We got midway through the Winter Handicap League today with the new run at Brockagh Woods. The course proved popular with several commenting it would make a nice IMRA trail race (in fact, a good part of the course is used in the Laragh Trail Race 6k).
Three runners competed in the long 9 km route with the remaining seven taking on the shorter 5 km route – all counting in the same rankings courtesy of the handicap system.
Fastest on the long course was Barry O’Neill with 44 minutes flat whilst Johnny Conway was fastest on the short with 22:36. Both will stand as course records until the second running along with Yvonne Brennan’s 24:31 (fastest female time).
Once adjusted for handicaps these were the results with Barry O’Neill winning 36 seconds ahead of Johnny who in turn had 11 seconds to Colm Kenna in third.
Results (handicapped) for round 6 of 12
In the overall ranking the defending league winner – club coach René Borg – retains a 5 second lead to Donna Quinn but with the four best counting, runners will have plenty of results to discard in the final 6 races and for the runner who have run 3 or less, they could still feature at the top once they get in their fourth race.
Overall results: round 6 of 12 (best 4 results to score)
Next round we restart our run through the six courses with Kevin’s Jaunt up St. Kevin’s Way and back to the Glendalough Hotel – next Saturday (29th) from 9:30 am. As always everyone is welcome, entry is free, and coffee and cakes a’plenty in Glendalough Green afterwards.
We held our Annual Xmas Party in Byrne an Woods in Roundwood this year and that means one thing: a chance to hand out the annual awards and honour our winners! Any fully paid up club member is eligible to win an annual award.
It was a busy year with 25 of our senior members competing in 200 races, winning 12 races, taking another 15 podiums and category prizes and recording 19 personal bests and 9 new club records.
All photos courtesy of Keith Thompson. Special thanks to Claire O’Callaghan who organised the party as well as our new club singlets this year!
Club Champions 2018
This year the club champion was selected based on points gained in any race where two or more of our club runners competed. Scoring was done using the Keswick Ranking. With 28 races to count champions were Torben Dahl (overall) and Donna Quinn (ladies). Torben edged out Barry Murray only on number of victories – otherwise being tied.
Donna Quinn (Ladies Club Champion 2018)
Most prolific runner
A new award for the runner durable and wise enough to rack up the most races. This was also won by Torben Dahl who ran nearly 20% of all races run by club members this year – running 27 races (ahead of Barry with 24 and Angus with 20).
Most improved runner
We look at results and performances on road, trail, hill and cross-country to pick the most improved runner and this year it went emphatically to Johnny Conway who improved the most on several scores including having the most personal bests in 2018.
Marcus Murphy receicing award on behalf of Johnny Conway (Most Improved Runner)
Best Road Performer
The 2018 ‘Best Road’ award was selected based on overall performances during the year. Angus Tyner set a new club record (and over-45 club record) with his 59:48 10 mile time early in the year and also racked up the most wins and podiums on the road along with individual and team medals in the Wicklow Road Championship. An undisputed winner!
Angus Tyner (Road Performer of the Year)
Best Off-Road Performance
This year’s ‘Best Off-Road’ prize went to a singular performance: Duncan Barrett for improving his personal best in the gruelling Kerry Way Ultra by 6 hours. In addition, Duncan had a fine season with several top-10 finishes on the road.
Duncan Barrett (Best Off-Road Performance)
Best Team Performance
Our members voted between the Wicklow Way and The Relay teams as well as the Bronze winning and Silver winning Masters Men and Senior Ladies teams respectively in the Wicklow Road Championship. In the end, the popular vote went to the ladies: Claire O’Callaghan, Donna Quinn and Yvonne Brennan.
Wicklow Road Championship Ladies Team: Donna Quinn, Claire O’Callaghan and Yvonne Brennan (absent) Best Team performance
Club Person of the Year
The only prize not given for athletic excellence but instead general commitment to the club and contribution beyond racing. The people voted and their choice was Colm Kenna for his unfailing support of training sessions, regularly racing and hard work as treasurer and website designer for our club.
Colm Kenna (Club Person of the Year)
Annual Raffle
We also held a raffle – winner was Philip Cullen who guessed the exact number of victories our runners recorded this year!
THURSDAY 20/12: Cross-country training at Vartry Reservoir from 7 pm to 8 pm
SATURDAY 22/12: Club Winter League at Brockagh Woods – 5 km and 9 km run options from 9 am
SUNDAY 23/12: Group long run (venue to be confirmed)
THURSDAY 27/12: NO TRAINING!
