Race reports – Page 11 – Glendalough AC

REPORT: Leinster Masters and Intermediate XC in Avondale

January 15, 2023January 16, 2023 by glendaloughac, posted in Cross-country running, Race reports

Twenty-eight races have already been bagged by our runners since January 1st and seven more where in action although our line-up was missing Paul Duffy, Gavin Kennedy and Marcus Murphy – all taking precautions after recent minor injuries.

Those of our runners registered with parent club Sli Cualann donned the Navy and Orange with Diarmuid Kavanagh, Aran Lynham, Graham Bushe and Loraine sporting our regular colours while they await their transfer across to the mother ship in March.

The women were off first over the traditional 4 km distance with Donna Quinn and Loraine Creane. Running for Sli Cualann Donna registered another solid performance finishing 26th out of 90 runners and being the second Wicklow woman home for the team that finished 6th out of 10 club teams. The county was somewhat overmatched by the bigger neighbours on the day finishing 7th out of 7. Wicklow Intermediate champion Loraine Creane became the first to carry the yellow vest at a Leinster event and finished in the top half of the field.

RESULT

1. Kate Purcell (Raheny Shamrocks) 0:15:01

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

26. Donna Quinn 0:17:20 (2nd scorer Sli Cualann and Wicklow County team)

42. Loraine Creane 0:18:13

*Loraine Creane (yellow singlet) leads the team out with Donna Quinn coming through a few spaces back source: James McCormack Photography*

Next up where the men with a large Wicklow presence – 14 Sli Cualann athletes plus Graham Bushe running as Glendalough AC and four Bray Runners for a total of 19 Wicklow athletes out of the 135 starters (by some distance the largest field of the day).

Graham Bushe was our lead runner for the full race with coach Rene in close attendance and they crossed the line within 13 seconds of each other in 94th and 97th spot with Rene serving as the fourth counter for the Sli Cualann team that finished 9th out of 12 and also the Wicklow County team (finishing 7th out of 7 counties). the over-50 men’s team came a bit closer to glory with 4th spot. Anthony Breen was the third Glendalough AC runner (also representing SC) and kept a 20 runners behind him to finish 116th.

In the Sli Cualann team, Rene was the 7th runner out of 14 and Anthony the 12th over the 6 km.

Anthony Breen battling up ‘The Great Ride’ in Sli Cualann coluurs

RESULT

1. Peter Arthur (Liffey Valley AC) 0:20:27

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

94. Graham Bushe 0:25:46

97. René Borg 0:25:59 (fourth scorer Sli Cualann and County Wicklow team)

116. Anthony Breen 0:27:40

Finally, our ‘young men’ could tow the line for the longest ordeal of the championship: the 8 km men’s race which added two of the slightly faster 1 km loops to the two 3 km loops done by the ‘elderly gents’. Aran Lynham gave himself a bit of rebaptism of fire after a season away from running (focused on GAA with Laragh GFC) and a holiday away in Zimbabwe and in the end decided to treat it as a good solid training finishing 37th out of 37 in a smaller than expected field. Diarmuid Kavanagh’s partial conversion from cyclist to runner continues apace and he ran well to finish 31st in 34:04.

*Aran Lynham, jumping straight back in the fray, after a 2022 spent largely focused on GAA with Laragh GFC*

For County Wicklow the excitement was at the front where Parnell’s Derek Crammond led the race most of the way before eventually being edged by Mullingar’s Vinny Connolly. He had the silver well wrapped up, however, and with strong runs from many other Sli Cualann athletes (including two master’s athletes who stepped down to fill the void left by Joe O’Dowd’s illness, the Intermediate Men could add a Silver medal to their recent Gold from the Leinster Novice.

