REPORT: Seven Races, Circuit of Glendalough to EcoTrail Wicklow

Between 19/09/2026 and 03/10/2026, Glendalough AC recorded twenty-eight results from twenty-five athletes across seven races. Kevin Doherty was the club’s most active competitor, racing two times. The breaking news ahead of this report was Aaron Cullen recording the club’s first ever senior men’s county novice championship – but since results from this Sunday are not yet available, we will do a separate report on that and on Monica Timmins’ run in the Manchester Half-marathon as well as Eoin Phelan who completed his 30th marathon in Berlin next week.

DUBLIN HALF-MARATHON

Four Glendalough AC athletes raced in a field of six thousand, four hundred and sixty-six at the Dublin Half-marathon and Grace Curham led the way home in a new PB of 1:30:27.

Result: Dublin Half-marathon

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	James Hyland	Raheny Shamrock AC	1:08:52	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
489	Grace Curham	Glendalough AC	1:30:27	WW RC
626	Kevin Doherty	Glendalough AC	1:33:00
665	Jimmy Cullen	Glendalough AC	1:33:44
823	Aran Lynham	Glendalough AC	1:37:07

COPENHAGEN HALF-MARATHON

The Copenhagen Half-marathon is one of the biggest races in Europe with over 39,000 participants and Rebecca Whineray had a solid run out finishing well inside the top half of the field.

Result: Copenhagen Half-marathon

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Andreas Almgren	Sweden	58:06	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
16599	Rebecca Whineray	Glendalough AC	1:48:41	WW RC

ECOTRAIL WICKLOW 2026 – 10 KM

EcoTrail Wicklow became the largest trail racing event ever held in Ireland with 2291 entrants this year and we had runners in all events except the 80 km, of which four Glendalough AC athletes raced in a field of 368 in the 10 km route taking in much of Bray Head. The experienced heads of Richard Kieran and Brendan Lawlor were first followed by Kevin Doherty and Wicklow Wolf co-founder Simon Lynch who took some time out between serving pints at the seafront.

Result: EcoTrail Wicklow 2026 – 10 km

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Neilus Healy	Kilcoole AC	47:32	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
71	Richard Kieran	Glendalough AC	1:11:30
83	Brendan Lawlor	Glendalough AC	1:13:30
114	Kevin Doherty	Glendalough AC	1:17:59
242	Simon Lynch	Glendalough AC	1:32:45

CIRCUIT OF GLENDALOUGH

Graham Bush joined 36 other committed mountain men for the tough Circuit of Glendalough where he was fourth overall and 2nd in his category. For Graham this was enough to secure this year’s Leinster Championship title with a 10 point lead to Alaister Hodgett.

Result: Circuit of Glendalough

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	John Bell	SlÃ Chualann	1:52:00	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
4	Graham Bushe	Glendalough AC	1:59:00

ECOTRAIL WICKLOW 2026 – 19 KM

We had nine Glendalough AC runners in the second shortest EcoTrail Wicklow distance with over 460 competitors entered. Ross Thompson, perhaps in a rush to get back to manning the Dynafit stand, led us home with Rebecca Whineray our first female finisher.

Result: EcoTrail Wicklow 2026 – 19 km

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Zak Hanna	New Balance	1:36:29	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
76	Ross Thompson	Glendalough AC	2:22:04	WW RC
87	Rebecca Whineray	Glendalough AC	2:24:13	WW RC
109	Gary Neill	Glendalough AC	2:28:19
116	Kieran Grant	Glendalough AC	2:30:36	WW RC
155	Siobhan Brennan	Glendalough AC	2:36:58
231	Edson Ferreira	Glendalough AC	2:49:15	WW RC
350	Brian Howard	Glendalough AC	3:05:56	WW RC
363	Laura Cardiff	Glendalough AC	3:12:00
426	Luciana Rufino	Glendalough AC	3:32:29	WW RC

ECOTRAIL WICKLOW 2026 – 30 KM

Huw, Graham, David, Ben and ex-member Christopher Willoughy (still a Wolfer!)

357 raced the middle distance of this year’s EcoTrail. Recently joined member Jude Wejchert finished a fine 2nd overall despite describing the race as ‘more cramping than running’. He was joined by six other Glendalough AC athletes. Huw Thomas, ‘stepping up’ from his usual distances, was a very fine fourth place and Anne Bromley was the 2nd woman overall in 39th place. Graham Bushe, perhaps feeling the Circuit of Glendalough exertions, started out hard but faded in the second half of the race. Ben Lewis, David Gray and Gleb Reys were the other three finishers.

Result: EcoTrail Wicklow 2026 – 30 km

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Remi Cosma	Jean Mi	2:37:02	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
2	Jude Wejchert	Glendalough AC	2:44:48	2nd MJ
6	Huw Thomas	Glendalough AC	2:53:05	WW RC
39	Anne Bromley	Glendalough AC	3:28:40	2nd F45, WW RC
43	Graham Bushe	Glendalough AC	3:30:59
73	Ben Lewis	Glendalough AC	3:48:26	WW RC
104	David Gray	Glendalough AC	4:00:40
196	Gleb Reys	Glendalough AC	4:29:01

ECOTRAIL WICKLOW 2026 – 46 KM

The 46 km only attracted two Glendalough AC athletes this year despite the 46 km being more popular than the 30 km this year (with 370 starters) and here Ian Bromley was a strong 12th and 3rd in the M45 category with Mick Greene about 15 minutes behind in 23rd overall.

Result: EcoTrail Wicklow 2026 – 46 km

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Daniel Squires	Annadale Striders	3:56:08	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
12	Ian Bromley	Glendalough AC	4:56:30	3rd M45, WW RC
23	Mick Greene	Glendalough AC	5:11:38	WW RC

REPORT: Three Races, The Lakes 10 km to EMORRC Classic

September 18, 2026September 18, 2026 by glendaloughac, posted in Uncategorized

This is a short add-on to the last report featuring two big races – the Wicklow 10 km championship, and the second of the two European Masters Mountain Running Championship races that Graham Bushe took part as well as the Medieval Marathon in Kilkenny where Lucy Neill had a great marathon outing!

THE LAKES 10 KM

Eight GMAC runners competed in the first Wicklow County 10 km championship hosted by Lakeshore at The Lakes 10k in a field of three hundred and forty-four. Aaron Cullen was 3rd overall in the championship race and our first man home overall with Huw Thomas also in the top-30. He and Jimmy both secured individual gold in their categories with the men’s team of Aaron, Huw Thomas, Jimmy, David and Colm getting Team Bronze in the MS category. The women also fared well with Claire and Christine taking individual bronze in the F35 and F70 categories while they combined with Monica for team Bronze as wel.

Result: The Lakes 10 km

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Jamie Gahan	Kilkenny City Harriers	32:56	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
6	Aaron Cullen	Glendalough AC	34:54	1st MS, WW RC
27	Huw Thomas	Glendalough AC	39:16	WW RC
50	Jimmy Cullen	Glendalough AC	43:26	1st M55
71	David Gray	Glendalough AC	45:39	3rd M50
85	Colm Kenna	Glendalough AC	47:30
109	Claire Thompson	Glendalough AC	48:56	3rd F35
127	Monica Timmins	Glendalough AC	50:34
305	Christina Byrne	Glendalough AC	1:09:01	3rd F70

MEDIEVAL MARATHON

One Glendalough AC athlete raced in a field of one thousand, nine hundred.

Result: Medieval Marathon

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Michael Brady		2:25:14	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
107	Lucy Neill	Glendalough AC	4:02:36

EMORRC CLASSIC

Graham Bushe raced in a field of one hundred and ninety on the Sunday of the EMORRC improving his category position from Friday from 12th to 6th and taking a team silver medal with the Irish M50 team.

Result: EMORRC Classic

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Ionut Alin Zincha	Romania	46:27	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
40	Graham Bushe	Glendalough AC	57:43

REPORT: Half-marathon bonanza as Graham Bushe hits more success in the hills…

September 14, 2026 by glendaloughac, posted in Mountain running, Race reports, Road running, Trail running

Between 15/08/2026 and 11/09/2026, Glendalough AC recorded twenty-seven results from twenty-three athletes across ten races. One club record was set. One personal best was recorded. Eoin Phelan was the club’s most active competitor, racing three times.”

FRANK DUFFY 10 MILE

Eoin Phelan took to yet another start line in a field of three thousand, six hundred and eighty whilst our trail runners were battling it out at the Off-Road Championship on 15th of August.

Result: Frank Duffy 10 mile

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Cormac Dalton	Mullingar Harriers	49:17	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
647	Eoin Phelan	Glendalough AC	1:13:13	WW RC

BELMONT AND LITTLE SUGARLOAF

Seven Glendalough AC athletes raced in a field of one hundred and sixty-five to close off the IMRA Leinster League. It confirmed Graham Bush as the M55 2nd placed finisher for the league with Alan Kennedy narrowly missing out on the podium there finishing 4th. On the day Graham also finished 2nd in the M55 one spot behind Huw Thomas who led the club home and took 2nd in the M35 category.

