Up, up and away. Windy conditions for BHAA races and for our WM&T teams

16/2/2020

Standing: Emer Kenny, Louise O'Riordan, Tanja Narancic, Carina Davidson, Mari Hansen, Anna Shine, Laura O'Malley, Aine Crotty, Deirdre Kennedy, Maureen McGinley, Georgina Hawkins, Kate Murray. Kneeling: Natalie McEvoy, Geraldine Clements, Maria del Carmen Jimenez Campos, Dorothy Maguire, Olwyn Dunne, Fiona Shine, Sarah Lyons, Marta Imaz, Mary Dolan and Ciara Lynch

It was another blustery weekend, scaring off all but the hardiest of souls. This time we were visited by Storm Dennis over both days and the gale force winds that accompanied the storm made running, let alone racing, especially challenging. Late on Saturday morning, as the windspeeds were climbing, the BHAA ALSAA races took place up at Dublin airport around the playing fields of the sports complex there. Most BHAA runners will be familiar with course which is flat, usually on quite spongy grass with quite a few twists and turns. Given the dowsing we have enjoyed over the past few days, there would have been a bit of standing water in places too. Because of the weather conditions, attendance was impacted and the women’s 2 mile race involved only a modest field of 21 participants. We had just 2 runners in the two lap race (which likely measured longer than advertised), with Niamh Corby continuing to run strongly, placing 2nd in 14:32, followed by coach Susan Walsh who crossed the line in 16th place and a time of 17:00. The women’s event was followed as usual by a longer distance mixed race. This was billed as 5 miles, but in fact likely measured a few hundred metres longer than that. Rachael Yorke had an excellent outing, crossing the finish as the first woman home in 40th place overall in a field of 111 runners and a time of 39:47. Members will be interested to know that Lorraine Healy, who trains with the club, finished just behind Rachael, placing 2nd and 43rd in 39:54. We had 7 men in the race, led home by Brian Hyland in 6th place and a time of 34:05, followed by Michael Wycherley in 8th and 1st in his age category in 34:27. Further down the field came Enda Currid, in his first XC since this time last year, who placed 45th in 40:03, followed by Tim O’Donnell (52nd in 41:08), Robbie Moore (65th in 43:00), Tony Hackett (75th in 45:09) and coach Michael McGovern (88th in 46:18).

Then, on Sunday, 22 of our female club members took part in the final race of the Women's Meet and Train XC league. It was a major challenge in the wet and windy conditions (with hailstones) on the 3 lap Abbotstown course. Our A team was lying in 2nd place going into the 4th event, with the best 3 of 4 races to count, so that there was a reasonable chance we could improve on our placing. Despite a great showing, however, it was not to be and Sportsworld were able to hold onto their lead with two of their athletes in the top 10 of the 129 who ran, with our A team placing second in the Diamond league ahead of Dunboyne (who produced the runaway winner of the 4th race). It was a great outcome considering the treacherous conditions and the quality of the competition. Our B team also took 2nd place in the gold division ahead of Esker A and Bros Pearse A and behind a team called Love2run, whilst the C team came 9th in the same division. Then, our D team won the silver division ahead of Clonliffe C and Donore B. Finally, our E team took 5th place in the Bronze division. Individually, we packed the middle of the field. Our plucky contingent was led home by Georgina Hawkins in 11th place and she was followed closely by team organiser Fiona Shine who placed 14th. In quick succession thereafter came Aine Crotty (16th), Ciara Lynch (17th), Maria del Carmen Jimenez Campos (18th), Sarah Lyons (19th) and Dorothy Maguire (22nd). Then, another group was led home by Olwyn Dunne (27th), followed by Louise O'Riordan (30th), Kate Murray (33rd) and Tanja Narancic (39th). A further small group was headed by Emer Kenny (44th) and she was followed by Geraldine Clements (46th), Anna Shine (48th) and Laura O'Malley (54th), with Marta Imaz further back in 58th, followed not too far behind by Sharon Woods (61st) and Carina Davidson (64th). The contingent was completed by Deirdre Kennedy (80th), Mary Dolan (91st), Natalie McEvoy (109th) and Maureen McGinley (112th). Many congrats to all!