RESULT

1. Vinny Connolly (Mullingar Harriers) 0:27:11

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

31. Diarmuid Kavanagh 0:34:04

37. Aran Lynham 0:38:00

REPORT: Contrasting championships at Abbotstown and Shanganagh

January 15, 2023 by glendaloughac, posted in Cross-country running, Race reports, Track running

It’s hard to imagine two surfaces more different than the pristine boards of the Abbotstown National Arena’s indoor track and the soft grass and mud of Shanganagh Park but managing this contrast was a task that fell to a lot of Wicklow athletes (including two of our own) this weekend past as Wicklow Athletics hosted it’s 22/23 Wicklow Masters XC Championship on Sunday 8th. Less than 24 hour earlier, a busy program of indoor track events were held as part of the Wicklow Indoor Championship 23.

Marcus Murphy on route to his first cross-country club medal

WICKLOW INDOOR TRACK

This event was primarily focused on juvenile and junior athletes but some seniors and masters turned up to run in distances from 60m to 1500m as well as the throwing, putting and jumping events. Diarmuid Kavanagh made history for our club by becoming our first indoor track competitor in the 800m race. His time of 2:21.6 thus stands as the new club record and a Bronze medal in the Men’s senior race – his first for the club.

RESULT

1. Drew O’Donohue (Bray Runners) 0:02:08

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

8. Diarmuid Kavanagh 0:02:22 (3rd MS)

A few hours later, a bit more micro-history awaited as first Donna Quinn and then Diarmuid Kavanagh and club coach Rene Borg took to the start in the 1500m races. Donna was our first female indoor competitor and all three were the first runners to race over the 1500m distance in a Glendalough AC singlet.

Donna raced well to work her way through a field of largely younger competitors and claim the Gold medal in the F40 category. Diarmuid and Rene swiftly followed suit running 5:08 and 5:11 respectively to win the MS and M40 categories both passing out a few runners as they ran steady laps around the track. For Rene this was his first indoor track race since 2010 (and the first he completed – having dropped out of his first attempt).

All three runner’s times stand as either overall club records or age category records.

RESULT

1. Finn Buck (Parnell AC) 0:04:35

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

11. Diarmuid Kavanagh 0:05:09 (1st MS, club record – overall and MS)

13. René Borg 0:05:11 (1st M40, club record – M40, M40 PB)

18. Donna Quinn 0:05:29 (1st F40, club record – women)

WICKLOW MASTER’S CROSS-COUNTRY

Traditionally, this is the most popular cross-country championship among our runners and many were glad to be back at the flat and fast course in Shanganagh for the first time since 2019. Rachel, Donna, and Aoife were first up in the 4 km ladies race. This was Rachel’s first cross-country race since 2019 and she promptly improved both her time on the same course (16 seconds) and her overall position (3rd moving up from 4th). Last time she had taken the F35 Gold which she exchanged with F40 Silver this time around. Donna Quinn – perhaps feeling the 1500m – finished 5th (like in 2019). Aoife took Bronze in the F45 and help the lady’s team to Silver behind Parnell in the teams.

John Conway and Angus Tyner in close battle

the men’s race ended up doing an extra early lap resulting in the course growing from 6 km to 6.6km – it was a tight battle for most of the race with John Conway, Angus Tyner and Rene Borg close for large portions. Angus Tyner eventually managed to mow his way past John in the last corner to follow. Graham Bushe was first man across the line and got silver in the M50 category with Marcus Murphy securing his first cross-country medal (Bronze in the O40) with a very fine run. Gavin Kennedy had to pull out with a groin strain on the final lap meaning the men’s team unfortunately didn’t rank – but 3rd place (and medals) were out of reach at that point as the team sat comfortable in a distant fourth.

