A new longer (10.6 km) version of the oft-changed Prince Willie’s Wednesday evening race enticed in one of our more experienced crews with an average age over 50 and Mark Willoughby our youngest runner (at 44) and Joe Lalor the age president in his first outing for us (at 71).
Veteran Joe Lalor running his first race as a Glendalough AC member
There was some joy in these older categories when Richard Allan was first home again as 3rd M50 and Alan Kennedy took another M55 third place for good measure and Joe Lalor winning the M70 ahead of John Fitzgerald. Next in were Jeff Swords, Angus Tyner, Niall McCarthy, Richard Kieran, Keith Mulvey, Joe Lalor, Mark Willoughby and James Heggie our ninth and final finisher on the day.
A quick-fire report from boardwalks, trail and road as we pass by 250 races this year from our members. Eoin Phelan – in action this weekend – leads our ‘Most Prolific’ competition with 19 races followed by James Heggie (14) and Alan Kennedy (10). Most prolific woman so far is Aoife Joyce (with 8) – a tally she shares with husband Rene Borg and the current club champion Paul Duffy.
TOWER SPRINT – BEYOND THE TREES (AVONDALE)
Our first runner in action this weekend was club coach Rene Borg who lined up for the penultimate May ‘Tower Challenge’ at Beyond the Trees in Avondale starting at 8 am. One by one runners were sent off to complete the 775m run from the bottom to the top of the wooden tower – a climb with an average incline of 6%.
Rene finished 1st on the day (2:43) and fourth fastest so far. the best regular competitor has set a time of 2:36 so far with the masked mystery runner ‘The Twig’ setting a stupendous 2:03.96 on the run.
RESULT
1. Rene Borg (Glendalough AC) 0:02:43 (4th overall for the month)
–
ParkRun Shanganagh
Colm and Donna continued Wicklow Road Race preparations at the Shanganagh ParkRun where Donna was first woman home in 21:03.
RESULT
1. Noel Mannion () 0:18:07
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
13. Donna Quinn 0:21:03 (1st woman)
29. Colm Kenna 0:22:35
STUWWALOOP
In Holland, Catherine Devitt notched up yet another victory on a cross-country style course of 21 km . Results are currently not available .
CLARE BURREN HALF AND FULL MARATHON
Nora Butler crosses the line in the Clare Burren Half-marathon
Nora Butler and Eoin Phelan took on the Clare Burren challenge over the half and full marathon distances respectively. While some sections are on road most are on the challenging terrain of the Burren but both came away with a very memorable experience.
RESULT – marathon
1. Dylan Kehoe () 3:13:35
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
48. Eoin Phelan 4:23:54
RESULT – HALF
1. Barry Hartnett (DSD AC) 1:26:21
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
86. Nora Butler 2:05:11
CIRCUIT OF AVONBEG
Angus Tyner (photo: Brendan Delaney)
At the Circuit of Avonbeg a select crew of 30 runners set off on the 26 km traverse (if you hit the shortest route) over much of the rougher terrain on offer in the area with Graham Bush narrowly edging out fellow M55 Angus Tyner for the last spot on that particular category ‘virtual podium’.
RESULT
1. Peter Bell (Kilcoole AC) 2:59:05
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
13. Graham Bushe 3:37:54 (3rd M55)
14. Angus Tyner 3:43:53
IN OTHER NEWS…
Also in running-related matters congratulations to club captain Marcus Murphy who finished 3rd in his age category at the Castle Series Olympic triathlon.
due to the sheer volume of results recently, we will try to split into off-road and road/track reports for the main season.
WICKLOW TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP 2024
We have to start this report with Paul Duffy’s annihilation of his club and personal record of 4:52 for the 1500m distance (which will survive in our record books as an indoor record) with his phenomenal 4:39 in his third go at the distance – enough for M40 gold at the county championship. Behind him was friend Kevin Ferguson who was having his first go at the distance and recorded a very credible 5:24.
RESULT
1. Drew Donohue (Bray Runners) 0:04:16
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
9. Paul Duffy 0:04:39 (1st M40, Club Record, Individual Gold)
32. Kevin Ferguson 0:05:24 (2nd M40, Individual Silver)
As a counter in the Club Championship, Paul Duffy secured another 100 pts for his win with Kevin banking 84 pts.
GLEN TO GLEN AND LAP OF THE GAP MARATHON
Glendalough AC crew at the finish line
Our big local fund-raiser AND club championship counter saw Paul Duffy (half) and Philip O’Brien (full) first over the line. We had 13 competing despite nearly 30 club members being part of the 100 strong crew for the day (many helped before and after their races.). Rebecca Whineray was our only female contestant on the day running the full marathon.
