Last week’s action began with our runners competing simultaneously in two arenas: 15 minutes after seven of our runners heard the starter gun at the Wicklow Road Championship, four more headed up the slopes of Scarr at Lough Dan. The busiest day of competition for our runners this year.
WICKLOW ROAD CHAMPS 5K
The annual county championships has always been a happy hunting ground since the formation of our club. This year we sadly didn’t have a ladies team but Donna Quinn ran within 26 seconds of her previous best to secure a Gold medal in the F40 category.
Sweetest of all was the men’s team: three runners under 19 minutes and a 1 point lead kept us in Bronze position ahead of Bray Runners.
Aran Lynham lowered his best from 18:47 to 18:11 whereas Blaise Kinsella (2nd man over the line) missed out on another PB this year by 9 seconds whereas Brian Lydon annihilated his 21:28 PB to dip under 19 minutes for the first time (18:55)
RESULT
1. Derek Crammond (Parnell AC) 0:15:43
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
19. Aran Lynham 0:18:11 (PB, team Bronze)
26. Blaise Kinsella 0:18:47 30. Brian Lydon 0:18:55 (PB, team Bronze)
35. Marcus Murphy 0:19:25 (team Bronze)
37. Donna Quinn 0:19:30 (1st F40)
55. Colm Kenna 0:21:27 (Team Bronze)
63. Aoife Joyce 0:21:48
SCARR / LOUGH DAN
Meanwhile our quartet of John, Torben, Angus and Barry took the covetted places in the reduced size field at Scarr / Lough Dan (due to ongoing erosion concerns) and Johnny showed himself fully recovered from his recent Cape Wrath adventure and two very strong adventure race outings recently to lead the team home in 12th. Torben was only a further 50 seconds adrift with Angus another 36 after that and Barry O’Neill still managing himself back from injury well.
RESULT
1. Warren Swords (Crusaders AC) 0:49:26
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
12. John Conway 0:55:54
17. Torben Dahl 0:56:44
21. Angus Tyner 0:57:40
37. Barry O’Neill 1:04:25
CLONTARF HALF-MARATHON
Using the 5 km as a final sharpener, Aran Lynham notched a second PB 4 days later in the Clontarf Half-marathon breaking the 90 minute barrier for the first time.
RESULT
1. Jesus Calle Arroyo (Raheny Shamrocks) 1:15:52
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
53. Aran Lynham 1:28:27 (PB)
EUROPEAN ATHLETICS OFF-ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS
While all the action unfolded in Ireland, club coach René Borg had the honour of representing our club at the European Athletics Off-Road Championship in La Palma on the Canary Islands: not in a running capacity but as the official English commentator for European Athletics. It was a fantastic event with a memorable 5th place for Irishman Zak Hannah (the highest Irish finish there since 1991).
EARL’S DRIVE
The Wednesday evening races moved from Leinster to Trail League action in the short, flat and fast course at Djouce Woods (now in a slightly lengthened version). While Aran led us out here Graham Bushe took the ‘club lead’ late on followed by Aran, coach Rene (back from La Santa), Paul Duffy and Barry O’Neill making up the rest of the yellow quintet.
Parnell’s Derek Crammond took his second win in a week ahead of one of the fastest fields assembled at an IMRA start line this year with recent race winners as far down as 12th position.
RESULT
1. Derek Crammond (Parnell AC) 0:28:59
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
22. Graham Bushe 0:33:36 (2nd M50)
24. Aran Lynham 0:33:54
32. René Borg 0:34:59
36. Paul Duffy 0:35:51
58. Barry O’Neill 0:39:15
Glendalough AC 