Result: Belmont and Little Sugarloaf

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Brian Mella		38:41	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
17	Huw Thomas	Glendalough AC	44:28	2nd M35, WW RC
18	Graham Bushe	Glendalough AC	44:50	2nd M55
38	Shane Keogh	Glendalough AC	48:56	WW RC
58	Richard Allan	Glendalough AC	52:20	WW RC
60	Kate Flynn	Glendalough AC	52:23	WW RC
68	Eoin Phelan	Glendalough AC	54:10	WW RC
123	Richard Kieran	Glendalough AC	1:05:28

MOUNTAIN MEITHEAL FUNDRAISER

Four Glendalough AC athletes raced in a field of eighty at the traditional handicap race post Leinster League up at Lough Tay. In terms of ‘real time’ Alan Kennedy fared best on the night.

Result: Mountain Meitheal Fundraiser

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Peter O’Meara		51:21	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
18	Alan Kennedy	Glendalough AC	53:31	WW RC
61	Loraine Creane	Glendalough AC	57:24
67	Andy Walker	Glendalough AC	1:02:27	WW RC
79	James Heggie	Glendalough AC	1:36:07	WW RC

KERRY WAY ULTRA NITE

John Conway finished an impressive 2nd overall in the 100km Kerry Way UltraNite in a field of one hundred and ten other runners.

Result: Kerry Way Ultra Nite

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Cillian McDaid		11:42:17	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
2	John Conway	Glendalough AC	12:07:57

TULLAMORE HALF-MARATHON

Nine Glendalough AC athletes raced in a field of one thousand, one hundred and seventy-nine but many had a tough time on the bumpy course. Donna Quinn had to step off the course for a very rare DNF but we could celebrate Gavin Kennedy’s 1:28:21 PB. Louis Byrne led the club home in 1:27:48 but flared up his Achilles which puts his Dublin Marathon in doubt. Speedy recovery!

Result: Tullamore Half-marathon

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Jake O’Regan	St. John’s AC Clare	1:05:23	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
163	Louis Byrne	Glendalough AC	1:27:48
172	Gavin Kennedy	Glendalough AC	1:28:21	WW RC
242	Tivon Tyner	Glendalough AC	1:31:38
260	Kevin Doherty	Glendalough AC	1:32:56
292	Jimmy Cullen	Glendalough AC	1:34:44
584	Colm Kenna	Glendalough AC	1:47:18
634	Monica Timmins	Glendalough AC	1:49:20
746	Fiona Smyth	Glendalough AC	1:54:24
1179	Donna Quinn	Glendalough AC	—	DNF

OYLEGATE HALF-MARATHON

Paul Duffy was joined only by fifty other runners for the Oylegate Half-marathon in Wexford while the rest of our half-marathoners were in action at Tullamore. This did not stop him recording an astounding 6 minute personal best and taking 1st in his category on a wet day in the south. Paul now ranks 3rd internally in the club for half-marathon results over-45 behind only Angus Tyner’s 1:20:52 and Richard Costelloe’s 1:21:22 and he moves up to sixth in the all-time ranking (the top-10 half-marathon men’s performances in order are now: Aaron Cullen, Torben Dahl, Amidou Dembele, Rene Borg, Angus Tyner, Richard Costelloe, Paul Duffy, Barry Murray, Blaise Kinsella, Graeme Warren).

Result: Oylegate Half-marathon

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Aaron Doyle	Croghan AC	1:18:24	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
5	Paul Duffy	Glendalough AC	1:22:29	1st M45, PB

GREENWAY HALF-MARATHON 2026

Jacques Becker was our lonely representative in Waterford for the Greenway half and raced in a field of seven hundred and twelve.

Result: Greenway Half-marathon 2026

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Evan Fitzgerald	West Waterford AC	1:04:57	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
358	Jacques Becker	Glendalough AC	1:50:05	WW RC

MARATHON DES CHÂTEAUX DU MÉDOC

Andy Walker joined eight thousand and forty-nine other wine enthusiasts in France for the legendary Medoc Marathon. We are still waiting to hear the tally of glasses drunk….

Result: Marathon des Châteaux du Médoc

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Florian Laplanche		2:26:45	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
5698	Andy Walker	Glendalough AC	6:49:03	WW RC

EMORRC VERTICAL MEN’S RACE 26

Only Graham Bush travelled to the European Masters Off-Road Championship in Romania where he secured team Bronze with the O55 ‘Vertical team’ on the Friday while finishing 12th in his age category. There was more success on Sunday for Graham in the Up/Down Classic race – more on that in the next report.

Result: EMORRC VERTICAL Men’s Race 26

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Andrzej Starzynski	Poland	33:18	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
87	Graham Bushe	Glendalough AC	49:36

BOSTON SCIENTIFIC 1/2 MARATHON

There is a race on somewhere? Well you know the score: Eoin Phelan was in action in a very solid 1:40 time at the Boston scientific Half-marathon among four hundred and sixty-seven other competitors.

Result: Boston Scientific 1/2 marathon

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	William Maunsell	Clonmel AC	1:05:46	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
239	Eoin Phelan	Glendalough AC	1:40:52	WW RC

REPORT: Glendalough AC regain Off-Road trophy

August 16, 2026 by glendaloughac, posted in Club races / events, Cross-country running, Race reports, Trail running

We had a lower attendance than in recent years at the Athletics Wicklow Off-Road Championship but that didn’t matter: the twenty-six runners that stepped forward put in a string of great performances to win the championship for the first time since 2023 with a haul of 11 gold medals, 5 silver and 4 bronze (20 in total).

RUN THE SPINC 30K – 2026

The first race to start was the first full running of the originally envisioned Run the Spinc 30k route (really 28.4k but what is a mile between friends). Lonan O’Farrell romped home in an impressive 2:14:29. Our first man home was Graeme Warren in 15th and he also won his category as he continues a strong long distance summer season. Lucy Neill had a very impressive outing finishing 6th woman and 1st in the senior women’s category. Shane Keogh was our third coming in 2 spots and five seconds after Lucy and also taking 1st in the senior age category.

Result: Run the Spinc 30k – 2026

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Lonan O’Farrell		2:14:29	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
15	Graeme Warren	Glendalough AC	2:44:29	1st M50
36	Lucy Neill	Glendalough AC	3:06:57	1st FS
38	Shane Keogh	Glendalough AC	3:07:02	1st MS, WW RC

RUN THE RIDGE 20K

Sebastien Giraud finished 2nd overall and 1st M40 in his first outing representing the club while Catherine Devitt won the women’s race by a comprehensive 5 minute margin.

All in all we had ten Glendalough AC athletes raced in a field of seventy-three and they made a big difference in turning a narrow lead on the medal table into a comprehensive one – scooping up nine medals with Gold to Sebastien, Catherine, Ben Lewis, David Gray, Zoe Heathcote and Karen Field.

Result: Run the ridge 20k

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Benjamin Butler	Kilcoole AC	1:30:38	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
2	Sebastien Giraud	Glendalough AC	1:35:02	1st M40
9	Kevin Doherty	Glendalough AC	1:47:01	3rd M40
12	Catherine Devitt	Glendalough AC	1:50:57	1st F40
20	Ben Lewis	Glendalough AC	2:00:06	1st M45, WW RC
21	David Gray	Glendalough AC	2:01:58	3rd M50
43	Gary Neill	Glendalough AC	2:17:48	3rd M55
44	Siobhan Brennan	Glendalough AC	2:17:49	2nd F50
54	Zoe Heathcote	Glendalough AC	2:27:33	1st F35, WW RC
58	Brian Field	Glendalough AC	2:29:25	WW RC
63	Karen Field	Glendalough AC	2:50:48	1st F55, WW RC

Gary Neill, Karen Field, Siobhan Brennan and Brian Field (left to right)

RUN THE RIDGE 10K

Aaron Cullen on his way to becoming the first outright championship winner for the club

Our biggest field (13) was in the 10 km race where Aaron won the championship race outright and finished only a few second behind the open race winner from France. Paul Duffy and Graham Bush ensured we had three men in the top-10 and when Tivon Tyner arrived next, he cemented a 12 minute victory in the Senior Teams category over St. Benedict’s with Parnell four minutes further back.

The o50 and women’s races were also tight – while Parnell dominated the absolute positions, their fastest trio was entered into the Female Senior teams category leaving Aoife and Loraine and Claire to battle Lakeshore for the gold. In the end, Aoife and Loraine came in within 17 seconds of each other in 31st and 34th before Yvonne Brennan (running as a scorer for our Senior Female team) managed to get in 9 seconds before Claire. It was also tight between Yvonne’s team mates: Fiona and Monica arrived with only 14 seconds between them and finished 2nd behind the runaway Parnell team.