Paul Duffy was pipped on the line for the 1st M40 prize and we got no further chances today to add to our podiums and category wins in this event.
Anthony Breen passes Glendalough Hotel in the half
RESULT – HALF
1. Tudor Moldovan (Clonliffe Harriers) 1:11:13
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
15. Paul Duffy 1:32:05
22. Gavin Kennedy 1:34:30
27. Kevin Ferguson 1:36:00
29. Kevin Doherty 1:36:28
33. Anthony Breen 1:39:30
68. Ben Lewis 1:47:23
158. Mark Willoughby 2:02:19
183. Brendan Farrell 2:05:43
Our men talk shop pre-half
RESULT – MARATHON
1. Marc Augustin (Le Cheile AC) 2:46:47
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
20. Philip O’Brien 3:39:12
22. Aran Lynham 3:40:02
55. Eoin Phelan 3:58:50
98. Rebecca Whineray 4:34:07
124. Aaron Kedward 4:52:08
FASTLANE 10K AND HALF-MARATHON
We move on to Fastlane races in Clondalkin where we believe there was PBs all round for Mark Lindsay in the half and Daniel O’Riordan (getting close to the 40 min barrier) and Julia Palma in the 10k.
RESULT – 10k
1. Lee Lindsay () 0:35:29
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
11. Paul O’Riordan 0:40:45 (PB)
62. Julia Palma 0:48:02 (PB)
RESULT – HALF
1. David Cullinane () 1:17:30
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
82. Mark Lindsay 1:36:28 (PB)
SANDYFORD 5 KM
Also in Dublin, Nora Butler ran 22:39 for the corporate 5 km there.
We are quite far behind with reports due to Lap of the Gap so here goes a look back at off-road activity starting with last night’s race at Brockagh where 14 of our runners competed. It was good to see some of the Lap of the Gap podium finishers (like Sean Meehan and Julie McNamee) out in action only 5 days on!
Loraine Creane – our first woman home at Brockagh (photo: Mick Hanney)
BROCKAGH
One of four counters in the Club Championship in busy May, a new shorter and rougher Brockagh course was run by 14 of our number with Loraine Creane finishing 2nd woman and Aoife Joyce winning the O40 category (finishing 5th woman).
Of our men Richard Allen was once again first home followed by Graham Bush who was 1st M55. Also a big congratulations to James Heggie who earnt his Club 100 tshirt.
RESULT
1. Daire Finn () 0:42:40
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
20. Richard Allan 0:52:38
22. Graham Bushe 0:52:50 (1st M55)
32. Torben Dahl 0:54:56
43. Alan Kennedy 0:56:39
55. Loraine Creane 0:58:09 (2nd overall, 1st F40)
60. Aoife Joyce 0:58:43 (1st F45)
67. Colm Kenna 1:00:34
69. Angus Tyner 1:00:40
72. Jeff Swords 1:01:21
94. Eoin Phelan 1:04:23
98. Niall MacCarthy 1:04:47
121. Gerard O’Rourke 1:10:11
139. James Heggie 1:22:53
157. Mark Willoughby 1:18:29
Torben Dahl at Brockagh (photo: Mick Hanney)
WICKLOW WAY RELAY
While most of our runners where busy working or running the roads – especially at Lap of the Gap – a few took on the Wicklow Way Relay including Rachel Wisdom and Robin Seymour whose ‘Where’s Patrick’ team finished 14th whilst John Conway’s ‘Mountain Misfits’ finished 10th. All ran well personally with Rachel 4th on leg 3 (3rd woman) , Robin 5th on leg 4 and John 5th on leg 8.
RESULT – leg 3
1. Malikka Hammani (TT Racers) 0:36:48
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
4. Rachel Wisdom 0:38:21 (2nd F40)
RESULT – leg 4
1. Donal Giltinan (East Cork AC) 0:40:44
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
6. Robin Seymour 0:44:18 (2nd M50)
RESULT
1. Laura McDonnell (TT Racers) 0:39:29
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
5. John Conway 0:43:40 (2nd M40)
SUGARBOWL
We go back a week to the previous IMRA race with a new route by our own Graham Bush where a more modest six of our number competed on a gorgeous sunny day.
