Last Friday evening around teatime, the news of Pat Hooper’s sudden and shocking death began filtering through.

For many, the rest of the evening was spent on the phone as they attempted to come to terms with the stunning loss not only of a giant of Irish athletics but of a personal friend.

At the death of his death, Pat Hooper was the chairman of the Dublin Athletics Board, which looks after some 42 clubs and around 9,000 athletes of all ages.

In January, he had answered the call when asked to stand as chairman of Athletics Leinster. Since 2016, he had been a member of the Athletics Ireland competitions committee. At Raheny Shamrock, he was the current treasurer, having fulfilled many other roles down the years.

Pat was the ultimate volunteer – he gave of his time unstintingly because of his huge love for athletics and because, as one of life’s natural leaders, he was happy to help out when he could.

He had competed internationally for Ireland but there’s little doubt that his legacy will live in the years of invaluable service he gave to Irish athletics as an administrator, a coach and an official. No job was too small for Pat if it served athletics.

We were lucky to have him.

A life lived for sport

Patrick Hooper was born on 12 July 1952 and bought from hospital to the family home in Raheny, on the north side of Dublin. He was one of six children. For the rest of life, he never moved far from the place he was born and bred.

He faced tragedy at a young age when his father, also called Patrick, died aged just 44 of a massive heart attack on 29 January 1963. Pat junior was ten and his younger brother Dick six. Their mother Maura was left to cope with a young family.

After his education at St Paul’s College, Pat began work in the insurance industry employed by the Irish firm PMPA which began as a motor insurer but soon grew into the largest insurance company in the country before spectacularly collapsing. At that point in the 1980s, it was bought over first by Guardian Royal Exchange and later again by AXA for whom Pat worked until his retirement.

By the early 1970s, Pat had begun training with the local athletics club Raheny Shamrock and was soon followed by his younger brother.

Marathon running was creeping into the public consciousness at the time and Pat’s hero was the Czech marathon runner Emil Zatopek, winner of three gold medals at the 1952 Olympics, whose philosophy was that “with persistent hard effort, you can change your body”.

The Czech’s brutal 40×400 efforts – a new style of training called “intervals” – and huge weekly mileage of a hundred miles and more, sometimes wearing heavy army boots, had become become the stuff of legend.

Getting the miles in on the run-commute

Pat, who had realised early on that he was not speed merchant material, began running to and from his home in Raheny to the PMPA office off at Wolfe Tone Street on Tuesday and Thursdays in an effort to increase his weekly mileage.

His mother thought he was mad and she wasn’t the only one; road running was a minority sport back then and he got the occasional offer of a lift from concerned drivers. On those same days, when in full training, he would run a 13-mile times circuit over the Hill of Howth in the evenings.

On Saturdays and Sundays ,he would set off on 24 and 30 mile long runs with the late Jim McNamara of Donore Harriers.

In 1975, came the first fruits of his hard work when Pat won the Dublin County Marathon in 2:25.54. Then in 1978, he finished second in the National Marathon, held in Tullamore, in a time of 2:19.53.

Winner that day was his younger brother Dick in 2:16.27, with both men wearing their lucky green and white candy-stripe Dolphin shorts and both selected for the European Championships in Prague where Pat finished 27^th in 2:20.29. It was a golden era for Irish athletics, with John Treacy winning his second World Cross-Country title in Limerick in 1979 and Eamonn Coghlan taking silver outdoors and gold indoors over 1500m at European level in 1978 and 1979.

1979, the golden year

In 1979, Pat was to hit the pinnacle of his career. In the spring, he won the second ever Ballycotton “10” in 49 mins 12 secs – a new course record. At the Dublin 10-Mile Championships, he recorded a solid victory over Gerry Kiernan of Clonliffe Harriers, while in Lanesboro, Co Roscommon, he won the National 15-Mile title in 75 mins 14 secs.

Best of all, on a scorching hot July day, again in Tullamore, he won the National Marathon title in a personal best 2 hrs 17mins 46 secs. The race included an international challenge and Scotland’s David Clarke was second in 2:18.01.

That year of 1979 also saw Pat attend a meeting of running enthusiasts interested in providing inter-firm competition for road runners of all standards. At a tense period in Irish history, Pat pragmatically proposed that the word “Irish” be avoided in the title of the new organisation.

So was born the Business Houses Athletics Association, with both Pat and Dick staunch supporters of its races over the next decade.

A main rival close to home

Back in Tullamore for a third time in May 1980, the brothers again battled it out at the National Marathon with the race a trial for the Moscow Olympics later that year.

On another broiling hot day, the plan was to share the lead until the opposition was burnt off after which it was each man for himself. Dick took the win in 2:16.27, while Pat was a brave second in 2:19.23 despite an incident at the 14^th mile when a well-meaning official, attempting to cool him down, hit him full on with a bucket of water.

No permanent harm was done and on 1 August, both men lined out in the marathon at the Moscow Olympics, where Dick finished 38^th in 2:23.53 and Pat 42^nd in 2:30.28.

The first Dublin Marathon

On Monday 27 October 1980 came a pivotal moment in Irish athletics history when the first Dublin Marathon was held. The race course took in Raheny and Pat as a steward watched as his brother Dick made a small piece of running history by winning the race. A year later, Pat finished fourth in the second Dublin Marathon in 2:20.01; Dick didn’t run.

By the middle of the decade, with injuries and the heavy mileage of his younger days taking their toll, Pat was already moving off stage to concentrate on the administrative side of the sport and was also coaching local youngsters in the fine art of road running.

With a head full of ideas, he was persuaded to join the Raheny Shamrock committee, where he discovered to his dismay that the club was in serious financial difficulty. To bring in much needed cash, he proposed organising an annual road race. And so was born the Raheny 5-Mile, with the first race held in January 1985. Now firmly established as a must-do road race on the Irish circuit, the race celebrated its 36^th anniversary last January.

Pat the official at Dublin Masters XC Photo: Lindie Naughton

Excelling on the other side of racing

It would become one of hundreds if not thousands of local races that Pat would organise, often using St Anne’s Park, where the club trained, or a one-mile circuit around All Saint’s Road which was relatively car-free.

In 2001, Pat proposed holding the National Road Relays on the circuit, with victory for Raheny’s senior men making it a glorious day for the club. To this day, Raheny is the “home” for this popular club event, attracting teams from clubs all over the country every April.

Other Pat Hooper innovations have included regular local road leagues, most notably the Lord Mayor of Raheny summer series and, more recently, the Battle of Clontarf 10-Mile on Easter Monday, based in St Anne’s Park.

As chairman of the Dublin Athletics Board for over a decade, Pat brought the Dublin Masters Cross-Country Championships to St Anne’s Park. Held in early January, this is now second only to the National Championships in terms of the numbers it attracts.

Club pride for a national victory

As a club mentor and coach, Pat’s proudest day probably came in 2016, when Raheny Shamrock’s team of Mick Clohisey, Kevin Dooney, Conor Dooney and Mark Kirwan took the senior men’s title for the first time at the National Cross-Country. They would repeat that feat in the next two years, but it’s the first one that’s magic.

There’s more. No schools event or track meet in Dublin or Tullamore was complete without the avuncular presence of Pat on the finish line.

On some days, he would be standing with his stop watch at the North Leinster Schools Championships and a few hours later, standing with the same stop watch at a Dublin Graded League meet. For many of us, a visit to Santry wasn’t complete without a brief catch-up chat with Pat behind the timekeeper’s “steps”.

For travelling to road races in places like the Phoenix Park, Pat took to his bike as a means of keeping fit, especially after a knee replacement operation, often carrying a sheaf of road race flyers to hand out at the end of the finish chute.

And now he’s gone.

No man or woman is irreplaceable, but Pat Hooper – or “The Jugger” as he was to Raheny members – almost fits that description. He leaves a huge gap. Some sad days lie ahead, particularly at the Dublin Masters, the Raheny 5 and the National Road Relays, but we can rest assured that the spirit of this thorough gentleman will continue to permeate the sport he loved.

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The Antrim Coast Half Marathon already featured in our Sunday round-up, where Irish marathon champion Stephen Scullion, of Clonliffe Harriers and Northern Ireland, took two minutes off his half marathon PB with a time of 61 mins 08 secs for fourth place and a new Northern Irish record on Saturday (September 12).

Kevin Seaward of St Malachy’s AC finished fifth in 63 mins 05 secs, while in 20th place, Gary O’Hanlon of Clonliffe Harriers knocked 30 seconds off his previous best finishing first M45 in 66: 26.

Winning the over 60 class was Tommy Hughes of Stripe AC in a time of 71 mins 9 secs, which is a new age group world record.

In the women’s race, Jessica Craig of North Down AC in seventh place finished best of the local entry in 75 mins 45 secs; a week earlier, Craig had run 16:18 for 5km at Down Royal. Finishing eighth in a personal best time of 76:25 was Ciara Hickey of Brothers Pearse AC in Dublin, while tenth and second W40 was Gladys Ganiel of North Belfast Harriers in 78.12.

Antrim Coast Half. Credit: Steve Donegan Photography

Strong wins for Clohisey & Connolly

Mick Clohisey of Raheny Shamrock was the winner of an elite only Charleville Half Marathon held in Co Cork on Sunday (September 13).

On a day of blustery winds, Clohisey, who will run in the 40th anniversary London Marathon elite race on Sunday October 4, finished in 65 mins 10 secs. Jake O’Regan of St John’s AC was second in 65:40 and Hugh Armstrong of Ballina AC third in 66:31.

Breege Connolly of City of Derry Spartans was first woman in 77:28 followed by Ide Nic Dhomhnaill of Donore Harriers in 78:36 and Mary Mulhare of Portlaoise AC in 79.51. A total of 73 finished the race; full results here.

Sean Hehir of Metro St Brigid’s AC won the MyRun Club Series with Avondale Sports Day 5km held at Rathdrum on Thursday (September 10).

Hehir finished in 16 mins 5 secs, with Joe Byrne of SBR AC second in 16:30 and Derek Crammond of Parnell AC third in 16:42. First woman was Catherine O’Connor in 19:21, followed by her Parnell AC clubmate Sheila O’Byrne in 20:03 with Rebecca Harris of Ashford AC third in 21.02.

Winning the Thursday Club 5km Handicap, also on Thursday at Mondello Park in Co Kildare, was Mick Fogarty of Ferbane AC in 15 mins 17 secs (35:04). Paul Mitchell of Tullamore Harriers was second in 15:44 (35:20) and Paul Buckley of Ferbane AC third in 16:15 (35.30). First woman in 18:05 (34.50) was Edel Gaffney. Ruth Kelly of Sportsworld AC was second in 19:09 (35:44) and Laurena Meagher third in 19:58 (35.29).