Earlier in the week on the roads, on Thursday evening we had one runner in the men’s Armagh International 5k race, an event that involved 237 runners, mostly from the UK and Ireland, but with several also coming from further afield, all of whom had needed to provide a qualifying time of under 16 minutes. Matt Bergin was the first Irishman across the line in 6th place in 13:47 followed by Kevin Dooney of Raheny, and it’s a testimony to the quality of the field that he only came home in 14th place in 13:55 (the winning time being 13:42 and a course record). Interestingly, Kevin was not on the second placed Irish team, the competition being won by Scotland, and if he had, then the outcome would have been reversed with Ireland taking top honours over Scotland with Poland in 3rd. Brian O’Kelly ran for the club, placing 111th in a time of 14:47, not far off his PB and one of the 139 runners to break 15 minutes. it was reported that, despite the introduction of waves, the startline was quite chaotic and bunched with several runners falling after the gun, one of whom dislocated a finger.

Also on Sunday, we had 6 runners who travelled to Barcelona to take part in the half marathon there with its huge field of more than 18,500 finishers and involving the likes of John Travers (39th in 1:04:42) and Fionnuala McCormack (8th female in 1:11:39) who led the 250-strong Irish contingent home. Vinnie McGuinness was first across the line for the club, placing 292nd in 1:14:03, followed by newcomer James Rea (1,046th in 1:23:03). Gill Earley and Amy McGuinness finished side by side in 1:40:36 and they were followed not too far behind by Josie Ward who ran 1:40:40. Edel Haverty also ran, unofficially, crossing the line in about 1:38:30.

We also had a couple of Crusaders participating in ultras on Saturday. In Arizona, our exile currently residing in Canada, Ian Kinsella, ran in the point-to-point 100k Black Canyon ultra. On a net downhill course, Ian completed the challenge in 9h50m, whilst, in Ireland, Donatas Jocius ran in the Sli Gaeltacht Mhuscrai Ultra in west Cork, again a point-to-point, from Kealkill to Millstreet, where he completed 75km in 9h56m.

On the indoors track, one of our elite athletes, Andrew Mellon, took part in the 400m in the AIT Games in Athlone on Wednesday evening. In a really strong field, in which Thomas Barr achieved a PB in 46.44, Andrew finished in 6th place in a time of 48.69.

As we saw last week, several parkruns were cancelled again this weekend because of the strong winds and the consequent risk of falling trees. Those that did go ahead were impacted by smaller fields and generally slower times. Several of our club-mates were using the parkruns as a warm-up for the final WM&T event the following day.

