Race Report by Lucia Prihodova

Full Gallery of Photos by Paddy Lynch, Conor Kenny and Eoin O’Brien available here: Gallery

Full results at the bottom of page.

Race Reporter Lucia Prihodova in action Sunday

Signing up for a race before Christmas felt like a good reason to keep up training over the holidays. As it turns out three weeks and many mince pies later, finding the balance between running and the “necessary” carb loading is a wee bit harder in practice. Especially if you convince yourself that it is more of a training session than an actual race.

The ladies meet and train cross-country races first started as a preparation for the mini-marathon. Over time they have however established themselves as a stand-alone race-series with four 2-mile races for novice runners.  Each race is held by different club, and the last time it was held by Sportsworld was in January 2013.

Race winner in 13:55 Aisling Carroll from Fingallins

On the day of the race, the rain is thundering down on the saturated lawns of bushy park. In the distance, I spot groups headed up by Paddy, Stephen and Miles on a search for run-able lap. At times it’s hard to say whether they are using the markers to mark the race or to estimate the depth of muddy puddles.

In the meantime, in the warmth of the clubhouse we entertain ourselves with coming up with alternatives to what that days could become – run-a-muck, duatholon or hell & bog. The rain does however ease of and the day turns out to be a crisp and bright.

Groups of runners start trickling in and by 10.15, the clubhouse is packed with over 100 ladies in their club jerseys. Sportsworld is well represented, with 19runners in 4 teams. After warm-up, we collect our numbers, find our team mates and make a way for a start line.

The two laps of the park take us from the playground towards the back gate, left after the petanque courts on the only of-path section, left again along the tennis courts and then all the way around the big lap of bushy.

The Conor Kenny course map developed with 5 minutes notice and the only crayon found in Bushy Park

Two things are immediately clear. First, our feet are going to get soaked so might as well go for it and go straight through all the puddles and mud.

Secondly, this is a very different type of race. It’s not only the supporters and marshals cheering you on, but also your co-runners as/if you overtake them. That is where the training part of the race really comes out – although we are competing, we are here to help each other get better. And so as some runners sail past, you genuinely compliment them on their energy and pace, followed by quiet curses in my head. Damn the …. – insert as appropriate: roses, Christmas pudding, cookies, etc.

After fast first lap, when passing few bewildered pedestrians I suddenly get overwhelmed by the beauty of running in the Bushy park not only in a daylight but in sunshine. It brings back memories from the summer training and a little taste of things to come. Next thing I know, I am at the tree and with 600-ish meters to finish line, it is time to kick into the next gear. I level with Claire from my team and although we are both starting to struggle, together we pull each other to the finish line.

The clubhouse is already set up for much needed tea, coffee, biscuits (sure we just exercised, didn’t we?) and most importantly debriefs of the race. Looking around, everyone admits it was a tough, but a good race.

One that wouldn’t have happened without hard work of so many people, so here are the thank-yous:  to Paddy, Stephen, Michael and Myles for organising the event and making it all happen against all the odds of rain and building works.

The early morning search party looking for a course & Michael Cunningham ensuring the post race food was up to Sportsworld standards

To Emily for her genius and contagious enthusiasm, who managed to get most of us committed to three races when we thought we were signing up just for one. To all the marshals, timekeepers and supporters for coming out and their encouragement. Finally, to all the ladies racing on the day for making it such a great experience.

Emily Dowling and  Stephen Willoughby

The dates of the next meet & train races are yet to be confirmed as the current dates collide with other championship races.

Full results:

1 13:55 Aisling Carroll Fingallians A
2 14.03 Laura Buckley Dunboyne A
3 14.24 Cindy Hickey Fingallians A
4 14.34 Claire Tonry Blackrock A
5 14.36 Lynette Ní Mhurchú Trim A
6 14:40 Caoimhe Costigard Sportsworld A
7 14:44 Fiona O’Dowd Crusaders A
8 14:46 Breda Smyth Lucan B
9 14:48 Rebecca Fleming Crusaders A
10 14:50 Anna Delany Sportsworld B
11 14:51 Catherine Muleady Sportsworld A
12 14.54 Laura Cotter Trim A
13 15:00 Norma Farrell Dunboyne A
14 15.02 Ciara Bradley Bros Pearse B
15 15.03 Naoise Waldron Sportsworld A
16 15.04 Ciara Devitt Dunboyne A
17 15.05 Brid Beausang Clonliffe A
18 15.07 Mary Ketterer Fingallians A
19 15.08 Ailish Fagan Tallaght B
20 15.09 Hanna Melzer Sportsworld A
21 15:10 Lisa Shine Crusaders A
22 15.11 Sarah Kinsella Tallaght A
23 15.14 Geraldine Clements Crusaders A
24 15.17 Sarah Kelly Blackrock B
25 15.18 Heather Carty Trim A
26 15.19 Niamh Dillon Tallaght A
27 15:20 Roisin Bell Dunboyne B
28 15.22 Aideen brady Clonliffe A
29 15.31 Ingrid McGovern Bros Pearse A
30 15.32 Catherine Dempsey Clonliffe A
31 15.33 Patricia Duffy Fingallians B
32 15.34 Emily Ryan Dunboyne A
33 15.35 Margaret Crowley Sportsworld B
34 15.36 Suzanne Carter Tallaght A
35 15.37 Denise Kenkenny Sportsworld C
36 15.38 Emer Brennan Clonliffe A
37 15.39 Emer Kenny Crusaders B
38 15:41 Regina Kelly Crusaders B
39 15.42 Brona Snow Fingallians A
40 15.44 Emer Doyle Clonliffe B
41 15.47 Kris Ryan Crusaders A
42 15.48 Eimear Casey Sportsworld C
43 15.49 Anita Carruth Tallaght A
44 15.53 Julia Hackett Donore A
45 15.55 Kate Murray Crusaders B
46 16.06 Rhona Maguire Crusaders A
47 16.08 Karen McManus Bros Pearse A
48 16.09 Mirela Herghelegiu Dunboyne B
49 16:10 Aileen Melody Sportsworld B
50 16.11 Evelyn Brennan Clonliffe C
51 16.13 Ailish Hudson Bros Pearse A
52 16.14 Audrey McHaleMcDonnell Trim B
53 16.16 Breda Brown Sportsworld B
54 16.17 Loucia Pruodova Sportsworld D
55 16.18 Claire Rowley Sportsworld D
56 16.23 Mary Butler Blackrock A
57 16.27 Sharon Woods Tallaght B
58 16.28 Fiona Smith Trim B
59 16.29 Annette Conroy Dunboyne B
60 16:30 Sarah Cribbon Trim B
61 16.31 Avril Winters Trim B
62 16.32 Emma Barry Sportsworld C
63 16.33 Mary Murpnhy Donore B
64 16.34 Marie Therese McCoy Blackrock A
65 16.35 Kathleen Trunk Lucan A
66 16.36 Maebh Keane Sportsworld D
67 16:40 Ellen O’Sullivan Clonliffe B
68 16.41 ?? Lucan??
69 16.48 Patricia Forde Blackrock A
70 16.49 Ruth MacDermott Sportsworld A
71 16.52 Maria Finnegan Sportsworld D
72 16.57 Anne Lyons Clonliffe Indiv
73 16.58 Yvonne McDonagh Clonliffe B
74 16.59 Clare O’Brien Tallaght A
75 17:01 Sue Kelly Clonliffe B
76 17.02 Emma McDonald Blackrock A
77 17.03 Ciara O’Regan Clonliffe C
78 17.04 Mairead Heffernan Trim B
79 17.05 Katir Hennigan Clonliffe C
80 17.06 Caoimhe Cruise Clonliffe C
81 17.07 Mairead mcMorrow Trim B
82 17:10 Anita Rogers Trim A
83 17.11 Marie Tracey Tallaght B
84 17.15 Rachel Eustace Fingallians A
85 17.17 Christine Goldrick Blackrock B
86 17.19 Laura Murray Donore A
87 17.23 Sheila Quinn Trim Indiv
88 17.29 Anna Corrigan Sportsworld C
89 17.31 Jennifer Lee Blackrock B
90 17.47 Catherine McKeon Donore A
91 18:00 Eileen Soroghan Dunboyne B
92 18:20 Helen Hennessy Blackrock A
93 18.23 Joanne McCabe Clonliffe C
94 18.29 Lee Chambers Donore B
95 18.56 Sandra Boggan Individual
96 18.56 Manday McMenamy Clonliffe B
97 19:00 Sue Lynan Donore Indiv
98 19.27 Yvonne Callis Sportsworld D
99 19.32 Catherine Finn Blackrock B
100 19.37 Mairead Cashman Crusaders B
101 20.08 Laurence Delair Sportsworld D
102 20.18 Maureen Shine Crusaders B
103 20.23 Suzanne Collins Tallaght B
104 20.32 Ann Woodlock Donore B
105 20.39 Mary Keane Fingallians B
106 21.51 Winifred Ryan Lucan B
107 22.24 Sinead Fleet Lucan C
108 22.26 Rosemary Higgins Dunboyne B
109 23.11 Colleen Aherne Lucan B
110 23.34 Emer Ní Dhull Fingallians D
111 24.33 Lucy Fingallians D
112 24.35 Bridget Kenny Lucan C
113 24:37 Fanchea Gibson Lucan C
114 24:40 Olive Mulligan Lucan C
115 24:41 Trish Byrne Lucan C
116 27.35 Manuelle Ratte Belfield Indiv

Sportsworld Results:

6 14:40 Caoimhe Costigard Sportsworld A
10 14:50 Anna Delany Sportsworld B
11 14:51 Catherine Muleady Sportsworld A
15 15.03 Naoise Waldron Sportsworld A
20 15.09 Hanna Melzer Sportsworld A
33 15.35 Margaret Crowley Sportsworld B
35 15.37 Denise Kenkenny Sportsworld C
42 15.48 Eimear Casey Sportsworld C
49 16:10 Aileen Melody Sportsworld B
53 16.16 Breda Brown Sportsworld B
54 16.17 Loucia Pruodova Sportsworld D
55 16.18 Claire Rowley Sportsworld D
62 16.32 Emma Barry Sportsworld C
66 16.36 Maebh Keane Sportsworld D
70 16.49 Ruth MacDermott Sportsworld A
71 16.52 Maria Finnegan Sportsworld D
88 17.29 Anna Corrigan Sportsworld C
98 19.27 Yvonne Callis Sportsworld D
101 20.08 Laurence Delair Sportsworld D