Ciara Mageean at the Mid-Cheshire 5k earlier in the year Photo: www.mickhall-photos.com

Track – Irish on Tour

Ciara Mageean of City of Lisburn AC finished 13th in the 1500m at ISTAF Berlin on Sunday (September 13) in a time of 4:12.82; her season’s best is 4:10.99, set in Stockholm on August 23.

Earlier in the week, at the Golden Spike meet in Ostrava, Czech Republic on Tuesday (September 8), Mageean, who improved the Irish record to 1:59.69 in July, clocked a time of 2:01.40 to finished fifth in the women’s 800m. In the 1500m at the same meet, Sarah Healy of Blackrock AC finished in 4 mins 17.60 secs.

Next up for Mageean is the 800m at the Diamond League in Rome on Thursday (September 17)

Also in Berlin, in the stadium where he had won his European bronze medal two years ago, Thomas Barr of Ferrybank AC finished fourth in the 400m hurdles in 50.41 secs. On Friday, at the PTS Meeting in Samorin, Slovakia on Friday, Barr had gone a marginally faster 50.30 secs.

European and UK performances continue

Irish champion Michele Finn of Leevale AC finished 11th in the women’s steeplechase in Berlin with a time of 9 mins 53.50 secs – well off the 9:38.04 she ran while in Australia last February and her 9:41.62 effort in Espoo Finland a month ago.

Nadia Power of Dublin City Harriers AC improved her 800m personal best to 2:01.01 when finished finishing third in Rovereto, Italy on Tuesday (September 8). The time was an Irish U23 record. Power took over a second off her previous best of of 2:02.39,

Three days later, in Samorin on Friday, Power finished third over the same distance with a time of 2:02.12. In the same race, Claire Mooney of Naas AC ran a season’s best 2:05.64.

On the same night in Poznan, Poland, Nessa Millet of St Abban’s AC put herself top of the current Irish rankings with a time of 57.44 secs for fourth place in the 400m hurdles.

Closer to home, England-based Kevin Moore of Dundrum AC in Co Tipperary, ran a hand-held time of 8:24.9 for fifth in the elite 3000m at the Highgate Harriers Middle Distance Open in London’s Parliament Hill on Wednesday (September 9).

Eoin Pierce of Clonliffe Harriers clocked 3:46.1h to finish second in the elite men’s 1500m at the Aldershot Night of 1500m Thursday (September 10). At the same meet, Louise Shanahan of Leevale AC was fourth in the women’s 1500m in 4:21.4h, with Ciara Everard of UCD fifth in 4:22.1.

Local track racing

Nakita Burke of Letterkenny AC underlined her current good form when winning the women’s 5000m at the NI and Ulster Track and Field Championships held at the Mary Peters Track in Belfast on Friday and Saturday (September 11-12).

Burke’s time of 16 mins 58.76 secs saw her finish comfortably clear of Grace Carson from Mid-Ulster AC in 17:07.03 and Olympic steeplechasere Kerry O’Flaherty of Newcastle AC in 17:13.56.

Winning a competitive men’s A 5000m in 14:28.80 was James Edgar of City of Lisburn AC. Nigel Johnston of Annadale Striders was a close second in 14:19.77, with Eoghan Totten of Newcastle and District AC third in 14:41.04 and Mark McKinstey of North Belfast Harriers fourth in 14:42.32

Over 1500m, Jonathan Whan of Clonliffe Harriers was the men’s winner in 3:49.64 while Denise Toner from Clones AC took the women’s title in 4:33.54.

Two lap showcase

Two 800m championships bests were posted at the final day of the All Ireland National Junior Championships in Santry on Sunday (September 13).

In the women’s race, Amee Hayde of Newport AC, who had taken the 1500m a week earlier, was a comfortable winner in 2:08.43 knocking half a second off the previous record. Louis O’Loughlin of Donore Harriers then set a new best time of 1:50.93 when winning the men’s title.

Over 3000m, Tadhg Donnelly of Drogheda and District AC had over five seconds to spare when taking the title in 8:34.15. In second place was Abdel Laadjel of Donore Harriers in 8:38.52, with Dean Casey of Ennis TC third in 8:47.32.

In a battle to the finish line, Siobhan Whelan of Clonmel AC held off the challenge of Joanne Loftus from Moy Valley AC to win the women’s 3000m in 10 mins 02.48 secs. Loftus finished in 10:03.22 with Aoife O Cuill of St Coca’s AC third in 10:07.14.

Cross-country (YES!)

St Catherine’s AC attracted a strong entry for the East Cork Championships at Conna on Sunday (September 13) where Kevin O’Brien and Fiona Santry made it an East Cork AC double.

In the women’s 4000m, Santry proved the class of the field finishing in 15 mins 49 secs.

Second was Linda O’Sullivan of Watergrasshill AC in 16:21, while third was Sinead O’Driscoll of Midleton AC in 16.27. Carraigh na bhFear beat Wateregrasshill AC to win the senior team category by two points, with East Cork third; Watergrasshill were first of the W35 teams and Ballymore Cobh best in the W45 category, with Sonia O’Sullivan the team’s first finisher in tenth place.

Kevin O’Brien was a clear winner of the men’s 6000m in 20:55, followed by Paul Hartnett of Midleton AC in 21:16 and Sean McGrath of East Cork AC third and first M35 in 21.28.

With seven finishers in the top ten, East Cork proved unstoppable in the seniro team category, followed by Midleton AC and Youghal AC. East Cork also won the M35 category while Carraig na bhFear was first M45 team.

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The post Half marathon records fall – Irish weekend round-up appeared first on Fast Running.

Yared Derese of Carrick Aces was a comfortable winner of the Trim 10-Mile in Co Meath on Sunday (February 2). By halfway, which he reached in 23 mins 32 secs , Derese had built up a minute’s lead and he went on to win the race in 48 mins 1 sec, with Eric Keogh of Donore Harriers, the only other athlete to break 50 minutes, second in 49:29.

Hugh Armstrong of Ballina AC was third in 50:22 and former Olympic race walker Colin Griffin of Ballinamore AC fourth in 51:56.

First woman was Ciara Durkan of Skerries AC in 59:16. Isabel Oakes was second in 60:48 and Caroline Donnelly of Edenderry AC third and first W40 in 60:53.

In Co Waterford, Mick Clohisey of Raheny Shamrock AC was the winner of the John Treacy Dungarvan 10-Mile in 48 mins 16 secs.

Kevin Maunsell of Clonmel AC was second in 48:30 and Conor Duffy of Glaslough Harriers third in 50:07. Alan O’Shea of Bantry AC was fifth and first M40 in 51:02. Dublin visitors Crusaders AC were first of the 25 teams, beating East Cork AC and St Finbarr’s AC.

First woman in 54 mins 23 secs was Irish marathon champion Aoife Cooke of Eagle AC. Sarah McMahon of Dundrum South Dublin AC was second in 59:16 and Fiona Santry of East Cork AC third in 60:18. Fourth and first W45 was Angela McCann of Clonmel AC. Cooke’s aunt, the great Mary Sweeney of St Finbarr’s AC, finished third W55.

Eagle AC proved best of a massive women’s team entry of 43; Watergrasshill AC and Clonmel AC finished second and third.

Dublin Track Club in action.

Another sizzler from Coscoran

After his sub-four minute indoor mile a week earlier, Andrew Coscoran, of the Star of the Sea club in Co Meath, continued his recent streak of good form with a personal best 3:37.98 for 1500m at the Boston University Scarlet and White Invite on Saturday (February 1). Dublin Track Club athlete Coscoran finished third in the race, with Josh Thompson the winner in 3:37.21.

In Vienna on Saturday (February 1), Phil Healy of Bandon AC finished second in both the 200m and 400m in times of 23.46 and 52.65 secs.

Meanwhile in Melbourne a week earlier, Sean Tobin of Clonmel AC and Michelle Finn of Leevale AC won the 3000m races at the Box Hill Classic in times of 7 mins 59 secs and 9 mins 6 secs respectively.

Cross country

Sean Horan of Harrier Products was the winner of the Garda BHAA open four mile cross-country in Dublin’s Phoenix Park on Saturday (February 1).

Doran’s time of 22 mins 18 secs saw him finish ahead of George Snee from Fidelity Instruments in 22:24 and Ross Hurley in 22:28. In the graded team categories, Bank of Ireland won both A and B, and finished second in C behind ESB. Revenue teams finished first and second in grade D.

A clear winner of the women’s two-mile race in 12 mins 38 secs was Laura Buckley, with her Teachers team mate Eva McNelis second in 13:21 and Claire Ní Fhaircheallagh third and first W35 in 13:36. With Ashling Smith finishing ninth, the Teachers finished first team ahead of Health A and HSE. The race, part of the Lord Mayor Series, had a massive 332 finishers.

Some women opted for the longer distance race with Rachel Yorke of Deloitte the best of the bunch. Next BHAA race is the ALSAA cross-country at Dublin Airport on Saturday February 15.

At the first Irwin Speirs Memorial Cup cross-country held at MUSA, Cookstown on Saturday (February 1), host club Acorns AC dominated with Vincent McKenna not only wining the men’s 4-mile race, but leading Acorns AC to team victory.

Gemma Whitehouse made it an Acorns AC double when she won the women’s 3-mile race; team winners were Victoria Park and Coniston AC.

The races were held in memory of the late Irwin Speirs, a highly respected masters’ athlete and coach of Acorns AC who died suddenly last December.

Irish action in Scotland

Finishing third in the men’s long race at the BUCS Cross-Country Championships in Edinburgh’s Holyrood Park on Saturday (February 1) was Jayme Rossiter of Clonliffe Harriers representing Aston University.

In the women’s short race, Louise Shanahan of Leevale AC, a PhD student in physics at Cambridge University, finished fifth. Shanahan, a track specialist, competed at the European U23 Championships in Sweden last summer.

At the Fox Trail winter series in East Lothian it was Irish ultra runner Nicola Duncan who victorious over the half marathon distance event.  The muddy trail race saw Ian Logan of Linlithgow AC the men’s winner in 1:26:36 and Duncan ran 1:35:39, whilst training for her first ultra race of the season at the Madeira Ultra Trail. Follow the speedster’s preparation in the Fast10 blogs.

