Abbotstown cross country races – Dublin even ages, juvenile relays, and open XC/ Masters trials
A fresh cold day with a strong wintersun saw the Open Cross County in Abbotstown and what a day of action it was from the youngest to the oldest (and best) in the country.we had competitors from U10 all the way up to U18 in the Dublin even age championships , and we had some great runs, individual wins and podium positions,Top 10s , team medals galore gold silver and bronze! In the national juvenile relays we also had several teams out, many competing in cross country for the very first time so all should be very proud of themselves. Thank you coaches parents and supporters for all the hard work. Roll on the uneven ages in Santry in a few weeks time !

The senior races incorporate the masters trials where the best masters in the country tough it out for a place in the British and Irish International in November. We had two hardy veterans in the women’s race, Mary McDermott V55 who finished 10th in her age group and 41st overall and Claire Morrissey V40 who finished 12th in her age group and 47th overall, the standard was as tough as it gets, only second to the Nationals which will be held in Kilkenny in a month’s time. The race also included the M65+ and Barry Potts finished 5th M70. The pace was torrid from the start as it also included the U18 Dublin championships where Donore won team gold!

The men’s race was next and we had three very solid performances from Dave McConn V40, 13th in his age group and 28th overall, Des Tremble V50, 8th in his age group and 53rd and Niall Lynch V50, 13th and 70th overall. The U18 boys team won silver in the Dublin championship race.

The women’s race was won outright by Ide NicDhomhnaill (West Limerick) ex Donore and the men’s race was won by Keelan Kilrehill (Moy Valley AC).

The first master finishers were Noeleen Scanlon of Letterkenny AC and Eoin Everard of Kilkenny City Harriers and they were presented with the Jim Mc Namara Memorial trophies (the Golden Shoes) by Jim’s daughter Andrea. Its always a moving occasion to see this presentation and the golden shoes are now becoming famous among the best masters. Thanks to the Irish Masters Association and our own Anne Gormley for this unique tribute to Jim that is now in its 7th year.

US college report

REPORT – NUTTYCOMBE INVITATIONAL CROSS-COUNTRY at MADISON, WISCONSIN & ALABAMA CRIMSON CLASSIC CROSS-COUNTRY at TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA (both 13th of October 2023)

Both Donore Harriers US based athletes were in action at separate events on Friday last. Abdel Laadjel competing for the Providence College Friars lined up in the NUTTYCOMBE INVITATIONAL CROSS-COUNTRY at Madison, Wisconsin. It proved a tough assignment for the 20 years old. He placed 112th of 275 finishers covering the 8km course in 24.25.3. The highly competitive race was won by Graham Blanks of Harvard University in a time of 23.23.4.

Louis O’Loughlin, competing for the Auburn University Tigers, placed 44th in the ALABAMA CRIMSON CLASSIC CROSS-COUNTRY at Tuscaloosa, Alabama. O’Loughlin was the 3rd scorer on the Tigers team that placed 7th of 21. The race, which was slightly over the 8km distance, was won by Victor Kiprop of Alabama University in 23.13.9.

Both Laadjel and O’Loughlin are in preparation for next month’s NCAA Championships

RESULTS:

NUTTYCOMBE INVITATIONAL CROSS-COUNTRY at Madison, Wisconsin (13.10.2023) –

Men’s 8km race – 112th Abdel Laadjel (24.25.3). 275 finishers.

ALABAMA CRIMSON CLASSIC CROSS-COUNTRY at Tuscaloosa, Alabama (13.10.2023) – Men’s 8km race – 44th Louis O’Loughlin (24.53.9). 211 finishers

Roads

On the roads we had three runners in action in Amsterdam for the 47th edition of the TCS Amsterdam marathon. The conditions were mixed with changeable weather ranging from hailstones to sun. Alan Keogh was happy with a one minute pb of 2.47.18. New member Sinead Doran ran 4.10.09. Ruthann Barry ran a super 2 min pb of 1.46.15 in the Half Marathon event

An Cosantoir 10k

Josh OSullivan Hourihan retained his title in style at the An Cosantoir 10k in the Phoenix park on 11 October. He won it again this year in a new PB of 30.27 , a minute and a half ahead of Kenneth Rogers. This yearly event is a 10k road race for members of the defence forces