The 119th running of the Waterhouse Byrne Baird shield 10 mile handicap race took place this St Stephens Day in driving rain and treacherous underfoot conditions, a real challenge for the 28 runners who toed the line.

The lead changed many times during the race. For the first few laps Michelle Dawson (winner in 2012)and Dana Mackey who were first to start at a 35 minute handicap took the lead. Then it was the turn of Charlie O’Neill but he retired after 3 laps. For the last two laps, the race saw some runners making great ground such as Alan Farrell, scratch man John Travers and the pairing of Tom Fagan and Peter Nugent. Angela Eustace also held the lead for some time but was overhauled going into the last lap by a number of runners. Alan Farrell opened up quite a lead with George Brady and Tom Fagan in pursuit. Unfortunately John Travers got an opened shoe going into the last lap which cost him a little time. But there was no stopping Alan Farrell, a relatively new member of the club, who finished with over a minute to spare on the 2nd runner. His handicap was 13.30 minutes and it took him 66.52 to complete the course. 2nd was Tom Fagan with George Brady 10 seconds later: this was George’s best ever position in the race which he has done many times. In 5th place and in the fastest time of the day was John Travers who completed the sodden course in impressive 54.35. First Lady over the line was Angela Eustace in 11th place and she completed the course in 82.15. There was a sprint finish between John Dunne 12th (fastest master of the day) and 2013 winner Paul Cummins in 13th. Fastest lady although carrying an injury was Anne Curley in 15th place. In 16th was 2014 winner Ian Redican. Other former winners who competed were Mark Dooley 19th and John Breen 22nd. Laura Murray 21st and Peter Nugent 8th competed for the first time.

After the race, the 2014 winner Ian Redican formally handed the shield over to Alan Farrell. Later in the clubhouse was the prize giving when former winner Jim McNamara presented the shield again to the winner. Big thanks to master of ceremonies Iain Morrison who was also race handicapper along with Florrie Curley and Fred Kiernan. Willie Smith was timer and marked the course along with Albert Prendiville. As always Stephen Kelly cooked the post-race soup!

Full results below

Alan Farrell13.301.27.2266.52

DNF
Barry Potts
Charlie O’Neill
Patrick Byrne
Stephen Dawson

The Christmas and New Year period is a busy one on the race calendar and there were Donore runners in action all over the country. Notable performances included the following.
Pre-Christmas in Farranfore Kerry, twin sisters Sorcha and Ide Nic Dhomhnaill ran well in the 5k; Sorcha placed 3rd lady in 18.26 with Ide just 9 seconds back in 18.35. Their bother Aogan came 8th in 16.10.
In Limerick where she is now based, Sinead Jennings Lynch (who will compete for the Irish rowing team in the Rio Olympics) was 1st lady in the Caherdavin 10 mile in 61.18 showing that her intense rowing schedule also makes for fast times on dry land.

There was 7th and 8th and place respectively for Ciaran McCarthy (16.14) and Sam Allen (16.17) in the Clonliffe Christmas Cracker 5k on Santry Demesne which finished in Morton Stadium. Ciaran also placed 2nd in the M40 class.

Chris Muldoon came 6th in the Kilbeggan 6k in 20:49

Mark Dooley came 2nd in the Clarinbridge 10k in 34.21 not long after competing in the gruelling Waterhouse Byrne Baird race on St Stephen’s Day.

Barbara Murray was delighted to finally break 40 minute for 10k in a well deserved 39.50 which made her 3rd lady in the Emyvale 10k in her native Monaghan.

Emer Rattigan was 1st lady in the Garrycastle GAA 5k in Athlone (times n/a)

On the parkrun front Graham Hopkins scored a win in Poppintree on 2 January and Gavin Byrne was 2nd in Waterstown on Christmas Day. Laura Murray was the most prolific runner of the period running no less than 3 parkruns as well as the Shield race and the Meet and Train round 2 race.

The Tom Brennan 5k race on New Years Day had Fergal Whitty coming 9th and 2nd M40.
The 2nd round of the Meet and Train cross country league in Bushy Park turned out to be a race on the paths because the grass was so waterlogged and we had 6 runners in action that day.

Full results
Farranfore 5k Aogan MacDhomhnaill 8th (16.10) Des Tremble 16th (16.59) Patrick Moriarty 19th (17.19) Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill 3rd woman (18.26) Ide Nic Dhomhnaill 4th woman (18.35)
Caherdavin 10 mile Sinead Jennings 1st woman (61.18)
Clonliffe Christmas Cracker 5k Ciaran McCarthy 7th (16.14) Sam Allen 8th (16.17)
Fields Of Athenry 10k: Alma Hanevy (43.39) Cariosa Walsh (58.59) Dearbhla Walsh (69.19)
Kilbeggan 6k: Chris Muldoon 6th (20.49)
Garrycastle 5k: Emer Rattigan 1st woman
Fat Turkey 10k Sutton: Des Gill (48.49)
Emyvale 10k: Barbara Murray 3rd woman (39.50) (PB)
Clarinbridge 10k: Mark Dooley 2nd (34.21)
Tom Brennan New Years Day 5k: Fergal Whitty 9th (16,39) Luke Boland (17.22) George Brady 18.06) Derek O’Neill (19.26) Tony Griffin (21.26) Karen Behan (22.11) Charlie O’Neill (23.34) Tom Halton (26.44)
Meet and Train league 2 mile race: Mary Murphy 63rd, Laura Murray 86th, Catherine McKeon 90th, Lee Chambers 94th, Sue Lynch 100th, Ann Woodlock 104th

Parkrun
Waterstown 25/12/15: Gavin Byrne 2nd 18.47 Laura Murray 3rd female 24:00
Porterstown 26/12/15: Niall O’Reilly 2nd 19.01
Griffeen: 1/1/16: Laura Murray 25.18
Malahide/l 2/1/16: Laura Murray 24.14
Hartstown: 2/1/16: Peter Nugent 19.30 (9th)
Poppintree: 2/1/16: Graham Hopkins 18.26(1st)