The men’s o50 team has won the gold medal every year this event has been held but this year’s trio of Graham Bushe, Anthony Breen and Brendan Lawlor had to concede the goal to Parnell. Graham Bush had given the team a 5 minute lead but Paul Mahon and Cormac O’Ceallaigh arrived in before Anthony Breen and then Billy Porter beat out Brendan Lawlor to secure a 4 minute winning margin for Parnell. There was plenty of consolation as Graham took another individual gold and Brendan Lawlor won his first medal for the club (Silver in the M60).. All in all, we got 5 individual gold medals, two silver, and one bronze.

Result: Run the ridge 10k

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Emilien Morin	Triathlon Club Andresy	40:14	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
2	Aaron Cullen	Glendalough AC	40:24	1st MS, WW RC
7	Paul Duffy	Glendalough AC	44:06	1st M45
9	Graham Bushe	Glendalough AC	45:30	1st M55
15	Tivon Tyner	Glendalough AC	48:18
31	Aoife Joyce	Glendalough AC	52:23	1st F45
34	Loraine Creane	Glendalough AC	52:40	2nd F45
40	Anthony Breen	Glendalough AC	54:44	3rd M50
42	Colm Kenna	Glendalough AC	55:18
46	Yvonne Brennan	Glendalough AC	56:03
48	Claire Thompson	Glendalough AC	56:14	1st F35
57	Fiona Smyth	Glendalough AC	1:00:11
58	Monica Timmins	Glendalough AC	1:00:23
72	Brendan lawlor	Glendalough AC	1:03:41	2nd M60

Paul Duffy on his way to an impressive 44:06

OVERALL WINNERS

Once all medals were tallied up we could confirm that we managed to win the overall trophy for only the second time with 11 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze with Parnell and Lakeshore in 2nd and 3rd. This makes it the most convincing win of a championship since the inaugural victory where Parnell won out of 39 medals and well ahead of Inbhear Dee and Lakeshore. After that had followed a few much tighter years – in 2025 we lost out on the difference in Silver medals and in 2024 we had won eight more medals than Parnell but were beaten 8-7 on gold medal count. Our first victory had been equally tight in 2023 where we finished 12-6-7 to Parnell’s 10-8-4.

Our record in the event is now 4th-1st-2nd-2nd-1st.

CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

The Off-Road Championship is always a scorer in the club championship and here we use normalised performances for all three distances to rank runners against each other using the ‘Keswick system’. Graham Bush retains the lead but Aaron Cullen is now up to a perfect score of 400 points and could become impossible to catch with a good score in the Wicklow Novice race. Paul Duffy is also still in the mix only 20 points back on Aaron. Monica Timmins still leads Loraine Creane and Aoife Joyce but the women’s competition is wide open.

The scoring race in the Club Championship is the Wicklow 10 km Championship in Blessington middle of September.

Overall standings (ranked by points, i.e. Best 5)

Rank	Name	Races	Points	Wins	Behind
1	Graham Bushe	9	494.4	2	–
2	Aaron Cullen	4	400.0	4	94.4
3	Paul Duffy	4	380.6	2	113.8
4	Alan Kennedy	4	323.8	0	170.6
5	Loraine Creane	4	320.1	0	174.3
6	Huw Thomas	3	276.8	0	217.6
7	Colm Kenna	4	259.4	0	235.0
8	Kevin Doherty	3	255.0	0	239.4
9	Tivon Tyner	3	240.9	0	253.5
10	Ben Lewis	3	211.4	0	283.0
11	Monica Timmins	4	207.1	0	287.3
12	Aoife Joyce	3	201.2	0	293.2
13	Ian Bromley	2	188.8	0	305.6
14	Eoin Phelan	3	165.9	0	328.5
15	Anne Bromley	2	159.0	0	335.4
16	Jimmy Cullen	2	154.0	0	340.4
17	Brendan Lawlor	3	153.6	0	340.8
18	Donna Quinn	2	150.4	0	344.0
19	Fiona Smyth	2	108.0	0	386.4
20	Sebastien Giraud	1	94.7	0	399.7
20	Christopher Shannon	1	94.7	0	399.7
22	Brian Field	2	91.5	0	402.9
23	Gavin Kennedy	1	87.5	0	406.9
24	Richard Allan	1	85.6	0	408.8
25	Louis Byrne	1	83.3	0	411.1
26	Kevin Ferguson	1	78.8	0	415.6
27	Angus Tyner	1	78.7	0	415.7
28	Catherine Devitt	1	77.1	0	417.3
29	Graeme Warren	1	75.1	0	419.3
30	James Fitzgerald	1	72.0	0	422.4
31	Andy Walker	1	67.6	0	426.8
32	David Gray	1	64.9	0	429.5
33	Anthony Breen	1	64.5	0	429.9
34	Yvonne Brennan	1	61.3	0	433.1
35	Rebecca Whineray	1	61.1	0	433.3
36	Claire Thompson	1	60.8	0	433.6
37	James Grant	1	59.2	0	435.2
38	Lucy Neill	1	58.0	0	436.4
38	Shane Keogh	1	58.0	0	436.4
38	Richard Kieran	2	58.0	0	436.4
41	James Heggie	2	52.5	0	441.9
42	Gary Neill	1	47.3	0	447.1
42	Siobhan Brennan	1	47.3	0	447.1
44	Kara Fleischmann	1	44.6	0	449.8
45	Karen Field	2	42.3	0	452.1
46	Cari Burke	1	40.2	0	454.2
47	Zoe Heathcote	1	36.5	0	457.9
48	Christina Byrne	1	16.4	0	478.0

Women’s standings (ranked by points)

Rank	Name	Races	Points	Wins	Behind
1	Monica Timmins	4	321.1	0	–
2	Loraine Creane	4	293.9	2	27.2
3	Aoife Joyce	3	277.3	0	43.8
4	Donna Quinn	2	198.6	1	122.5
5	Anne Bromley	2	197.5	1	123.7
6	Fiona Smyth	2	160.0	0	161.1
7	Catherine Devitt	1	100.0	1	221.1
8	Karen Field	2	97.6	0	223.5
9	Yvonne Brennan	1	87.1	0	234.0
10	Claire Thompson	1	86.8	0	234.3
11	Rebecca Whineray	1	84.7	0	236.4
12	Lucy Neill	1	84.5	0	236.6
13	Siobhan Brennan	1	75.8	0	245.3
14	Cari Burke	1	67.4	0	253.7
15	Zoe Heathcote	1	67.0	0	254.1
16	Kara Fleischmann	1	63.0	0	258.1
17	Christina Byrne	1	55.9	0	265.2

REPORT: Athletics Wicklow Off-Road Champs 26

August 16, 2026 by glendaloughac, posted in Mountain running, Race reports, Trail running

This year’s Athletics Wicklow Championship had a record entry of 112 county runners starting across the four distances from an entry of 122 — beating the 2024 record of 108 starters from a 150 total entry.

Starters	Entries	Medals contested	Edition
112	122	58	5th

10 km Championship

Women

We start with the women’s championship where very competitive teams from Parnell, Lakeshore and Glendalough battled it out against each other.

Parnell had placed three strong masters runners in Caroline Ayton, Emily Ryan and Lynne Whelehan Sheehan in the senior team category, and they beat out Glendalough’s trio (also of masters) of Yvonne Brennan, Fiona Smyth and Monica Timmins by over 23 minutes.

Emily Ryan (Parnell AC) flanked by Lakeshore runners

Glendalough had placed their fastest trio in the O35 teams, and they secured a narrow victory of less than 3 minutes over Lakeshore Striders (Niamh Brophy, Laura Querl and Jenny Milton), with Parnell’s trio of Rachel Clarke, Sylwia Wojciechowska and Emer Conroy third.

Moving on to the individual medals, Alaoise Geraghty was the female senior winner for Parnell, winning unopposed. Glendalough AC’s Claire Thompson took gold ahead of three Lakeshore women, with Jenny Milton the silver winner and Sarah Byrne the bronze winner.

Caroline Harney Ayton, Parnell AC, was the overall women’s winner in the 10 km and took the F40 gold ahead of her team mates Emily Ryan and Lynne Whelehan Sheehan for a clean Parnell sweep of the category. Niamh Brophy of Lakeshore missed out by a mere 14 seconds.

Billy Porter (Parnell), Yvonne Brennan (Glendalough), and Laura Querl (Lakeshore)

Aoife Joyce, Glendalough AC, won the F45 category ahead of team mate Loraine Creane, knocking nearly 3 minutes off her 2025 mark in the process. Laura Querl of Lakeshore rounded out this podium, narrowly denying Glendalough’s Yvonne Brennan the opportunity of making it a clean category sweep for the hosts here.

