Sunny and Warm Conditions for Racing

9/11/2025

L-R: Patrick Conlon, Brian Regan, John Mulvihill

Despite the cancellation of the latest BHAA race scheduled for Saturday morning, there was still much racing taking place over the weekend and the club was involved in a few of the events on offer.

The rescheduled Dublin Senior XC Championships took place on Saturday afternoon over in Co. Westmeath on Kilbeggan Racecourse. The event had originally been scheduled to take place in Corkagh Park a week earlier, but, as with the BHAA race to be held in Jobstown Park, the same local authority had surprisingly decided at the last minute that it felt runners would churn up the grass. The original distance for the men’s race in the Dublin Championships had been 7.5k. However, the restaging of the event, in another county, combining it with the Leinster Championships which was to have a 9k length, meant that runners had to compete over the longer distance. The course itself was quite benign on relatively firm ground. However, the extended distance did make for quite a challenge.

We had intended to field a men’s team of 4 for the championships. However, unfortunately, one of our runners got caught up in a huge traffic jam on the M50 resulting from an accident around midday and it meant that only 3 were able to compete in the race, which involved 97 running in the Leinster Championships and 59 in Dublin.

The contingent was led home by John Mulvihill (45th in Leinster and 29th in Dublin in 32:38). John was followed by Brian Regan (57th and 34th in 33:30) and Patrick Conlon (64th and 34th in 33:55). Although, we did not field a women’s senior team on the day, it is interesting that the original Dublin distance of 7.5k (same as for the men) was actually reduced to 6k for the women in the combined Leinster and Dublin championships!

Elsewhere, we had some podium finishes. Becky Anderson joined a field of 572 in the Gaelforce trail 10k near Rathdrum in Co. Wicklow on Saturday morning. Despite taking a tumble whilst running in 2nd place in the women’s race, Becky still managed to come home in 3rd (20th overall) in a time of 45:53. Gill Earley and Miriam Logan enjoyed a fiercely contested race between them in the 3rd of three 10k events held on the familiar loop in Donadea Forest and known as the Gingerbread Run. Gill won the women’s race in 43:24 (5th overall in a field of 147), with Miriam in hot pursuit, placing 2nd (6th overall) in 43:28. Donatas Jocius took part in the Tollymore Trail marathon up in the Mourne Mountains near Newcastle, placing 3rd in a time of around 3:20:50, despite taking a wrong turn at one point that cost him around 4 minutes. The official results are yet to be posted and once done the report will as usual be updated. Then, Tim Francony joined a field of 295 in the Tralee Corporate 5k down in Co. Kerry, where he took 6th spot in a time of 17:39.

Over in London, two of our exiles, Kate O’Malley and Conor Parle took part in the London XC championships that took place on Parliament Hill ant the southern end of Hampstead Heath. Results have yet to be published. Meanwhile, Mags Foley, on a visit to London, ran in the Victoria Park 10k, where, in a field of 632, she placed 47th overall, 6th female and 1st F40 in a PB time of 41:01.

The sun and mild conditions brought out a multitude of parkrunners on Saturday morning and overall numbers were generally increased as a result.

Ciara Regan was a first female finisher (2nd overall) in the 65-strong field in the Tubbercurry Trail parkrun, with a time of 20:59. Elsewhere, in Naas, Emma Rowe placed 7th and 1st in 19:9 in a field of 188. Karl Walsh also ran there, placing 18th in 21:03. Rob Cross took 2nd place in Tramore Waterford in a time of 17:50. He was followed in the field of 154 by Fiona Bane in 67th and 16th spots with a time of 26:55. Meanwhile, in Limerick, Aoife McCarthy joined 196 other participants, where she placed 36th and 7th in 22:53, whilst, in the 100-strong field in Brickfields, Michael O’Conor placed 5th in 19:50. Louise O’Riordan took 29th and 6th spots in 25:59 in the field of 88 in Glen River, whilst Daniel Lowe came home in 9th place in 20:49 in Bushy Park with its field of 218.

As usual, by far and away our largest contingent was in Poolbeg, with the participation of at least 24 Crusaders in a field of 286. Jan Manschot placed 2nd in 17:59, and he was followed by Gerry Cooper (5th in 18:47). Next came Eddie Nugent (9th in 20:00), who was followed by Piarais Neary (18th in 20:46), Saketh Ravuluri (20th in 20:51), just ahead of Gerard Moore, preparing for the Valencia marathon (21st in 20:52) and Kenan Furlong (25th in 20:55). Kabir Sala was next to finish (33rd in 21:26) and he was followed further back by Claire Reidy who placed 72nd overall and 6th female finisher behind first finisher Michelle Maher (11th overall in 20:07), a GCH athlete who trains with us. Claire’s time was 23:25 and she was closely followed by Josie Ward (74th and 7th in 23:34) and then by Emily Glen (80th and 9th in 24:00).

