December 26 was the busiest day of the holiday season for road races, with over a dozen races taking place at venues all over the country. Lindie Naughton reports. 

Undoubtedly the biggest oif them was the 22nd annual Fields of Athenry 10km in Co Galway, where Jamie Fallon (Craughwell AC) led home almost two thousand finishers  in 30 mins 34 secs. Behind him came two athletes from Castlegar AC – Aimad Belayd in 30:54 and Abaas Asam Edris in 31:10.

First woman was Sharon Rynne (Leevale AC) in 35:53. Evelyn Coughlan (Tullamore Harriers) was second in 36:01 and Catherine Thornton (Galway City Harriers) third in 36:13.

As alwasy, a  good gang had travelled from Dublin for the race, with  Karol David Cronin (Sportsworld AC)  finishing 11th and first M40 in 33:30.

In Dublin, the winners at the annual Bull Run 7.5km, on Bull Island, Dollymount, were Garret Shaw and Ciara Losty in the 18-45 age group  and Keith Fleming and Orla Gormley in the over 46 age group. The event was hosted by our Irish Amateur Wrestling Association friends at the 5th Port Dollymount Sea Scouts Den.

Elsewhere, Michael Murphy (Tullamore Harriers) was the winner of the Kilbeggan 6km in  Co Westmeath, with a time of 18 minutes exactly. Clare Fagan (Mullingar Harriers) was first woman in 20:23. Winners at the Stoneyford FC 5km in Co Kilkenny were Cathal O’Reilly (Kilkenny City Harriers)  and Lucy Clinton (Waterford AC).

In Co Limerick,Niall Shanahan (An Brú) was the winner of the Caherdavin 10km in 31:53, followed by Colm Turner (Brothers Pearse AC) in 32:56. Shona Keane  (Dooneen) was first woman in 348:36.

5 mile or 5km, you choose

Big race in Ulster was the 39th Oliver McCullagh Greencastle 5-Mile, in Co Tyrone, where Conall McClean (CNDR TC) was a comfortable winner in 24 mins 7 secs. Jack O’Farrell (Newry AC) was second in 24:53 and Neil Johnston (Annadale Striders) third in 25:01.

Fourth and first M40 was Eoin Mullan (Omagh Harriers) in 25:14.  First M60 was Tommy Hughes (Strive RC) in 29:58; Hughes will turn 70  on January 8   and already has world records in his new age group in sight.

Catherine Whoriskey (City of Derry Spartans) proved the class of the women’s filed finishing in 28:41. Joan Maguire (Dromore AC, W40) was second in 33:09 and Aisling Fegan (Armagh AC) third in 33:38. Close to a thousand had signed up for the race.

Winners at the CIYMS Boxing Day 5km in Belfast, were Oliver Duffield  in 17:47 and Emily Morris  in 18:25.

Winning the Cavan Christmas 5km Dash,  was Ben Brunton (St Brigid’s AC in 16:22, with Aaron Smith (Cilles) a close second in 15:26 and Cathal McHale (Clonliffe Harriers) third in 16.00. Orla Duffy (Dublin City Harriers) was first woman in 17:12.

An international star in Clonmel

Road performance of the day came in Clonmel, Co Tipperary,  at the annual MSD 4-Mile, where Emily Sisson (Waterford AC)  who finished third overall,  obliterating the women’s course record  with an outstanding  time of 20 mins 29 secs.   That tiem broke Shona Heaslip’s record by 17 seconds.

Sisson finished just over half a minute behind race winner Kane Collins (Donore Harriers) with Ben Coughlan (Clonliffe Harriers) second in 20:06.

Sisson, a double Olympian for her native USA, ran a time of 2:18.29  at the 2022 Chicago Marathon which was an American record. She also has a half marathon time of 66:52 from early 2023.

The Irish link comes through her husband Shane Quinn of Waterford AC. The pair met as students at Providence College, Rhode Island, where both were coached by Ray Treacy.

Shane’s father, of course, is Waterford AC legend Brendan Quinn, who set many Irish steeplechase records in the 1980s, with his 1985   time of 8:24.09 still the Irish record. He competed in the 1983 World Championships and the 1988 Seoul Olympics Games in his specialist discipline.

Behind Sisson in Clonmel  came Hannah Steeds (Leevale)  in 21:27, Grace Richardson (Kilkenny City Harriers) 21:30, Lizzie Lee (Leevale, W$)) 21:34 and Maebh Richardson (Kilkenny City Harriers) 21:40.

Probably the race with the best name, according to our editor

A day later, on Friday December 27 , Tallaght  AC master Tomás Fitzpatrick was the winner of the annual Rita and Robbie 5km,  in Navan on Friday (December 237). In a closely-fought race, Fitzpatrick won the chase for the line finishing in 15 mins 20 secs. Just two seconds behind were  Matthew Fitzpatrick (Dunleer AC)  and Eanna Ó Bradaigh (DSD AC)  with both given a time of 15:22. Fourth in 15:23 was Eoin Flynn (Rathfarnham WSAF AC M40).

First woman in 18:28 was Saoirse McGrath. Eimear English (Dunboyne AC) was second in 18:33 and Aoife O’Leary (Sportsworld, W40) third in 18:36.

Picture: Ricky Cowan NIMRA

Hills

James Miller (Mourne Runners) was the winner at the NIMRA Turkey Trot at Meelmore Lodge on December 26, clocking a time of 40 mins 2 secs for the 7.5km distance with  400m of climb.

Just one second behind him was Eoin Lennon (Carnethy HRC) who had lead midway through the race.  Finishing third was Ashley Crutchley (Newcastle and District AC, U23) in 40:19.

First woman was Karen Wilton (Jog Lisburn, W50) in 50:25, followed by Rebecca Magee (Newcastle and District, U23) in 50:48. Martsje  Hell (North Belfast Harriers) was third in 54:03.

Picture: Ricky Cowan NIMRA