The F50 was won unopposed by Stephanie Sloan of St. Benedict’s, and the F55 and F60 had no competitors, leading us to Jackie Atkinson who won the F65, also unopposed.

Men

Aaron Cullen was the overall winner of the championship and the male senior category – the first Glendalough AC runner to manage this feat and only seconds behind the overall winner from the open race.

Winner Aaron Cullen (right) battling with Lakeshore’s Peter O’Connell on the first climb

Lakeshore Striders won the M35 category with Peter O’Connell beating St. Benedict’s Gavin Griffiths. Will Blumlein, also Lakeshore, took the bronze.

Lakeshore then went on to have one of the most dominant displays ever in a single category when they swept the podium in the M40 and also placed 5th and 7th, taking 5 of the top-10 spots in the 10k race within that category. This meant they also beat St. Benedict’s by 12 minutes to take the O35 gold.

The M45 category was more contested. Paul Duffy, Glendalough AC, won in a new 40 seconds personal best performance on the course, over 2.5 minutes clear of the nearest runner in the category (Gary Timmons, St. Benedict’s), with Philip O’Toole of Parnell 3rd.

Paul Duffy providing the experienced support to Aaron Cullen and Tivon Tyner meant Glendalough took the Senior Team victory 12 minutes ahead of St. Benedict’s, with Parnell AC a further 4 minutes back in third.

The M50 was a battle between two runners, with David O’Brien of Lakeshore Striders beating Cormac O’Ceallaigh of Parnell by 4 minutes.

Graham Bushe took yet another in a seemingly endless string of mountain and championship M55 victories, beating the equally experienced Paul Mahon (Parnell) who is not long back from injury. Graham’s club mate Anthony Breen closed out the podium.

The M60 was another man to man contest: and here race announcer and Parnell coach Billy Porter (does he need that introduction?) beat out Brendan Lawlor of Glendalough AC.

A Monopoly Broken and a Championship First

Parnell’s victory in the O50 teams broke the monopoly Glendalough AC has had on the category since the inception of the championships in 2022, beating them by just over 5 minutes together.

William Belton ran unopposed in the M75 to claim gold — the first runner in the history of the championship to win a medal in that category.

A Close Affair

At this point the championship was remarkably close: Glendalough, Parnell and Lakeshore were tied on 11 medals, with Glendalough ahead on gold. The 20 km race would now be decisive.

After the 10 km	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
Glendalough AC	6	4	1	11
Parnell AC	5	2	4	11
Lakeshore Striders	4	3	4	11
St. Benedict’s	1	5	0	6

20 km Championship

Women

We start here with the F35 category where Zoe Heathcote won unopposed whilst finishing 3rd overall in the open category of the race as well.

A category up in the F40, Catherine Devitt won her championship category but was also the overall female winner of the 20 km, nearly 5 minutes ahead of second.

Parnell AC got back on the board when Bernie Byrne beat Glendalough’s Siobhan Brennan into second in the F50 category, before Karen Field took the win in the F55 for Glendalough.

The F60 category was a Kilcoole AC affair, with sisters Rose and Pauline Leith taking Gold and Silver to bring Kilcoole onto the medal board.

Men

Well, chronologically Benjamin Butler had already done that a bit earlier when he swept in with an impressive 1:30:38 to win the M35 and also the overall race, with a time not far off the course record. Lakeshore’s Steven Pettigrew was 2nd.

The M40 was taken by Sebastian Giraud in his first outing for Glendalough AC. Sebastian also finished 2nd overall in the race. He was followed home by Daragh O’Callaghan of Lakeshore and Glendalough’s Kevin Doherty. Ben Lewis won the O45 unopposed, finishing 2nd out of six in his category in the open race.

St. Benedict’s bounced back when Stanislaw Chromik took gold in the M50, nearly 18 minutes ahead of Kilcoole’s Chris Willoughby, who himself had a three minute gap down to Glendalough AC’s David Gray.

Bray Runners got on the board through Paul Donohue, who won the M55 category ahead of Kilcoole’s Patrik Albertsson and Gary Neill of Glendalough.

Final Standings

This rounded out the 58 medals contested in the fifth edition of the Athletics Wicklow Off-Road Championship, with Glendalough winning with 20 medals in total. Only two clubs have broken the 20 medal barrier — Glendalough in 2023 with a record 25, in 2024, 2025 and this year, with Parnell achieving the feat in 2023 and 2025. But that does not guarantee the victory, as has been seen in past editions, as gold medals count first.

Pos	Club	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Glendalough AC	11	5	4	20
2	Parnell AC	6	2	4	12
3	Lakeshore Striders AC	4	5	4	13
4	St Benedict’s AC (Inbhear Mor)	2	5	0	7
5	Kilcoole AC	2	3	0	5
6	Bray Runners AC	1	0	0	1
7	Inbhear Dee AC	0	0	0	0
TOTAL		26	20	12	58

In this tally the home team took 11 gold (with 5 silver and 4 bronze), finishing ahead of Parnell AC (6-2-4 for 12 total) and Lakeshore with 13 medals (4-5-4). St. Benedict’s was 4th, equalling their club record seven medals from 2024. For Lakeshore this was their first time back in the top-3 since 2023 — they equalled their record 13 medals from last year, but with more gold medal performances. Kilcoole was 5th with 5 medals, Bray Runners had 1, and Inbhear Dee did not secure any this year.

The 30 km

Special mention should go to the Athletics Wicklow runners in the 30 km. It is not a championship event this year, although its status will be reviewed in the future. Here Inbhear Dee would have done well with Robert Boland the first county runner in the MS, ahead of Glendalough AC’s Shane Keogh, with veteran hill runner Ben Mooney the first in the M60. Glendalough AC’s Graeme Warren was first county runner in the M50, and Glendalough also had Lucy Neill first in the FS category.

Kilcoole’s Lisa Byrne meanwhile was first in the F45 (2nd woman overall) with Emma Barry, also Kilcoole, second in the same category. Laura O’Daly, also Kilcoole, was first in the F40 category.

Thought experiment: if the 30 km had counted

Had the 30 km been a championship race, entries would undoubtedly have been a bit different, but as a thought experiment, adding these medals back in would have seen Glendalough remaining first on 13-6-4. Kilcoole would have climbed to 4th with 4-5-0 and Inbhear Dee would have climbed ahead of Bray Runners with 2-0-0. Parnell and Lakeshore’s positions would have been unaffected, and the overall top-3 standing would have been the same.

As a curiosity, the 58 medals handed out this year is the lowest since the inaugural year’s 39. The last few years 67-70 have been contested.

Junior Races

This brings us finally to the junior races, where unfortunately some of the leading boys continued a bit ahead of the furthest our marking arrow and ran around 4 km. A separate report on the junior results will follow from Athletics Wicklow.

Five Editions

All in all, 300 medals have been handed out in five editions. Parnell remain the most winning team in terms of trophies (3 to Glendalough’s 2), with the two clubs entirely dead-heated in terms of total medals (86 medals each) — with Glendalough leading by 41 gold medals to 40. Lakeshore Striders is a clear third with 49 medals, followed by Bray and St. Benedict’s.

All-time (2022–2026)	Trophies	Gold	Total medals
Glendalough AC	2	41	86
Parnell AC	3	40	86
Lakeshore Striders	0	—	49

REPORT: IMRA Peak season

August 14, 2026 by glendaloughac, posted in Uncategorized

Between 25/07/2026 and 13/08/2026, Glendalough AC recorded thirty-two results from twenty-four athletes across eleven races. One personal best were recorded. Graham Bushe was the club’s most active competitor, racing three times.

NEPHIN

Paul Duffy visited family out West and was our only competitor in this epic race on the Irish mountain with the greatest absolute elevation from bottom to top joining a hardy band of twenty-nine other runners.

Result: Nephin

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Alan Dunne		1:02:40	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
4	Paul Duffy	Glendalough AC	1:07:44	1st M45

SHANGANAGH PARKUN

One Glendalough AC athlete raced in a field of three hundred and eighty-two: Tivon Tyner and with some effect as he secured an impressive PB of 19:10.

Result: Shanganagh Parkun

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Ciaran Deegan		18:07	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
6	Tivon Tyner	Glendalough AC	19:10	PB

ART’S CHALLENGE

Two of our most regular competitors Graham Bushe and Joe Lalor were the only entrants we had at Art’s Challenge and both took victory in their categories.

Result: art’s Challenge

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
8	Graham Bushe	Glendalough AC	1:54:00	1st M55
29	Joe Lalor	Glendalough AC	2:52:19	1st M70

LUG UPHILL

An uphill only race seems to remain a frightening prospect as only thirty-seven runners kicked off the IMRA Leinster weekend with the race up to the peak of the county’s highest point. Both Graham and Loraine took 2nd in their age categories in a race won by expat international Paddy O’Leary.