Emily was followed by Sophia Morgan (93rd and 14th in 24:39), Kevin Kenny (113th in 25:40), newcomer Imogen Guinness (127th and 28th in 26:12), Bo Chicoine (135th in 26;42), Juliane Frydenlund (137th and 34th in 26:59), Donna Barry (140th and 35th in 27:14), Djinn Von Noorden (156th and 44th in 28:04), Alan Martin (164th in 28:42), Orla McTernan (184th and 63rd in 29:20), Mari Hansen (205th and 77th in 31:07), Maureen McGinley (208th and 79th in 31:16), Cynthia Perucca (246th and 101st in 34:41) and Marie-Claire Daly (248th and 103rd in 35:06).

Mairead Cashman joined 48 other runners in Edwin Carolan where she placed 24th and 5th in 31:11, whilst Darina Scully, took 43rd and 9th spots in the 104-strong field in River Valley in a time of 28:42. Kevin Flynn ran 38:57 for 164th place in the field of 178 in Porterstown, whilst Aitor Arribas Velasco placed 96th in 25:45 and Helena O’Keeffe placed 172nd and 46th in 28:29 in Ballincollig. Lorraine McMahon ran down in Pobalscoil Na Tríonóide in Youghal, where, in a field of 41, she placed 25th and 12th in 27:37, whilst Maria Kennedy ran in Kilkenny, placing 99th and 16th in a field of 211 and in a time of 27:46, and Brendan Glynn ran in Donabate, where, in a field of 196, he placed 59th in 24:29.

We had at least 6 runners in Shanganagh, where, in a field of 287, Fiona Shine ran 24:20 for 77th and 12th places, followed by Emer Kenny (127th and 27th in 27:08), Lisa Shine (133rd and 28th in 27:38), Carina Davidson (154th and 35th in 28:34), Orlaith de Burca (182nd and 48th in 30:00) and Máirín Shine (219th and 69th in 32:15). Georgina Loughrey was likely our only runner in Cabinteely this weekend, placing 159th and 67th in 44:18 in a field of 178, whilst Maria Pertl ran solo in Tolka Valley Park, with its field of 43, where she placed 40th and 21st in a time of 38:12. Praveen Rawal placed 158th in Corkagh with its field of 294 and in a time of 31:11.

Further afield, David O’Donnell ran in Toronto’s Budapest Park, where, in a field of 107, he placed 18th in 21:12 and then Ellen Walsh took on the 159-strong field in Haga in Sweden where she placed 86th and 15th in 27:42.

