Something for Everyone

18/5/2026

L-R: Carmel Higgins, Máirín Shine, Ciara Lynch, Dee Lawlor, Tanja Narancic, Anna Shine, Lisa Shine, Emer Kenny, Emma O'Mahony

This weekend we saw the return of several popular events, including the Wicklow Way Relay, the Naas 5 miler and the Fastlane 10k and Half marathon races along the Grand Canal towpath.

We start with the National 5k Road Championships, held on Saturday morning as part of the Irish Runner 5k in the NW quadrant of the Phoenix Park. The one-loop course is not really set up as a PB possibility, with its descent into, and climb out of, the Furry Glen and a sharp steep turn onto the Upper Glen Road, along with windy conditions, but, surprisingly, although we did not medal as a club, we did get close and at least two of our athletes achieved PBs.

At least 14 clubmates ran in the race, with Michael Wycherley our first man home in 64th place overall, 4th M50, in 16:42. In the field of 2002, Jan Manschot was next, in 106th spot, with a time of 17:33 and he was followed by James Sherry, with yet another PB, placing 114th in 17:36. Tomás Bradley followed James in 254th place in a time of 19:13 ahead of Paul Murphy (305th in 19:30), Ray Walsh (309th and 8th M60 in 19:44) and Aoife Quigley (339th overall, 58th female finisher and 5th F40 in 20:12).

Paul Kilgarriff was next, placing 364th in 19:49, suggesting he started a little far back, and he was followed by Ellen Walsh (660th and 153rd in a PB time of 22:39), Kevin Kenny (823rd and 7th M65 in 25:35), Mauro Verrocchio (902nd in 24:51), Ed Forester (1030th in 24:24), Anna Hernick (1455th and 493rd in 30:10) and Darren Kelly (1558th in 31:23).

On the same morning, we saw at least six of our female members join the field of 329 in the Naas AC-organised 5 miler in Co. Kildare. The race is famous for there being a significant cash prize for the first mixed team of 4 to cross the line. So, despite, our female colleagues placing really well, without two male colleagues we were never in with a shout for the cash! Our first athlete across the line was Molly Hyland in 19th place overall, 4th female finisher in 30:01. Next across the line came Yvonne Macauley (41st and 8th in 31:37), followed by Gill Earley (52nd and 11th in 33:20), Nina Holmes (62nd and 14th in 34:05), Caoimhe Dempsey (78th and 22nd in 35:05) and Rebecca Fleming (109th and 31st in 37:42).

We had Crusaders in at least two of the three races on offer in the Fastlane series of 10k, half marathon and ¾ marathon events, conducted in Clondalkin along the Grand Canal and around the industrial estate there. Our main contingent took part in the 10k with its field of 664 and was led home by Steven Michel with a PB time of 36:20 for 9th place overall. Steven was followed by Niamh Farrell who had a super race to place 19th and 3rd in 38:31, ahead of Stephen O’Connor (44th in 38:13) whose guntime was 42:32 so must have started quite far back, and Jill O’Flynn who placed 46th and 4th with a PB time of 43:09. Seamas Bulaeir completed the group, placing 165th in 49:39. In the half marathon, with its field of 837 finishers, Daniel Lowe placed 402nd in 1:47:54.

There were plenty of other road and trail races during the week and over the weekend on which to report, close to home and further afield. Forty-two athletes started the 161km Beara Way Ultra and twenty-seven finished, among them Eimear Lynch who placed 11th overall and 2nd female finisher in a time of 26:17:41, a super achievement. The race involved a gain of over 5500m. There was also a shorter version of the event, the so-called Lite (!), which involved a distance of about 70k and had 44 runners who completed it. Richard Phelan and Daniel O’Mahony took part in that, with Richie completing it in 10:08:41 (23rd) and Daniel, 11:30:33 (33rd). We, also, had two runners in the Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park in Wales, competing in the 56k ultra there. Tristan Freeman ran 9:31:18 for the distance, followed by Charles Cartledge (10:52:39).

Áine Kenny headed to Riga for Sunday’s marathon. On a flat city course and with even pacing, Áine completed the race in 3:13:09, 19th female finisher and 3rd in her F45 age category. Meanwhile, Mags Foley ran once again in the Hackney Half marathon in London, which she completed in 90:20. Two of our London-based exiles also ran in the event. Jeanie Watson ran 93:25, followed by Louise Lancaster (née Vandermeersch) who ran 99:16 and they were followed by Djinn Von Noorden (2:17:05) who was pacing her daughter in her first half marathon.