Result: Lug Uphill

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Paddy O’Leary		40:15	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
18	Graham Bushe	Glendalough AC	52:53	2nd M55
26	Loraine Creane	Glendalough AC	1:01:10	2nd F45

TINAHELY TRAIL HALF-MARATHON

On the second day of the Leinster weekend, a magnificent seven of Glendalough AC athletes raced in a field of one hundred and eighteen in what was described as one of the toughest races on the calendar – a new route devised by Mick Hanney on the hills around Tinahely. Ian Bromley continued his impressive season as our first man home and the club secured three podium age category placings.

Result: Tinahely Trail Half-marathon

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Alan Dunne		1:55:26	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
12	Ian Bromley	Glendalough AC	2:20:56	2nd M45, WW RC
30	Stephen Kennedy	Glendalough AC	2:44:42	WW RC
33	Catherine Devitt	Glendalough AC	2:47:32	3rd F40
35	Alan Kennedy	Glendalough AC	2:48:10	3rd M55, WW RC
45	David Gray	Glendalough AC	2:46:15
91	Eoin Phelan	Glendalough AC	3:25:57	WW RC
113	James Fitzgerald	Glendalough AC	3:53:44	WW RC

DERRYBAWN TRAIL 26

A week before the Run the Ridge series sweeps over the Derrybawn trails, IMRA finished their Trail League on a route that shared some of the same trails. Graham Bushe took another M55 win with Anne Bromley 1st in the M45 category and Catherine Devitt, freshly back from the flats of Holland, 2nd.

Result: Derrybawn Trail 26

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Garreth Davis		37:47	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
6	Graham Bushe	Glendalough AC	44:02	1st M55
14	Anne Bromley	Glendalough AC	47:18	WW RC
22	Catherine Devitt	Glendalough AC	49:11
44	Eoin Phelan	Glendalough AC	54:42	WW RC
62	Joe Lalor	Glendalough AC	1:06:37	2nd M70
80	Brendan Lawlor	Glendalough AC	1:04:11

DERRYBAWN TRAIL 26 -SHORT

On the short 4.8 km course, Rene Borg and Richard Costelloe kept working their ways back to full competition running with their respective sons Cillian and Rowan.

Result: Derrybawn Trail 26

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Finn McGurren	Clonliffe Harriers	20:23	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
17	René Borg	Glendalough AC	32:25	3rd M45
22	Richard Costelloe	Glendalough AC	33:48	1st M50

ATHY HALF-MARATHON

Aoife Joyce was the only one to take the trip over to the Athy 1/2 marathon where she secured a master’s PB and her first sub-1:42 in over a decade.

Result: Athy Half-marathon

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Terry Shanley		1:11:22	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
103	Aoife Joyce	Glendalough AC	1:41:58

GLENBARROW

When one Glendalough AC is present at a race you can nearly bank on the name: it was of course Eoin Phelan.

Result: Glenbarrow

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Jude Wejchert		29:04	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
25	Eoin Phelan	Glendalough AC	42:09	WW RC

MOUNTAIN RESCUE BENEFIT RACE

Without the off-road championship this race on our local hill (Paddock) would probably have seen more attendance but we still had five in a field of 97 and Kate Flynn continued her recovery from a bout of illness over the summer to take 3rd in her category with Andy Walker, Brendan Lawlor and James Heggie also in the mix.

Result: Mountain Rescue Benefit Race

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Brian Mellia		34:16	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
28	Kate Flynn	Glendalough AC	47:30	3rd FS, WW RC
52	Andy Walker	Glendalough AC	55:03	WW RC
64	Brendan Lawlor	Glendalough AC	58:56	3rd M60
69	James Heggie	Glendalough AC	59:37	WW RC
75	Joe Lalor	Glendalough AC	1:02:06	2nd M70

REPORT: 10 mile season and Nephin

August 2, 2026 by glendaloughac, posted in Mountain running, Race reports, Road running

Between 19/07/2026 and 02/08/2026, werecorded six results from six athletes across in an unusually quiet period featuring two 10 mile races.

IRISH RUNNER 10 MILE CHALLENGE

Jimmy Cullen was our only finisher among 1640 other runners in the Phoenix Park.

Result: Irish Runner 10 mile challenge

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Stephen McAuley	Letterkenny AC	50:01	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
379	Jimmy Cullen	Glendalough AC	1:12:33

BLANEY ROCKETS 10 MILE

Aaron Cullen finished 2nd overall with four Glendalough AC athletes racing in a field of three hundred and fifty-four including ‘local woman’ Donna Quinn and Louis Byrne and Colm Kenna.

Result: Blaney Rockets 10 mile

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Sean Lally		56:45	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
2	Aaron Cullen	Glendalough AC	57:12	WW RC
33	Louis Byrne	Glendalough AC	1:06:10
78	Donna Quinn	Glendalough AC	1:13:29
118	Colm Kenna	Glendalough AC	1:18:50

NEPHIN

Paul Duffy was on holidays in the West and thus became our lonely representative in a hardy field of twenty-nine where he promptly finished 4th and 1st M45 in this race up the highest stand-alone mountain in the country which didn’t bother him as he reported: “Actually really enjoyed it and the views were phenomenal!”

Result: Nephin

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Alan Dunne		1:02:40	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
4	Paul Duffy	Glendalough AC	1:07:44	1st M45

REPORT: Wicklow Road, World Mountain Masters, mile record and much more….

July 17, 2026July 17, 2026 by glendaloughac, posted in Uncategorized

Between 10/06/2026 and 15/07/2026, Glendalough AC recorded 80 results from 32 athletes across 24 races. 4 personal bests were recorded. Graham Bushe was the club’s most active competitor, racing 8 times.

KEADEEN

Regular double-act Alan Kennedy and Eoin Phelan were the only runners who decided to grace the West Wicklow hills – in this case the superb hill Keadeen – with their presence among 97 other athletes. Alan finished in the top third of the field.

Result: Keadeen

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Ruben Bartelnik	DSD AC	50:00	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
24	Alan Kennedy	Glendalough AC	1:04:16	WW RC
41	Eoin Phelan	Glendalough AC	1:10:25	WW RC

WICKLOW ROAD CHAMPIONSHIP 26

Thirteen Glendalough AC athletes raced in a field of 218 and came home with three individual medals and one team medal with Aaron Cullen breaking the club 5k record on his way to running the highest individual finish ever for one of our runners in this event (4th).

Individual Silver medals were won by Paul Duffy (M45), Donna Quinn (F45) and Christina Byrne (F70) with Bronze team medals for our women’s team.

Result: Wicklow Road Championship 26

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Noah Harris	Parnell AC	14:51	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
4	Aaron Cullen	Glendalough AC	16:16	1st MS, PB, WW RC
28	Paul Duffy	Glendalough AC	17:56	2nd M45, PB
35	Gavin Kennedy	Glendalough AC	18:18	PB, WW RC
69	Louis Byrne	Glendalough AC	18:59
80	Graham Bushe	Glendalough AC	19:33
83	Angus Tyner	Glendalough AC	19:44
88	Jimmy Cullen	Glendalough AC	19:53
98	Tivon Tyner	Glendalough AC	20:09
105	Donna Quinn	Glendalough AC	20:44	2nd F45
125	Colm Kenna	Glendalough AC	21:33
133	Aoife Joyce	Glendalough AC	22:05
163	Monica Timmins	Glendalough AC	24:08
209	Christina Byrne	Glendalough AC	29:52	3rd F70

CROAGH PATRICK UPHILL

One Glendalough AC athlete raced in a field of 39 – Joe Lalor who duly took the M70 win.

Result: Croagh Patrick Uphill

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Trevor Costello		35:10	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
33	Joe Lalor	Glendalough AC	57:38	1st M70

MWEELREA

Like at Croagh Patrick we only had one Connact Championship competitor at Mweelrea but this time it was Eoin Phelan.

Result: Mweelrea

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Niall McCartan	BARF	59:09	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
48	Eoin Phelan	Glendalough AC	1:49:02	WW RC

LETTERGESH-BINN CHUANNA LOOP

Only Joe Lalor and Eoin Phelan travelled West for the Lettergesh race in Connact where they joined a small field of 43 runners. Joe won the M70 category.

Result: Lettergesh-Binn Chuanna Loop

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Eiviltas Evan Radavicius	Dublin Runners	1:03:53	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
32	Eoin Phelan	Glendalough AC	1:49:02	WW RC
33	Joe Lalor	Glendalough AC	1:54:15	1st M70

BALLINASTOE

In the always tough Ballinastoe race Graham Bushe secured a top-20 spot with Joe Lalor taking 2nd m70.