Leinster and Dublin Senior Men’s XC Championships 9k (97)
Overall place Name Guntime
1 Colm Rooney 00:28:38
Crusaders AC runners
45 John Mulvihill 00:32:38
57 Brian Regan 00:33:30
64 Patrick Conlon 00:33:55
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/leinster__dublin_senior_juvenile_uneven_ages/5914/results
Gaelforce 10k Wicklow (572)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Patrick McDaid 1 00:36:54
10 Anne O’Donovan 1 00:44:06
Crusaders AC runner
20 Becky Anderson 00:45:53 (3)
Full results here: https://www.redtagtiming.com/results/GFWicklow2025.html
Tralee Corporate 5k (295)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Brian Murphy 1 00:16:31
16 Ella O’Brien 1 00:21:16
Crusaders AC runner
6 Tim Francony 00:17:39
Full results here: https://www.justraceevents.com/traleecorprate
Gingerbread 10k Donadea (147)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Stephen Woods 1 00:39:32
5 Gillian Earley 1 00:43:24
Crusaders AC runners
5 Gillian Earley 00:43:24 (1)
6 Miriam Logan 00:43:28 (2)
Full results here: https://www.popupraces.ie/race/the-gingerbread-run-2025/#3_DDBACE
Donabate Parkrun (196)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Guy Chilton 1 00:18:11
10 Sheila Bourke 1 00:20:03
Crusaders AC runner
59 Brendan Glynn 00:24:29
Kilkenny Parkrun (211)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Graham Bourne 1 00:18:38
15 Lara O’Brien Leahy 1 00:21:49
Crusaders AC runner
99 Maria Kennedy 00:27:46 (16)
Edwin Carolan Parkrun (49)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Jonathan Horan 1 00:18:14
11 Helen Byers 1 00:22:20
Crusaders AC runner
24 Mairead Cashman 00:31:11 (5)
Poolbeg Parkrun (286)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Malcolm O’Connell 1 00:17:56
11 Michelle Maher 1 00:20:07
Crusaders AC runners
2 Jan Manschot 00:17:59
5 Gerry Cooper 00:18:47
9 Eddie Nugent 00:20:00
18 Piarais Neary 00:20:46
20 Saketh Ravuluri 00:20:51
21 Gerard Moore 00:20:52
25 Kenan Furlong 00:20:55
33 Kabir Sala 00:21:26
72 Claire Reidy 00:23:25 (6)
74 Josie Ward 00:23:34 (7)
80 Emily Glen 00:24:00 (9)
93 Sophia Morgan 00:24:39 (14)
113 Kevin Kenny 00:25:40
127 Imogen Guinness 00:26:12 (28)
135 Bo Chicoine 00:26:42
137 Juliane Frydenlund 00:26:59 (34)
140 Donna Barry 00:27:14 (35)
156 Djinn Von Noorden 00:28:04 (44)
164 Alan Martin 00:28:42
184 Orla McTernan 00:29:20 (63)
205 Mari Hansen 00:31:07 (77)
208 Maureen McGinley 00:31:16 (79)
246 Cynthia Perucca 00:34:41 (101)
248 Marie-Claire Daly 00:35:06 (103)
Shanganagh Parkrun (287)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
2 Cormac Kane 1 00:18:16
18 Jennifer Corson 1 00:20:33
Crusaders AC runners
77 Fiona Shine 00:24:20 (12)
127 Emer Kenny 00:27:08 (27)
133 Lisa Shine 00:27:38 (28)
154 Carina Davidson 00:28:34 (35)
182 Orlaith de Burca 00:30:00 (48)
219 Máirín Shine 00:32:15 (69)
Limerick Parkrun (197)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Conor Reale 1 00:17:00
6 Erin C. 1 00:19:50
Crusaders AC runner
36 Aoife McCarthy 00:22:53 (7)
River Valley Parkrun (104)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Viktoras Kuzminas 1 00:18:58
19 Murieann Ní Scanaill 1 00:24:14
Crusaders AC runner
43 Darina Scully 00:28:42 (9)
Cabinteely Parkrun (178)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Mark Cahill 1 00:19:10
17 Rachel McArdle 1 00:23:23
Crusaders AC runner
159 Georgina Loughrey 00:44:18 (67)
Naas Parkrun (188)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Finlay Zanna 1 00:17:13
7 Emma Rowe 1 00:19:09
Crusaders AC runners
7 Emma Rowe 00:19:09 (1)
18 Karl Walsh 00:21:03
Tramore, Waterford Parkrun (154)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 T-Jay Flanagan 1 00:17:25
11 Ruth Comerford 1 00:20:52
Crusaders AC runners
2 Rob Cross 00:17:50
67 Fiona Bane 00:26:55 (16)
Tubbercurry Trail Parkrun (65)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Finbarr Farrelly 1 00:18:42
2 Ciara Regan 1 00:20:59
Crusaders AC runner
2 Ciara Regan 00:20:59 (1)
Brickfields Parkrun (100)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Patrick Wiseman 1 00:18:45
13 Eimear Nic An Bhaird 1 00:21:06
Crusaders AC runner
5 Michael O’Conor 00:19:50
Pobalscoil Na Tríonoíde Parkrun (41)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Lee Curley 1 00:19:27
2 Kelly Fitzgerald 1 00:19:56
Crusaders AC runner
25 Lorraine McMahon 00:27:37 (12)
Bushy Parkrun (218)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Michael McGroary 1 00:17:52
12 Amy Feakes 1 00:21:10
Crusaders AC runner
9 Daniel Lowe 00:20:49
Corkagh Parkrun (294)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Barry Stokes 1 00:18:38
23 Lily Casey 1 00:22:30
Crusaders AC runner
158 Praveen Rawal 00:31:11
Tolka Valley Parkrun (43)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 John McDonnell 1 00:21:15
5 Miriam Kearney 1 00:22:43
Crusaders AC runner
40 Maria Pertl 00:38:12 (21)
Glen River Parkrun (88)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Stuart Moloney 1 00:18:20
8 Fiona Kavanagh 1 00:23:00
Crusaders AC runner
29 Louise O’Riordan 00:25:59 (6)
Porterstown Parkrun (178)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Niall Sherlock 1 00:17:18
14 Joan O’Callaghan 1 00:21:56
Crusaders AC runner
164 Kevin Flynn 00:38:57
Ballincollig Parkrun (341)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Holly Carroll 1 00:17:53
2 Alan O’Sullivan 1 00:18:52
Crusaders AC runners
96 Aitor Arribas Velasco 00:25:45
172 Helena O’Keeffe 00:28:29 (46)