To start the week Lindie Naughton brings us all the Irish endurance action and news from the weekend just gone (Tuesday 10th September). 

John Travers was the runaway winner of the inaugural Bhaa SNAP Jerry Kiernan Foundation 6km,  held at the National Cross-Country Track, Abbotstown, on Sunday morning (September 8)

Travers, who was coached by the late Jerry Kiernan, led from the start and and had over a minute to spare when finishing  in 18 mins 22.

BHAA SNAP Jerry Kiernan Foundation 6km – they’re off!
Photo: Lindie Naughton

Second in 19:35 was Stephen Cashin, while third in 19:52 was Sean Doran, who was part of a large group attending from Kiernan’s club, Clonliffe Harriers. Fourth and first M45 was Paul Fleming of Renua and RathfarnhamWSAF AC. Des Tremble was first M50 and his Donore Harriers clubmates, Charlie O’Neill and Terry Mee (who ran barefoot!)  first M60 and M80 respectively

Finishing ninth overall and first woman  was Breffni Kelly of Clane AC in 22:27. Kate Veale, who had travelled from Dungarvan for the race, was second in 24:18  with Eleanor Alexander third in 25:58. Both Travers and Veale have benefited from Jerry Kiernan Foundation support. First BHAA team was Bank of Ireland followed by Eir.

Saturday at the races

Junior athlete Mark Kearns was the winner of the Seamie Weldon 5km in  Ardee, Co Louth on Saturday evening  (September 7) in a time of 16 mins 5 secs. He was followed home by a trio of Dunleer AC members with Garry Campbell second in 16:22,  and Sam and Aaron Spaight  both given times of 16:50 for  third and fourth places.

Finishing sixth and first woman was Orla Duffy (Dublin City Harriers)  in 17:37. Aine Cotter (North East Runners) was one place behind in 17:58 and Charlotte Moore third in  19:47.

Ardee and District won both men and women’s team categories.

Dunleer and Rathkenny were second and third of the men while Drogheda and District  and Rathkenny were second and third of the women.

Dave Rooney (Raheny Shamrock AC) won the 10km, with a time of 30:50. Sean Husband (Monaghan Town Runners) was second in 31:27 and Mick Clohisey (Raheny Shamrock) third in 32:02 First woman was Claire O’Malley (Dunleer AC)  in 40:47. Winning teams were the Dunleer men, led by Noel Williams in fourth place, and the Duleek and District women.

The autumn 5 milers begin

In Co Cork, Donal Coakley (Leevale AC) in 28:04 and Siobhan Holland (Eagle AC) in 34:11 were the winner at  the Allihies 5-Mile on the Beara Peninsula. The race was the opening round of the Beara Autumn 5-Mile Series 2024, with three more races to come.

Leading home 1,768 finishers at the Dingle Marathon was Daire Finn in 73 mins 22 secs, with Aoife Cooke (Eagle AC) first woman in 84:48.  Winning the marathon was Ian Vanderven in 2:44.09. Niamh O’Riordan (Galway City Harriers) was first woman in 3:28.19.  In Swinford, Co Mayo,  Matthew McMeekin clocked 1 hr 51 mins 29 secs to win the Ireland West 3/4 Marathon. First woman was local athlete Aoibhín Flatley in 2:18.45.

In a thrilling finish to the Belfast Victoria Park Open Road Relays, Victoria Park, Central AC won the men’s race  after battling all the way with Annadale Striders.  In the end, there was just six seconds in it with Central clocking a time of 38 mins 23 sec and Annadale finished in 38:39. Third in 39:04 was North Belfast Harriers. A total of 26 teams had entered.

Annadale were clear winners of the women’s race with a time of 45:59, followed by Lagan Valley  in 48:57 and Willowfield Harriers third in 49:31, with sixteen teams finishing.

Annadale also finished first of a massive fifty-one teams in the men’s masters race in 41:16, followed by North Down in 41:35 and North Belfast Harriers in 41:45.  In the women’s masters race, North Belfast Harriers were the winners in 49:34, with Annadale Striders second in 49:50 and Keep ‘Er Lit third in 51;21; twenty-four teams finished.