Montserrat Sky Race

In the mountains outside Barcelona, Spain, last year’s IMRA World Cup Winner was getting her season into action. Sarah McCormack won the women’s race with a strong performance and it was actually a Yorkshire 1-2-3 on the men’s podium. We’re exited to see how well McCormack runs again in 2020, seemingly going from strength to strength every year.

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The post Fast 10 milers the flavour of the week – Irish round-up appeared first on Fast Running.

The pair went through half way in 14 mins 49 secs, with Armstrong then pulling away in the final two kilometres to win by four seconds from Clohisey who finished in 29:36, A distant third in a personal best time of 30:47 was international triathlete Con Doherty.

First women and 15th overall was Breege Connolly of City of Derry Spartans in 34 mins 42 secs. Aoife Kilgallon from Sligo AC was second in 36:24 with her Sligo clubmate Eavan McLoughlin third in 37:38.

Neil Johnson of Springwell Runners were the winner at the 34th annual Greencastle 5-Mile in Co Tyrone. Johnson was followed home by Scott Rankin of Foyle Valley and Mark McKinstry of North Belfast Harriers. His winning time was 24 mins 54 secs. In fourth place, Matthew Neill of Acorns AC was first junior.

Emma Mitchell of Clonliffe Harriers was first woman in 29 mins 21 secs., with Pauline McGurran second and first W450 and April Clarke of North Belfast Harriers third.

Finishing 14th overall and first master in 28:02 was Tommy Hughes of Termoneeny who will celebrate his 60th birthday on 8 January next.

National four mile record

At the Clonmel 4-mile, local athlete Sean Tobin obliterated the course record with a time of 17:45. His time was faster than the 17:59 recorded by Noel Berkeley in Peoria, Illinois on 20 June 1992, which stands as the Irish best time for the distance. Tobin was wearing the state-of-the-art carbon fibre shoes which are helping athletes re-write the road running record books at the moment.

A distant second in Thomas Hayes for Kilkenny City Harriers in 19 mins 5 secs, with Kevin Moore of Dundrum AC third in 19:37. First woman was Siobhan O’Doherty of Borrisokane AC in 23 mins 10 secs. Dymphna Ryan of Dundrum AC was second in 23:25 and Angela McCann of Clonmel AC in 23:33.

Also on December 26, Sean Doran of Clonliffe Harriers won the Streets of Wicklow 5km in 15 mins 47 secs just holding off Gareth Murran of Sportsworld who finished a second behind for second. Myles Gibbons of SBR Ferns was third and first M45 in 16:14. First woman in 27:33 was Sarah Mulligan of Dundrum South Dublin AC in 17.33. Clodagh Kelly of Croghan AC was second in 28:32 and Claire Earls of Inbhear Dee third in 18.48.

In Kilbeggan, Pauric Ennis won the St Stephen’s Day 6km in 19 mins 35 secs, with Euan Lagan second and Peter Mooney third and first M40. Nadine Donegan was first women in 22:36 followed by her sister Danielle who was also first junior in 22:40. Sinead Rigney was third.

Alan O’Shea of Bantry AC won the annual Dick Copithorne Memorial 4-Mile in Belgooly, Co Cork in a time of 19 mins 25 secs. Cillian O’Leary of Raheny Shamrock was second in 19:56 and Alan O’Brien of Eagle AC third in 20:19. Leevale’s Niamh Moore was first s woman hom in 22:51, followed by clubmate Louise Shanahan in 24:11 and Teresa Murphy of Kenta AC in 24:41. 426 finishers.

A day later (December 27), Ben Brunton of St Brigid’s AC was the winner of the Rita and Robbie 5km in Navan with a time of 15 mins 42 secs. Second and first junior was Tadhg Donnelly of Drogheda and District AC in 16:10, while third and first M40 was Brian Leahy of Raheny Shamrock in 16.14.

Karen Costello of Dunleer AC was first woman in 17:44, followed by Laura Buckley of Dunboyne AC and Ellen Vitting of Trim AC.

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The post Great racing over 10km and a new Irish four mile National record appeared first on Fast Running.

Diver’s time was quicker than the 69:45 she ran at the Gold Coast Half Marathon last month and not far off her personal best of 68:55 run in Marugame, Japan in February. Race winner, with a quickest half marathon by a female runner of 64:28, was Brigid Koskei of Kenya. The GNR course isn’t record eligible.

Earlier this year, Diver led the women’s race at the London Marathon for the first hour eventually finishing seventh in a personal best 2:24.11.

Locally, Mick Clohisey of Raheny Shamrock, who has recently become a dad for the first time, was the winner of the Lucan 5-Mile also on Sunday.

Clohisey was the class of the field winning in an untroubled time of 24 mins 12 secs. He will defend his Irish marathon title in Dublin next month. A distant second in 25 mins 55 secs was Sean Doran of Clonliffe Harriers, with Mark Ryan of Rathfarnham WSAF AC third and first M40 in 26:06.

Running her first race for some time was mountain runner Sarah McMahon (formerly Mulligan) of Dundrum South Dublin who finished in 31:25. Lucan’s own Aoife Coffey was second while in third place, Jill Horan led Civil Service Harriers to team victory over Lucan Harriers and Celbridge AC.

Celbridge was first of the men’s teams by some margin with Lucan Harriers second and Polish Runners Club third.

Hehir successful over 10km

On Saturday (September 7) Sean Hehir, who is between clubs at the moment, showed a welcome return to form when winning The Lakes 10km in Blessington.

Hehir’s time of 30:21 put him eight seconds ahead of Tomas Fitzpatrick from Tallaght AC, who finished in 30:29. Finishing third was Eric Keogh of Donore Harriers in 31:17.

First woman was Sinead O’Connor of Leevale AC in 34:58. With Mary Mulhare of Portlaoise AC second in 35:59 and the pair tied on points coming into the race, it meant O’Connor ended up overall winner of the KIA Series, winning the use of a KIA car for a year.

Topping the men’s rankings for a second year , with five wins in the nine race series, was Hiko Tonosa of Dundrum South Dublin AC who finished sixth in Saturday’s race. Since Tonosa doesn’t drive, the year’s use of a car again went to Eric Keogh, with a second, three third places and a fourth. Masters winners were Paul Fleming of Rathfarnham WSAF and Caroline Donnelly of Edenderry AC.

Tight finish over 5km

On the same day, Colm Rooney beat his Clonliffe clubmates Efrem Gidey and Ian Guiden with just five seconds between the three at the Shamie Weldon 5km in Ardee. Rooney’s winning time was 14:35, with Gidey three seconds behind in 14:38 and Guiden two seconds behind again in 14:40. Laura McDonnell of Tallaght AC was first woman in 17:59. Laura Mathews of North East Runners was second and Pamela Howard of Drogheda and District.

Ciaran McGonagle of Letterkenny AC in 1 hrs 51 mins 57 secs and Emma Kenney of Ferbane AC in 2:08.21 were the winners at the inaugural Ireland West 3/4 Marathon also on Saturday, while in Ferns, Freddy Sittuk was the winner of the Mick Murphy 4-Mile. A close second in 19:50 was Ger Ford of Slaney Olympic AC with Cian Kelly of St Abban’s AC third in 20:28. First woman was Fiona Kehoe of Kilmore AC in 23.32,. Catherine O’Connor of Sli Cualann AC was second in 24.02 and Nicola Murphy of United Strider third in 26:17.

In Co Antrim, Russell White of Dromore AC out-sprinted John Black of North Belfast Harriers for victory at the Larne 10km again on Saturday. His time was 32.33, with Black just a second behind. First woman and first W50 in 41:09 was local athlete Penny Lindsay of Larne AC.

Andrew Annette of Cirdan Imaging won the City Inspire corporate 5km held in Belfast on Thursday (September 5) in 15:38. Ed McGinley, representing Graham, was second in 15:54 and Eoin Mullan of Instil Software third in 16:05,. First woman was Ita Monaghan of KPMG in 19.22. Close to 600 completed the race.

Leading home over 4,000 finishers at the Corporate 5km Team Challenge in Dublin’s Docklands on Wednesday evening (September 4) was Peter Arthur of Aviva Ireland in 15 mins 34 secs. Ex-Irish race walker Colin Griffin of Sports Surgery Clinic was second in 15:42 and Brendan Murphy of McCann Fitzgerald third in 15.50. First woman was Jill Hodgins of Goodbody in 17:33. Ciara Brady of KPMG was second in 18.56 and Catherine Thornton of AIB third in 19.21. Last finishers took 69 mins 54 secs in this event.

Countdown to Doha continues

Although Thomas Barr and Ciara Mageean are the only Irish track athletes selected so far for the World Athletics Championships in Doha at the end of the month, Michelle Finn of Leevale AC improved her chances of selection when finishing a fighting second in the 3,000m steeplechase at a meet in Andujar on Friday (September 6).

Finn, chasing the Doha standard of 9 mins 40 seconds, clocked 9:44.91 to finish second behind Kenyan winner Daisy Jepkemei. After running a personal best 9:41.23 in Finland last month, that may be enough to win her selection.

There was disaster for Finn’s fellow Rio Olympian Kerry O’Flaherty of Newcastle AC who was barged from behind at the second barrier, landed awkwardly, and ended up with a broken bone in her foot. O’Flaherty, who has been dogged by stomach problems all summer, was making a last-ditch attempt to qualify for Doha.

At the same meet, Mark English of UCD AC dropped out of the men’s 800m. Like Finn, he is still hoping to make the team for Doha based on his current ranking.

Elsewhere Leon Reid of Menapians AC was in action at the Great City Games in Newcastle on Saturday (September 7) where he clocked a time of 15.66 secs over the rarely-run 150m distance. Earlier in the week on Tuesday (September 4) Reid was in Zagreb where he finished fifth in the 200m in 20.86 secs. Also competing in Newcastle was Claire Tarplee of St Coca’s AC who ran a time of 4:50.09 for the mile.

European Masters

A large Irish team is competing at the European Masters Athletics Championships in Venice (September 5-15) which continues until next Sunday. Highlight so far was an Irish one-two in the M65 1500m, won by Joe Gough of West Waterford AC in 4:54.14 with Brian Lynch of North East Runners, a close second in 4:55.21 on Saturday (September 7). Also over 1500m, Ann Woodlock of Donore Harriers finished second in 6:15.31.

Brian Lynch went on to compete in the 4km cross-country on Sunday (September 8) finishing first M65 and helping the Irish team to second behind Italy. There was also an individual win for Lynch’s North East Runners team mate Maurice McMahon in the M45 category. Finishing second W60 was Mayo athlete Pauline Moran. Both W40 and W60 teams took bronze.

