Samsung Run in the Dark 10km

Samsung Run in the Dark 10km Race Report
By Aoife O’Leary

The Samsung 10km night run was held on Sunday April 27th with a handful of members participating.

First home was Conor Tully in a very fast 36.15. Next up was Conor Butler in a new personal best of 37.42. Finishing fifth overall in the female category was our new club member Sandra Bowe in a personal best of 40.36, followed by closely by Aoife O’Leary in 40.37. Stephen Willoughby was on pacing duties and completed the course in 53.33. Well done to all.

It’s not possible to search the results by club so apologies to any members that I may have missed.

Thanks to all the stewards who kindly volunteered on the night.

BHAA RTE 5 Miler 2014

Saturday morning of a Bank Holiday weekend, the logical mind suggests a sleep in followed by a leisurely breakfast but instead I find myself heading off to the RTE BHAA 5 miler.

Race headquarters is the RTE Sports & Social Club and as with all BHAA races it is excellently organised with the race entries taken quickly and efficiently .They are plenty of familiar faces milling around with an excellent turnout from Sportsworld .

They are perfect conditions for a fast time – flat course, nice weather and stiff competition.

We were on our way at 11.00 am sharp starting on the shabby and run down Ailesbury Road. It is a four and a bit lap course that takes us around D4, through the grounds of RTE and passed the set of Fair City. The great thing about a lap course is the spectators get to see the race at its various stages. The downside is they get to see your discomfort and pain increase exponentially with each lap.

Soon the modest dwellings, Carrickstown and everything else blur into the background as we grind out the laps in the hope of achieving a fast time and of course beating our usual adversaries. (or should I say friends, club mates and other runners of the same standard) . I more or less achieve my target time but let’s just say my adversaries leave me in their wake.

First Sportsworld person home is Paul O Connell ( 12th overall) followed by Joe Byrne who beats his training partner Martin Keenan by one second with both just failing to break the 30 minute barrier by the slimmest of margins. Other standout performers are Ray Carpenter and Marie Fingleton and all the Sportsworld runners seemed happy with their times and effort.
After the race the majority of us retire to the RTE Sports and Social Club for the traditional BHAA post-race refreshments and a chat.

Special mention must go to Mr Brendan Early who finished the race in 59 minutes. A modest time except for the extraordinary fact that he ran in the over 85 category. What an inspiration and may we all have his ability, energy and motivation to do the same at his age.

Race Report By Jim Browne

Graded event 1: 2014

The first track race of the year took place this past Saturday in Santry stadium. The club had 6 runners taking part. First up was Anna Delaney who made her track race debut in the 800M. Anna ran well to finish strongly. Next up was Ciara Foster who ran in the 2nd heat of the 800M, also for the first time. Ciara ran a strong race and managed to look very strong on the home straight.

Denis McCaul was the first of the men running in the 800M. Dennis put himself in the deep end, running 67 for his opening lap. Despite a gallant effort he lost some places on the second lap but finished strongly with a smile at the end. A job well done by all in the 800M.

The last event of the night was the 3K. The final event of the night was the men’s 3000 meters first up was Paul Duffy who ran a very good season opener to finish second. In the next race Gavin Finaly and Gareth Murran ran finishing 4th and 8th.

Well done all athletes who competed in the first graded meeting on 30th April. It’s early days in the track season with plenty more chances to race.

We had a record number of competitors. The full results will be displayed here shortly. The next meeting is on May 14th in Tallaght Athletic Stadium. Events include the Dublin athletic board 10K track championship also 200m, 1500m. I’d encourage many more club members to give it a go.

National Road Relay 2014

The sky was blue, the air was crisp and the sun was shining gloriously in Raheny this afternoon for one of the most enjoyable fixtures on the racing calendar, the national road relays. No running distance, or field event for that matter, has the history, the appeal, the “magic” of the Mile. The Mile, like the 100 meters and the marathon is a classic distance to test one’s fitness against.
Today the club had 3 teams entered, a Senior Women, Senior Men and Masters Men. The teams had great support on the day from club members.

First up were the 3 masters men at 2.30. Paul O’Connell (1 mile), Damien Kelly (2 mile) and Eanna Cunane (1 mile) each ran strong legs to bring the team home 21:07. Our 3 ladies took off at 3PM Ciara Foster (1 mile), Mary Finn (2 mile) and Shona Keane (1 mile). The team finished in 24:01. To close out the afternoon the senior men Paul Duffy (2 mile), Gareth Murran (1 mile), Gavin Finley (3 mile) and newcomer Adam French (1 mile). The team came home in 41:51.