Finally, in a shorter distance mixed relay, Beechmount Harriers were the winners in 20:48, while Newcastle and District  won the battle for second place with a time of 20:56  ahead of  Willowfield Harriers   who finished on their heels in 20:57. A total of thirty-seven teams entered this category.

In Co Tyrone, Phil Adams (Omagh Harriers) was the winner of the Tatts 5-Mile, held at Tattyreagh GAC, outside Omagh; his time was 28:04. First woman was Lenice McAleer (Dub Runners Belfast) in 37.17.

At the Abi’s Butterfly Breeze Portaferry 10km, David Spalding (Ballydrain Harriers) was the winner in 33 mins 1 secs, with Sarah Wilson (North Down) first woman in 46:14.

Earlier in the week

The Gowran 4-Mile, in Co Kilkenny on Friday (September 6),  produced a West Waterford double, with Evan Fitzgerald a comfortable race winner in 19 mins 48 secs and Kate Veale the first woman in 25:39.

At the Shane Bonner Donegal 5km in Milford,  Declan Ferry (Rosses AC) was the winner  in a personal best and course record time of 14 mins 59 secs.  Just one second behind for second was Jon-Jo Doherty (Finn Valley AC)  in 15:00. Bernie Boyle made it a Rosses AC double when finishing first woman in 18:58.

Jordan Heron (Larne AC) was the winner  in a time of 26:01 at the Ards 4-Mile held in Londonderry Park, Newtownards, Co Down. David Spalding (Ballydrain Harriers) was a close second in 26:07. First woman in 31:54 was Sarah Grant of North Down AC.

On Thursday evening, Padraig O’Donnell and Rhona Dempsey were the winners at the Cloughduv 5km in Co Cork in times of 16:44 and 20:52 respectively.

How close to first were you Luke? Photo: James Rhodes

Other T&F

On Tuesday (September 3) in Copenhagen, Luke McCann (UCD AC) ran a personal best for the mile of 3:52.70, finishing second in the race behind Waleed Suliman of the USA who crossed the line in 3:52.03. In the women’s 5000m Michelle Finn (Leevale AC) finished 14th in 16:08.80.

On the same night, Mark English (Finn Valley AC)  closed out his season by finishing second in the 800m with a time of 1:45.17  at the Palio Città della Quercia  in Rovereto, Italy.

Ultra-running

Sam Hand (Kilmallock AC) was the winner  of the 200km Kerry Way Ultra which started in Friday (September 6) in a time of 23:56.33.  Second was Tipperary man Shane Kenny in 25:14.13, while third in 26:30.02 was Eoghan O’Neill from Co Cork. First woman in 32:48.28 was Kristen O’Sullivan (Beara AC).  Loughrea-based Denise Barrett was second in 35:0611 and British visitor Angeline Dresser (Valley Striders) third in 37:01.44.

First home in the 101km ‘ultra nite’ was Dealga McAree (Inner Gfight Ireland) in 10:57.52, with Aisling Long first woman in 13:27.38.  Winners of the 58km race were Enda O’Sullivan in 5:55.53 and Joanne Rice in 6:540.30.

A small Irish group was competing at the World Skyrunning Championships in Soria, Spain which started on Friday (September 6) with the vertical race  (5km with 1 km of climb) where Ian Conroy (Raheny Shamrock)  finished a creditable 16th in 34:22 and Matthew McConnell was 28th in 35:47.  Dee Collins  (Ennis TC) was 35th woman in 1:04.29

In the Sky Ultra World Championships a day later over a distance of 70km with 4,350m of climb,   Enda Cloake (Slaney Olympic) finished 12th in 8:15.03 and Sean Meehan (Cherry Orchard AC) 36th in 9:31.32.  Finally, in the Sky World 32km on Sunday, Michael Costello finished 44th in 4:37:06. Kevin Shannon 51st in 4:41.01. Ireland finished 20th team after Vertical and Sky results were combined.

The Tor has a few bridges, but more mountain passes. Photo: Roberto Roux

There is a good crowd of Irish runners out at the 330km Tor des Geants in Aosta, Italy, this week and there is some good coverage of the event over on Instagram with the official account covering the front of the race and friend of Fast Running Aaron Shimmons giving a great overall feel for the event and the 3000 strong army of volun-Tors.