RESULT
1. Daire Finn () 0:43:51
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
90. Donall Flanagan 1:07:08
91. Eoin Phelan 1:07:10
107. Richard Kieran 1:08:46
111. Niall MacCarthy 1:09:21
113. Angus Tyner 1:10:10
119. Ben Lewis 1:11:34
ÀRDGILLAN
the last Wednesday night race we have to catch up on since our Scarr report was Ardgillan where two Richard (Allen and Kieran) ran along with Eoin Phelan with Richard K. taking the 1st M55 win.
RESULT
1. Daniel O’Brien () 0:35:49
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
17. Richard Allan 0:42:13
44. Eoin Phelan 0:47:02
57. Richard Kieran 0:50:05 (1st M55)
UTS 50K AND 100K
It was tough times abroad on the unrelentingly brutal Ultra Tour Snowdonia where James Heggie suffered his second DNF of the season while Alan Kennedy soldiered through his first ultra (and allegedly last!) in 12 hours 23 minutes in the UTS 50K (really 55k). On the day even the 55k had a 26% DNF rate.
Paul Duffy – our leading man at Scarr(ish) (Photo: Ben Conroy)
Fourteen of our runners descended on the 2nd IMRA Leinster League race which doubled up as our fourth counter out of twelve in the annual Club Championship. Paul Duffy – as so often before – was our first man home in his favourite spot (13th – the position he has finished in in 10% of his IMRA races!). A few minutes behind was Richard Allan who continues to impress in his maiden season also finishing 3rd M50.
Kevin Ferguson (front) chased by Gavin (yellow) and Alan Kennedy in the latter stages of the race (Photo: Conor NOlan)
The course had been shortened from 8.3 km to 6.7 km due to NPWS concern around erosion of the top trail meaning a slightly faster than normal route cutting out nearly 2 km of the slowest terrain and with a new section around the forest and a kicker to Brusher’s Gap hut. The route also started further up Gaffney’s Lane than normal meaning an almighty jostle to get into position with little time for the field to spread before the many sections of single-track that make passing hard on this route.
Catherine Devitt just before being caught by Niamh Brophy. she would repass her on the final climb (photo: Conor Nolan)
Gavin Kennedy was 23 seconds behind with Kevin Ferguson another 34 seconds down and then 21 seconds passed before Alan Kennedy returned as the 2nd M55 on the day. Our first woman (and the third woman overall) was Catherine Devitt who also won the F40 category. Catherine briefly struggled on the descent losing two positions and sitting in 5th place in the women’s race before she rallied strongly on the little climb to Brusher’s Gap Hut where she retook her spot and put 20 and 23 seconds into Aideen Burke and Niamh Brophy on this final kilometer.
Aoife Joyce nearing the forest line (photo: Conor Nolan)
Aoife Joyce arrived just under 2 minutes later in 6th woman overall and 2nd F45 (1st being winner Sarah Flanagan). Eoin Phelan was next and a few minutes later Rebecca Whineray as 3rd F45. Richard Kieran and Gerard O’Rourke rounded out our contingent.
RESULT
1. Enda Cloake (Slaney Olympic) 0:31:49
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
13. Paul Duffy 0:37:37
31. Richard Allan 0:41:35 (3rd M50) – WW RC
33. Gavin Kennedy 0:41:59
34. Chris willoughby 0:42:13 – WW RC
36. Kevin Ferguson 0:42:33
40. Alan Kennedy 0:42:54 (2nd M55) – WW RC
52. Catherine Devitt 0:44:00 (1st F40)
66. Aoife Joyce 0:45:55 (2nd F45)
81. Eoin Phelan 0:47:36 – WW RC
87. Neil Fusco 0:48:14 – WW RC
103. Rebecca Whineray 0:49:16 (3rd F45) – WW RC
112. Richard Kieran 0:51:05
128. Andy Walker 0:52:35 – WW RC
138. Gerard O’Rourke 0:54:14 – WW RC
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 4
Paul Duffy got the maximum score in the race for the Club Championship with several getting ‘on the board’ for the first time this season. He was far ahead enough to put a big points gap into several of the chasers….
The result consolidates Paul in first with Kevin Ferguson moving up into 2nd place and Aoife third. Only three runners have completed three races at this pint.
In the women’s ranking, Aoife Joyce now leads Catherine and Claire as the only finisher with 3 races so far. It was unfortuante loraine Creane missed out on the entry as she was well placed to move up into the top-3 otherwise.
Nine Glendalough AC/Wicklow Wolfers descended on Belmont for the first Leinster League race of the season along with 258 other starters in one of the bigger fields in recent times on a Wednesday night.