SATURDAY 29/12: Club Winter League Round 2 – Kevin’s Jaunt course from 9 am (meet Glendalough Hotel)
THURSDAY 03/01/19: Final tune-up before Master’s Cross-country (short session) – likely Vartry
There are likely more runs being organised over this period but keep in mind there are several races as well including Wicklow 5k, Djouce Remembrance Race, Solstice Mile and the GOAL Mile.
Angus Tyner continued his tour of Dublin ParkRuns on the last Saturday of November and last weekend where he won the Brickfield event in a fine 19:33 – even more impressive as the course is 5.3 km! At Poolbeg the previous week he finished 3rd to record his 7th podium of the year in 19:11
It was fitting he ran the 200th race of the season having won our ‘Road Performer of the Year’ Award for his club record over 10 miles early in the season.
Meanwhile on the trails Barry Murray took his 10th podium of the season when he finished 2nd on the gruelling ‘constant up and down’ Glanageenty 21 km race near Castleisland – John Lenihan’s old stomping ground.
Tomorrow training is at Trooperstown Wood at 7 pm, traditional hill work (10x 2 min hard uphill, 1 min rest) in prep for cross-country. Bring head-torches. We’ll be running 45 minutes to allow committee members to be at our Committee meeting at 8 pm.
Keith Mulvey took on another ultra to book-end his year – it was the 197th race run by a club member this year (will we reach 200?) – and suitably long over 50 windshorn miles from Ironbridge to Dublin on the Wicklow Way in the RAW ULTRA 50 mile event.
Please see below the updated schedule for the 2018/19 Winter League. Dates have been changed to avoid clashes with major local races. Pink Poulanass has been replaced by the new Brockagh Woods course.
Club members were in action here there and everywhere this weekend with eight runners competing in four different locations.
PARKRUNS
Most started at 9:30 am at various assorted ParkRuns – Marcus Murphy in Shanganagh (18th in 20:57) while Donna and husband William took on the ParkRun on Donna’s home-turf at Castleblaney with a win for Donna in the ladies category.
Angus Tyner continued his ‘tour de Dublin’ with Bushy Park running 3 seconds slower than at Corkagh park last week to finish 8th in 19:59. Claire had another go at Mount Lucas Wind Farm Park Run and also won the ladies category there in 21:05 to finish 5th overall.
PARKRUNS
CASTLEBLANEY
Barry Meegan 18:11, North East Runners
—————GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS———-
Donna Quinn 22:31 (1st lady)
William Belton 24:29
SHANGANAGH
Liam Blackburn, DSD 17:07
—————GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS———-
Marcus Murphy 20:57
MOUNT LUCAS WIND FARM
Gary Whittle, Tullamore Harriers 19:36
—————GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS———-
Claire O’Callaghan 21:05 (first lady)
BUSHY PARK
Adam Moss 18:31
—————GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS———-
Angus Tyner 19:59
ANNACURRA 5 BOUNDS CHALLENGE
Meanwhile down in Annacurra, Rene Borg and Richard Costello were taking on the Top of the Bounds 10 km race with its 350 m climb whilst Niall Corrigan intended to do the 5 km race around the flatter trails of Roddenagh Woods. Unfortunately, he flew the wrong way through an unmarshalled junction so ended up doing the short course of 2.2 km and then proceeded to go out for a second go on the ‘real’ course!
The race was a welcome return for Rene (only his second race of the year) and Niall (first race of the year). Winner was Paul Duffy from Inbhear Dee – enjoying a good Autumn season after his second-place finish in the Wicklow Novice and victory in the Wicklow Intermediate.
Notice this is the first race report on the new website – for all historical items concerning our club from 2014 to November 2018 refer to our Facebook page.
Barry Murray was ‘our man in action’ at this weekend’s Run the Line – 26 km of constant ups and downs on the rocky and muddy trails of the Dublin Mountains. Barry took the long drive up from Dingle and finished 7th out of the 143 competing on the long course.
RESULTS
1. George Snee 2:05:34
————-GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS———
7. Barry Murray 2:15:41
This year’s Christmas Party will be held in Roundwood on the 14th of December. Contact Claire O’Callaghan if interested – we have capacity for 20 people.
We got midway through the Winter Handicap League today with the new run at Brockagh Woods. The course proved popular with several commenting it would make a nice IMRA trail race (in fact, a good part of the course is used in the Laragh Trail Race 6k).
