Donore Harriers Athletics Report – Oct 8 2023

Club News — 13 October 2023

Dublin Novice Cross country championship

An unusually warm day saw great racing in Tymon Park North for the Dublin Novice this year. First off were our women and Juno Gerolmo Feeney (a protege of Iain Morrison and a real talent to watch out for in the future), took it out with the leading group, she ran a brave race finishing in 7th place. Caroline McCarthy was next and in her usual gutsy fashion, gritted it out after a fast start to finish in a super 20th place, Emily Cunniffe is one of the most improved runners this year and ran a very solid 33rd, next in was Claire Mulligan who worked her way well through the field in 45th followed by training partner Suzanne Masterson in 50th and Katherine Marsh running a super strong race brought them all home in 62nd, they finished a fantastic 5th place in the team placings in a very competitive race won by DCH on a tough hot day, not the normal cross country conditions!

Our men were off next and were lead home by John Cleary in his first country season in 21st followed closely by new member Eoin Gormley in 28th, next in was the evergreen Des Tremble with a very solid run in 33rd closely followed by Michael Ryan who is getting back to fitness in 39th, next in was Simon O’Toole in 50th, followed by team stalwart Emmet O Bhriain in 65th who is returning to fitness, Robert Clougher was 70th and Ian Nolan on his first outing on the cross country also brought them home in 105th , 7th team overall . A great team effort lads, well done and onto the next one.

Dublin Juvenile cross country league

Well done to our 13 League 2 competitors in Tymon, great running all

Farrah Blake U9G
Ella Barry U9G
Sam Quinn U9B
Eli HenleyWillis U10 B
Ruairi Quinn U10B
Sally Mc Gowan U11 G
Ciara Mullens U11G
Freya Meagher U11G
Feliks Sieczkowski U11B
Anna Whelan U12G
Mark Nunan U13B
Max HenleyWillis U13B
Charlie O Neill U15 B

A busy weekend of road racing also

Galway Bay Marathon

Congrats to Wayne Waldron on a super win in the Galway Bay Marathon in 2.32, Wayne has been showing some great form of late and went one better on a previous second placing in the Kinvara marathon earlier in the year.

Tarmonbarry Half Marathon, Co Roscommon

Ken Nugent won the Tarmonbarry Half easily in 72.40, 8 mins ahead of the next runner and Ken was also a previous winner of this race some years back.

Fastlane 3/4marathon, Clondalkin

Kishor Shelake 2.25.49
Margaret O’Brien 2.41.55
Ken Henley Willis 2.5512 (Fit4Life Group)
Elaine Verdon 2.55.17 (Fit 4Life Group)
Neil Lanigan 2.56.03 (Fit 4Life Group)
Ken Cronin 2.57.33 (Fit 4Life Group)
Ava Kirby ran the 10k in 1.05.44

3/4 Irish Marathon Longwood

JP O’Hanlon ran 2.48.13

Gaelforce 10km Howth

Didier Da Costa was 15th and 2nd O50

Chicago Marathon

Joan McTernan ran a brilliant 4.18 in the Chicago Marathon

Simon 5 road race

Charlie O’Neill ex club President ran 43.55 mins

European Orienteering Championships Veneto Italy

Josh O’Sullivan Hourihan had an exceptionally busy week of competition representing Ireland at the European Orienteering Championships in Italy

First off was the individual sprint event at Verona Borgo Venezia over 2 miles where Josh was in the qualification leg where he finished 30th and he was “reasonably happy” with his performance knowing he gave it everything

Next up was the sprint relay in Soave where Josh was on the 2nd leg in a mixed male and female team of 4. His teammate handed over to him for the second leg where he picked off some people to finish in 15th and had the 10th fastest time overall on the leg, his team finished 19th overall after the 3rd and 4th legs – thus fulfilling the team aim of finishing within the top 20

The last event of the week was the KO sprint event over just under 2 miles in Creazzo , another solo event and he finished in 31st again giving a 100% effort

Well done Josh and Team Ireland

Donore Harriers opening run

It was a pleasant warm morning for the Annual Club Opening Run and group photo, this traditional club event always marks the start of the official senior cross country season…After training, back at the clubhouse, over tea and cake, the great Willie Smith, with his encyclopediac memory of races, times and dates gave us a talk capturing some of the highlights of the clubs athletic achievements in the 50s and 60s a golden era he remembers as a young athlete. In giving us a snapshot of club legend Bertie Messitt’s achievements he told us of how the same man inspired him as a starstruck 14 year to join up and here he is going strong 65 years later! He celebrated his ’65th’ on the 4th October and Florence Curley Club President presented him with a gift on behalf of the committee. Heres to many more Donore years Willie and heres to a successful cross country season for us