RESULT

1. Darren Mooney (Parnell AC) 0:23:52

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

9. Graham Bushe 0:25:11 (2nd M50)

16. Marcus Murphy 0:26:07 (3rd M40)

20. Angus Tyner 0:26:28

21. John Conway 0:26:28

26. René Borg 0:26:48

37. Anthony Breen 0:27:46

RESULT

1. Catherine O’Connor (Parnell AC) 0:15:40

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

3. Rachel Wisdom 0:16:25 (3rd overall, 2nd F40)

5. Donna Quinn 0:16:33 (3rd F40)

15. Aoife Joyce 0:19:03 (3rd F45)

REPORT: In Art O’Neill’s footsteps – 2023 edition!

January 15, 2023January 15, 2023 by glendaloughac, posted in Mountain running, Race reports

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.

REPORTS: Festive racing in Wicklow and at Djouce

December 29, 2022 by glendaloughac, posted in Race reports, Road running, Trail running

The 26th/27th December tends to be a busy time for racing and nine of our runners continued this tradition first at the super-traditional Streets of Wicklow 5k and then at the equally tradition-bound Djouce Remembrance Race over the Earl’s Drive course.

With 9 runners in action in the two races our club’s tally for the year stands at 380 races – only four short of the all-time record of 384 in 2017, although discounting club races we are well short with 277 this year to 336 that year).

STREETS OF WICKLOW 5K

Richard Costelloe was back for the holidays from his regular hunting grounds in Den Haag and promptly recorded the second fastest time over 5 km this season by one of our runners (beaten only by Aran Lynham’s 18:11). He was followed home by Marcus Murphy continuing a good ‘comeback season’ by taking 27 seconds off his time from earlier in the year (and running within 26 seconds of his PB from 2018).

Diarmuid Kavanagh saying he was ‘feeling the pints’ got around in 21:03 and Colm Kenna recorded his first road race since the Dublin Marathon and first since the Dublin Marathon. Aoife Joyce returned with her first road race since September (and first 5 km since last year) while Donna Quinn jogged around with daughter Lily to complete a fast year in sedate fashion.

RESULT

1. Jonas Stafford (Ashford AC) 0:15:06

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

27. Richard Costelloe 0:18:30

42. Marcus Murphy 0:18:58

71. Diarmuid Kavanagh 0:21:03

88. Colm Kenna 0:22:05

106. Aoife Joyce 0:23:22

190. Donna Quinn 0:27:20

DJOUCE REMEMBRANCE RACE (EARL’S DRIVE)

Alan Kennedy, Gavin Kennedy and David Clancy at Djouce Woods

At the Djouce Remembrance race Gavin Kennedy led a hill running contingent of three home – Alan Kennedy and David Clancy (two of our Wicklow Wolf Run Club ‘recruits’) made up the other two of three musketeers.

RESULT

1. Derek Crammond (Parnell AC) 0:32:40

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

37. Gavin Kennedy 0:40:46

77. Alan Kennedy 0:45:28

111. David Clancy 0:50:30

PB in Waterford, podium and Santas in Rathdrum

December 5, 2022 by glendaloughac, posted in Race reports, Road running

While many club members were ‘resting up’ with a controlled run around at the 4th round of our club Winter League in Brockagh Woods, two of our runners still had time for ‘serious business’ and serious it was!

WATERFORD HALF-MARATHON

Blaise Kinsella clocked an impressive PB of 1:24:04 in the well-attended Waterford Half-marathon. It was a good day all-round for Wicklow athletes with many PBs and Sli Cualann taking home the men’s team prize and the women securing 3rd spot.

2022 has been the busiest year for half-marathon events with 16 attempts and Blaise’s PB (his second this year) was the 8th fastest run since the club foundation in 2014. It caps a great year for Blaise where 10 races have yielded 6 PBs.

RESULT

1. Ryan Creech (Leevale AC) 1:05:02

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

103. Blaise Kinsella 1:24:06

RATHDRUM SANTA DASH

More locally Marcus Murphy took to the 5 km distance twice this week. First as a leisurely stroll around our Brockagh Woods 5k in the Saturday WL and then at a more determined pace to run 19:41 in the Rathdrum 5k Santa Dash where he finished second. This continues a good comeback season for Marcus – having raced only sparsely the last few years due to injuries.