In the M50 100m, David Hayde of St LOT AC in Carlow finished second with a time of 12.17. Full results here

Up in the hills

Sarah Graham of Mourne Runners was the women’s winner at the historic Ben Nevis Race up and down Britain’s highest mountain. 2:12 was enough for the victory for the travelling athlete, whilst Finlay Wild made it an amazing ten victories in a row on the Ben.

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The post Diver runs an excellent 69:32 for half marathon – Irish round-up appeared first on Fast Running.

Yared Derese of Carrick Aces and Breege Connolly from City of Derry Spartans were the winners at the Frank Duffy 10 mile road race in Dublin’s Phoenix Park on Saturday (August 24).

Derese’s winning time of 49:06 was the fastest in some years, with second placed Mick Clohisey of Raheny Shamrock also running a fast time of 49:39. In third place was regular Irish visitor Josh Griffiths of Swansea AC in 50:10.

Breege Connolly was taking her second victory in the Dublin Marathon Race Series finished well clear of the opposition in 58:30. Gemma Rankin of Kilbarchan AC in Scotland was over a minute behind in 59:55 with Star of Laune AC’s Niamh Clifford third in 62.21. Major target for Connolly this year is the Dublin Marathon.

Breege Connolly, City of Derry

Just shy of 4,000 runners complted the course on a warm and humid day; well up on last year’s total of 2,700. Next race in the Dublin Marathon Series is the Dublin Half Marathon will take place on Saturday 21 September, again in the Phoenix Park. A record entry of 22,500 will take place in the 40th Dublin Marathon on Sunday 27 October; the race is sponsored by KBC Bank.

Going for half

David Mansfield of Clonmel AC made it a home win at the Boston Scientific Half Marathon in Clonmel on Sunday (August 25) leading home 824 finishers in 70:09.

Mansfield had well over a minutes to spare on second placed John Kinsella of Bilboa AC who finished in 71:42.

Finishing seventh and first woman was Siobhan O’Doherty fo Borrisokane AC in 78:33. Anegela McCann of Clonmel AC, winner of the national half marathon title a few weeks ago, was 11th and second woman in 79:48.

Also on Sunday, Brendan Conway was the winner of the Longford Half Marathon in a time of 71 mins 44 secs. Second in 72:25 was Patrick Sharkey , with John Higgins third in 73.44.

Adrianna Mulligan was first woman in 82:54, followed by Adele Walsh of St Senan’s AC in 84:09 and Isabel Oakes in 85.50.

Barry Shiel was the winner of the marathon in 2:26.27. First woman in 3:12.28 was Niamh Kieran. Winning the ultra in 4:50.19 was Jacek Latala. Jenny Mullarkey was first woman in 6:24.22

On a packed weekend for half marathon races, Joe Lillis in of United Striders in 78 mins 26 secs and Niamh Murphy in 91:18 were the winners of the Oylegate Half Marathon in Co Wexford again on Sunday (August 25)

Winning the Celbridge 5km on Thursday (August 22) was Paul Stephenson of Rathfarnham WSAF AC in 15:22; secs; second was Sean Doran of Clonliffe Harriers in 15:48. First woman was Maria Snell of Newbridge AC in 19.16.

Track and field

Thomas Barr of Ferrybank AC continued his preparations for next months’s World Championships at the Paris Diamond League meet on Saturday (August 24) where he finished seventh in the 400m hurdles with a time of 49.32. Barr’s best this season in a 49.11 run at the Bislett Games last June; he is currently lying seventh on the world rankings list, which is good news with Doha just a month away.

In action at the Brussels Grand Prix meet a day earlier on Friday (August 23) was a group of Irish sprinters with Leon Reid of Menapians AC winning 200m race in a season’s best 20. 57 secs. Marcus Lawler of St LOT also won his 200m race though in a slower time of 20.85; behind him, Stephen Gaffney of Rathfarnham WSAF AC was fourth in 21.60.

Gaffney, who tops the current 200m rankings, did better in the 100m, winning his heat in 10.58 (+0.06) – not far off the personal best 10.54 he ran at the Cork City Sports.

Over 400m, Chris O’Donnell of Sligo AC clocked a season’s best 46.54 for second place in his race. Katie Kirk of Ulster University ran 2:04.93 for 800m, another season’s best, while Kerry O’Flaherty of Newcastle AC clocked 10:03.51 in the women’s steeplechase.

Morton Games

Rain may not have stopped play at the Morton Games last Wednesday but for the first time in eight years, the weather gods did not look kindly on the meet organisers with the cold, windy and wet conditions making fast times a near impossibility.

In the men’s 800m, Mark English of UCD AC, fresh from his spectacular win at the Birmingham Diamond League meet, had be be content with fourth place in 1:49.267; race winner was the American Isaiah Harris in 1:48.20.

Over 400m Brian Gregan of Clonliffe Harriers was hoping for a return to racing in front of his home crowd after a 23 month lay-off. Despite a troublesome hamstring, he started the race but then abruptly pulled up. Everyone at Fast Running hope the injury isn’t serious and Gregan is back racing again soon.

In the women’s 200m, held into a fierce -2.2 headwind, Phil Healy of Bandon AC clocked a time of 24.02 for second place behind Kiara Parker of the USA who finished in 23.94. Ciara Mageean of City of Lisburn AC had opted for the 800m, where she finished fourth in a solid time of 2:01.94.

Feature event of the evening was the Morton Mile, and despite the challenging conditions, five men went under four minutes with Robert Domanic, winner at the Cork City Sports a week earlier, beating fellow American Sam Prakel for victory in 3:58.90. Best of the Irish was Cathal Doyle of Clonliffe Harriers who finished 10th in 4:02.65.

On the trails

Belgian athlete Max Drion who lives and trains in Switzerland, was the winner of the annual Warrior’s Run to the top of Knocknarea and back in Strandhill Co Sligo on Saturday (August 23).

Finishing in 51 mins 56 secs, Drion held off the challenge of East Cork’s Tim O’Donoghue who came home in 52:16. A distant third in 53.32 was Shaun Dixon of Phanos Amsterdam. Seamus Somers in fourth place was first Sligo athlete and first M45, with a time of 56.55.

First woman was Irish mountain running international Becky Quinn who was also first W45 in 66:34. For a fourth year, Heather Foley of Sligo AC was second in 69:59 and Sinead Fowley third in 72.07. A record total of 1,107 completed the race.

parkrun

Kirsty Foster and Rachel Gibson were joint fastest females, whilst speedy Hiko Tonosa was the quickest chap for parkrun times in Ireland this weekend. Full rankings here.

If you would like to run faster at parkrun, top tips to help runners of all abilities can be found here.

RELATED: 7 ways to run faster at parkrun

Are you a fan of Fast Running? Then please support us and become a patron. For as little as the price of a monthly magazine you can support Fast Running – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.

Lindie Naughton is a journalist and writer based in Dublin who joined the athletics club at her college many many years ago and has never quite escaped. You’ll normally find her jogging around some orienteering course somewhere – or down at the Irishtown track coaching kiddies!

The post Fast times at Frank Duffy 10 miler – Irish round-up appeared first on Fast Running.

In a tight finish to the women’s race, Ireland just held off the challenge of Romania and the Slovak Republic to win the A final in a season’s best 3:35.77. Making up the team were Nessa Millett, Nicoale Walsh, Jenna Bromell and Sharlene Mawdsley.

Minutes later the men’s quartet of Chris O’Donnell, Andrew Mellon, Cathal Crosbie and Harry Purcell ended Ireland’s campaign in Sandnes to win their A final in 3:08.77 – another season’s best. It left Ireland third overall in the 4 x 400m rankings behind Turkey and the Netherlands.

Just enough to survive

Overall, Ireland did just enough to survive in the first league for 2021, finishing seventh on the points table with a total of 227 points. Romania, just behind Ireland on 225.50 points, is relegated along with Hungary, Slovakia and Lithuania. Winning promotion to the Super League is Portugal with an impressive total of 302 points. Belarus finished second, and hosts Norway third.

While Ireland had no individual wins in a high class competition held over three days in cold and windy conditions, there were some notable performances. Mark English finished second in the men’s 800m in 1:50.06, with Balazs Vindiscs of Hungary the winner in 1:49.62. “I lost to a strong athlete today. I am not in my best shape, I was a bit rusty,” he said.

A day earlier, Christopher O’Donnell had produced the best Irish performance of the session when he finished second in the 400m in a season’s best 46.70. “I’m really pleased with my race today and running a season’s best in these conditions was great,” said the Sligo athlete after his run.

In the women’s 5000m, Fionnuala McCormack finished a close third in 16:02.78. “Being from Ireland the weather isn’t a problem for me. I took nine points for Ireland and I’m happy for that, although the distance is not my favourite, it’s too short,” said McCormack after her race.

An excellent team effort

A fighting third in the women’s 200m on Saturday was Ciara Neville who clocked a time of 11.83 despite a -1.8 headwind. She has run marginally faster in the heats a dayearlier.

Finishing fourth in the men’s 200m with a time of 21.29 sec was Marcus Lawler, while also fourth was Jayme Rossiter in the men’s steeplechase, and Andrew Coscoran in a 1500m race won by Jacon Ingebrigtsen of Norway in 3:43.43.

Thomas Barr was another Irish athletes just outside the top three, with in 400m hurdles final taking place in particularly windy conditions. Winner in 49.23 was Yasmani Capello, the Cuban who runs in Turkish colours; Barr’s time for fourth was 51.12.

On Saturday, the mens’ 4 x 100m also ran a season’s best clocking 40.31 secs for third in their heat and fifth overall.

Other track performances

Clocking a personal best time of 4:13.93 for second place in the A 1500m at the BMC Meet at Trafford on Saturday (August 10) was Nadia Power of Templeogue AC. The time was a big improvement on the 4:16.15 Power ran last June in Loughborough on her way to bronze in the 800m at the European U23 Championships.

Other Irish in action included Conal Kirk of Annadale Striders, 1:51.82 in his 15^th 800m race this season, Iseult O’Donnell of Raheny Shamrock winner of the women’s B 800m in 2:08.91, and Kieran Kelly, also Raheny Shamrock, 3:46.22 in the men’s A 1500m.

In Loughborough on Tuesday (August 6) Jason Smith of Derry Track Club ran 10.51 for 100m – a fastest time in some years for the Paralympian superstar. .