With a strong wind on one side of the course all teams did well amd gave 100% to finish strongly. Although the event isn’t chip timed rough times are available on the AAI website. For anyone who has yet to run a mile race I would advise you to give it a go over the summer at one of the Dublin graded events. When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breath then you’ll be successful, that’s how the mile is ran.

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Thanks to Shona for the photos.

National 12K 2013

Gavin Finlay decided to enter a men’s team for the National Cross Country Championships on Sunday March 2nd, that’s what we told ourselves in Damians packed car as we headed, in the rain, down the M1. There were some interesting conversations in the car which I can’t go into but it eventually ended up on the subject of the 12km cross country on ground which we all knew was going to be bad.

We were greeted at the course by the bouncer stopping people who hadn’t paid €10 from coming in. He was 70 and I’m sure he wouldn’t of caught us but I think the AAI have to work on their marketing skills.

It has to be said there was a very poor turnout in spectators and running participants. Dundalk is a pretty central location and there were some real top runners to watch but something the last few years hasn’t worked and I hope the AAI can change something next year to get the numbers back up.

Although there was only 27 in the women’s senior race it was the best and closest championship I have seen for a long time. There was a 3 way battle for the entire 4 laps with Maria McCambridge (3rd), Michelle McGee (2nd) and Sarah McCormack fighting until the last 300m when McCormack denied Michelle McGee a fairy tale first season.

Onto the men’s race, 6 x 2000m laps with 3 or 4 small hills per lap making you change pace and tire you out that little bit each lap. The ground was ankle deep muck for large sections and a lot slipper in the corners than last week’s Dunboyne race. There was a great battle up front between Mick Clohisey and Gary Thornton with the Raheny runner wining in the end.

Gavin Finlay had a brilliant run in his first National cross country and the men’s team got deserved bronze medals in category B for a hard fought 12km slog.

Myself, Eanna and Gavin all had to dump our shredded, disintegrating, abused spikes on the way home but I think the men’s team is not ready for the scrap heap just yet especially with the national road relays and national 10Km just around the corner.

Raheny 5 Mile 2014 Results

24 23 21 2373 FINLAY GAVIN SPORTSWORLD AC IRL MU40 00:26:55 00:26:51
26 25 23 397 DUFFY PAUL SPORTSWORLD AC IRL MU40 00:27:01 00:26:58
111 104 84 789 O’ CONNELL PAUL SPORTSWORLD AC IRL MU40 00:29:34 00:29:28
140 132 105 1110 CHATTERTON KARL SPORTSWORLD AC IRL MU40 00:29:59 00:29:49
146 138 110 2324 MAGEE SADANAND SPORTSWORLD AC IRL MU40 00:30:06 00:30:01
154 145 115 1318 CURRAN KEVIN SPORTSWORLD AC IRL MU40 00:30:15 00:30:08
174 164 11 1804 BYRNE JOE SPORTSWORLD AC IRL M45 00:30:31 00:30:23
180 170 24 1170 PRIVAT OLIVIER SPORTSWORLD AC IRL M40 00:30:35 00:30:29
223 208 17 1269 BROWNE JIM SPORTSWORLD AC IRL M45 00:31:23 00:31:13
234 217 35 2264 MC CAUL DENIS SPORTSWORLD AC IRL M40 00:31:39 00:31:34
51 21 5 2012 MORGAN RACHAEL SPORTSWORLD AC IRL F40 00:31:52 00:31:33
263 22 16 1600 BRADY AOIFE SPORTSWORLD AC IRL FU40 00:32:04 00:31:52
268 245 12 213 TOBIN NOEL SPORTSWORLD AC IRL M50 00:32:10 00:32:04
303 277 183 619 DONEGAN SEAN SPORTSWORLD AC IRL MU40 00:32:43 00:32:17
306 279 24 2307 GILLEN ANTHONY SPORTSWORLD AC IRL M45 00:32:46 00:32:29
354 322 28 302 WILLOUGHBY STEPHEN SPORTSWORLD AC IRL M45 00:33:35 00:33:25
423 382 237 278 MAHON FRANCIS SPORTSWORLD AC IRL MU40 00:34:19 00:33:59
448 48 33 2165 BAMBRICK CATHERINE SPORTSWORLD AC IRL FU40 00:34:35 00:34:16
488 56 12 2163 WALSH EILEEN SPORTSWORLD AC IRL F40 00:35:13 00:34:53
509 61 13 1559 DELANEY ANNA SPORTSWORLD AC IRL F40 00:35:28 00:35:09
513 63 4 2150 HIGGINS ANN SPORTSWORLD AC IRL F45 00:35:30 00:35:12
535 68 45 2219 BYRNE KAREN SPORTSWORLD AC IRL FU40 00:35:52 00:35:10
572 495 10 170 MC MORROW ENDA SPORTSWORLD AC IRL M55 00:36:19 00:36:00
689 107 67 1982 FITZMAURICE PATRICIA SPORTSWORLD AC IRL FU40 00:37:32 00:37:13
740 122 77 1481 BRADY CRONA SPORTSWORLD AC IRL FU40 00:37:59 00:37:46
757 128 27 1052 IRWIN-GOWRAN SANDRA SPORTSWORLD AC IRL F40 00:38:09 00:37:57
824 685 16 171 MC MORROW KILLIAN SPORTSWORLD AC IRL M55 00:38:46 00:38:21
829 142 89 234 HEAVEY DEIRDRE SPORTSWORLD AC IRL FU40 00:38:48 00:37:48
860 153 7 1540 MELODY AILEEN SPORTSWORLD AC IRL F50 00:39:10 00:38:46
896 164 14 428 GILMORE CATHERINE SPORTSWORLD AC IRL F45 00:39:28 00:39:04
964 193 39 334 BYRNE MADELEINE SPORTSWORLD AC IRL F40 00:39:59 00:39:35
1009 801 20 1213 KENNY CONOR SPORTSWORLD AC IRL M55 00:40:26 00:39:55
1016 805 3 2212 LLOYD TREVOR SPORTSWORLD AC IRL M65 00:40:35 00:40:01
1208 275 172 279 DOOLEY PAULA SPORTSWORLD AC IRL FU40 00:42:22 00:41:40
1756 585 343 2290 NAGLE AUDREY SPORTSWORLD AC IRL FU40 00:47:56 00:46:26