We had one first finisher and several on the podium. Esther Requena Ferri was the first woman home in Poolbeg, placing 28th overall in 21:44. On the podium came Cristian Vilchez Ceballos who placed 3rd in 18:00, just ahead of Kenan Furlong who picked up 4th place in 18:12. Elsewhere, Kris Ryan ran in Mudgeeraba in Queensland, Australia, where in a field of 167 she placed 2nd and 37th overall in 25:03. Closer to home, Brian Carroll took 2nd place in 20:28 in Castle Demense (sic) in Macroom in Co. Cork, whilst Sarah Lyons finished in bronze position and 29th overall in 27:50 in Fairview. Just ahead of her, Phelim Murray, one of those runners preparing for next weekend’s Seville marathon, took 8th place in 24:05. Just off the podium came Lisa Shine who ran in Glen River where she placed 33rd and 4th in 26:42, as did Ronan Moynihan in Malahide. His time of 18:14 was good enough for 4th place, ahead of Paul O’Meara who placed 12th in 19:00. Mairin Shine placed 19th and 5th in 29:51 in Deerpark in Carlanstown, Co. Meath, whilst Eoghan Corrigan ran once again in Kilcock where he placed 8th in 21:23. Colm Foley picked up 28th spot in 24:22 in Griffeen Park, whilst Mairead Cashman ran in Orangefield in Belfast where she placed 54th and 17th in 33:51. Aoife and Paul Kelly ran in St. Anne’s, where, respectively they placed 280th (and 89th) and 286th separated by 3 seconds in 29:18 and 29:21. Anthony O’Reilly placed 10th in 21:24 in Kilkenny, whilst Darina Scully ran in Donabate, where she placed 146th and 58th in 44:33 and Kate Murray ran in Bushy Park where she placed 132nd and 29th in 28:00. Finally, we had several runners as usual in Poolbeg along with those already mentioned. Simon Kenny made a welcome return to competitive action, placing 16th in 20:53, followed by Kevin Lambe (18th in 20:58), another of those preparing for the marathon in Seville. Next came Ava Rose Clark (55th and 6th in 23:27), followed by Sharon Woods (58th and 8th in 23:32), Olwyn Dunne (70th and 13th in 24:19), Fiona Bane (80th and 15th in 24:35), Tara Murphy (90th and 19th in 25:15, and another runner heading to Seville), Maureen McGinley (146th and 42nd in 28:30), Tanja Narancic (152nd and 47th in 28:47), Siobhan Russell (172nd and 57th in 30:02), Iseult Ni Chuinneagain (174th and 59th in 30:13) and the young Karla Woods (176th and 61st in 30:17).