Marcus taking 2nd place in the Rathdrum Santa Dash

REPORTS: Half-marathon and Wicklow Senior XC

November 30, 2022 by glendaloughac, posted in Cross-country running, Race reports, Road running

Clonakilty Half-marathon

The weekend’s action began in Clonakilty where Eoin Phelan – along with all others entered in the full marathon – was downgraded to the half-marathon due to road flooding. Expecting a different type of race, he cruised through a good 9 minutes below his PB on a slow day overall.

The race was won by the winner of our club fund-raiser – Tudor Mircea.

RESULT

1. Tudor Mircea (Clonliffe Harriers) 1:13:21

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

504. Eoin Phelan 2:01:09

Clontarf Half-marathon and 5 mile

Meanwhile further North three of our Wicklow Wolf Run Club members took on the traditionally windy half-marathon with it’s beach finish. Mark Lindsay and Conor Diamond competed in the half with Claire Harrington running in the 5 mile.

RESULT

1. Jesus Calle Arroyo (Raheny Shamrocks) 1:14:20

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

574. Mark Lindsay 1:47:41

1826. Conor Diamond 2:12:53

RESULT

1. Ian FitzGerald (Donore Harriers) 0:27:57

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

699. Claire Harrington 0:51:49

WICKLOW SENIOR CROSS-COUNTRY 2022

It’s no secret that cross-country doesn’t get the love it deserves: the discipline has interesting venues, great competition, fantastic physical development, the chance to run for a team (and yourself) and distils running to it’s essence: you against yourself first and you against the next guy/gal second.

So it was not entirely surprising that numbers at the frighteningly named ‘Wicklow Senior’ were somewhat low. Donna Quinn was outnumbered 7 to 1 by host’s Parnell as our lonely representative in the 5 km women’s race in Avondale yet still managed a Silver medal to continue to add shine to another great season.

Our men’s team lost two men to illness and another to injury on Saturday with another drop-out Sunday leaving ever-reliable Colm Kenna to step in and ensure the men had a full team. Paul Duffy led the cross-country team home for the third time in three outings followed by club coach Rene Borg and then Anthony and Colm. In a strong field, we finished fifth out of five teams.

WOMEN’S

RESULT

1. Catherine O’Connor (Parnell AC)

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

2. Donna Quinn 0:22:47 (2nd F40, Individual Silver)

MEN’S

RESULT

1. Derek Crammond (Parnell AC) 0:37:40

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

15. Paul Duffy 0:44:31

17. René Borg 0:45:50

22. Anthony Breen 0:48:57

25. Colm Kenna 0:54:50

Clingandaelcross XC

Our team could have done with the strength of Richard Costelloe – currently residing in The Hague who finished 2nd in the M45 category at the Clingandaelcross race in the Netherlands.

RESULT

1. Jorrit Klinkeberg (Phanos) 0:27:02

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

19. Richard Costelloe 0:30:11 (2nd M45)

RACE REPORTS: ‘Monster’ Half and Run the Line

November 21, 2022 by glendaloughac, posted in Race reports, Road running, Trail running

We have had a gap in our reporting since August but our members have not been idle: before this weekend, they had raced 139 times since then, setting 8 new personal bests on roads. We’ll do a big ‘catch-up’ on this shortly.

Our Wicklow Wolf RC members were out in force at Run the Line

MONSTER HALF-MARATHON (DEN HAAG)

These races featured new club records for the women’s section (by Donna Quinn – more on this in our ‘catch-up’) but this weekend Catherine Devitt lowered the half-marathon record once again with her 1:31:30 finish on in the Monster Half-marathon in The Hague (half of it run on hard-packed sand!).

Catherine’s result was also an all-time best for our women in the F40 category.