There were two IMRA debutantes on the night (David Murphy and Richard Allan) the former being our first man home on the night ahead of veteran Angus Tyner who was 2nd M55 and Loraine Creane who was the 2nd F40 and sixth woman. There was also a club racing debut for Stephen Dowling.
David Murphy with Nora Butler on his shoulder both in the Wicklow Wolf RC teeshirt
while we wait for results from the Leinster League opener at Belmont last night, we have a truckload of older results to catch up on.
CLUB RECORD FOR CATHERINE IN HOLLAND
We start with the biggest news as Catherine Devitt took 10 seconds off her current club record for the 5 km AND improved her long-standing 5 km PB (run in 2012) of 18:41 with the new mark of 18:39 at the Zuiderparkrun.
RESULT
1. Ian Lowe (Oswestry Olympians) 0:18:03
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
2. Catherine Devitt 0:18:39 (1st F40, PB, Club Record)
ROSSLARE 10 KM
We start in Rosslare where Jonathan Cody had a good run-out which he followed up at….
RESULT
1. Paul Doran () 0:34:06
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
213. Jonathan Cody 1:01:26 (PB)
WEXFORD 10 KM / HALF-MARATHON
…the double-header also in county Wexford where it was Sam Fleming’s turn to run the 10k with Jonathan upgrading to the half-marathon where he was joined by Eoin Phelan our first man home on the day.
RESULT – 10 k
1. David Mahon () 0:32:37
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
265. Sam Fleming 0:58:07 (PB)
RESULT
1. Paul Doran (United Striders) 1:12:50
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
262. Eoin Phelan 1:42:07
1253. Jonathan Cody 2:33:56 (PB)
MOUNT LEINSTER
The third Wexford race to report on was the absolute classic that is Mt. Leinster – held over a slightly shorter (800m) than regular course this year but in great conditions and saw the very welcome comeback of long-standing member Barry O’Neill who finished 2nd M45.
RESULT
1. Anthony Forristal (East Cork AC) 0:58:58
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
26. Barry O’Neill 1:42:15 (2nd M45)
GREAT IRELAND RUN 10K
David Murphy was our sole representative in the Great Ireland Run in the Phoenix Park.
RESULT
1. Aaron Hanlon (Drogheda and District AC) 0:31:10
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
473. David Murphy 0:48:34
KILLINEY HILL RELAY
James Heggie was our only runner in the Killiney Hill Relay where you get drawn into random teams of three to run the 2.5 km loop of the hill and James set the 30th fastest time on the night out of 51 runners.
RESULT
1. Stephen Kennedy () 0:11:24
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
30. James Heggie 0:15:55
PARKRUN – SPORT CAMPUS IRELAND
Angus Tyner was first across the line on a parkrun course consisting 100% of grass with half on the dedicated cross-country course at the Sport Ireland Campus in Blanchardstown.
RESULT
1. Angus Tyner (Glendalough AC) 0:21:13
HENK HAKKER MEMORIAL RUN 30K
In Holland Richard ran away with the win in the Henk Hakker Memorial Run and commented: “Took the lead after a few meters and was solo for the whole race. Small turnout (15?), enjoyable route around some new trails. Had a nice chat wtih Henk’s son, apparently he was an avid runner & coach, still running marathons in his 70’s.”
The time looked at first to be a new club 30k record but as seems to be the case with many Dutch races, the course was 400m short!
RESULT
1. Richard Costelloe (Glendalough AC) 2:04:10
OLDER RESULTS – BELEEK AND FAT TURKEY 10K
We also got a late notice on the two ‘real’ PBs from David Murphy and Nora Butler which we missed in 2023 run at the Fat Turkey 10k and Beleek 10k respectively in december last year.
We begin our report by extending congratulations to our finishers of the various Quest Adventure Race distances this weekend: John Conway, Corrie Adams, Britta ???, and Mark Willoughby.
Corrie Adams at Quest
MAURICE MULLINS 51K
There are still some errors with early starters in the Maurice Mullins 51k results but we have tried to manually adjust and report below.
RESULT
1. Barry McEvoy () 4:33:00
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
96. Richard Kieran 6:45:11
161. Alan Kennedy 7:29:27
213. Eoin Phelan 8:05:56
232. James Heggie 8:58:13
ROSSLARE 10K
Another ‘legacy’ result we missed was Jonathan Cody running in the Rosslare 10k.
