (197)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ross Neill 1 00:17:49
19 Ava Rose Clarke 1 00:20:45
Crusaders AC runners
1 Ross Neill 00:17:49
15 Dale Whelehan 00:20:36
26 John Lohan 00:21:27
31 Kevin Lynch 00:21:49
32 Kevin Lambe 00:22:01
46 Anthony Hackett 00:22:38
53 Josie Ward 00:23:05 (5)
58 Olwyn Dunne 00:23:29 (7)
62 Russell Murphy 00:23:45
82 Sharon Woods 00:24:36 (13)
85 Kevin Kenny 00:25:00
86 Franky Keane 00:25:01
91 Tara Murphy 00:25:25 (15)
116 Maureen McGinley 00:27:19 (29)
119 Kenan Furlong 00:27:25
134 Neil Brown 00:28:12
154 Louise O’Riordan 00:29:50 (53)
176 Niamh Trihy 00:32:57 (64)
177 Mari Hansen 00:33:28 (65)
St. Anne’s Parkrun (368)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Shaun Conaghan 1 00:18:35
17 Jude Hanratty 1 00:20:10
Crusaders AC runners
63 William Ralph 00:22:37
218 Phelim Murray 00:29:05
221 Emer Kenny 00:29:07 (68)
222 Sarah Lyons 00:29:07 (69)
Naas Parkrun (142)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ciaran Steed 1 00:17:16
18 Mary McDermott 1 00:22:52
Crusaders AC runner
9 Karl Walsh 00:20:13