Another half marathon, the Mezza Maratona del Naviglio, northwest of Milan, was run on Sunday morning by Kabir Sala who completed the distance in 1:53:05. Meanwhile, one of our exiles in Australia, Maurice Kelter, took part in the Sydney 10k on the same day, running a one-minute PB time improvement of 32:54. Finally, midweek, Andrea Rondina, one of our exiles in San Francisco ran in the 2 miles Paavo Nurmi time trial on the track, taking 4th place in a time of 9:43.02. He then went on to run in the San Francisco Bay to Breakers 12k on Sunday, which he completed in a time of 41:45.

On the track this weekend, we had two Crusaders take part in the May Open, organised by Athletics Ireland in Tullamore. Our two athletes competed in both rounds of the senior men's 100m, improving with each round. In heat 1 of round 1, Sean Owens placed 3rd in 10.78, followed by Valentinos Goularas (8th in 11.33). Then, in the 2nd round, Sean placed 2nd in 10.73 in the first heat, with Valentinos placing 3rd in 11.22 in the second heat.

In the mountains close to home, there were two events this week. The first was the usual Wednesday evening race, this time the 9.9k Brockagh challenge in Co. Wicklow with its climb of 414m. In a field of 130 and in “brutal weather” Warren Swords was delighted with his 8th place (2nd M45) in 51:17. Warren was followed by Jeffrey Marvel (23rd in 56:23) and Ollie McGrath (99th in 75:32). Then, on Saturday, there was the annual running of the Wicklow Way Relay, with this year 45 teams (fielding a max of 8 in each) competing on 8 legs of differing distance and terrain over 104k from Kilmashogue to Shillelagh. In conditions that were a bit windy and otherwise mixed as usual, we had at least 10 Crusaders taking part, spread across three teams. Dee Lawlor ran the half marathon 7th leg in 92:44 for a non-Cru team which placed 11th, whilst Warren ran 1:45:13 in the same leg for another, which placed 16th. The club then fielded an all-women’s team of Lisa Shine, Emer Kenny, Máirin Shine, Carmel Higgins, Tanja Narancic, Emma O’Mahony, Ciara Lynch and Anna Shine which completed the challenge in 11:57:24, finishing as the 5th all-women’s team. As always, a great time was had by all, and it appears no one got lost!

We did well as a club in the parkruns on Saturday morning. Brian O’Kelly led the field of 277 home in Malahide with an impressive time of 15:26, whilst, in Sligo, Ross Neill finished first ahead of 111 other runners in 19:08. Rob Cross was also a first finisher in Kilcock, where, in a field of 164, he recorded a time of 17:35, with Fiona Bane placing 22nd and 3rd in 23:57. Meanwhile, Emily Glen placed 7th and 1st in 23:34 in the 72-strong field in the SETU Arena in Waterford, whilst John O’Donnell led home the field of 90 in Claremorris where he ran 19:22.

We had our usual large turnout in Poolbeg, where, in a field of 212, Ashley Hayes took first place in 17:27, followed by Kenan Furlong (3rd in 17:55), Stephen Hurley (4th in 17:57), Mikel Crisostomo (5th in 18:39), Paul Cowhie (6th in 18:46) and then by Ryan Preston (19th in 21:39), Redmond Murphy (20th in 21:44), Sharon Woods (35th and 5th in 23:13) and by Eamon MacFhionnlaoich (43rd in 23:50).

Further back came Mark McGovern (54th in 24:36), Franky Keane (55th in 24:41), Julianne Frydenlund (78th and 20th in 26:13), Bo Chicoine (84th in 26:40) and Saketh Ravuluri (96th in 27:07), just working his way back from injury. Iseult Ni Chuinneagain was next (115th and 37th in 28:45), followed by Michelle English (139th and 51st in 29:31), Cynthia Perucca (159th and 60th in 30:57) and Maureen McGinley (167th and 64th) alongside Edwina Hogan (168th and 65th in 31:31).

Conor Macguinness placed 2nd in a time of 19:50 in Bushy Park, with its field of 200, whilst Jamie Renehan also placed 2nd in Fairview in 18:49 in a field of 171. He was followed by Fanny Trébouet (134th and 49th in 34:23). Aoife McCarthy took on Shanganagh, placing 39th and 4th in 23:55, followed by Dee Lawlor, taking it easy before the WWR (55th in 24:42) and Órlaith de Burca (127th and 27th in 27:41). Whilst, Grainne Regan also placed 4th (23rd overall) in a time of 26:17 in the 65-strong field in Tolka Valley Park.

Kevin Keenan took 6th spot running alongside 186 other participants in Gorey and recording a time of 19:43, whilst, Mustaf Ahmed ran 19:26 to place 6th in the field of 165 in Father Collins Park. Kev Moore placed 10th in 21:36 and in a field of 260 in Corkagh Park, whilst, in Cabinteely, Niall O’Connor ran 24:06 for 30th place in a field of 173.