On the roads

Yared Derese of Carrick Aces proved the class of the field in the National Half Marathon Championships on Sunday (August 11) winning the men’s title in 64 mins 58 secs – a superb time on a tricky course from Dublin’s city centre into the Phoenix Park.

Second was national marathon champion Mick Clohisey of Raheny Shamrock in 65:36 while third was Hugh Armstrong of Ballina AC in 66.10. In a quality men’s race, Sergiu Ciobanu of Clonliffe Harriers finished fourth in 67:18 and David Mansfield of Clonmel AC fifth in 67.53.

More low key was the women’s race won by Katherine Wood of Sale Harriers in Manchester in 77:21, with Angela McCann of Clonmel AC second and first W45 in 80:14. McCann is having a good summer; last June, she was the first woman at the Cork Marathon.

Among the notable veteran men finishers was Tommy Hughes of Termoneeny AC 18^th overall and first M55 in 74:01.

The  championships were held in conjunction with the American Rock ’n’ Roll franchise races. Some 5,495 completed the half marathon.

A day earlier, Eoin Flynn of Rathfarnham WSAF AC won the Rock ’n’ Roll 5km in the Phoenix Park with almost a minute to spare in 15:57.

Damien Landers not only won the Streets of Galway 8km in fine style on Saturday evening (August 10), he helped his club Ennis TTC to its first team victory in the race.

Landers crossed the line in 24 mins 7secs beating Sean Hehir, a fellow Clare man, by six seconds. Kenny Rodgers of St John’s AC was third in 24.17, with prolific racer Alan O’Shea of Bantry AC fourth in 24:46.

Finishing 16^th overall and first woman in 26:41 was Anne Marie McGlynn of Letterkenny AC.

Siobhan O’Doherty of Borrisokane AC, wearing No 1 as last year’s winner , was second in 28: 1, with Regina Casey of host club Galway City Harriers third in 28.50. A total of 2,533 completed the race.

And more road action

Winning the Route to Crook 5-Mile from Goleen to Crookhaven in Co Cork on Sunday (August 11) was Eoghan McElhinney of Bantry AC in 28 mins 5 secs. Jonathhn Hughes of Rathfarnham WSAF AC was second in 28.51. Eighth overall and first woman was Una English in 32:23.

On a busy day for the East Cork Harbour Marathon, Half Marathon and 10km in Cork, Thomas Baker, an M50 athlete from Navan AC, won the Marathon in 2 hrs 49 mins 50 mins. Kevin O’Leary of East Cork AC in 73:36 and Liz Nylan of West Waterford Ac won the winners of the half marathon, while in the 10km the winners were Gary Walsh of Bweeng Trail Blazers in 36:05 and Jennifer Goggin Walsh of Carraig na bhFear AC in 42:43.

Colm Rooney of Clonliffe Harriers was the winner of the Streets of Athboy 5km on Friday evening (August 9). His time of 14 mins 45 secs put him well clear of second placed Stephen Conroy of Celbridge AC who finished in 15:26. Finishing third was Ben Brunton of St Brigid’s AC in 15:38. First woman was Michelle Cox of Newbridge AC in 18:12. Karen Costello of Dunleer AC was second in 18.16 and Rose Finnegan of UCD AC third in 18:25.

Winning the GR8km in Mitchelstown on a wet Friday evening (August 9) were Niall Shanahan of An Bru AC in 24:35 and Niamh Moore of Leevale AC in 28:48. Angela McCann of Clonmel AC warmed up for the National Half Marathon by finishing second woman.

Catch-up: Winning the Sunshine Half Marathon in Queensland, Australia (Sunday August 4th) in 64 mins 12 secs was Kevin Batt of Dundrum South Dublin AC. It puts him second on the current Irish rankings behind Kevin Seaward who ran 63:39 in Barcelona last February. Batt was given the victory after defending champion Jack Rayner ran off the course while in the lead and was disqualified.

Batt will make his marathon debut in Dublin later in the year.

In the same race, Lisa Weightman broke her own Australian all-comer’s record when she finished in 68 mins 48 secs. Mayo woman Sinead Diver, who runs for Australia, was second in 69:08 – not far her personal best of 68:55. Both Weightman and Diver are in their forties.

Sierre Zinal records go

Irish mountain running international Sarah McCormack clocked a time of 3 hours 12 mins 45.9 secs for 12^th at the Sierre Zinal classic mountain race in Switzerland’s Val d’Anniviers on Sunday (August 11).

McCormack, winner at the Snowdon International Race a fortnight ago, currently heads WMRA’s World Cup rankings with two races to go and her 12^thposition in this tough 32km race has consolidated her lead. She also finished 12^th in the Sierre Zinal last year in 3 hrs 13 mins 6 secs.

At the head of the race, five times winner Kilian Jornet from Spain smashed Jonathan Wyatt’s long standing course record with a time of 2:25.35. First woman was European champion Maude Mathys of Switzerland in 2:49.21, also smashing Czech star Anna Pichrtová’s record.

Award winning Father and Son, Tommy and Eoin Hughes, from Maghera are gearing up for breaking a Guinness World Record at the 7th Deep RiverRock Belfast City Half Marathon on Sunday 22nd September 2019

parkrun

Eoin Hughes and Elaine McGuckin ran the fastest parkrun times in Ireland this weekend, whilst Eoin’s father Tommy was third overall in a busy weekend of fast running for the pair who are targeting a world record performance later this year. Full parkrun rankings here.

If you would like to run faster at parkrun, top tips to help runners of all abilities can be found here.

RELATED: 7 ways to run faster at parkrun

Are you a fan of Fast Running? Then please support us and become a patron. For as little as the price of a monthly magazine you can support Fast Running – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.

Lindie Naughton is a journalist and writer based in Dublin who joined the athletics club at her college many many years ago and has never quite escaped. You’ll normally find her jogging around some orienteering course somewhere – or down at the Irishtown track coaching kiddies!

The post Barr leads team effort to avoid athletics relegation – Irish weekend round-up appeared first on Fast Running.

Early leaders beaten to the line at South Dublin 10km

Paul Pollock of Annadale Striders was the winner of a competitive men’s race at the South Dublin 10km in Clondalkin, Dublin on Sunday (July 21).

Pollock pulled away in the second half of the race to win in a time of 29:28. Finishing second in 29:44 was early leader Mick Clohisey of Raheny Shamrock, with Hiko Tonosa of Dundrum South Dublin AC third in 30:03.

Finishing fourth and first M35 in 30:31 was Mark Kenneally of Clonliffe Harriers, while fifth in 31:05 was Peter Somba of Dunboyne AC. Tommy Hughes of Termoneeny RC continued his astounding current streak by finishing ninth overall, third master and first M55 in 33:57.

In an Ulster double, Breege Connolly of City of Derry Spartans finished first woman in 35:19. Making a solid return to racing after a long stretch of injury was Laura Graham of Mourne Runners who was second in 35.40 after pushing the pace in the early stages of the race.

A close third in 35:46 was Gemma Rankin of Kilbarchan AC. First W60 was former Dublin Marathon winner Christine Kennedy in 42.10. A total of 2,450 completed the race.

At the Edenderry 10-Mile on Sunday (July 21) Mary Mulhare of Portlaoise AC picked up valuable KIA Series points when she finished first woman in 58:11. Just one place behind her was Siobhan O’Doherty of Borrisokane AC in 58:26. Overall race winner was Paddy Sharkey of Longford AC in 54.39.

U20 team bringing home medals

A large Irish team at the European U20 Championships in Boras, Sweden (July 18-21) came home with three medals.

Kate O’Connor began the Irish account by taking silver in the heptathlon in the opening days of competition. In a closely fought competition, her score of 6093 made her the first Irish women ever to go over 6000 points and broke her own Irish record.

Highlight of her performance was a personal best throw of 52.92m in the javelin, which puts her second behind many times Irish champion Anita White on the all-time Irish list.

Sarah Healy won silver in a nail-biting women’s 1500m final, taking the lead on the penultimate lap and winding up the pace from there. She led turning for home and just lost out to Switzerland’s Delia Sclabas in the run to the line, the 18-year-old Blackrock athlete claiming a silver medal for Ireland in 4:27.14. Sclabas took gold in 4:25.95.

McElhinney was equally as courageous and no less brilliant in the men’s 5000m final, the Bantry athlete taking the lead with a kilometre to run and pushing the pace out front. He was passed with one lap to run but fought all the way to the finish to come home third in 14:06.05. The race was won by Spain’s Aaron Las Heras in 14:02.76. Jamie Battle came home 14th in the same race in 14:42.37.

Just out of the medals in the 200m races were sprinters Aaron Sexton and Davicia Patterson whe both finished fourth. In the women’s 4x400m, the Irish squad finished fifth in a new Irish U20 record of 3:37.42.

There was Irish interest in the men’s javelin won with a mighty 79.44m throw by Simon Wieland of Switzerland. Wieland is coached by 21 times Irish champion and six times Olympian Terry McHugh, who lives in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Irish mountain going from strength to strength

Photo: Sport Pictures Cymru

In Wales on Saturday (July 20, Sarah McCormack won the Snowdon International mountain race for a third time in a superb time of 74:49 – just ten seconds off the women’s course record and a personal best for McCormack by six minutes for this gruelling 10 mile race.

The Irish woman, who is based in England’s Lake District, had to fight hard for her win first passing early race leader Hatti Archer of England and then battling to hold off Italy’s Elisa Sortini, who finished just 22 seconds behind her.

McCormack’s victory consolidates her position at the top of mountain running’s World Cup rankings.

On a great day for the Irish, Zak Hanna of Newcastle AC was fourth overall while Killian Mooney of DSD AC was a fighting 14^th. There were strong runs also from Mark Stephens 19th and Conor O’Mahoney 24^th and of the women, from Becky Quinn 12^th and Sinead Murtagh 18^th.

Season’s bets for Mageean

With the National Championships taking place in Santry next weekend, Ciara Mageean continued her excellent season with a season’s best time of 4:03.70 in the 1500m at the Diamond League Anniversary Games in London on Saturday (July 20). Mageean placed eighth in a race won by Scotland’s Laura Muir in 3:58.25.

Magian racing Muir last year in Berlin. Photo: Getty

In Barcelona on Wednesday (July 17), Mark English ran a time of 1:46.96 to finish a fighting tenth in the 800m. Winner in 1:44.38 was Ayanleh Souleiman of Djibouti.