Leinster Star Awards

Congratulations to Karol Cronin who will be the recipient of the Leinster Star Awards this coming Saturday the 4th of January 2014. This is well deserved after some great performances in the 2013 cross country fixtures.

National Novice 2013

On Sunday, a busload of Sportsworld runners and supporters travelled to the National Novice XC which took place just outside Waterford city. The course was a tough tester with a number of climbs and hills to be suffered on each lap. And mud. Lots of mud.

The National Novice is the last “Big One” every year and for many club athletes is the focus of their cross country season. It’s an opportunity to see who will be making the step up to the National Intermediate and National Senior in Spring. Not only are there individual medals, but also more importantly, there are club medals. It’s a rare thing in a sport as individual based as running that you have the chance to run for others, but that is what cross country is. Every place counts. In that regard, fair play to everyone who travelled to toe the line and ensure the club colours were flying high. It’s a huge sacrifice to commit to a race two weeks before Christmas. I’m sure everyone who travelled had other events which they could have sacked the race off for but didn’t and for that they should be commended.

In the ladies race over 4000m, Michelle Magee from our neighbouring club, Bros. Pearse was an impressive winner from gun to tape. Our ladies team finished sixth with Ruth Kelly having a stormer to finish in the Top 25. The constantly improving Anna Delaney had another great run to round off her 2013 racing calendar. Caroline Conway showed that despite not being able to train with the rest of the girls, absence from Bushy Park is not an impediment to ability. Claire Bailey also ran impressively, and will have gained from the experience of racing over such a tough course. Natalia Sokolowska is quietly making a comeback and showed strength and determination right through to the end of this race. Orla Jordan cruised around the course – when you have conquered the ironman, a 4k cross country race is no bother to you. In her first experience of national standard cross country racing Patricia Fitzsimons also placed well. Shóna Keane had a courageous run and a storming sprint finish despite being under the weather all weekend. Stephanie Bergin showed the benefit of her marathon training to make up a lot of places in the latter part of the race and is another to watch out for in 2014.

In the mens race, Sean Tobin of Clonmel AC justified his pre-race favourite tag and devoured the 6000m course with no little haste. Our mens team clocked eleventh place, anchored by Karol Cronin who also picked up a gold medal on the Dublin team. Karol added to his impressive collection of XC medals for 2013, which is now reaching ghetto rapper levels of bling.

Damien Kelly proved himself the clubman that he is, by togging out for the club at last minute. Mr. Reliable over the turf, Damien was a strong fourth scorer. Gavin Finlay, our second man home, had a great run, finishing well up in the field. Kevin Curran would say that he is a man more suited to the roads, but despite that, had a solid run yesterday. A few hard runs in Donegal over Christmas will ensure that the Ballyshannon boyo tears up the Berlin halfmarathon next April. Performance of the day came from Mark Small, who displayed the depth of his natural ability with a very impressive run. Clearly a star in the making and one to watch for next year. Michael Cunningham made a well timed move through the field in the second half of the race to round out 2014 on a solid note. Paul Duffy battled the course with heart and courage and will be raring to go in the National Intermediate next February. Whisper it quietly, Packie’s back. The Cratloe harrier cruised around, making up a lot of places in the final lap. A month in Sri Lanka now for the bould Enright to look forward to. As for me, despite a wardrobe malfunction in the second lap, and nearly impaling myself on one of the posts marking out the course, I got around in one piece.