WM&T 2 mile XC (129)
Overall place Name Guntime
1 Eimear English 00:12:06
Crusaders AC runners
11 Georgina Hawkins 00:12:46
14 Fiona Shine 00:12:53
16 Aine Crotty 00:13:00
17 Ciara Lynch 00:13:12
18 Maria del Carmen Jimenez Campos 00:13:15
19 Sarah Lyons 00:13:17
22 Dorothy Maguire 00:13:22
27 Olwyn Dunne 00:13:31
30 Louise O’Riordan 00:13:36
33 Kate Murray 00:13:40
39 Tanja Narancic 00:13:53
44 Emer Kenny 00:14:03
46 Geraldine Clements 00:14:05
48 Anna Shine 00:14:08
54 Laura O’Malley 00:14:16
58 Marta Imaz 00:14:24
61 Sharon Woods 00:14:33
64 Carina Davidson 00:14:39
80 Deirdre Kennedy 00:15:07
91 Mary Dolan 00:15:38
109 Natalie McEvoy 00:16:22
112 Maureen McGinley 00:16:47
BHAA ALSAA Women’s 2 mile XC (21)
Overall place Name Guntime
1 Bronagh Kearns 00:13:08
Crusaders AC runners
2 Niamh Corby 00:14:32
16 Susan Walsh 00:17:00
Full results here: https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3A3b6b9ed1-878b-4e77-9691-819aa2ee2b62&fbclid=IwAR12bCjJ2JO6ngNcQ1QBxXaee3BzxEsvOiJoEQNIYqH-vTA-XC5mA9SqAPQ
BHAA ALSAA Mixed 5 mile XC (111)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Sean Doran 1 00:31:17
40 Rachael Yorke 1 00:39:47
Crusaders AC runners
6 Brian Hyland 00:34:05
8 Michael Wycherley 00:34:27
40 Rachael Yorke 00:39:47 (1)
45 Enda Currid 00:40:03
52 Tim O’Donnell 00:41:08
65 Robbie Moore 00:43:00
75 Anthony Hackett 00:45:09
88 Michael McGovern 00:46:18
Full results here: https://www.athleticsireland.ie/downloads/results/Masters_Mens_results.pdf
Armagh International Men’s 5k Road Race (237)
Overall place Name Chiptime
1 Adam Clarke 00:13:42
Crusaders AC runner
111 Brian O’Kelly 00:14:47
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/armagh_international_road_race__/3672/results
Malahide Parkrun #381 (382)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Robert Frewen 1 00:16:26
25 Sarah Hawkshaw 1 00:19:58
Crusaders AC runners
4 Ronan Moynihan 00:18:14
12 Paul O’Meara 00:19:00
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/malahide/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=381
St. Anne’s Parkrun #322(470)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Simon Devenney 1 00:17:55
25 Eibhin Eviston 1 00:20:38
Crusaders AC runners
280 Aoife Kelly 00:29:18 (89)
286 Paul Kelly 00:29:21
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/stannes/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=322
Castle Demense Parkrun #337 (29)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Donal Collins 1 00:20:24
3 Clodagh Murray 1 00:23:11
Crusaders AC runner
2 Brian Carroll 00:20:28
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/castledemense/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=337
Griffeen Parkrun #350 (118)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Alex O’Brien 1 00:18:47
11 Deirdre Collins 1 00:22:14
Crusaders AC runner
28 Colm Foley 00:24:22
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/dundalk/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=242
Poolbeg Parkrun #131 (205)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Damian Bourke 1 00:16:55
28 Esther Requena Ferri 1 00:21:44
Crusaders AC runners
3 Cristian Vilchez Ceballos 00:18:00
4 Kenan Furlong 00:18:12
16 Simon Kenny 00:20:53
18 Kevin Lambe 00:20:58
28 Esther Requena Ferri 00:21:44 (1)
55 Ava Rose Clarke 00:23:27 (6)
58 Sharon Woods 00:23:32 (8)
70 Olwyn Dunne 00:24:19 (13)
80 Fiona Bane 00:24:35 (15)
90 Tara Murphy 00:25:15 (19)
146 Maureen McGinley 00:28:30 (42)
152 Tanja Narancic 00:28:47 (47)
125 Gillian Curran 00:26:18 (29)
172 Siobhan Russell 00:30:02 (57)
174 Iseult Ni Chuinneagain 00:30:13 (59)
176 Karla Woods 00:30:17 (61)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/poolbeg/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=131
Orangefield Parkrun #81 (65)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 David Proctor 1 00:18:41
9 Aimee Mudd 1 00:23:08
Crusaders AC runner
54 Mairead Cashman 00:33:51 (17)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/orangefield/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=81
Bushy Parkrun #157 (266)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Niall Coppinger 1 00:18:29
16 Christine Kinsella 1 00:21:25
Crusaders AC runner
132 Kate Murray 00:28:00 (29)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/bushydublin/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=157
Glen River Parkrun #66 (72)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 John Longan 1 00:19:14
7 Katie Hickson 1 00:21:26
Crusaders AC runner
33 Lisa Shine 00:26:42 (4)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/glenriver/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=66
Deerpark Carlanstown Parkrun #64 (37)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Peter Rogan 1 00:20:15
8 Aileen Briody 1 00:23:43
Crusaders AC runner
19 Mairin Shine 00:29:51 (5)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/deerparkcarlanstown/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=64
Kilkenny Parkrun #275 (107)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Kevin Gahan 1 00:19:28
16 Sheila O’Callaghan 1 00:23:21
Crusaders AC runner
10 Anthony O’Reilly 00:21:24
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/kilkenny/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=275
Donabate Parkrun #221 (154)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Conor Doyle 1 00:18:29
14 Tricia Gough 1 00:22:24
Crusaders AC runner
146 Darina Scully 00:44:33 (58)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/donabate/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=221
Fairview Parkrun #133 (81)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Bartek Falkowski 1 00:18:55
19 Orlaith Sweeney 1 00:26:19
Crusaders AC runners
8 Phelim Murray 00:24:05
29 Sarah Lyons 00:27:50 (3)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/fairview/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=133
Royal Canal Kilcock Parkrun #46 (91)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Shane McNerney 1 00:19:16
6 Laurena Meagher 1 00:21:07
Crusaders AC runner
8 Eoghan Corrigan 00:21:23
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/royalcanalkilcock/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=46