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Fundraising Relay

On Tuesday night, May 26th I saw the real purpose and true depth of what it means to be in a running club. So many turned up with big smiles, bigger hearts, a competitive spirit and fistfuls of money. The running was fun and the spirit in which people competed was even better. In the end, we raised €850 for a very worthy cause (and something very close to my heart). I want to say a deep felt Thank You to all who supported the evening especially for the great good humor in which you ‘competed’.

I also want to thank those who couldn’t be with us yet still contributed quietly and without fuss. When I walked away I was reflective. This is what occurred to me,
– The real benefits of a club is not just in running
– The generosity and kindness of my club mates
– The positive spirit that is shared by all of us
– And… the competitive spirit that never dies, no matter what the race!

You will never know the good you have created but you did.
For that, I’m deeply grateful.

Thank You,
Ruth

The only loser from last nights main event was a group of eggs which turned up for some light training. They were hoping that with a bit of exercise, they might get to be poached, fried or even scrambled, but faith took a very bad turn for them and the egg throwing competition claimed all their lives. When asked by the gardi about reports of a mass egg-flight in the park, we mentioned that we were sowing egg-plants!!.

Meet and Train Team Results

We have been trying for years to get the holy grail of GOLD / SILVER / BRONZE in the team competition, but we went one better and got 1st and 2nd in Gold.

Congratulations to all the teams who took part in this years ( 2008-2009 ) cross country and road races.

The ladies teams achieved 1st in DIAMOND, 1st in GOLD and 1st in SILVER in the cross country, and 1st and 2nd in GOLD, 1st SILVER and 1st BRONZE in the road races.

Keep on running,
Paddy

PS – Remember the fundraiser for myasthenia gravis association in the club house this evening.

Raheny Lord Mayor Summer Road Series

This Tuesday May 26th sees the start of the Lord Mayor summer road series in Raheny. These are a low key, harmless series of races that take place throughout the summer, and along with the graded track meets on a Wednesday evening offer an alternative to doing a session in the early part of the week. There is very much a fun and sociable atmosphere at them, and the race finishes with tea and biscuits back in the club house where many stories are exchanged. The fact that it’s bright so late adds to the event.

They take place over 2 full laps of the (virtually traffic free) flat course that the National Road Relays were held on (= 3338m = 120m longer than 2 miles). They are well organised and stewarded by people who not only have an admirable knowledge of how to run these events but who have also enjoyed magnificent athletics careers themselves, some even Olympic standard. Race numbers are typically anywhere from 30 – 50 people though of course this may vary. Chances of winning are very high, with prizes galore for most age categories, so this is an added confidence booster.

If you enjoy racing regularly, they serve as a series of races if so wished, with overall prizes being dished out. I did the series in 2006 and if I remember rightly entry fee was only €5, and if you did 4 out of the 6 races you qualified for the series. Ray Carpenter also competed that year and it’s not uncommon for a good Sportsworld gang to turn up.

The event kicks off of a Tuesday evening at 20.00. Registration is at the small hut that is Raheny’s clubhouse (opposite the church in Raheny village). The dates are May 26th, June 9th, June 23rd, July 7th, July 14th and July 28th.

Packie.

Womens Meet and Train : Phoenix Park

Congratulations ro all the teams in this years Women’s Meet and Train Summer League

Here are the Sportsworld places for the Phoenix Park Final

1st and 2nd in Gold.
1st in Silver.
and are waiting for the bronze results (hopefully another 1st)

Meet And Train – Phoenix Park 2009

Paddy

Results

2 > Stephenie Bergin
3 > Edel Madigan
4 > Ciara Foster
5 > Louise Bruton
8 > Susan McDonnell
9 > Ann Higgins
12 > Catherine O’Neill
13 > Helen Dixon
14 > Eileen Dalton
16 > Irene O’Connor
20 > Ann Sweeney
26 > Karen O’Connor
29 > Breda Browne
33 > Tara Quirke
35 > Anna Delaney
36 > Aileen Melody
37 > Deirdre Shannon
38 > Louise Courell
39 > Caroline Warton
43 > Fiona McManus
57 > Claire Rowley
61 > Sinead Mc Gonagle
62 > Catherine Gilmore
66 > Teresa Brennan
68 > Cliona O’Riordan
69 > Val Lacey
71 > Louise Flood >
72 > Nicola O’Brien
81 > Jenny Maher
88 > Deirdre Mullen
98 > Louhons Delair
102 > Maria Finnegan
106 > Petrina Mulroe
121 > Yvonne Callis
124 > Maura Maughan

35 Ladies running – could someone describe the event in a short report?

Dublin Docklands Run

The 8km Docklands run took place on Tuesday 19th May around the Docks/IFSC area of Dublin. With no big name in the starting line up, it gave a chance for sportsworld members to claim top honours. Paul O’Connell was first over the line, with Paul Duffy home in 4th followed closely by Ed McEntee in fifth. Kathleen Horgan narrowly missed out on third place and Aideen Downes closed out the sportworld runners.