RESULT

1. Carsten Kok (Fortius) 1:14:05

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

37. Catherine Devitt 1:31:30 (3rd F40, PB, Club Record, F40 PB)

RECORD OUTING AT RUN THE LINE

In Run the Line, our club had it’s greatest single day turn-out with 18 runners competing in the 11.5 and 26 km courses. This was in large degree due our new members from the Wicklow Wolf Running Club side which has seen 46 new runners joining this ‘club within the club’ at Glendalough AC in 2022.

RESULT

1. Eoin Flynn 0:54:09

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

61. Gavin Kennedy 1:07:44

110. Alan Kennedy 1:12:00 (WW RC)

116. Conor Diamond 1:12:25 (WW RC)

130. Jack Moore 1:12:56 (WW RC)

212. Corrie Adams 1:17:59 (WW RC)

515. Maria Forsyth 1:36:31 (WW RC)

The Wicklow Wolf jersey was well represented here by Jack Moore

RESULT – LONG COURSE

1. Derek Crammond (Parnell AC) 1:55:01

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

53. Graham Bushe 2:27:03

82. René Borg 2:35:59

85. Paul Duffy 2:36:59

118. Loraine Creane 2:54:53

119. Diarmuid Kavanagh 2:44:06

123. Graeme Warren 2:44:24

226. Eoin Kennedy 2:58:30

310. Mick Greene 3:28:00 (WW RC)

333. Richard Kieran 3:11:46

390. Mark Willoughby 3:23:10 (WW RC)

435. David Murphy 3:32:19 (WW RC)

471. Jake McManus 3:47:43 (WW RC)

PREVIEW: Wicklow Off-Road Championship 2022

August 19, 2022 by glendaloughac, posted in Club races / events, Trail running

Glendalough AC are excited to welcome a competitive field for the first Wicklow Athletics Off-Road Championship at Laragh GFC tomorrow morning at 9:45 am. Full details of the route can be see at www.runtheridge.ie.

The event will be held as part of the Derrybawn Woods 10k (itself held as part of the longer Run the Ridge 20 km event) – a fund-raiser for Laragh GFC and our club and is sanctioned by Wicklow Athletics Board.

Six of the county’s twelve clubs will compete in this inaugural event with over 50 runners battling for individual and team medals.

Background

The idea for the championship was first discussed back in 2016 internally in the club before being brought as a proposal to Wicklow Athletics this June.

Most casual followers of athletics are aware of the traditional running disciplines (cross-country, track, and road running) but may not be aware that World Athletics today recognises ultra, trail, and mountain running as official disciplines of athletics. To grow this segment of the sport these ‘off-road’ variations had their European and World Championships merged into one event (under the ‘off-road’ label).

The choice by Wicklow Athletics to host this championship likewise brings these disciplines ‘on par’ with the traditional cross-country, road, and track and field county championships.

Off-road running is the fastest growing discipline within athletics and it seems fitting that a county with as wonderful trails as Wicklow has chosen to add such a fixture to it’s calendar.

Spectators can support the runners from 9:30 on the Laragh GFC pitches. We also highly recommend walking up the ‘Bronze route’ zig-zags and give our runners a warm welcome as they make their way up the toughest part of the course. Parking for spectators is located in the public Laragh car park near the Woollen Mills.

Partners and supporters

We are glad to be supported by:

Wicklow Athletics
EcoTrail Wicklow for use of marking equipment and sponsorship of prices
Laragh GFC for venue, parking and crew
MyRunResults for timing services and finish line
National Parks and Wildlife Service and Coillte for use of keys and permit
Derrybawn House, The Woollen Mills, and Coillte for permission to pass through / past their lands

And finally a thank you to our suppliers: Soundhire.ie, Kelly’s Fruit and Vegetables, The Red Cross, Lindie Naughton Photography, and Mocha Joe’s Cafe.