At the BMC Meet at Eltham on Saturday (July 20), Amy O’Donoghue of Emerald AC won the A 1500m race in 4:16.58; Katie Kirk of Team New Balance was fourth in the A 800m in 2:06.85 and Mitchell Byrne of Rathfarnham WSAF AC second in the B 1500m with 3:45.35.

European track exploits

A number of Irish athletes were in Belgium for the Heusden-Zolder Night of Athletics on Saturday (July 20), where Andrew Coscoran of Star of the Sea AC clocked a time of 3:40.79 on his way to victory in one of the 1500m races. That improved on the 3:41.19 Coscoran had run a week earlier in Kortrijk, also in Belgium, which put him top of the current Irish rankings. Behind him, John Travers of Donore Harriers finished eight in 3:44.32.

In the B 5000m, Ryan Forsyth of Newcastle AC, who will defend his 5000m title in Santry next weekend, finished 10^th in 13:55.17. Claire Mooney of UCD AC clocked 2:05.08 for second in one of the 800m race series while in the men’s B 800, Zak Curran of Dundrum South Dublin AC finished fourth in 1:48.29. Over 1500m, Ellie Hartnett, of UCD AC, recorded a time of 4:36.76.

Irish steeplechase specialists were in the Finnish town of Lapinlahti for the Savo Games on Wednesday (July 17) not too far from Gavle, where the European U23 Championships had taken place a few days earlier. Brian Fay of Raheny Shamrock, who had competed in the steeplechase in Gavle, finished fourth in the 1500m in 3:46.05. In a 5000m women’s race, current Irish women’s steeplechase champion Michele Finn went through 3000m in 9:20.27 before dropping out.

League titles for Clonliffe and DSD

Clonliffe Harriers men’s team successfully defended their national league title after a long day in Tullamore making it a fifth title in a row and a tenth overall since the National League was first held in 1978.

In the women’s competition, Dundrum South Dublin AC were regaining the title they last won in 2016 for an eighth title overall. St Abban’s, who had won for the past two years, were missing their big name athletes and had barely managed to qualify for the final.

DSD performed well across the board with a team mixing the experience of Sinead Denny, Meghan Ryan, Fiona Clinton, Meghan Ryan, and Fiona Clinton with the youth of (among others) Molly Hourihan, Charlotte Burke, Emma Ryan, Rachel Dunne, and Kate Doherty winner of both the 100m hurdles and 100m flat. Then there were club stalwarts Harriette Robinson, Emmy Coffey Nguyen, Sonya McConnon – and club president Lucy Moore who did her bit in the hammer.

Clonliffe dominated the men’s competition with seven wins, starting with Simon Galligan in the hammer.

Other wins for the Santry- based club came from Greg Hosseny walk, Niall Counihan triple jump, Stephan Rice javelin, Jayme Rossiter steeplechase, Ian Guiden 5000m and the 4 x 100 relay team of Eamonn Fahey, Israel Ibanu, Keith Marks and Keith Pike.High scores from Keith Marks high jump and long jump, Timmy Crowe 110 and 400 hurdles, Luke Mangan shot and 56 lb, Thomas Pitkin 400m and Colm Rooney 1500m all helped.

An impressive second was a new look team from Raheny Shamrock, with winnning performances from Eric Favors, 18.45 in the shot and 48.59 discus, as well as Kieran Kelly in the 1500m and the 4 x 400 team of Brandon Arrey, Jamie Sheridan, Cillian Kirwan and Kieran Kelly.

With the national championships only a week away, there were a number of other eye-catching performances in Tullamore.

Michael Bowler for Wexford County looks well on the way to retaining his pole vault title after soaring over 4.50. In the 400m, Cillin Green of Galway City Harriers was first in 47.75, with Brandon Array of Raheny Shamrock a close second in 47.80. Sharlene Mawdsley, representing Tipperary County, won the women’s 200 in 24.08, while Claire Fitzpatrick for Kerry County showed that she is right back in form after a year’s break from the sport with a winning 50.58 in the discus.

School walkers win in Swansea

At the annual SIAB Schools International in Swansea, Ireland’s only winner was race walker Matthew Glennon with James Hanlon second. In a thrilling girls’ 300m, Jenna Breen was pipped for gold by Cedelle Agyei-Kyem of England who finished in in 39.73 secs; Breen’s times was 39.74. Other Irish competitors taking silver were Oliver Swinning 10.94 secs in the 100m, Aoibheann McMahon 14.65 for the 3kg shot, Tadhg O Muircheartaigh 61.00 in the 700g javelin, and the girls’ 4×100 and boys’ 4 x 400m relay teams.

Earlier on the roads

Winning the Sea to Sky 10km race in Newcastle Co Down on Friday (July 19) was Gordy Graham of East Down AC  in 36 mins 26 secs. Gladys Ganiel of North Belfast Harriers was eighth overall and first woman in 38:42. Neil Curran of East Down AC won the 5km race in 17:38, with junior athlete Anna Gardiner, also East Down AC, sixth over all and first woman in 19.47. Over 900 competed between the two races.

Sean Hehir of Rathfarnham WSAF AC and Renae Cicchinelli were the winners of the St James’s Hospital Liberties 4-Mile Fun Run in Dublin on Thursday evening (July 18).

Hehir’s time of 19:41 saw him finished well over a minute ahead of Eoin Callaghan from Star of the Sea AC and Karol Cronin of Sportsworld, who finished in 21:08 and 21:15 respectively. Cicchinelli clocked a time of 25:48; finishing second and third women were Andrea McNamara of Sportsworld in 26:09 and Jean Murphy in 27:11. A total of 1,306 finished this popular inner city race which starts and finishes in the scenic surroundings of the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham.

Peter Somba of Dunboyne AC led home 618 finishers at the Bettystown B-5 organised by Cilles AC in Co Meath on Tuesday (July 16).

Somba’s time of 25:37 put him almost a minute clear of Sean Doran from Clonliffe Harriers, who finished in 26:30, with David Rooney of Rhaney Shamrock third in 26:45. First woman was Niamh Devlin of Dundrum South Dublin AC in 29:31. Laura McDonnell of Tallaght AC was second in 29:50 and Aoife Parrella of Star of the Sea AC third in 32:02.

Winners of the Clyne 5km in Co Cork on Wednesday (July 17) were Kevin O’Leary of East Cork in 15:30 and Ann Geary of Midleton AC in 19:01.

parkrun

Your timely reminder that parkrun isn’t actually a race, but we know everyone likes to see the top ten times each week so here are your quickest runners from Ireland on Saturday July 20th.

RELATED: 7 ways to run faster at parkrun

Lindie Naughton is a journalist and writer based in Dublin who joined the athletics club at her college many many years ago and has never quite escaped. You’ll normally find her jogging around some orienteering course somewhere – or down at the Irishtown track coaching kiddies!

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The post Medals at U20 Champs, Snowdon victory & hard racing at South Dublin 10k – Irish round-up appeared first on Fast Running.

On the promise of fast running and great crowds, several Irish athletes were hunting quick times at the Night of 10,000m PBs in London on Saturday evening (July 6) .

In the women’s European Cup A race, Fionnuala McCormack of Kilcoole AC was fifth in 32.05.29; Ann Marie McGlynn, of Letterkenny AC, ran 33:38.50 and Nike’s Emma Mitchell 34:12.50.

Aoibhe Richardson was running in the women’s B race, where she finished tenth in 33:41.15; Fionnuala Ross of Armagh AC ws 21^st in 34:25.78.

Ryan Forsyth, along with Mat Bergin of Dundrum South Dublin AC, was running in the men’s B race, where – on the eve of his 23^rd birthday he finished a creditable eighth place in a PB of 29:01.27. Bergin unfortunately was forced to drop out. Totten finished sixth in the men’s D race in another personal best of 30:31.50.

Other Irish in action included Grace Lynch of Iveragh AC and Kilcooole’s Una Britton who ran times of 35:42.23 and 36:29.95 respectively in the women’s C race. In the men’s E race, Declan Reed of City of Derry Spartans ran 31:15.63 and Scott Rankin of Foyle Valley AC 31:19.14.

Photo: Gill Bland

Down Under

Further across the field in Australia, was the Gold Coast Half Marathon. There were some cracking female performances, with the top two athletes crossing the line in under 70 minutes. The Irish-born Australian long-distance runner, Sinead Diver, took gold in a beaming time of 69:45. Diver was closely followed by Ellie Pashley, only five seconds behind in 69:50. Just above the 70-minute mark was Lisa Weightman in 70:30.

10 miles on the road

Mick Clohisey and Michele Finn proved the class of the fields at the Roscommon 10-Mile road race, held on Saturday (July 6)

Clohisey of Raheny Shamrock, finished in 48:56, just off his course record time of 48:47 set in 2017. It was a thrid consecutive win for the current national marathon champion who also won last year in 49:31. David Flynn of Clonliffe Harriers was second in 49.32 and Hugh Armstrong from Ballina AC third in 51.06.

In the women’s race, Finn’s time of 58 mins 47 secs was a new course record. The Leevale athlete, who ran the steepechase at the Rio Olympics, has been in impressive form recently running a personal best 15:45.55 for 5000m as well as 9:51.22 for the steeplechase.

Behind her, Mary Mulhare of Portlaoise AC picked up valuable KIA Race Series rankings when finishing second in 60:40. Leevale’s Sinead O’Connor, who topped the KIA rankings going into the race, finished third in 61.13. Mulhare and O’Connor are now tied on 10 points apiece.

Paddy Sharkey of Longford AC, fourth place overall, was first M40 in 55:02, while Caroline Donnelan of Edenderry AC was first W40 in 63:11 ahead of Maria McCambridge of DSD AC who finished in 65.25. First M50 was Brendan Donagher of Naomh Mhuire AC in 59:06; Maura Dervin of Mullingar Harriers in 74.15 was first W50.

Of the nine races in the KIA Series, just three remain. Next round is the Edenderry 10-Mile on Sunday 12 July.

Multi-eventers win promotion to top league

Ireland has won promotion to the European Combined Events Teams Championships first league after finishing second in the second league held in Ribeira Brava, Madeira over the weekend (July 6/7). Ireland with a total of 35821 points finished second behind Belgium on 35865 points and comfortably clear of Denmark on 34240.

All three of the Irish men achieved personal best scores in the decathlon with Michael Bowler from Enniscorthy AC finishing second individual. Bowler had dropped back to third after the hurdles and discus on the second day of competition, but pulled back to second thanks to a 4.50 in the pole vault, an event in which he is national champion. He ended up with 7379 points thanks to strong performances also in the 100m, long jump and hurdles.

