Winning ways in Clontarf and Achill

8/7/2019

Catherine Thornton

We had a highly successful weekend of road (and beach!) racing this week, with excellent outings in the Clontarf half marathon, two races on Achill, where we were out in force, and a good showing in Roscommon.

We start, however, with the track, where, in Tullamore on Saturday, we had several U23 and U20 athletes take part in the national championships. In the U23 women’s 100m Ciara Barry placed 4th in her heat in 12.82 and went on to place 7th in the final in 12.94. Similarly, in his heat in the men’s U23 100m, David Heavey placed 4th in 11.42, followed by a 7th place finish in the final in 11.29. In heat 1 of the junior men’s 200m, Peter Murphy took 5th place in in 24.00. In the U23 200m men’s race, David came home in 2nd place in 23.46 but did not start in the final, whilst Shane Keane ran 22.55 and 22.29 to place respectively 4th and 6th between heat and final. Shane also took silver in the long jump with a leap of 6.36. Finally, the men’s 4X100m U23 team won gold in 44.31, whilst the men’s 4x400m squad gained silver in 3:36.31. It was reported that the timetable was running up to 25 minutes ahead of schedule because of running U20 and U23 runners in the same races and some of the runners either didn’t make their races or arrived late at the call room and were yellow carded as they were unaware that the times had changed. If this was the case, it seems a little unfortunate, to say the least.

So, onto road racing. With little wind, but with half the race being run on sludgy sand and with a bit of drizzle to add to the challenge of beach running, Kieran Little put in a distinguished effort to win the Clontarf half marathon on Saturday morning. Kieran’s time was 1:14:57. He was followed, in a field of well over 1500 runners, by Dee Lawlor who took 6th spot in 1:20:40 and then by Bob Cahill with yet another half marathon under his belt this year with similar times (34th in 1:29:40). Triona Quill also had an excellent race, where she ran 1:40:50 to place 226th overall, 14th female finisher and winner of her age category. Triona was followed by Christophe Marsan (254th in 1:42.170 and by Joe Dunne who was pacing the 2-hour runners (977th in 1:59:22), meticulously as always!

There were at least 17 Crusaders representing the club on Saturday morning on Achill Island, and we did not disappoint, with several standout performances. Conditions for the two hilly races, the half marathon and 10k , started out misty and a little drizzly, but the temperature was soon rising by the 10:30 start for the half (with the 10k starting 45 minutes later, and both races meeting each other at about 5k for the 10k and 16k for the half, so that we all finished together). In fact the races were conducted in quite warm and breezy conditions, particularly for the first 6k of the half marathon which involved a long steady uphill drag with a headwind which was to some extent refreshing for the runners. The women’s half marathon race was won by Catherine Thornton who led from gun to tape and which will have gained her some confidence as she embarks on marathon training. Catherine placed 38th overall in a field of more than 600 runners (and in a time of 1:32:36) and she was headed by two Crusaders who are also native members of the Achill community: Patrick Needham (30th in 1:30:36) and Darran Lovely (33rd in 1:31:10), with Patrick being the first islander across the line and winning a prize for that. Next across the line, on what is an undulating course with its challenging early kilometres and hills at 16 and 19km, was Kevin Lambe (46th in 1:35:26), John Lohan (85th in 1:40:25 and 8th M50), Maria del Carmen Jimenez Campos (163rd overall, 20th woman, in 1:47:54), Liz Nixon (214th and 32nd in 1:51:39), Tara Murphy (232nd, 32nd and 6th F50, in 1:52:58) and Paul Larkins, our Kilkenny exile, who placed 372nd in 2:05:01.

We were equally successful in the 10k, won by ex-Crusader Ray Hynes and by a guest runner with the Cru, Clare Sullivan of Rathfarnham WSAF. Joe McDermott continued his super running by placing 3rd in 36:43, followed by an excellent performance from Eddie Nugent (7th in 40:08 and winner of his age category). In an overall field of 475, Adrienne Jordan ran well too, placing 2nd in the women’s race in 40:59 (9th overall), followed by Caroline Crowley, on her way back from injury, who took 3rd place (13th overall) in 43:14. Caroline was followed by James Cottle, also working his way back from injury, who placed 14th and winner of his age category in 43:41. At one stage, around the 6km mark, James thought he would be able to catch Caroline as he had kept her in sight for all of the race to that point, as Caroline stopped to tie a shoelace. However, it was not to be as she sped off at an even faster pace, restoring the natural order. At least James (along with other members of the group) had the satisfaction of having reeled in a good number of runners who had underestimated the hilly challenges of the race and had started too fast. Behind James came Grainne Regan who ensured that 3 of the first 4 places in the women’s race were held by the club (21st and 4th in 45:20), followed by Jemma Lyons who reinforced the women’s dominance with 7th place (26th overall) in 46:09. Miriam Logan also ran well to place 56th overall (17th woman home in 50:40). So that we had all five of our female runners among the top 20 in the race. As usual, the trip to Achill involved more than just racing and a good time was had by all, with even a bit of challenging (read vertical) hill walking (and peering over precipitous cliff faces (the highest cliffs in Europe)) thrown in for good measure with expert guiding by Darran the day after the race.