Luke Haran joined a field of 86 in Mungret Park where he placed 11th in 22:47, whilst, Paul F. Kelly took 237th spot in the 480-strong field in St. Anne’s and in a time of 27:49 and whilst, in Tramore Valley, Cork, Áine Crotty placed 226th and 76th in 33:14, accompanied by Cian Coughlan who placed 227th in 33:15. The field there measured 271.

A group of Crusaders headed to Denmark for a few days and participated in two parkruns there. On Ascension Thursday they ran in the Amager Faelled parkrun, with its field of 444. Louise O’Riordan placed 57th in 23:12, followed by Kate Murray (82nd in 24:29), Darina Scully (174th in 27:51), Carina Davidson (209th in 28:57) and Mairead Cashman (302nd in 32:41). On Saturday, they ran in Damhusengen with its field of 88. Kate placed 46th in 26:43, alongside Darina (47th in 26:44) and ahead of Louise (54th in 27:29), Carina (64th in 29:09) and Mairead (79th in 31:53).

We also had runners in other overseas parkruns. Between overseas flights, Olwyn Dunne managed to join a field of 199 for an early parkrun at the Brooklyn Bridge, placing 96th and 29th in 28:19. Kabir Sala ran in the Murra di Lucca parkrun near Pisa, placing 38th in a field of 157 in a time of 25:03, whilst down under, one of our exiles in Australia, Christina Campbell, ran in Perry Lakes where she placed 103rd and 27th in a field of 242 and a time of 28:05.

In Scotland, John Reidy placed 30th in 20:58 in Perth with a field of 324, whilst, in Oban, Aidan Hudner, another of our exiles there, placed 37th in 26:18 in the 92-strong field in Ganavan Sands. Finally, one of our London exiles, Thom Martini, joined a field of 457 in Osterley Park, where he placed 29th in 21:59.