Pulling up from sixth to fifth place overnight was Shane Aston of Trim AC , whose throw of 59.05 in the javelin was the best in the competition and moved him up again into fourth place overall. His total of 7231 added 162 points to his previous best set last last month at the UK Championships.

Completing his first decathlon in some time for 14^th place was Rolus Olusa of Clonliffe Harriers, whose best points came in the hurdles. He ended up with a score of 6626 which added eleven points to his previous record.

In the women’s heptathlon, Ireland was missing its top three, with Elizabeth Morland scheduled to compete in the European U23 championships next week, Kate O’Connor competing in the European U20 championships a week later and Grace McKenzie based in the USA.

Finishing a fighting seventh with a personal best 5114 points was 18-year-old Anna McCauley of City of Lisburn AC, whose biggest points came in the hurdles, high jump and 200m and who recored a personal best 11.08m in the shot. Sarah Connolly pf North Down AC just missed out on her best of 5031 from last month with a score of 4990 for 11^th place, while Laura Frey of Lagan Valley AC produced a good time of 2:17.72 in the 800m and finished 20^th with 4481 points.

Track and Field action

Two thrilling 800m races proved the highlights of the Athletics Ireland Junior and U23 Track and Field Championships held in Tullamore on Saturday (July 6).

First up were the junior girls, where Sarah Healy of Blackrock AC was the pre-race favourite. As it turned out, she was given a race for her money, only winning in the sprint for the line from Jo Keane from Ennis TC. Healy’s time was 2:11.40 with Keane timed at 2:11.56.

Even closer was a tactical men’s 800m, where Darragh McElhinney of Bantry, fresh from his Irish junior 3000m record of a week earlier, was the expected winner. As it turned out, it was Louis O’Loughlin of Donore Harriers who won the race in a blanket finish. O’Loughlin was given a time of 1:54.00, Mark Milner of Mullingar Harriers was second in 1:54.01 and McElhinney third in 1:54.02.

In the junior women’s 100m, there were no surprises when Rhasidat Adeleke of Tallaght AC was a clear winner in 11.80 secs with her training training partner Patience Jumbo Gula of Dundalk St Gerard’s AC second in 12.00 secs.

With no Aaron Sexton on the start line, Reality Osuoha of Fingallians AC was the winner of the junior men’s 100m in 10.95 secs. Michael Farrelly of Raheny Shamrock was second in 11.00 and Ryan O’Leary of Leevale AC a close third in 11.01.

Records fall in field events

In the junior women’s javelin, heptathlete Kate O’Connor of Dundalk St Gerard’s AC improved her own championships record to 48.98m, although it was off the 49.46m she threw at the Leinster Schools Championships in Santry last May. O’Connor, who heads for the European U20 Championships starting on July 18, also won the long jump with 5.98m and ran a personal best 24.88 in the 200m heats, opting out of the final.

In the U23 women’s pole vault, Ellie McCartney of City of Lisburn, a 19-year-old student at Brunel University and the current British Universities champion, won with a personal best vault 4.01, improving on her own national junior record of 4.00 set last month in Bedford. It puts her fourth on the all-time Irish rankings

Notable U23 winners on the day included Ciara Neville of Emerald AC winner of a quality women’s 100m in a time of 11.69, with Molly Scott of St LOT AC second in 11.74 and Sarah Quinn of St Colman’s South Mayo AC third in 11.90. Scott went on to win the

100m hurdles in 13.71 secs with Kate Doherty of Dundrum South Dublin AC second in 14.04 and multi-eventer Elizabeth Morland of Cushinstown AC third in 14.08. Morland, who competes in the heptathlon at the European U23 Championships starting next Thursday in Gavle, Sweden, later won the long jump with 5.98m and finished second in the shot with 11.72m.

Winning the 200m in 23.74 was Sharlene Mawdsley of Newport AC. Sophie Becker of St Joseph’s AC was second in a personal best time of 24.05. Taking 400m title in 54.24 secs was Jenna Brommell of Emerald AC.

Mark Smith of Raheny Shamrock won the men’s 100m was in 10.74 secs, with Joseph Ojemumi of Tallaght AC second in 10.77 and Michael McAuley of Ballymena and Antrim AC third in 10.84.

Youghal’s Fearghal Curtin was the winner of the men’s 1500m in 3:49.54, with Shane Bracken of Swinford AC a close second in 3:50.16. Taking the 800m title in 1:52.97 was Callum Crawford-Walker of Annadale Striders AC.

Michaela Walsh of Swinford AC dominated the U23 women’s throws, winning the hammer with 58.63, the shot with 13.57 the javelin with 37.42 and weight for distance with 6.40. Best in the discus was Niamh Fogarty of Raheny Shamrock AC with 51.02, while winning the men’s hammer with 64.51 was Owen Russell of St Andrew’s AC.

At junior level, the men’s hammer was won by Sean Mockler of Moycarkey Coolcroo AC with a 68.06 effort in the fifth round. In the shot, a 16.72m throw gave the title to James Kelly of Finn Valley AC. Winning the junior high jump with 1.80m was Sommer Lecky of Finn Valley AC.

The Athletics NI Team Trophy

At the second round of the Athletics NI Team Trophy on Saturday (July 6), Lagan Valley AC came out on top in the women’s competition with a total of 186 from the two rounds. City Of Derry Spartans were second with 171 points, and City of Lisburn third on 1178 points. Lagan Valley AC has qualified in fourth place for the division 1 final of the National Track and Field League in Tullamore on July 20.

Clear winners of the men’s competition with 193 points were City of Derry Spartans. Lagan Valley on 127 were second and City of Lisburn third on 117. City of Lisburn AC has qualified for the men’s first division final of the national league finishing third overall on points after the two qualifying rounds.

Photo: Robbie Britton

Mountain Running

Sarah McCormack and Zak Hanna were Ireland’s best performers at the European Mountain Running C’ships on an uphill only course in the foothills of the Matterhorn in Zermatt, Switzerland on Sunday (July 7).

In the women’s senior race, McCormack finished a solid 16th in 66 mins 58 Secs. Race winner for a third year was Switzerland’s Maude Mathys in 60:18 [Worth noting that in 2015 Mathys was reprimanded for an ADRV for using clomiphene- Editor]; six times world champion Andrea Mayr of Austria, now aged 39, was just over a minute behind for second.

In a quality men’s race, Hanna did well to finish 19^th in 57 mins 27 secs, just over four minutes behind the winner, Britain’s Jacob Adkin, who finished in 53:21.

In the junior men’s race, Ronan Maguire was best of the Irish in 24^th place, with Tony McCambridge of St Malachy’s AC not far behind in 28^th. In the women’s junior race, Aoife Coffey of Lucan Harriers was 22^nd.

Eoin Flynn in full flight on his way to 42nd place in 59:47. Photo: Robbie Britton

Killian Mooney of Dundrum South Dublin AC proved the class of the field in the Leinster Evening League 9km race at Trooperstown in Co Wicklow on Wednesday (July 3), finishing over half a minute ahead of the chasers in 41 mins 27 secs. Second in 42.01 was Barry Minnock of Rathfarnham WSAF AC who was also first M40. In a double for DSD AC, Grace O’Rourke won the women’s race in 52:12. Patricia McLoughlin of Le Cheile AC was second and first W40 in 57.26.

Earlier in the week

Sergiu Ciobanu of Clonliffe Harriers was the winner of the Robbie Steele Memorial Corkbeg4-Mile in Co Cork on Thursday (July 4) with a time of 19 mins 43 secs. Kevin O’Leary of East Cork AC was second in 20.38 and Sharon Cleere from Thurles first woman in 24:16.

Winners of the CPO BHAA 5km, at Tramore Valley Park in Co Cork on Wednesday (July 3), were Alan O’Shea in 15:27 and Carol Finn in 19.00.

At the Coillte 10km, in Dundrum, Co Tipperary also on Wednesday (July 3), David Mansfield of Clonmel AC was first home in 31 mins 4 secs, with the top five men all funder 32 minutes. First woman was Siobhan O’Doherty of Borrisokane AC in 36:49.

parkrun

Annette Kealy and Tom Lupton were your quickest parkrunners in Ireland this weekend (July 6th). Full Irish rankings here.

RELATED: 7 ways to run faster at parkrun

Lindie Naughton is a journalist and writer based in Dublin who joined the athletics club at her college many many years ago and has never quite escaped. You’ll normally find her jogging around some orienteering course somewhere – or down at the Irishtown track coaching kiddies!

Are you a fan of Fast Running? Then please support us and become a patron. For as little as the price of a monthly magazine you can support Fast Running – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.

The post PBs at Highgate 10k and top 20s at Euro Mountain Champs – Irish Round-up appeared first on Fast Running.

McCormack, whose long-term aim is to qualify for Tokyo Olympics in the marathon, proved the class of the field in the women’s race, finishing over three minutes clear of the chasers led by Sinead O’Connor of Leevale AC in 34:51.

In the men’s race, Hiko Tonosa of Dundrum South Dublin AC continued his winning streak in the KIA Series although pressed hard by Mick Clohisey of Raheny Shamrock and Peter Somba of Dunboyne AC. Tonosa sprinted clear for victory in 29 mins 30 secs, with Clohisey just a second behind in 29:31 and Somba third in 30:16. Fourth in 30:50 was Eric Keogh of Donore Harriers, who finished second behind Tonosa in last year’s KIA Series.

Finishing fifth and first M40 was Brian Maher of Kilkenny City Harries in 30.56. First W40 was Maria McCambridge of Dundrum South Dublin AC in 37:08.

In the team competition, the Raheny men came out on top, with Clohisey and Cillian O’Leary (in sixth place), backed up by Wesley O’Brien and Colm Cassidy. Rathfarnham WSAF was second and Donore Harriers third; a massive 59 teams finished the race.

In the women’s team competition, 67 teams finished with DSD beating Donore Harriers by a single point for victory. Niamh Devlin, Maria McCambridge and Cathryn Brady were the counting three. Scoring for Donore were Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill, Sinead Lambe and Florence Curley. Truly this was a race worthy of national championships status.

Waterford Viking Marathon

Yared Derese of Carrick Aces, who is originally from Eritrea, was the runaway winner of the Waterford Viking Half Marathon on Saturday (June 22) in a time of 64 mins 55 secs – the fastest recorded for the distance on Irish soil for some time. A distant second in 73:01 was Freddy Sittuk. Ninth overall and first woman in 81:29 was Ruth Fitzgerald of Waterford AC. A total of 991 completed the run.