Well done to all, yet another profitable night for all sportsworld competitors.

Race Report,
Paul Duffy.

The Olympian

It’s that “I’ll get you going” spirit that only an ex Olympic Boxer can own so uniquely.
You know? Incites you but disguises it so beautifully.
Even the walk has a certain “I just knocked him out” lethargic relaxed look.
Yes, he is The General but never more so than on Race Day in May.

Us veteran Club Members understand Race Day.
Years of practice allow us all to slip seamlessly into our role.
Myles on the finish, Tony on chaos, Trevor at Terenure and so on.
But it’s the Cock O’ Hoop walk that gets me every time.

You see, I’m the driver of the Clock Car Jeep and it’s surprisingly stressful.
The Olympic European Multi record holder fuels it beautifully.

An hour before the start the clock gets fitted. The techno guys give clear instructions;
“Don’t touch this, hit that, wait, go, pause, prepare”.
Atmosphere rising.

10 minutes to go and I line the Clock car up 30 meters from the start. No sign of Mick.
5 minutes to go “Where is Mick?”.
2 minutes to go, Mick appears, the strut is on.

Like Napoleon, he walks head high, to inspect the start line. Anxious athletes are fuelled to go.
The General utters his few words, the tension builds.
The Techno get strung out and I pray that the Jeep won’t stall.

10 seconds to the start shouts one to the other.
Garda bikes circle and growl.

The walk begins, the tension rises.
The Olympian begins his walk. It’s not a hurried walk, it’s an Olympians walk.
It is his moment to return to ‘his corner’.
The tape is dropped, athletes are marshaled forward, the Olympian continues.

Now he is dueling, fighting, challenging.
The Olympian is an Athlete.

With his back to the Runners he dares them to race.
The Jeep groans, the Gardai growl impatiently.

The gun goes, The Olympian still walks.
“For &*^%s sake Mick, come on”.
It makes no difference.

The athletes are unleashed in a ferocious wave.
The Olympian responds and, with seconds to spare, leaps like a salmon into his seat.

His grin says it all.
Another KO, another victory.
Perfect timing.

When 5 miles of meandering are done we finish for another year.
The Chairman looks calm, his victory sure.

“That’s that, no more, too much, I’m done” he protests.
I pause and say “Until next year”.

The Olympian smiles.
He knows I’m right and he’ll be back!

Conor Kenny

5 Mile Classic : T-24 Hours

The race headquarters for tomorrows race is St Pauls Schoool, off St Peters Road (the big i icon on the map below). Entries are available on the morning, but please aim to be there an hour before hand. The race will start at 10am.

View Sportsworld Terenure in a larger map

The route for tomorrows race is

Clonliffe 2 Mile

Well done to all the sportsworld runners in the Clonliffe 2 mile road race on 11th May. Both the men’s & women’s teams claimed 1st spot. Aoife Brady was first home for the girls but was beaten into second place overall by just one second. Trevor Sweeney was first male home over 35, while Sean Wall claimed 1st Junior.

Girls Team
13 Aoife Brady FS Sportsworld Ac 10.33
27 Lucy D’Arcy M40 Sportsworld AC 11.09
31 Crona Brady FS Sportsworld Ac 11.28

Mens Team
4 Paul Duffy MS Sportsworld Ac 10.05
5 Trevor Sweeney M35 Sportsworld Ac 10.15
6 Sean Wall JM Sportsworld Ac 10.18

Race Report.
Paul Duffy.

5 Mile Classic : Final Online Entries

Just a note to inform runners that the Online Entry for this years race will close this Friday 15th May at 23.45 (this is to allow us time to download the entry details). Race entries will be taken on the morning of the race, but we advise all runners to turn up an hour before the race start (10am) to avoid queues and allow for a sufficient warm-up time.

For club members who are stewarding the race, the meeting time is 8am at the race HQ, and please remember to wear your club jacket. See you all sunday and best of luck to all runners and walkers.

Womens Meet and Train : Lucan

SPORTSWORLD
PLACES
LUCAN
10 MAY 2009

2 > Stephenie Bergin
4 > Louise Bruton
6 > Ciara Foster
7 > Orlagh Fleming
8 > Susan Mc Donnell
9 > Catherine O’Neill
10 > Orla Jordan
13 > Irene O’Connor
17 > Eileen Dalton
20 > Breda Browne
21 > Ann Sweeney
22 > Louise Courell
34 > Karen O’Connor
35 > Deirdre Shannon
37 > Tara Quirke
40 > Fiona McManus
49 > Aileen Melody
51 > Caroline Warton
56 > Val Lacey
59 > Catherine Gilmore
65 > Cliona O’Riordan
66 > Sinead McGonagle
68 > Teresa Brennan
70 > Jenny Maher
85 > Laurence Delair
88 > Petrina Mulroe
94 > Maria Finnegan
97 > Deirdre Mullen
114 > Yvonne Callis
115 > Maura Maughan