Result: Ballinastoe 24

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Killian Mooney	DSD AC	51:53	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
18	Graham Bushe	Glendalough AC	1:02:51
85	Joe Lalor	Glendalough AC	1:30:40	2nd M70
100	Brendan Lawlor	Glendalough AC	1:26:10
125	Richard Kieran	Glendalough AC	1:31:05

BRAY INVITATIONAL

We don’t have full results for this year’s Bray Invitational Track Meet but what we do know is that Aaron finished 4th behind race winner Bobby Moore in a new 1 mile club record of 4:54.

Result: Bray Invitational

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Bobby More		—	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
4	Aaron Cullen	Glendalough AC	4:54	2nd MS, WW RC

CARROWKEEL

Ronan Roberts and Eric Kelly raced in a field of 49 over in Connacht for the IMRA Carrowkeel race.

Result: CarrowKeel

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Alan Dunne		49:36	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
41	Ronan Roberts	Glendalough AC	1:20:23	WW RC
46	Eric Kelly	Glendalough AC	1:30:11	WW RC

NOT THE WOBBLY BRIDGE

Six of our athletes were in action in the club championship counter at ‘Not the Wobbly Bridge’ in Clara Vale with Aaron Cullen taking another IMRA podium finishing 3rd overall and 2nd male senior. We also had Huw, Ian and Graham in quick succession (making it four men in the top twenty) and all taking category podiums. Anne Bromley won the F40 category and was 2nd woman overall.

Result: Not the Wobbly Bridge

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Barry Minnock	Rathfarnham WSAF	34:44	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
3	Aaron Cullen	Glendalough AC	36:18	2nd MS, WW RC
11	Huw Thomas	Glendalough AC	39:40	2nd M35, WW RC
13	Ian Bromley	Glendalough AC	40:22	2nd M45, WW RC
16	Graham Bushe	Glendalough AC	41:16	1st M55
38	Anne Bromley	Glendalough AC	45:15	1st F40, WW RC
85	Monica Timmins	Glendalough AC	52:30

One the short course, Richard Allen and Rene Borg accompanied their daughter and son respectively around the course.

Result: Not the Wobbly Bridge

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Lara Woods	Blackrock AC	21:23	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
9	Richard Allan	Glendalough AC	25:10	1st M50, WW RC
23	René Borg	Glendalough AC	30:50	2nd M45

ST COCAS AC 5K ROAD RACE

Gavin Kennedy and Donna Quinn raced in a field of 521 at the fast St Coca’s 5k road race where Gavin got close to his PB.

Result: St Cocas AC 5k Road Race

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Jonas Stafford	USD ac	14:09	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
187	Gavin Kennedy	Glendalough AC	18:19	WW RC
312	Donna Quinn	Glendalough AC	20:52

WMMRC UPHILL RACE

Alan Kennedy, Brendan Lawlor and Joe Lalor started off the World Masters Mountain Running weekend in Czechia.

Result: WMMRC Uphill Race

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Douglas Andrew	Westerlands CCC	42:15	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
224	Alan Kennedy	Glendalough AC	1:07:15	WW RC
318	Brendan Lawlor	Glendalough AC	1:25:26
325	Joe Lalor	Glendalough AC	1:28:24

WMMRC LONG TRAIL

Only Paul Duffy and Kevin Doherty opted to compete in the long 21k trail race Glendalough AC athletes raced in a field of 297 and from Paul’s report it was a hot one: “Despite the heatwave I was very happy with the long run. The second climb at 13k was an issue but mainly due to heat…had to ease right off due to dizziness but up to then was first irish runner.“

Result: WMMRC Long Trail

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Szcześniewski Miłosz	Poland	1:39:45	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
116	Paul Duffy	Glendalough AC	2:18:46
227	Kevin Doherty	Glendalough AC	2:46:37

WMMRC CLASSIC

The Classic Up and Down race had 326 competitors and we had an impressive 5 runners in action and for the second day running Paul Duffy led our crew home followed by Alan, Kevin Doherty and then Brendan lawlor (competing in the over-60s) and Joe once again representing in the M70 category.

Result: WMMRC Classic

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Douglas Andrew	Westerlands CCC	38:09	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
183	Paul Duffy	Glendalough AC	56:45
234	Alan Kennedy	Glendalough AC	1:03:28	WW RC
251	Kevin Doherty	Glendalough AC	1:05:39
302	Brendan lawlor	Glendalough AC	1:16:18
309	Joe Lalor	Glendalough AC	1:20:16

SORRELL HILL 26

If it is not Graham Bushe and Eoin Phelan representing us at a race where there is no one else, it is Graham and Alan Kennedy – the double acts of the season! While there was a good 9 minutes between them, they took 2nd and 3rd in the M55 category.

Result: Sorrell Hill 26

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Robin Mooney	Inbhear Dee AC	49:45	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
13	Graham Bushe	Glendalough AC	57:51	2nd M55
47	Alan Kennedy	Glendalough AC	1:09:26	3rd M55, WW RC

MICK MURPHY MEMORIAL 5 KM

The Mick Murphy 5 km in Ferns is always popular and we had five runners travelling with Paul Duffy lowering his personal best from 17:56 to 17:53 on the course with Louis Byrne our second runner home.

Result: Mick Murphy Memorial 5 km

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Rhys Johnson	Donore Harriers	15:42	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
33	Paul Duffy	Glendalough AC	17:53
58	Louis Byrne	Glendalough AC	19:02
107	Colm Kenna	Glendalough AC	22:02
109	Aoife Joyce	Glendalough AC	22:10
139	Fiona Smyth	Glendalough AC	24:01

CLONTARF HALF-MARATHON

Clontarf has grown into am assive race in the last few years but despite this we only had Darragh Lawlor competing who finished in the middle of the field in 2:11.

Result: Clontarf Half-marathon

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Ned Brockmann		1:11:12	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
2391	Darragh Lawlor	Glendalough AC	2:11:38	WW RC

BRANDON HILL HALF

Five runners travelled to the Brandon Hill Half-marathon that is part of the Leinster Half-marathon league and in another tight battle Ian Bromley got in ahead of Graham with wife Anne in third followed by Alan Kennedy and Eoin Phelan.

Result: Brandon Hill Half

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Con Halpin	Cherryorchard AC	1:48:32	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
5	Ian Bromley	Glendalough AC	2:03:37	2nd M45, WW RC
6	Graham Bushe	Glendalough AC	2:04:36	1st M55
17	Anne Bromley	Glendalough AC	2:20:08	2nd F40, WW RC
23	Alan Kennedy	Glendalough AC	2:26:47	3rd M55, WW RC
68	Eoin Phelan	Glendalough AC	3:08:56	WW RC

AYLING ABYSS

The Ayling Abyss is one of the most demanding courses in the Winter League and it was four very experienced runners who took it on with Graham, Joe Lalor and Richard Kieran all banking podium finishes in their categories. There was general chaos with a large proportion of the field taking the wrong route but as it could not be ascertained exactly who the standings were left as they were.

Result: Ayling Abyss 24

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Jude Wejchert		1:01:58	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
21	Graham Bushe	Glendalough AC	1:14:59	3rd M55
79	Eoin Phelan	Glendalough AC	1:35:22	WW RC
112	Joe Lalor	Glendalough AC	1:51:49	2nd M70
115	Richard Kieran	Glendalough AC	1:53:10	3rd M55

DOCKLANDS 5K

In a field of 1955, Aaron Cullen nearly made the top-20 as he lowered his own club 5 km record by another 7 seconds to 16:09.

Result: Docklands 5k

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Hugh Armstrong	Ballina AC	14:40	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
23	Aaron Cullen	Glendalough AC	16:09	PB, WW RC

LUGNACOILLE

Only our near omni-present runners Graham and Eoin took place in the race to Wicklow’s highest peak and Graham Bush took another win that brings him close to the Irish M55 championship title with IMRA.

Result: Lugnacoille

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Niall McCArtan	BARF	57:37	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
16	Graham Bushe	Glendalough AC	1:17:56	1st M55
53	Eoin Phelan	Glendalough AC	1:59:57	WW RC

THE RIDGEWAY – RACE TO THE STONES

Graeme Warren took part in the Race to the Stones in England and gained a superb top-50 finish in sweltering conditions and said: “Race to the Stones. 100km, 32degrees C. Provisional results. 45th place (top 5%), 3rd M50. 12 hours 19. Might have made 12 ,if hadn’t fallen and cut my hand which needed redressing repeatedly at the medical supports. Temperature brutal: really hard to run. Aching now!”