RESULT
Paul Doran () 0:34:06 ——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
Jonathan Cody 1:01:26
ANNAGH HILL
Wet and muddy climbing on hands and knees was the order of the day at the always tough Annagh Hill course once again on the IMRA calendar in a slightly changed variation.
Eoin Kennedy on the slide since fatherhood?
RESULT
1. Enda Cloake (Slaney Olympic) 0:57:40
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
23. Alan Kennedy 1:11:58 (2nd M55)
27. Eoin Kennedy 1:20:22
52. Eoin Phelan 1:31:12
WINDMILL 5 KM AND 10 KM
Aran Lynham and Nora Butler took on the 5 km and 10 km distances respectively at a windy ‘Windmill’ run. While PBs were not on the cards, Aran helped himself to a 5th place overall while Nora secured PB in the 10 km which doubled up as the Dublin County 10k championship.
5 km
RESULT
1. Sean McCreery (Rathfarnham WSAF) 0:18:57
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
5. Aran Lynham 0:19:33
10 km
RESULT
1. Ian Guiden (Clonliffe Harriers) 0:31:51
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
176. Nora Butler 0:47:53 (PB)
PARIS MARATHON
Donall Flanagan reported from Paris that while things didn’t quite go to plan, he was still relieved to get through this big city marathon.
RESULT
1. Uma Mulugeta () 2:05:33
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
32205. Donall Flanagan 4:18:01
DARGLE 4 PEAKS
The most recent results came at the tough and muddy Dargle 4 Peaks unmarked mountain race where a strong field including several Irish internationals and the legend that is Robin Bryson (now competing in the M60) had a go at a route which is point to point and can be run either clockwise or counterclockwise.
Graham Bushe was our first runner home followed by the Wicklow Wolf women Grace Curham and Rebecca Whineray.
Last weekend our runners competed in the Maurice Mullins Ultra, Gaol-Break 10k and Half, and the National 10k in Dunboyne.
MAURICE MULLINS ULTRA
We are still somewhat uncertain of final results for the Maurice Mullins as a lot of early starters are still listed 30 minutes too far up in the results. What we know for sure is that Richard Kieran was our first man home followed by Alan Kennedy (pictured), Eoin Phelan and James Heggie.
DUNBOYNE 10 KM / NATIONAL 10 KM
Philip O’Brien travelled with fellow Wicklow Wolfers Dan Rakitic and Lee Borland (running for Bray Runners) and all record good sub-40 minute times.
RESULT
1. Sean tobin (Clonmel AC) 0:29:17
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
335. Philip O’Brien 0:39:36 (PB)
WICKLOW GAOL-BREAK 10 KM AND HALF
Graeme Warren and Aran Lynham both improved their own age category club records in the half-marathon and 10 km respectively.
St. Patrick’s weekend was busy enough for the club with three of our runners beginning Friday evening at Crone before Richard ran well in the Zuiderparkun on Saturday and the weekend ended with Catherine Devitt competing in the Golden Trail Series national series (UK/NL) in Holland whilst Mark Willoughby took on the fast Tallaght 5k.
CRONE NIGHT RUN
Crone Night Run (photo: Paddy Holohan)
The trio of Grace, Eoin and James competed in the inaugural Crone Night Run – a 7.5 km course in the dark up and down the technical slopes of Maulin. Grace Curham did superbly well to take 1st in the Female Senior category and 4th woman overall.
RESULT
1. Greg Byrne (Rathfarnham WSAF) 0:38:55
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
57. Grace Curham 0:52:46 (1st FS)
69. Eoin Phelan 0:55:56
151. James Heggie 1:16:34
ZUIDERPARKUN
Richard set a season best 5 km time for the club (even if it is early doors) with a solid 17:57 in the Zuiderparkrun.
RESULT
1. Philip Nind (Vegan Runners) 0:16:37
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
2. Richard Costelloe 0:17:57 (1st M45, Season Best)
TALLAGHT 5 KM
Mark Willoughby attended the traditional Tallaght road race where nearly 500 runners took the start line running 23:13 (his third fastest time yet).
RESULT
1. Mitchell Byrne (Rathfarnham WSAF) 0:15:03
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
247. Mark Willoughby 0:23:13
AMELAND VUURTOREN GOLDEN TRAIL SERIES RACE 35K
Everything was on the menu for Catherine in the Dutch instalment of the UK/Netherland national series of the Golden Trail Series: canal wading, dune running, sandy trails, and footpaths through little villages but she had another strong run to take 6th place in the women’s race and 29th overall.
Glendalough AC 