Art O’Neill Challenge (and Pursuit!)
Three of our runners took on the daunting challenge that is the Art O’Neill Challenge – warming up with 25 km on the streets of Dublin before taking on 35 km of rough mountain side and trails on the way to Glenmalure.
The last man to complete this for us was John Conway in 2020 and he came through with a very strong performance finishing joint 5th with Parnell’s Michael Dowling.
Behind him was Graeme Warren who was well up the field in 41st despite adding 4 km to the route late on! Ross Thompson – the Dynafit ambassador and Wicklow Wolf Run Club regular – was next in 60th position. The course claimed 34 DNFs and many more who were deemed ‘non-competitive’ for various reasons.
| RESULT |
| 1. Fabio Baltieri () 6:52:35 |
| ——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————- |
| 5. John Conway 7:33:36 |
| 41. Graeme Warren 10:34:34 |
| 60. Ross Thompson 12:04:59 |
In the newly minted ‘Pursuit’ (using the roughly 26-27 km road section as the route), we had another trio in action – all Wicklow Wolf Run Club recruits. Nora Butler led the team home in 42nd position followed by Mick Green and James Heggie ‘fresh’ from his Ballyhoura Winter Moonlight Challenge the week before.
| RESULT |
| 1. Kieran Campbell () / Andrew Moore 2:07:39 |
| ——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————- |
| 43. Nora Butler 2:53:48 |
| 61. Mick Greene 3:08:39 |
| 72. James Heggie 3:15:42 |
BALLYHOURA WINTER MOONLIGHT CHALLENGE
James Heggie could have been forgiven for showing a bit of fatigue as he had done over 4 hours running in the Ballyhouras only a week earlier as our only representative in another winter running event – the Moonlight Challenge in Ballyhoura.
| RESULT |
| 1. John Kinsella (Bilboa AC) 2:03:32 |
| ——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————- |
| 160. James Heggie 4:12:00 |
The racing season continues today in the Leinster Master’s and Intermediate Cross-Country in Avondale.
Glendalough AC 