Irish Runner 5k (including National Championships) (2002)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Ben Guiden 1 00:14:27
28 Ellen Fennelly 1 00:16:02
Crusaders AC runners
64 Michael Wycherley 00:16:42
106 Jan Manschot 00:17:33
114 James Sherry 00:17:36 (PB)
254 Tomás Bradley 00:19:13
305 Paul Murphy 00:19:30
309 Ray Walsh 00:19:44
339 Aoife Quigley 00:20:12 (58)
364 Paul Kilgarriff 00:19:49
660 Ellen Walsh 00:22:39 (PB) (153)
823 Kevin Kenny 00:25:35
902 Mauro Verrocchio 00:24:51
1030 Edward Forester 00:24:24
1455 Anna Hernick 00:30:10 (493)
1558 Darren Kelly 00:31:23
Full results here: https://myrunresults.com/events/irish_runner_5k_challenge_2026/6110/results
Naas AC 5-miler (329)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Rhys Johnson 1 00:25:17
5 Lauren Tinkler 1 00:28:08
Crusaders AC runners
19 Molly Hyland 00:30:01 (4)
41 Yvonne Macauley 00:31:37 (8)
52 Gillian Earley 00:33:20 (11)
62 Nina Holmes 00:34:05 (14)
78 Caoimhe Dempsey 00:35:05 (22)
109 Rebecca Fleming 00:37:42 (31)
Full results here: https://www.popupraces.ie/race/naas-ac-5-miler-2026/#1_7336A4
Fastlane 10k (664)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Brendan Dunne 1 00:32:42
12 Ruth Tansey 1 00:37:21
Crusaders AC runners
9 Steven Michel 00:36:20 (PB)
19 Niamh Farrell 00:38:31 (3)
44 Stephen O’Connor 00:38:13
46 Jill O’Flynn 00:43:09 (PB) (4)
165 Seamas Buleaeir 00:49:39
Full results here: https://myrunresults.com/events/life_style_sports_fastlane_3_4_half_marathon__10k/6115/results
Fastlane Half marathon (837)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Neil Foley 1 01:16:36
21 Ashleigh Hennessy 1 01:25:43
Crusaders AC runner
402 Daniel Lowe 01:47:54
Full results here: https://myrunresults.com/events/life_style_sports_fastlane_3_4_half_marathon__10k/6115/results
IMRA Brockagh 9.9k (130)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Barry Minnock 1 00:45:59
75 Niamh Garvey 1 01:09:14
Crusaders AC runners
8 Warren Swords 00:51:17
23 Jeffrey Marvel 00:56:23
99 Ollie McGrath 01:15:32
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2843/category/O/
IMRA Beara Way Ultra (27)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Eoin O’Connor 1 20:25:59
10 Lianne Van Dijk 1 25:41:42
Crusaders AC runner
11 Eimear Lynch 26:17:41 (2)
Full results here: https://results.primaltracking.com/event/bearawayultra26
IMRA Beara Way Lite (44)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Mark Smith 1 06:55:33
11 Sarah Clarke 1 08:44:57
Crusaders AC runners
23 Richard Phelan 10:08:41
33 Daniel O’Mahony 11:30:33
Full results here: https://results.primaltracking.com/event/bearawaylite26
Bushy Parkrun (200)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 James Howe 1 00:19:37
14 Christine Kinsella 1 00:22:20
Crusaders AC runner
2 Conor Macguinness 00:19:50
St. Anne’s Parkrun (480)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Giovanni Salvatore 1 00:17:47
10 Ailish Malone 1 00:19:32
Crusaders AC runner
27 Paul F. Kelly 00:27:49
SETU Arena Parkrun (72)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Evan Fitzgerald 1 00:15:56
7 Emily Glen 1 00:23:34
Crusaders AC runner
7 Emily Glen 00:23:34 (1)
Shanganagh Parkrun (285)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Finlay Hiscock 1 00:17:53
16 Ruth Comerford 1 00:21:51
Crusaders AC runners
39 Aoife McCarthy 00:23:55 (4)
55 Derek Lawlor 00:24:42
127 Órlaith de Burca 00:27:41 (27)
Fairview Parkrun (171)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Andrew Vettraino 1 00:18:41
12 Katie Cooper 1 00:21:27
Crusaders AC runners
2 Jamie Renehan 00:18:49
134 Fanny Trébouet 00:34:23 (49)
Poolbeg Parkrun (212)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ashley Hayes 1 00:17:27
13 Sophie Coman 1 00:20:59
Crusaders AC runners
1 Ashley Hayes 00:17:27
3 Kenan Furlong 00:17:55
4 Stephen Hurley 00:17:57
5 Mikel Crisostomo 00:18:39
6 Paul Cowhie 00:18:46
19 Ryan Preston 00:21:39
20 Redmond Murphy 00:21:44
35 Sharon Woods 00:23:13 (5)
43 Eamon MacFhionnlaoich 00:23:50
54 Mark McGovern 00:24:36
55 Franky Keane 00:24:41
78 Juliane Frydenlund 00:26:13 (20)
80 Leo Lundy 00:26:18
84 Bo Chicoine 00:26:40
96 Saketh Ravuluri 00:27:07
115 Iseult Ni Chuinneagain 00:28:45 (37)
139 Michelle English 00:29:31 (51)
159 Cynthia Perucca 00:30:57 (60)
167 Maureen McGinley 00:31:30 (64)
168 Edwina Hogan 00:31:31 (65)
Father Collins Parkrun (165)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Cathal Leahy 1 00:18:41
10 Ayana O’Callaghan 1 00:20:33
Crusaders AC runner
6 Mustaf Ahmed 00:19:26
Royal Canal, Kilcock Parkrun (164)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Rob Cross 1 00:17:35
10 Rachael O’Neill 1 00:21:37
Crusaders AC runners
1 Rob Cross 00:17:35
22 Fiona Bane 00:23:57 (3)
Claremorris Parkrun (90)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 John O’Donnell 1 00:19:22
8 Mary Gleeson 1 00:21:54
Crusaders AC runner
1 John O’Donnell 00:19:22
Gorey Parkrun (187)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Aaron Doyle 1 00:17:01
13 Suzanne Keane 1 00:22:06
Crusaders AC runner
6 Kevin Keenan 00:19:43
Cabinteely Parkrun (173)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 John Golden 1 00:18:50
14 Maria Dolan 1 00:22:20
Crusaders AC runner
30 Niall O’Connell 00:24:06
Corkagh Parkrun (260)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Adam Tuite 1 00:18:53
20 Beata Wilk 1 00:23:03
Crusaders AC runner
10 Kev Moore 00:21:36
Malahide Parkrun (277)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Brian O’Kelly 1 00:15:26
23 Lorraine O’Reilly 1 00:21:11
Crusaders AC runner
1 Brian O’Kelly 00:15:26
Sligo Parkrun (112)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ross Neill 1 00:19:08
15 Ann McNamara 1 00:23:27
Crusaders AC runner
1 Ross Neill 00:19:08
Tramore Valley, Cork Parkrun (271)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Shane Byrne 1 00:17:59
14 Mari Burke 1 00:21:07
Crusaders AC runners
226 Áine Crotty 00:33:14 (76)
227 Cian Coughlan 00:33:15
Tolka Valley Parkrun (65)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Jack Dolan 1 00:19:16
17 Saoirse Maher 1 00:24:39
Crusaders AC runner
23 Grainne Regan 00:26:17 (4)
Mungret Parkrun (86)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Conor Hickey 1 00:19:26
13 Una O’Riordan 1 00:23:37
Crusaders AC runner
11 Luke Haran 00:22:47