REPORTS: Five tough days on the hills for GMAC

August 7, 2022 by glendaloughac, posted in Mountain running, Race reports, Trail running, Ultra running

Since our last report our runners have been put through the mill first at the Reeks Skyline in Kerry, the Glendalough Tucker Trail ultra and the last three rounds of the Leinster League at Crone, Ballinastoe and Great Sugarloaf.

Reeks Skyline

John Conway kicked off the fun in Kerry on the extremely difficult Reeks Skyline, taking in Carrauntoohil and it’s sister peaks. Winner Conall Whelan set a new CR. Despite suffering some ankle trouble during and after Johnny got through once again in what continues to be a busy summer since he completed the Cape Wrath 400k in June.

RESULT

1. Conall Whelan (UCD AC) 3:42:33 (CR)

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

34. John Conway 5:54:10

COILLTE CRONE CAPER

The Coillte Crone Caper race went ahead as planned after some concern around the fires nearby and it was a gruesome uphill battle for our quintet of Torben, Rene, Aran, Angus and Eoin. Aran led early on with Torben and Rene in close attendance with Rene eventually taking the lead and cresting the summit first before coming a cropper with a bad ankle injury shortly into the descent. Torben retook the lead halfway down leading the team home in 24th.

Our two Danes (Rene and Torben) chasing Aran and the other leaders halfway through the climb at Crone

RESULT

1. Derek Crammond (Parnell AC) 0:51:39 (CR)

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

25. Torben Dahl 1:04:09

26. René Borg 1:04:45

30. Aran Lynham 1:05:30

41. Angus Tyner 1:08:35

48. Eoin Kennedy 1:10:17

GLENDALOUGH TUCKER TRAIL 80K

Graham Bushe and Brian Lydon took over racing duties in the weekend at the Glendalough Tucker Trail and Graham secured 5th overall and 1st M50 with Brian solid in the mid-pack

Brian Lydon motors on in the Tucker Trail (photo: Adrian Hennessey)

RESULT

1. Brian McFlynn (Newcastle AC) 7:59:11

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

5. Graham Bushe 9:08:11 (1st M50)

24. Brian Lydon 10:50:11

BALLINASTOE

Torben and Eoin followed up their exertions at Crone a bit further south on the chaotic course at Ballinastoe finishing ‘to recent par’. Reeks winner Conall Whelan scorched around in 49 minutes.

RESULT

1. Conall Whelan (UCD AC) 0:49:05

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

28. Torben Dahl 0:59:22

46. Eoin Kennedy 1:06:11

SUGARLOAF BBQ

Graham Bushe earns his 100th race t-shirt ((photo: Gareth LIttle)

This left only one race in the Leinster League and Graham Bushe was recovered enough from the Tucker Trail to earn his ‘club 100’ t-shirt here. Graham made the last LL race of the season his first go at this year’s league and lead us home in 18th position. In the overall league our men didn’t really feature as none completed the minimum 7 races for a full score (Torben finished highest – in 78th out of 574 – with 6 races to score) with most having completed 2-4 races. But there was enough solid performances to suggest that our large squad of hill runners could do well in the upcoming Wicklow Athletics Off-Road Championship.

RESULT

1. Derek Crammond (Parnell AC) 0:33:57

——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-

18. Graham Bushe 0:40:56

46. Torben Dahl 0:45:34

REPORTS: Scarr, Road Championship, Clontarf and Earl’s Drive

July 8, 2022 by glendaloughac, posted in Mountain running, Race reports, Road running, Trail running

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.

The team for this year’s Road Champs (Brian, Marcus, Aoife, Blaise, Donna, Aran and Colm)

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.

Marcus and Donna side by side (Marcus would win out by 5 seconds)

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.

Torben Dahl crosses the finishing mat at Lough Dan

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

Aran Lynham at the Wicklow Road Champs (photo: Andrew Hanney)

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).

Rene Borg in action for European Athletics on La Palma in the Canarias

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.

Rene Borg in a late break-away at Earl’s Drive

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