Result: The Ridgeway – Race to the Stones

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Dan Blake		8:18:42	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
50	Graeme Warren	Glendalough AC	12:19:04	3rd M50

TROOPERSTOWN SUMMER

Only 136 runners opted for the 11.6 long course, the longest in the Leinster League so far this year, but 11 of our men were at the start line, which was also the 7th counter in our club championship and here Paul Duffy took a convincing win and 2nd M45. There was also category podiums for Graham Bush and Huw Thomas and possibly Richard Kieran (tbc).

Result: Trooperstown Summer 26

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Ruben Bartelnik	DSD AC	53:49	Race winner
Glendalough AC athletes
13	Paul Duffy	Glendalough AC	1:00:05	2nd M45
16	Graham Bushe	Glendalough AC	1:02:04	2nd M55
23	Huw Thomas	Glendalough AC	1:05:09	3rd M35, WW RC
37	Kevin Doherty	Glendalough AC	1:08:46
42	Tivon Tyner	Glendalough AC	1:09:31
49	Kevin Ferguson	Glendalough AC	1:12:51
51	Alan Kennedy	Glendalough AC	1:13:15	WW RC
64	Ben Lewis	Glendalough AC	1:17:24	WW RC
84	Colm Kenna	Glendalough AC	1:25:00
99	Eoin Phelan	Glendalough AC	1:43:46	WW RC
123	Richard Kieran	Glendalough AC	1:59:45

A massive short course field of 75 was perhaps prompted by the hot conditions. Brendan Lawlor took 1st M60 while coach Rene ran in with son Cillian again in 44th.

Result: Trooperstown Summer 26

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
38	Brendan Lawlor	Glendalough AC	46:05	1st M60
44	René Borg	Glendalough AC	47:06	2nd M45

RACE REPORT: Wicklow Road Championships, Everest Marathon, Road Win and Packed May Round-Up

June 11, 2026 by glendaloughac, posted in Mountain running, Race reports, Road running, Trail running, Ultra running

A truly jam-packed report sees us start with yesterday’s major event at the Wicklow Athletics Road Championship, this year held in Avondale. We then pivot back to May for ten more results, including a race win on the roads and Keith Mulvey’s epic adventure at Everest.

Results from our own fund-raiser Lap of the Gap and the Glen to Glen Half-marathon were omitted from this report due to forgetfulness on part of the organiser! They will be included in the next report.

WICKLOW ROAD CHAMPIONSHIP 2026

The club has competed in the Wicklow Road Championship every year since its inception in 2015. Across 11 editions, Glendalough AC has now posted 108 results, averaging almost 10 runners per event, with a high of 14 runners in 2023.

Aaron Cullen produced the standout performance of the night, lowering his own PB and the overall club record from 16:44 to 16:16. Gavin Kennedy also improved his previous mark, knocking five seconds off his standing 18:23 PB. Paul Duffy, our second man home on the night, took a PB by the slimmest of margins, shaving one second off his 2025 championship time to finish in 17:56.

Aaron looks to the time – and yes it really is 3:16 min/km pace!

There were individual medals for Donna Quinn, who took Silver F45, Paul Duffy, who won Silver M45, and Christina Byrne, who claimed Bronze F70. The M50 team also took Bronze through the efforts of Graham Bushe, Angus Tyner and Jimmy Cullen.

The strategy to focus on the masters category, rather than having our fastest masters support Aaron Cullen in the senior men’s team, unfortunately backfired. With our top four runners, we would have won Bronze in the senior men’s category. Instead, the masters men finished 5th, while our masters women’s team finished 4th.

KEADEEN

On the same evening in West Wicklow, Alan Kennedy and Eoin Phelan continued to be nearly ever-present racers on this year’s IMRA calendar, taking on the 10.1 km race at Keadeen.

Result: Keadeen

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Ruben Bartelnik	DSD AC	0:50:00	Race winner
24	Alan Kennedy	Glendalough AC	1:04:16	WW RC
41	Eoin Phelan	Glendalough AC	1:10:25	WW RC

EARLIER IN MAY

TORY HILL

A missing result from earlier reports: Eoin Phelan travelled west for the hill race at Tory Hill on the 9th of May.

Result: Tory Hill

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Tim Ivers	Parnell AC	0:44:33	Race winner
18	Eoin Phelan	Glendalough AC	1:01:15	WW RC

SLIEVE DONARD

A week later, Eoin continued his relentless quest to become the club’s most prolific racer ever. He was our sole competitor in the North for the Irish Championship race at Slieve Donard.

Result: Slieve Donard

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Niall McCartan	BARF	1:00:47	Race winner
52	Eoin Phelan	Glendalough AC	2:11:33	WW RC

ARDGILLAN

We move back to the 20th of May for the Ardgillan race, where Aaron Cullen finished a superb 2nd behind former Irish international Barry Minnock. Eoin Phelan, of course, raced as well.

Eoin Phelan received his 100 races tshirt with IMRA as the fastest ever to achieve it during the month of May

Result: Ardgillan

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Barry Minnock	Rathfarnham WSAF	0:37:42	Race winner
2	Aaron Cullen	Glendalough AC	0:39:01	1st MS, WW RC
24	Eoin Phelan	Glendalough AC	0:48:38	WW RC

COOLEY HALF-MARATHON

Three days later, further north, we had a surprisingly big contingent racing at the Cooley Half-Marathon. It was a welcome outing for Johnny Conway, who lives local to the race. Johnny was our third club man home after the in-form Ian Bromley and Stephen Kennedy, with Anne Bromley our first and only female competitor home.

Result: Cooley Half-Marathon

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Edward O’Connor		1:36:28	Race winner
7	Ian Bromley	Glendalough AC	1:57:32	2nd M45, WW RC
10	Stephen Kennedy	Glendalough AC	2:01:58	2nd M40, WW RC
12	John Conway	Glendalough AC	2:03:43	3rd M40
41	Anne Bromley	Glendalough AC	2:19:51	2nd F40, WW RC
44	Alan Kennedy	Glendalough AC	2:20:28	WW RC
70	Eoin Phelan	Glendalough AC	2:39:21	WW RC

SUGAR BOWL

The Sugar Bowl Leinster League race was next, and Graham Bushe had offered up yet another challenging route for the Wednesday enthusiasts to feast on, with plenty of ups and downs. Alan Kennedy was first home for the club and 2nd M55, while, as so often, Loraine Creane was only seconds behind, winning the F45 category on the night.

Result: Sugar Bowl 2026

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Brian Mellia		0:51:03	Race winner
46	Alan Kennedy	Glendalough AC	1:10:22	2nd M55, WW RC
47	Loraine Creane	Glendalough AC	1:10:42	1st F45
49	Richard Allan	Glendalough AC	1:11:31	WW RC
95	Eoin Phelan	Glendalough AC	1:21:03	WW RC
126	Brendan Lawlor	Glendalough AC	1:29:13

EVEREST MARATHON

The month of May came to a close with a truly epic adventure, as long-term member Keith Mulvey completed the iconic Everest Marathon from Base Camp at over 5,000 metres, running — sometimes! — downhill to 3,300 metres. Keith finished in just over 10.5 hours in the thin air of Nepal, in what was surely the adventure of a lifetime. Until the next one, knowing Keith.

Result: Everest Marathon

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Ramesh Limbu		3:35:59	Race winner
166	Keith Mulvey	Glendalough AC	10:32:32

BEARA WAY CHALLENGE

During the same weekend as the relay, Eoin Phelan once again showed he is geographically flexible, travelling to the Beara Peninsula for the 24.5 km Challenge event, which ran alongside the Beara Way Ultra and Lite events.

Result: Beara Way Challenge

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Philip Hinchcliffe		2:20:00	Race winner
49	Eoin Phelan	Glendalough AC	3:40:21	WW RC

WEXFORD RUNNING FESTIVAL 10K

Back on the roads a few days later, Louis Byrne took a rare road race win for our men’s section when he stepped onto the top of the rostrum with a 40:09 performance at the Wexford Festival of Running in Enniscorthy.

Louis Byrne at the Wicklow Road Champs (photo: Amateur Photos – Capturing Memories)

Result: Wexford Running Festival 10k

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Louis Byrne	Glendalough AC	0:40:09	Race winner, 1st M40

SCARR

Our third club championship counter was on another local hill: Scarr. The race used a slight variation on previous courses but still took in the formidable murder kilometre along the wall.

Paul Duffy showed great form to lead us home, taking 2nd M45, with Graham Bushe not far behind in 3rd M55. We had a great attendance overall, with nine runners taking part in this Club Championship counter.

Coach René ran, as is now his usual, with son Cillian on the 5.1 km short course, which still inflicted the murder kilometre on legs young and old.