Finally, a word of thanks to our support crew, Emily, Myles, Paddy, Carol, Gareth, Catriona, Joe and Breda – a true wall of noise throughout.

Now, we can all enjoy Christmas.

Nollaig Shóna Díobh!

Dublin Intermediate 2013, Dec 1st 2013

Well done to everyone taking part in the Dublin Intermediate 2013 in Tymon park this past Sunday. Full results below. Our Mens team hot of the plane from Lanzarote finished 4th with the Ladies in 7th

Place No Name Club Time

21 408 Orla Jordan 18:06
25 403 Brenda Egan 18:14
27 404 Caroline Conway 18:21
28 401 Patricia Fitzmaurice 18:22
34 402 Niamh Flaherty 19:09

Place No Name Club Time
8 348 Gavin Finlay 29.12
9 340 Paul Duffy 29.16
21 342 Gareth Murran 30.18
23 344 Damian Kelly 30.30
32 347 Trevor Sweeney 31.18
36 343 Michael Cunningham 32.02

Lanzarote 2013

I’m writing this on the plane back to a cold and wet Dublin. After 4 races already this week, tomorrow will be my 5th. I dont think I’ll get any sympathy having spent the past week in a sunny Lanzarote.

For those that aren’t familiar with the trip to Lanzars, each year around 20 runners represent the club in Lanzarote in the international running challenge. Four races take place over 4 days. In previous years our main challenge has come from the mighty Danes but in recent years a strong Irish contingent has made the trip. In particular this year there was some really strong runners from SBR, Crusaders and Tullamore. This years race series was the 25th year. Amazingly Emily has attended for 20 years.

Day 1 started with the Vince Regan 10K road race. The course isn’t easy on a calm day but much like last year we were met with gale force winds on the 2 lap course. After one lap every runner was in bits and we’ll down on their target pace. This race builds character if nothing else. It can only get easier from here.

Day 2 is on the ridge. the legs feel a little better after the travel. Like the first day this race starts and ends on the track in La Santa. The first 7k gets you to the top of the ridge with its spectacular views. The trip up this year was calm but warm. With the wind at our backs we knew the work would all be on the way down.

You have to be fit to do well on this one. If you go too fast you could end up walking to the top or start loosing places on the way back down. When we hit the top there was around 1k of flat recovery and then it’s downhill all the way home. This year even with a strong lean the wind was blowing us back up the mountain. Getting back down was possibly harder than going up.

Day 3 started early with a bus trip to Porte del Carmen. The race here takes place on the same beach each year. You hope and prey that the sand will be hard packed and easy underfoot, but more often than not there are long stretches of soft sand which makes for difficult runnig. The 5k is one of those races that hurts from the start but you recover quickly from.

Day 4 is the 1/2 marathon. At 9 am you get dropped off on the edges of Timanfya national park and have to make your own way back to the track in La Santa. The first 8k is a mix of road, rails and some big hills. At 9k they throw in a near vertical hill that turns man to mouse but once you hit the top it’s time to turn on after burners on. You run downhill through a number of local villages and eventually see La Santa off in the distance. This years half was one of the toughest ever, not because of the course but because of the energy shaping cross winds and sand storms.

There is a real sense of urgency on the last hill just outside La Santa and then once again on the back straight to make up those final few seconds. Then there is the final fall over the line and smug satisfaction that you gave it 110%. It’s hard to judge your times from one year to the next but this year was surely the most challenging in quite a few years.

The club performed really well this year. The men’s A team had a job to do in the half marathon and went out hard to hold of Crusaders and the Danes. We took gold by 8 minutes overall. Our women’s A team came in second place behind a very strong crusaders team but without all of our top runners race fit and recovered from the marathon, it won’t be repeated next year. Catarina and Maura spent every waking hour in the gym in preparation for next year. Hopefully they will be back running soon.

Loads of the club members ran out of their skins to take top positions in their age categories. Full results with some great photos from Anna Delaney below. For anyone who hasn’t been on the trip before I can’t recommend it enough. There aren’t many races in Ireland that generate the same adrenaline rush as flying though a small village in Lanzarote at break neck speed. As usual we had great support from all those that weren’t running including Emily and Myles. Bring on next year.

There is also a great write up on the Crusaders website