The main Donore Harriers interest was centred on the Boys under 15s race over 3500m in the Dublin Uneven Age Groups cross country championships at Santry Demense. Fathi Aden, fresh from his win in the u/14s championship a couple of weeks ago, was stepping up for the purpose to field a team in the older age group.

After another slow start Fathi picked his way through the field and was an isolated 3^rd at the end of lap 1 of 3. Leading was eventual winner James Maguire (10.52) who is a national champion, with Craig Giles (11.03) of Clonliffe Harriers in second. Fathi (11.14) gave chase, but ultimately had to settle for the bronze medal position.

Next in for Donore was Sekeriye Ahmed (11.40) in 6^th place, well good enough for an automatic spot on the Dublin team in the National Unevens due to take place in Santry on the 7^th of December. This was a fantastic run by Sekeriye, who is relatively new to the sport and is making noted improvement.

Jack Raftery, also stepping up an age group, had a very fine run gaining from 27^th at the end of lap 1 to finally get up to 17^th. Ruairi Fitzgibbon probably made ‘his move’ too early in the race and struggled home in 31^st stop.

The team placed an agonising 4^th, just 3 points behind Tallaght as DSD and Clonliffe Harriers took places 1 and 2.

8 years-old Honor Lynch placed an excellent 17^th amid a huge field in the Girls u/9s over 800m. Conor Mulcahy made a very encouraging debut in the u/9s Boys, also over 800m, when placing 27^th. Honor and Conor are certainly young athletes to watch out for in the future!

Lucy McCann stepped up an age group and placed an excellent 8^th in the Girls u/17s contest over 4000m. In the Boys u/17s over 5000m Michael Gibbs narrowly missed automatic selection to the Dublin team when he lost the battle for 12^th place; finishing a gallant 13^th. This was a huge effort by Michael, who is also relatively new to the sport.  In the same race Paul O’Neill pulled out due to injury.

Results in Brief:

u/9s Girls 800m – 17^th Honor Lynch

u/9s Boys 800m – 27^th Conor Mulcahy

u/11s Girls 1500m – 38^th Grace Raftery; 52^nd Sadbh Parker

u/13s Girls 2500m – DNF Ellie Raftery

u/15s Boys 3500m – 3^rd Fathi Aden (stepping up); 6^th Sekeriye Ahmed; 17^th Jack Raftery (stepping up); 31^st Ruairi Fitzgibbon (team placed 4^th)

u/17s Girls 400m – 8^th Lucy McCann (stepping up)

u/17s Boys 500m – 13^th Michael Gibbs; DNF Paul O’Neill

Other results: -

Griffeen Parkrun 5km (1/11/14): – 10^th Andrew Strickland (20.04); 29^th Oisin Campbell (22.07) debut; 129^th Kate Lynch (36.20); 130^th Ben Halpin (36.20); 132^nd Robyn Strickland (37.23); 133^rd Shannon Verdon-Byrne (37.23); also Justin Maher who completed 2.5km.