Result: Scarr 2026 Long Course

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Robin Mooney	Inbhear Dee AC	0:46:08	Race winner
11	Paul Duffy	Glendalough AC	0:52:54	2nd M45
12	Graham Bushe	Glendalough AC	0:53:21	3rd M55
23	Christopher Shannon	Glendalough AC	0:55:43	WW RC
44	Kevin Doherty	Glendalough AC	0:59:14
56	Alan Kennedy	Glendalough AC	1:02:59	WW RC
79	James Fitzgerald	Glendalough AC	1:07:43	WW RC
84	Eoin Phelan	Glendalough AC	1:08:41	WW RC
91	Andy Walker	Glendalough AC	1:10:03	WW RC
109	Brendan Lawlor	Glendalough AC	1:15:28

Result: Scarr 2026 Short Course

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Sean Brennan		0:33:26	Race winner
12	René Borg	Glendalough AC	0:46:45	1st M45

GROCER’S 4 MILE

Eoin Phelan was first out of the blocks for racing in June when he joined over 660 other runners at Leopardstown Racecourse for the Grocer’s 4 Mile.

Result: Grocer’s 4 Mile

Position	Runner	Club	Time	Notes
1	Altair Reyes Saenz de Buruaga		0:21:02	Race winner
36	Eoin Phelan	Glendalough AC	0:26:41	WW RC

REPORT: Brockagh and the Wicklow Way Relay

June 10, 2026 by glendaloughac, posted in Mountain running, Race reports, Trail running

Before we move on to the results of late May to early June we’ll wrap a bow around this year’s Wicklow Way Relay results where 26 of our club runners competed across four different teams and the Brockagh race the same week.

BROCKAGH

A counter in the club championship but with less of us in action than normal due to people resting their legs for the relay Graham Bushe led the team home and was 1st M55 (Alan Kennedy was 3rd in the same category. Richard Kieran took 3rd place in the M60.

In the short race coach Rene ran with his son Cillian again and so was Niall MacCarthy who changed distance mid-race.

RESULT Brockagh 26

1. Barry Minnock (Rathfarnham WSAF) 0:45:59

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

9. Graham Bushe 0:51:50 (1st M55)

32. Richard Allan 0:59:19 – WW RC

48. Alan Kennedy 1:03:03 (3rd M55) – WW RC

70. Eoin Phelan 1:08:12 – WW RC

93. Richard Kieran 1:13:57 (3rd M60)

123. James Heggie 1:29:30 – WW RC

RESULT Brockagh 26

1. Finn McGurren (Clonliffe Harriers) 0:23:12

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

17. Niall MacCarthy 0:31:07 (1st M40) – WW RC

32. René Borg 0:36:48

WICKLOW WAY RELAY

Most were in action for the official Glendalough A and B teams and the Wicklow Wolf RC team with Loraine Creane running for coach René’s company team (Running Coach Ireland) and Grace Curham, Brendan Lawlor and Lillian Deegan running for other teams.

All in all a record 45 teams were in action and we defended our long-standing record of never finishing outside the top-10 with a highly impressive 4^th overall for our Glendalough Harried first team.

Laragh Legends placed 14th in the Hounds, finishing in 9:39:40 and narrowly trailing the winning Hare team by just 4 minutes 35 seconds although they were themselves in the Hound category.

In the Hares competition, Wicklow Wolfpack finished 14th of 21 Hares and 33rd of 45 teams overall, recording a time of 11:03:25.

The teams had a fun journey through with the Legends and Wolfpack quite close (28^th and 31^st) after leg 1. Some strong male runners on the next legs brought the Laragh Legends as high as 12^th – a position they kept until leg 7. On the last two legs they dropped to first 18^th then 19^th. This was largely due to not being able to optimize legs vs runners due to the experience and scheduling constraints available to the team.

Team	Category	Category Rank	Overall Rank	Time	Gap to Category Winner
Glendalough Harried	Hounds	4th	4th	8:30:58	+57:57 to TT Racers
Laragh Legends	Hounds	14th	14th	9:39:40	+2:06:39 to TT Racers
Wicklow Wolfpack	Hares	14th	33rd	11:03:25	+1:28:20 to Blessington Lakers

LEG BY LEG

While the overall result was up there with one of the best performances for the club, the individual leg by leg results were equally notable. Graham Bush impressed with a top-10 on the always competitive leg 1 and Robin Seymour was 5^th on the even tougher leg 2 where Stephen Kennedy had a run good enough for many first teams to finish 11^th.

LEG 1 RESULT

1. Leo Corry (Belpark Triathlon Club) 0:56:34

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

8. Graham Bushe 1:08:35 (1st M55)

28. Tivon Tyner 1:19:35

31. Alan Kennedy 1:21:39 (2nd M55) – WW RC

LEG 2 RESULT

1. Luke McMullan (Belpark Triathlon Club) 1:12:06

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

5. Robin Seymour 1:17:57 (1st M50)

11. Stephen Kennedy 1:22:25 (3rd M40) – WW RC

26. Aaron Kedward 1:35:10

44. Brendan Lawlor 2:02:33 (1st M60)

The club really dominated leg 3 where Shane Keogh was first man and second overall before Loraine Creane and Rachel Wisdom arrived close together in 4^th and 5^th having also started only seconds apart. On leg 4, Anne Bromley had a very solid 12^th place overall and was 3^rd woman on the leg.

RESULT Wicklow Way Relay leg 3

1. Eve Buckley (East Cork AC) 0:36:11

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

2. Shane Keogh 0:36:16 – WW RC

4. Loraine Creane 0:37:26 (1st F45)

5. Rachel Wisdom 0:38:20 (2nd F45)

26. Zoe Heathcote 0:47:46 – WW RC

As legs grew longer, we didn’t run out of steam. Ian Bromley was 4^th on leg 5 and first in his age category (a trend for many of our runners throughout the day) with Kevin Ferguson also a strong 12^th and Rebecca Whineray was 5^th woman on that leg running for our wolfpack.

RESULT Wicklow Way Relay Leg 4

1. Barry Minnock (TT Racers) 0:40:17

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

12. Anne Bromley 0:51:33 (1st F40) – WW RC

16. Colm Kenna 0:54:08

22. Siobhan Brennan 0:57:31 (1st F50)

RESULT Wicklow Way Relay Leg 5

1. Ruben Bartelnik (TT Racers) 1:00:09

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

4. Ian Bromley 1:10:34 (1st M45) – WW RC

12. Kevin Ferguson 1:16:09 (3rd M45)

28. Rebecca Whineray 1:26:32 (2nd F45) – WW RC

Leg 6 was back to it’s regular 12.7 km distance, having been 10 miles last year (and more for our runners!), and that distance was a pure treat for Huw Thomas who was pushed into second only by TT Racers run-away winner. This meant we had had 5 runners in the top-5 across the legs at this stage.

RESULT Wicklow Way Relay leg 6

1. Ronan Dunphy (TT Racers) 0:56:32

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

2. Huw Thomas 1:00:46 (1st M35) – WW RC

29. Ben Lewis 1:17:33 – WW RC

44. Karen Field 1:41:21 – WW RC

45. Lillian Deegan 1:53:25 (1st F50)

On leg 7, Angus took a mighty shift running close to his own prediction in 16^th on the longest leg of the day. He was also the 1^st M55 on the leg while Aoife was 2^nd F45 just nipping under the 2 hours.

RESULT Wicklow Way Relay Leg 7

1. Pierre Murchan (Ain’t No Way Relay) 1:18:08

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

16. Angus Tyner 1:42:17 (1st M55)

34. Aoife Joyce 1:59:46 (2^nd F45)

43. Brian Field 2:17:33 – WW RC

We got out sixth top-5 placing (and 2^nd runner-up spot on a leg) when Paul Duffy cruised the team home in 2^nd beaten only by Clane AC’s Terry Shanley. Fiona Smyth was our only other competitors on this leg where Taryn Keane had helpfully stepped in to fill a late withdrawal in our second team (Taryn would finish 26^th on the leg).

RESULT Wicklow Way Relay Leg 8

1. Terry Shanley (Clane AC) 0:37:42

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

2. Paul Duffy 0:40:56 (1st M45)

32. Fiona Smyth 0:55:53

Fiona Smyth celebrates at the finish line

After being beaten out late into 6^th place last year – with Kilcoole’s Aubrey O’Neill chasing down and overtaking Grace Curham to leave us trailing by a few seconds only, this year the gap built late on and we had a big 12 minute buffer to nearest contenders DSD AC and 46 minutes down to the second Wicklow-based club (Kilcoole). Nine Wicklow-based teams competed in total.

How the teams fared versus prediction:

Glendalough Harried – predicted 8:31:25, actual 8:30:58 (27 seconds ahead)

Laragh Legends – predicted 9:34:15, actual 9:39:40 (5 minutes 35 seconds behind)

Wicklow Wolfpack – predicted 12:09:59, actual 11:03:25 (1 hour 6 minutes 34 seconds ahead!)

We have updated all the club’s Wicklow Way Relay results on THIS PAGE