On the same day, Aine Kenny and Kate Murray were not too far away in Roscommon, where they took part in a Kia Race Series event, the Roscommon Harriers 10 mile road race. The event was won by Mick Clohisey and Michelle Finn, whilst Aine placed 81st overall among the 557 runners (12th woman) in 1:10:02 and Kate took 153rd spot overall (36th woman) in 1:16:55. Conditions were similar to Achill, where they were warm and humid.

There was not so much to report on the mountains this past week. One IMRA race midweek drew the participation of two of our athletes. Brian McGuckin, with a sore ankle from the week before, joined Gavan Doherty to run on Trooperstown Hill in Co. Wicklow on a course that was run on moderate terrain over 9km with a climb of 430m. In a field of 169 runners, Brian placed 33rd in 51:19, whilst Gavan took 52nd spot in 53:26.

There weren’t so many parkruns in which we featured at the weekend. We did, however, record a couple of first place finishes. Rob Browne took first place in Shanganagh in 18:05 (followed by Orlaith de Burca (97th overall and 26th woman, in 28:39)), whilst, in Poolbeg, Stephen Hurley finished likewise ahead of the field in a time of 16:58. There were podium places for Peter O’Toole in St. Anne’s (3rd in 17:360 and for Fiona Bane in Poolbeg (44th overall, in 23:25). Elsewhere, Lisa Shine was 5th (and 22nd) in Tramore in 23:03, followed by Mairin Shine (137th and 62nd in 44:40) and Mia Shine, Mairin’s grand-daughter and Lisa’s niece (143rd overall, 65th female finisher, in 53:13). Mairead Cashman ran in Bushy park where she placed 196th overall (57th woman) in 30:34, whilst, in Kingsbury Water in the UK, Olwyn Dunne joined 755 other runners and placed 227th overall, 36th woman, in 25:39. Even further afield, Cormac McGuire ran in Crissy Field in San Francisco where he placed 19th in a field of 125 in a time of 20:32. Ronan Moynihan placed 8th in Malahide in a time of 18:04, whilst we had three runners in Griffeen Park. Colm Foley crossed the line in 36th place 9in 22:570 ahead of Aoife Kelly (81st and 19th in 27:48) and Paul F. Kelly (82nd in 27:49). Peter was joined in St. Anne’s by Diarmuid Byrne (probably with a buggy) who placed 316th in 36:58 and by Darina Scully, tailwalking. Lastly, there was a large contingent alongside Stephen and Fiona in Poolbeg. Newcomer Richard Phelan placed 5th in 18:57, followed by Zlatko Kulic (12th in 20:00), David Timoney (20th in 20:36), Mark Swan (26th in 21:29), Barry O’Neill (34th in 22:05), Ava Rose Clarke (67th and 8th in 25:17), Gillian Curran (71st and 10th in 25:33), Cathal Murphy (75th in 25;43), Sharon Woods (80th and 13th in 26:03), Cliodhna O’Reilly (86th and 15th in 26:37) and Maureen McGinley (111th and 25th in 29:41. Don Anderton and Ciara McElligott were tailwalkers for the event.

