Windy and humid in Clontarf and success on the track

6/7/2025

Sean Owens

As we wait for our track to reopen, hopefully, this coming week, our young sprinters were in action on Saturday morning in Tullamore, for the U20 and U23 national T&F championships, with some success. Then, on Sunday in the same venue, the club made a welcome return to the men's Club League, with the preliminary round involving 17 clubs from around the country. We also had runners on the roads over the weekend, again with some excellent outcomes.

On Saturday, Sean Owens took the national U20 men’s 110H (0.991m) title in a time of 14.45, whilst Luke Timlin took silver in the final of the U20 men’s 200m with a time of 21.56, having come joint first in his heat earlier in the day to qualify for the final in a time of 21.55. Cillian Doherty placed 2nd in heat 2 of the U20 100m in 11.07, placing 5th in the final in improved time of 10.81. In the U20 women’s 100m, Juliette McCloskey placed 7th in heat 1 in a time of 13.58, whilst Emily Lyne ran in the U23 women’s 400mH (0.762m) placing 3rd in 62.74.

We had athletes take part in 12 events in the preliminary round of the League on Sunday afternoon. Ciaran Donnelly placed 6th in the hammer with a throw of 35.81m. He also participated in the shot put, where he placed 5th with a put of 9.31m. James Quinn took 5th spot in the discus with a throw of 27.49m. Masahiro Watanabe took on both the long jump and high jump, placing respectively 4th and 11th with jumps of 6.24m and 1.45m. Finally, in the field Kevin woods placed 9th in the weight for distance competition with a throw of 3.98m.

On the track, Barry McCarthy placed 8th in the 1500m in a time of 4:10.50, whilst Luc Culliton placed 2nd in heat 1 of the men’s 400m in 53.92. Gary Park took 7th place in 11:43.16 in the 3000m steeplechase, whilst Joe McDermott finished in 9th spot in 18:06.94 in the 5000m. Finally, Steven Colvert won his 200m heat in 23.04, possibly finishing in 4th place overall when all the times were tallied. Once the smoke had cleared, the team was lying 11th out of 17, the men’s 4 x 100m relay having not produced a result.

On Saturday morning, the Clontarf half marathon and 5-mileraces were held in hot and humid conditions with a strong headwind featuring from 9k in the half and from 4k for the shorter race.

We had at least 10 runners in the half marathon, headed by Kenan Furlong who, in a field of 3741 finishers, placed 16th in 83:56. Kenan was followed by Jack Cahalane (36th in 87:20), Simon Kenny (113th in 91:49), Donal O'Malley (139th in 93:11), John O’Donnell (185th in 96:48), Liam O’Brien (242nd in 98:56), Triona Quill (330th overall and 41st female finisher in 1:42:08), Caoimhe Dempsey (416th and 59th in 1:44:27), Claire Reidy (605th and 97th in 1:49:16) and Brian O’Neill (736th in 1:52:19).

Fearghal O’Hare won the 1346-strong 5-mile race in a time of 26:52 and he was followed by Aaron Cashman (7th in 29:59) and Rebecca Kelly (211th and 68th in 38:08).

Two of our athletes headed over to Achill Island to run in this year’s edition of the half marathon there. In windy and hilly conditions, Lorenzo Battistin placed 15th in the field of 726 finishers in a time of 85:47, followed by Mark McGovern (127th in 1:47:30).

Sunday saw runners in at least two road races. Irene Gorman ran in the Nora Arthur 5k in St. Anne's Park in Raheny, where, in a field of 188, she won the women’s race in a time of 19:26 and placed 14th overall. Then, in Letterkenny, Kathryn Gibbons ran in the Newmills 10k where she placed 56th and 7th in a guntime of 40:13. The field there measured 207.

Further afield, on Wednesday evening two of our London exiles, Kate O’Malley and Rob Glascott, ran in the 3rd and last race in the Wimbledon trail series. In a race of 12.6k, Kate placed 38th and 3rd in the field of 173 runners in 53:36, whilst Rob placed 51st in 55:3. By virtue of her cumulative times over the 3 races, Kate actually won the overall event. Then, over the weekend, Dave Carter ran in a 5k race in Cyprus, the Paphos Pathrun 5k, held in temperatures of around 29 degrees Celsius, finishing in a time of 20:25.

We had a least 5 Crusaders take part in the midweek IMRA race, this time held on Ballinastoe in Co. Wicklow. The course measured around 11k with a climb of 504m. The race was considered difficult. Donatas Jocius placed 3rd in the field of 147 in a time of 55:31, followed by Brendan Murphy (6th in 56:41). They were followed by Warren Swords (29th in 64:03) and then by Brian McGuckin (42nd in 67:37) and by Gavan Doherty (76th in 76:33).

Recent new member, Scott Thomas, was the first finisher in Fairview Park parkrun on Saturday morning, leading the field of 143 home in 18:37. He was followed by Catriona Egan who placed 67th and 19th in 28:09. Meanwhile, Áine Kenny also finished ahead of the entire field of 46 in Mountbellew Forest in a time of 21:40. Ivan Kinehan took 2nd place in the 145-strong University of Galway in 17:18, whilst Stephen Hurley led at least 21 other Crusaders in Poolbeg by placing 2nd there in 17:46.