David Mansfield of Clonmel AC won the quarter marathon in 38 mins 10 secs, with junior athlete Mollie Hutchinson of Ferrybank AC first woman 48:28 and 715 finishers.

In the marathon, Alexander Wallace of St Coca’s AC was first home in 2:28.51. Sarah Baryga of Sli Cualann AC was first women in 2:59.44. There were 329 finishers plus 29 relay teams.

Double whammy for Hehir

Making it a weekend double whammy was Sean Hehir of Rathfarnham WSAF AC who won the Summer Solstice 10km in Ennis on Saturday (June 22) with a time of 31 mins 19 secs and then the Strawberry Fair 10-Mile in Enniscorthy on Sunday in 52.02. First woman in Enniscorthy was Grace Kennedy of Donore Harriers in 65:17.

Winner of the Dublin Pride Run 5km which attracted a capacity 878 to the Phoenix Park on Friday evening (June 21) were Owen Fletcher of Dunboyne AC in 16 mins 51 secs and Grace Kennedy-Clarke of Donore Harriers in 19:01

Sean Doran of Clonliffe Harriers led home 916 finishers at the Drogheda and District Midsummer 5km on Friday (June 21). In a sprint for the line, Doranjust edged out Maurice McMahon of North East Runners, with the pair timed at 16:01 and 16:02 respectively. Tadhg Everitt Thompson of Drogheda and District AC was third and first junior in 16:47, with Laura McDonnell of Tallaght AC first woman in 17:50. Catherine O’Connor of East Down AC was second woman and Nicola Welsh of Dunleer AC third and first W40. Dunleer finished first of the 17 women’s team, with host club Drogheda and District best of the 20 men’s teams entered.

Fast running over 5km

Dunboyne’s Peter Somba was the winner of the Docklands 5km in Dublin on Thursday (June 20) in a time of 14 mins 56 seconds. A distant second was Andrew Sheehan of Leevale AC in 15:29, with triathlon specialist Neil Cornyn of Dunboyne AC third in 15:42.

First woman was Niamh Clifford of RCSI in 17:44. Annette Kealy of Raheny Shamrock was second woman and first W50 in 18:03 with Clare Sullivan of RCSI a close third in 18:08. Leevale AC won the men’s team prize with Sportsworld AC best of the women and Where’s the Finish Line? winning the corporate co-ed team category, which attracted a hundred teams. A total of 1,686 completed the race.

On the same night in Belfast, Gary Montgomery of Ryobi Runaways won the Grant Thornton Corporate 5km in 16 mins 57 secs. Lisa Knipe in ninth place from Almac was first woman in 18:15.

Winning the battle for top men’s team by a single second was Invest NI’s A team; McLaughlin and Harvey were second. First women’s team by some way was Danksa Bank, while best in the co-ed category was AECOM1.

Track and field action

Ireland qualified for the DNA (dynamic new athletics) quarter-finals on Tuesday June 24 after finishing fifth overall in the opening rounds at the European Games in Minsk on Sunday (Jun 23).

Stars for Ireland included Sarah Lavin 2nd 100m hurdles in 13.46, Nelvin Appiah third high jump with 2.0m, Grace Casey fourth javelin with 40.11m, Niamh Whelan fourth 100m in 11.79 secs, Sophie Meredith sixth long jump with 5.76m, and the mixed 4 x 400m team fourth in 3:24.37.

Belfast Milers Club Meet

Ann Marie McGlynn of Letterkenny AC, aged 39, showed that age is no barrier to athletics success when she won the women’s 5000m at the Belfast Milers Club Meet, held at the Mary Peters track on Saturday (June 22).

McGlynn’s time of 16:09.35 saw her finish comfortably clear of Aoibhe Richardson from Kilkenny City Harriers who came home in 16:23.61 and Emma Mitchell of Team Nike third in 16:40.37. McGlynn is in the form of her life since completing her first marathon last April in Rotterdam where she ran a time of 2:39.22. Last month, she showed that she was completely recovered from her Rotterdam exertions with a personal best time of 33:53 at the Vitality London 10,000m.

McGlynn will now team up with Fionnuala McCormack of Kilcoole AC and Fionnuala Ross of Armagh AC at the European 10,000m Championships at Highgate.

Winning the men’s 5000m in 14:32.80 was Liam Brady of Tullamore Harriers. Conor Duffy of Glaslough Harriers was second in 14:40.43 and Patrick MacGabhann of Dundrum South Dublin AC third in 14:48.71.

In the 800m, Louise Shanahan of Leevale AC knocked 3.27 secs of her PB when running 2:04.77, a European Under-23 qualifying time

More school records

Two records fell at the Tailteann Irish Schools Interprovincial match held in Santry on Saturday (June 22). In the girls’ 300m, Jennifer Kealy of Loreto Kilkenny improved the record to 33.39 secs, while in the girls’ pole vault, Orla Coffey of St Angela’s Cork soared over 3.50m to add 20 centimetres to the previous best.

On the track, Sean Donoghue of St Declan’s Cabra had a solid victory over Dylan McBridge from Grosvenor Belfast in the 1500m, while Michael Morgan of Summerhill Sligo won the 3000m in 8:54.64.

Double winners on the day were Yemi Talabi of Moyne CS in the 100m and long jump and Ciara Sheehy of St Mary’s Charleville with wins in the shot and hammer. Winners were booking their places on the Irish team for the SIAB International next month in Wales.

AI Open Games

Highlight of the AI Open Games on Saturday in Santry was a 1.84 in the women’s high jump for Sommer Lecky of Finn Valley AC. Winning the 200m in 20.91 secs was Marcus Lawler of St LOT AC. Shane Howard of Bandon AC beat many times Irish champion Adam McMullen of Crusaders AC in the long jump with a leap of 7.44m.

A day later, multi-eventer Elizabeth Moreland of Cushinstown AC threw 44.97 to win the javelin and prove that she’s returning to full fitness after a stress fracture of the foot. In a quality 100m, Marcus Lawler of St LOT AC proved fastest in 10.65 secs, with Joseph Ojumumi of Tallaght AC second in 10.72 and Jason Smyth of Derry TC third in 10.82.

National Combined Events

Also taking place over the weekend were the National Combined Events, with both defending champion Shane Aston of Trim AC and previous champion Michael Bowler of Enniscorthy AC crashing out early when neither completed the 400m on the first day of competition. That gave victory to Michael Breathnach of Galway City Harriers with 5032 points.

Winning the junior title was Aaron Malik of St Brendan’s AC with 46.16 points while first youth was Diarmuid O’Connor of Bandon AC with 6,469 points. Aston and Bowler are expected to represent Ireland at the European Team Championships in Madeira in a fortnight’s time.

French visitor Agathe Guillemot, who was chasing the European U23s qualifying mark, proved best in the senior women’s heptathlon with 5350 points. Laura Frey of Lagan Valley AC was second and first Irish with 4551 points. Lara O’Byrne of Donore Harriers won the junior title with 4140 points, while Molly Curran of St Paul’s AC was first youth on 4172 points. Irish junior internationals Kate O’Connor of St Gerard’s AC and Anna McCauley of City of Lisburn AC competed only on day 1.

Master winners were Genevieve Rowland of Templemore AC W35, Mary Scanlon of Blackrock Louth AC W40 and Shirley Fennelly of Tramore AC W50 with a new record of 2,033. Men’s winners were Francois Kulik of Sli Cualann AC M35, Trevor McGlynn of Strabane AC, M45, Pascal Halley of Waterford AC M50, and Peadar McGing of DSD AC M60.

Paul Tierney excels in the Lake District

Irish ultra-runner Paul Tierney broke the record for the fastest time taken to summit all the Lake District’s Wainwright peaks.

The Ambleside AC athlete began the challenge at Moot Hill in Keswick on Friday at 8am and finished on Thursday (June 20) in an unofficial time of 6 days, 6hrs 5mins having reached the summit of all 214 fells recorded in Wainright’s guides to the fells.

His time knocked seven hours off the time of 6 days 13 hours set by Steve Birkinshaw five years ago, which itself had broken Joss Naylor’s 28 year old record. The challenge took in 512km and 36,000 ?/ fo climb. His support included his partner Sarah McCormack, an Irish mountain running international.

Tierney, aged 36, has twice completed the tough Tor des Géants, a 205-mile race through the Italian Alps that includes 24,000m of ascent and is a former winner of the Lakeland 100 event and the Wicklow Trail 52km.

Uphill all the way

Killian Mooney of Dundrum South Dublin AC had almost a minute to spare when winning the Powerscourt Uphill race from Crone Woods in Co Wicklow on Wednesday (June 19).

Mooney finished in 37 mins 15 secs; Ruairi Long of UCD Ac was second in 38:11 and Ian Conroy of Raheny Shamrock third in 38.17. Des Kennedy of Raheny Shamrock who finished fourth was also first M50. First woman was junior athlete Aoife Coffey of Lucan Harriers in 46:39. Niamh Corbett was second and Elizabeth Wheeler third and first W40.

Twenty four hours of fun in Belfast

Dublin-based ultra runner Eoin Keith regained the men’s title he last won in 2018 at the 10th and final Energia 24 hour race in Victoria Park, Belfast on Sunday (June 23).

Keith notched up a total of 234.58 km, catching and passing the defending champion Aidan Hogan from Rising Sun AC in the final hour. Hogan held on to second place ahead of Padraig Mullins.

First woman and fourth overall was Paula Wright of Newport AC with 218.06km – a big improvement on the 196.3km Wright had run a year earlier for third place. For a second year, Louise Smart from Newtownabbey placed second with Lorraine McMahon finishing third.

Men’s relay winners with a new record distance of 335km were Willowfield Harriers. Orangegrove were first of the mixed teams and Natty’s Nutters first women’s team.

parkrun

Aoibhinn McGoldrick and Sean Carrigg are your quickest parkrunners in Ireland this weekend (June 22nd). Full rankings here. 

RELATED: 7 ways to run faster at parkrun

Lindie Naughton is a journalist and writer based in Dublin who joined the athletics club at her college many many years ago and has never quite escaped. You’ll normally find her jogging around some orienteering course somewhere – or down at the Irishtown track coaching kiddies!

Are you a fan of Fast Running? Then please support us and become a patron. For as little as the price of a monthly magazine you can support Fast Running – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.

The post McCormack & Tonosa quick winners of 40th Dunshaughlin 10km – Irish Round-up appeared first on Fast Running.