Clontarf Half Marathon (1543)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Kieran Little 1 01:14:57
10 Isobel Oakes 1 01:23:38
Crusaders AC runners
1 Kieran Little 01:14:57
6 Dee Lawlor 01:20:40
34 Bob Cahill 01:29:40
43 Luke Davis 01:30:04
226 Triona Quill 01:40:50 (14)
254 Christophe Marsan 01:42:17
977 Joe Dunne 01:59:52 (Pacer)
Full results here: http://www.redtagtiming.com/
Achill Half Marathon (604)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 David Murray 1 01:16:23
38 Catherine Thornton 1 01:32:36
Crusaders AC runners
30 Patrick Needham 01:30:36
33 Darran Lovely 01:31:10
38 Catherine Thornton 01:32:36 (1)
46 Kevin Lambe 01:35:26
85 John Lohan 01:40:25
163 Maria del Carmen Jimenez Campos 01:47:54 (20)
214 Liz Nixon 01:51:39 (32)
232 Tara Murphy 01:52:58 (41)
372 Paul Larkins 02:05:01
Full results here: https://www.popupraces.ie/race/achill-half-marathon-10k/#2_9D70EA
Achill 10k (475)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Ray Hynes 1 00:33:39
6 Clare Sullivan 1 00:39:07
Crusaders AC runners
3 Joe McDermott 00:36:43
7 Eddie Nugent 00:40:08
9 Adrienne Jordan 00:40:59 (2)
13 Caroline Crowley 00:43:14 (3)
14 James Cottle 00:43:41
21 Grainne Regan 00:45:20 (4)
26 Jemma Lyons 00:46:09 (7)
56 Miriam Logan 00:50:40 (17)
Full results here: https://www.popupraces.ie/race/achill-half-marathon-10k/#1_7336A4
Kia Series Roscommon Harriers 10 mile race (557)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Mick Clohisey 1 00:48:56
9 Michelle Finn 1 00:58:47
Crusaders AC runners
81 Aine Kenny 01:10:02 (12)
153 Kate Murray 01:16:55 (36)
Full results here: https://www.popupraces.ie/race/roscommon-harriers-10-mile-road-race-2019/
IMRA Trooperstown Hill (169)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Killian Mooney 1 00:41:27
42 Grace O’Rourke 1 00:52:12
Crusaders AC runners
33 Brian McGuckin 00:51:19
52 Gavan Doherty 00:53:26
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/view/id/1727
Malahide Parkrun #348 (328)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Robert Frewen 1 00:16:59
7 Annette Kealy 1 00:18:02
Crusaders AC runner
8 Ronan Moynihan 00:18:04
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.org.uk/malahide/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=348
Griffeen Parkrun #317 (159)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Gary Farrell 1 00:17:33
23 Nicola Kavanagh 1 00:22:00
Crusaders AC runners
36 Colm Foley 00:22:57
81 Aoife Kelly 00:27:48 (19)
82 Paul F. Kelly 00:27:49
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/griffeen/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=317
Bushy Dublin Parkrun #124 (284)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Adam Moss 1 00:18:10
2 Catherina McKiernan 1 00:18:11
Crusaders AC runner
196 Mairead Cashman 00:30:34 (57)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/bushydublin/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=124
Poolbeg Parkrun #93 (139)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Stephen Hurley 1 00:16:58
6 Sorcha Loughnane 1 00:18:59
Crusaders AC runners
1 Stephen Hurley 00:16:59
5 Richard Phelan 00:18:57
12 Zlatko Kulic 00:20:00
20 David Timoney 00:20:36
26 Mark Swan 00:21:29
34 Barry O’Neill 00:22:05
44 Fiona Bane 00:23:25 (3)
67 Ava Rose Clarke 00:25:17 (8)
71 Gillian Curran 00:25:33 (10)
75 Cathal Murphy 00:25:43
80 Sharon Woods 00:26:03 (13)
86 Cliodhna O’Reilly 00:26:37 (15)
111 Maureen McGinley 00:29:41 (25)
152 Ciara McElligott 00:57:11
153 Don Anderton 00:57:11
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/poolbeg/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=98
Shanganagh Parkrun #220 (178)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Rob Browne 1 00:18:05
19 Eile Kennedy 00:22:23
Crusaders AC runners
1 Rob Browne 00:18:05
97 Orlaith de Burca 00:28:39 (26)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/shanganagh/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=220
Tramore Parkrun #181(147)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Jamie Kirby 1 00:18:36
9 Janet Quinlan 1 00:20:42
Crusaders AC runners
22 Lisa Shine 00:23:03 (5)
137 Mairin Shine 00:44:40 (62)
143 Mia Shine 00:53:13 (65)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/tramore/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=181
St. Annes’s Parkrun #290 (337)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Graham O’Dwyer 1 00:17:04
9 Aoife Brady 1 00:18:47
Crusaders AC runners
3 Peter O’Toole 00:17:36
316 Diarmuid Byrne 00:36:58
335 Darina Scully 00:48:14 (156)
Full results here: http://www.parkrun.ie/stannes/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=290

Kieran Little

Jemma Lyons, Clare Sullivan, Adrienne Jordan, James Cottle, Kevin Lambe, Miriam Logan, Joe McDermott, Grainne Regan, Eddie Nugent, Patrick Needham, Catherine Thornton