Stephen was followed by Jan Manschot (5th in 18:32), Luke Clarke (6th in 18:51), James Sherry (8th in 19:06), Ross Neill (10th in 19:22), Ed Forester (14th in 19:58), Gerard Moore (19th in 20:34) and Saketh Ravuluri (20th with a PB time of 20:37).

Next, in the field of 217, came Aoife McCarthy (39th and 3rd in 23:13) and she was followed by Charles Cartledge (43rd in 23:20), Paul Campbell (45th in 23:33), Josie Ward (55th and 7th in 24:03) and Sharon Woods (68th and 11th in 24:55).

Further back came Djinn Von Noorden (102nd and 28th in 27:31), just ahead of Anousheh Alamir (104th and 29th in 27:39), followed by Aisling O’Riordan (126th and 45th in 28:59) and Lieze Verberght (142nd and 54th in 29:46), who, along with Fanny Trébouet (145th and 57th in 29:52), was pacing Fanny’s sister, Elisa. The contingent was completed by Kevin Kenny (148th in 29:58), Maureen McGinley (156th and 63rd in 30:40), Cynthia Perucca (189th and 83rd in 35:10) and Simón Zoladz (193rd in 35:45).

Dee Lawlor ran in Vandeleur, where he placed 2nd in 20:13 alongside 62 other participants, whilst Kabir Sala also found himself on the podium with a 3rd place finish in the 98-strong field in Waterstown. Kabir ran 22:06. Emer Kenny ran in Father Collins Park, where she placed 22nd and 6th in a field of 120 in a time of 24:20, whilst Darina Scully ran alongside 116 other runners in River Valley Park, where she placed 30th and 9th in 26:21. In Cabinteely with a field of 188, Gian Piero Allerta placed 21st in 23:54, followed by Olwyn Dunne (96th and 27th in 30:32) and Carina Davidson (131st and 45th in 34:05), whilst, in Porterstown, Martina White took 87th and 29th spots in 33:29 in a field of 103. Aitor Arribas Velasco ran in Ballincollig once again, placing 64th in a field of 264, in a time of 25:24, whilst Colm Foley placed 53rd running alongside 200 other runners in Griffeen Park, recording a time of 25:09.

We had at least 5 club mates in Shanganagh where 285 participants could be found. Orlaith de Burca placed 184th and 61st in 29:37, followed by Jill Nason (190th and 65th in 29:55), Máirín Shine (245th and 97th in 33:57), Lisa Shine (249th and 100th in 34:14) and Fiona Shine (250th and 101st in 34:15). Meanwhile, Mairead Cashman placed 138th and 43rd in the 225-strong field in Tramore Valley, running a time of 30:02, whilst, in Bere Island, Ailish Hassett ran 39:23 for 39th and 23rd in a field of 69. Paul F. Kelly joined 136 other participants in Poppintree, where he placed 51st in 27:58, whilst John Lohan headed to Hillsborough Forest where, in a field of 239, he placed 24th in 22:22. Also, in the UK, our exiles Jeanie Watson, Rob Glascott and Eva Kennedy also ran on Saturday morning. Jeanie ran in Highbury Fields where, in a field of 667, she placed 122nd and 18th in 22;42, whilst Rob and Eva ran on Clapham Common. In a field of 851, Rob placed 37th in 20:07, whilst Eva placed 216th and 29th in 23:55.

