Strong running by Barbara Cleary and Aislinn Nic Dhomhnaill laid the foundations for an excellent silver medal performance from the Donore Harriers women’s team at the Dublin Senior cross country championships at Santry Demense on Sunday. On a bright and calm day the 6km and 4 lap course proved a testing course as the Donore Harriers team threw the gauntlet down to team favourites Crusaders AC. A magnificent effort fell only 7 points short of overall team glory.

Barbara (17.49), the current Women’s Mini-Marathon champion, mixed it at the front early on and found herself adrift in third place at the halfway stage. However, she eventually had to settle for fourth position behind Ciara Durkan (17.26) of Skerries AC, Orla Drumm (17.32) of Crusaders and Sarah Mulligan (17.32) of DSD. Aislinn (18.54) showed the determined form that recently won her the Dublin Novice championship to come home in an excellent 8^th position. The team silver was secured thanks to the ever consistent Ann Curley (19.20) who placed 12^th and Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill (20.02) who the fourth scorer in 19^th spot.

A fine run from Grace Kennedy (20.19) in 23^rd position ensured good cover in the quest for team glory.

The men’s race over a 6 lap course (10km) proved to be a disappointing fare for the Donore Harriers team. Missing Van Haeften, Hynes and Eric Keogh from last year’s bronze team it was always going to be a tough day out in the field. News that reigning champions Clonliffe had a depleted team gave early encouragement, but the fine team packing by a resurgent Rathfarnham AC team gave them a deserved 3^rd position behind favourites DSD and a solid Raheny Sharmocks AC crew that got the team silver.

The Donore Harriers team was led home by the defending champion John Travers. John (28.10) made a conservative start before picking up to 3^rd position by the end of lap 2. He then put in an effort to catch the front pair of Brendan O’Neill (28.05) of DSD and national cross country champion Mick Clohisey (28.15) of Raheny Shamrocks. However as the race developed it was O’Neill, recent winner of the new Autumn Open Cross race, who kicked on whilst Travers (28.10) pulled away from Clohisey to finish in a clear second position.

Mark Dooley (29.28) had a fine run to place 9^th. The very consistent John Dunne (29.53) was always competitive and gained to 15^th, whilst Caoimhin Kelly (30.18) proved once again that he a key player in the team’s future plans.

With 6 to score the Dublin Senior is surely the most competitive race on the cross country calendar. The gap back to 5^thand 6^th scorers, respectively Colm O’Connell (31.18) and Gavin Keogh (31.40) in 30^th and 36^th places, allowed the Rathfarnham team that closed in 23^rd position edge out Donore for the bronze medals.

The other members of the Donore team were Aogan MacDomhnaill (32.01) who placed 39^th and Fergal Whitty (32.26) who was 42^nd.

Results in brief: -

Women’s Dublin Senior XC 6km

4^th Barbara Cleary (17.49); 8^th Aislinn NicDhomhnaill (18.54); 12^th Anne Curley (19.20); 19^th Sorcha NicDhomhnaill (20.02); 23^rd Grace Kennedy (20.19)

Team: 1^st Crusaders AC (36); 2^nd Donore Harriers <Cleary; A. NicDhomhnaill; A. Curley; S. NicDhomhnaill> (43); 3^rd Raheny Shamrocks AC (58)

Men’s Dublin Senior XC 10km

2^nd John Travers (28.10); 9^th Mark Dooley (29.28); 15^th John Dunne (29.53); 19^th Caoimhin Kelly (30.18); 30^thColm O’Connell (31.18); 36^th Gavin Keogh (31.40); 39^th Aogan MacDomhnaill (32.01); 42^nd Fergal Whitty (32.26)

Team: 1^st DSD AC (65); 2^nd Raheny Shamrocks (84); 3^rd Rathfarnham (104); 4^th Donore Harriers (111)

Other results: -

Dublin Athletics Board Marathon championships (27/10/14): – M35 category – 3^rd Sean Fox (2.50.20); M40 Category – 3^rd Graham Hopkins (2.51.00)

Griffeen Parkrun 5km (1/11/14): – 3^rd George Brady M35 (18.08); 49^th David Hudson M55 (24.32); 56^th Joan McTernan F55 (25.01)

Tymon Parkrun 5km (25/10/14): - 20^th / 3^rd woman Samantha Conroy (21.20); 21^st Frank McNally M50 (21.30)