Achill Half marathon (726)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 George Snee 1 01:12:45
16 Caitlin Billman 1 01:26:11
Crusaders AC runners
15 Lorenzo Battiston 01:25:47
127 Mark McGovern 01:47:30
Full results here:
Clontarf Half marathon (3741)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Cian Charlton 1 01:19:02
9 Pamela Kirk 1 01:21:18
Crusaders AC runners
16 Kenan Furlong 01:23:56
36 Jack Cahalane 01:27:20
113 Simon Kenny 01:31:49
139 Donal O'Malley 01:33:11
185 John O’Donnell 01:36:48
242 Liam O’Brien 01:38:56
330 Triona Quill 01:42:08 (41)
416 Caoimhe Dempsey 01:44:27 (59)
605 Claire Reidy 01:49:16 (97)
736 Brian O’Neill 01:52:19
Full results here:
Clontarf 5-miler (1346)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Fearghal O’Hare 1 00:26:52
14 Rachel McFadden 1 00:32:00
Crusaders AC runners
1 Fergal O’Hare 00:26;52
7 Aaron Cashman 00:29:59
211 Rebecca Kelly 00:38:08 (68)
Full results here:
Nora Arthur 5k (188)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Éanna O’Bradaigh 1 00:15:32
14 Irene Gorman 1 00:19:26
Crusaders AC runner
14 Irene Gorman 00:19:26 (1)
Full results here: https://myrunresults.com/events/nora_arthur_5k/5739/results
Newmills 10k (207)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Danny Mooney 1 00:32:41
24 Noeleen Scanlan 1 00:36:50
Crusaders AC runner
56 Kathryn Gibbons 00:40:13 (7)
Full results here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555717735585
IMRA Ballinastoe 11k (147)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ruairi Long 1 00:50:19
32 Anna-May Woods 1 01:05:13
Crusaders AC runners
3 Donatas Jocius 00:55:31
6 Brendan Murphy 00:56:41
29 Warren Swords 01:04:03
42 Brian McGuckin 01:07:37
76 Gavan Doherty 01:16:33
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2664
Univ. of Galway Parkrun (145)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Darragh Browne 1 00:17:03
5 Grace Hughes 1 00:20:05
Crusaders AC runner
2 Ivan Kinehan 00:17:18
Fairview Parkrun (143)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Scott Thomas 1 00:18:37
15 Miriam Kearney 1 00:23:24
Crusaders AC Runners
1 Scott Thomas 000:18:37
67 Catriona Egan 00:28:09 (19)
Vandeleur Parkrun (63)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Thomas Garrahy 1 00:18:11
6 Dympna O’Dwyer 1 00:21:57
Crusaders AC runner
2 Derek Lawlor 00:20:13
Poolbeg Parkrun (217)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Barry McCarten 1 00:17:05
7 Laura McDonnell 1 00:19:00
Crusaders AC runners
2 Stephen Hurley 00:17:46
5 Jan Manschot 00:18:32
6 Luke Clarke 00:18:51
8 James Sherry 00:19:06
10 Ross Neill 00:19:22
14 Ed Forester 00:19:58
19 Gerard Moore 00:20:34
20 Saketh Ravuluri 00:20:37 (PB)
39 Aoife McCarthy 00:23:13 (3)
43 Charles Cartledge 00:23:20
45 Paul Campbell 00:23:33
55 Josie Ward 00:24:03 (7)
68 Sharon Woods 00:24:55 (11)
102 Djinn Von Noorden 00:27:31 (28)
104 Anousheh Alamir 00:27:39 (29)
126 Aisling O’Riordan 00:28:59 (45)
142 Lieze Verberght 00:29:46 (54)
145 Fanny Trébouet 00:29:52 (57)
148 Kevin Kenny 00:29:58
156 Maureen McGinley 00:30:40 (63)
189 Cynthia Perucca 00:35:10 (83)
193 Simón Zoladz 00:35:45
Griffeen Parkrun (201)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Oliver Warren 1 00:18:01
9 Shuang Shuang Wang 1 00:20:40
Crusaders AC runner
53 Colm Foley 00:25:09
Ballincollig Parkrun (264)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Govinda O’Sullivan 1 00:17:28
3 Aoibhinn O’Connor 1 00:19:36
Crusaders AC runner
64 Aitor Arribas Velasco 00:25:24
Waterstown Parkrun (98)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Martin Francis 1 00:20:49
7 Niamh Doran 1 00:23:26
Crusaders AC runner
3 Kabir Sala 00:22:06
Mountbellew Forest Parkrun (46)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Áine Kenny 1 00:21:40
2 Eoghan Hegerty 1 00:22:25
Crusaders AC runner
1 Áine Kenny 00:21:40
Porterstown Parkrun (103)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Bobby Cullen 1 00:18:46
12 Joan O’Callaghan 1 00:22:03
Crusaders AC runner
87 Martina White 00:33:29 (29)
Farther Collins Parkrun (120)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Rachael Dowling 1 00:18:56
2 Pawel Kaim 1 00:19:27
Crusaders AC runner
22 Emer Kenny 00:24:20 (6)
River Valley (117)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Viktoras Kuzminas 1 00:18:42
17 Donna McCarthy 1 00:23:25
Crusaders AC runner
30 Darina Scully 00:26:21 (9)
Shanganagh Parkrun (285)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Paul McKenna 1 00:17:28
20 Emily Kane 1 00:21:25
Crusaders AC runners
184 Orlaith de Burca 00:29:37 (61)
190 Jill Nason 00:29:55 (65)
245 Máirín Shine 00:33:57 (97)
249 Lisa Shine 00:34:14 (100)
250 Fiona Shine 00:34:15 (101)
Cabinteely Parkrun (188)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Conor McNab 1 00:19:07
11 Frances McNab 1 00:21:28
Crusaders AC runners
21 Gian Piero Allerta 00:23:54
96 Olwyn Dunne 00:30:32 (27)
131 Carina Davidson 00:34:05 (45)
Tramore Valley Parkrun (225)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Barry Twohig 1 00:16:02
9 Siobhan Hoare 1 00:19:57
Crusaders AC runner
138 Mairead Cashman 00:30:02 (43)
Bere Island Parkrun (69)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Liam O’Connor 1 00:21:04
4 Breeda O’Sullivan 1 00:23:36
Crusaders AC runner
39 Ailish Hassett 00:39:23 (23)
Poppintree Parkrun (137)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Matthew Peleszok 1 00:17:38
15 Karen Slye 1 00:23:12
Crusaders AC runner
51 Paul F. Kelly 00:27:58