The Irish round-up comes with a huge range of performances across the entirety of endurance sport. Lindie Naughton reports.

Conor Duffy of Glaslough Harriers and Íde Nic Dhomhnaill of West Limerick AC were the winners of the Dunshaughlin 10km in Co Meath on Saturday evening (June 17) which, befitting its status as one the best road races on the calendar, had attracted entries from from all over the country.

While no records were broken, Duffy pulled away in the later stages of the race for an emphatic victory in 30 mins 19 secs. Second in 30:30 was Luke Johnston of Moy Valley AC, while a close third in 30:34 was Jamie Fallon.

Conor Duffy of Glaslough Harriers. Photo: Lindie Naughton

In the women’s race, Mac Dhomhnaill finished in an eye-catching time of 33 mins 10 secs, with the top three all under 34 minutes. For Dundrum South Dublin AC, Grace Lynch was second in 33:46 with Irish marathon champion Courtney McGuire of Clonmel AC third in 33:54. Fourth and first W45 in 34:41 was Teresa Doherty of Finn Valley AC.

With four wins from four races, Mac Dhomhnaill now leads the women’s individual table ahead of McGuire. Eoin Everard of Kilkenny City Harriers tops the men’s table, although he wasn’t running in Dunshaughlin.

A stunning 42 women’s teams and 64 men’s teams had signed up for the race, along with the 21 mixed teams (three men, three, women) fighting it out in the Peugeot League.

After five races, DSD AC currently tops the Peugeot League table and the Dublin won all three team categories on Saturday. Just three races remain in the Peugeot League and all are over ten miles, which may shake up the team standings. Next up is the Roscommon ’10’ on Saturday July 1.

Íde Nic Dhomhnaill of West Limerick AC. Photo: Lindie Naughton

A busy time on the roads

On a hectically busy week for road running, Peter Somba of Dunboyne AC was an emphatic winner of the Corkagh Park 5 Mile on Sunday (June 18) – the opening round of this year’s Dublin Race Series, organised in conjunction with the Dublin Marathon.

Last year, Somba won all but the Corkagh race in the four-race series so he was delighted to put that to right, winning the race in 25 mins 35 secs. Second in 26:32 was reigning Irish marathon champion Martin Hoare of Celbridge AC while third in 27:23 was Noel McNally of Belfast-based group Roadrunners AC.

First woman in 29:52 was former Ulster hockey player Caitlyn Harvey, who competed as a junior with Lagan Valley AC. Harvey is now also training with Roadrunners AC and aiming to run the Dublin Marathon in October.

Adrienne Jordan of Crusaders AC, back racing after an eighteen-month injury break, was second in 31:31 and Grace Kennedy Clarke of Donore Harriers third in 31:42.

Also on Sunday, Kevin Moriarty of Raheny Shamrock AC in 15:35 and Ellen McLoughlin in 17:40 were the winners at the Castleknock 5km in Co Dublin. In Belfast, Dearbhla Cox of Annadale Striders was the winner of the Belfast City Women’s 10km in 37:37. Sarah McNutt was second in 38:58 and Catherine Martin third in 39:11.

Marathon woman Aoife Cooke of Eagle AC was sixth and first woman at the Dunmanway 10km. Barry Donovan was the overall winner in 33:35.

Winners at the SFK Boyne 5km on Friday evening were Colin Leonard of Drogheda and District in 16 mins exactly and Laura McDonnell of Rathfarnham WSAF AC in 17:51.

In the Phoenix Park, Peter McGuinness of North West Runners was the winner of the Dublin Pride Run 5km in 16 mins 28 secs. First woman was Eavan McLoughlin in 18:08.

Earlier in the week

Pierre Murchan of Dublin City Harriers was the winner of the Docklands 5km based at Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin on Thursday (June 15). Murchan finished in 14 mins 42 secs. Second in 14:53 was Michael Harty of East Cork AC while third in 15;27 was Peter Somba of Dunboyne AC.

Laura Mooney of Tullamore AC was first woman in 17:04, followed by the Richardson sisters from Kilkenny, with Grace finishing in 17:24 and younger sister Meadhbh in 17:30. Mother Niamh wasn’t too far behind, ensuring team victory for Kilkenny City Harriers ahead of Sportsworld AC. Sportsworld AC, led by Karol Cronin, was first of the men’s teams ahead of Portmarnock AC.

In Co Cork, Evan Fitzgerald of Clonmel AC had over two minutes to spare when winning the 40th Donoughmore 7-Mile in 35 mind 52 secs. Second in 27:56 was Anthony Mannix of Cork Track Club while third and first M50 was Vivian Foley of Eagle AC in 18:01. Finishing twelfth and first woman in 40:53 was former Irish marathon champion Aoife Cooke of Eagle AC. Margaret Murphy of Mallow AC was second and first W40 in 45:01 and Linda Kelly of Carrigaline AC and Cork Tri Club third and first W45 in 45:46.

Mark Walsh from the Department of Education team was the winner of the Musgrave S&S BHAA 5km which started from Cork Boat Club, Blackrock on Wednesday (June 14). His time was 15 mins 33 secs.

Army man Nathan O’Leary was second in 15:41 and Kristaps Liepins of Stryker third in 16:20. First woman was Lizzie Lee of Apple in 16:59. Hannah Steeds of Eli Lilly was second in 17:14 and Michelle Kenny of the Department of Education third in 17:47.

Winners of the Grant Thornton Corporate 5km Challenge in Cork on Tuesday (June 13) were Tom McKenzie representing Radisson Blu Hotel in 16:06and Rachel O’Flynn of Scott Tallon Walker in 18:57.

The race, a commercial venture aimed at the business community and promoted by Athletics Ireland, took place on much the same course as the Cork Business Houses Athletic Association Musgrave 5km race a day later. Entry fee was €35 compared to €10 for the BHAA race.

Track

Andrew Coscoran of Star of the Sea AC produced the track performance of the week when he broke Ray Flynn’s longstanding Irish outdoor record when winning the 1500m at the Meeting Nikaia in Nice on Saturday (June 17).

Coscoran’s time of 3:32.68 was almost a second faster than the hand-timed 3:33.5 clocked by Flynn at the Dream Mile in Bislett in July 1982 – almost forty-one years ago. It was also faster than the Irish indoor record of 3:33.49 which Coscoran ran in Birmingham last February.

Coscoran was pushed hard all the way by 18-year-old Dutch athlete Niels Laros of the Netherlands, who finished a close second in a national senior record of 3:32.89.

Finishing a fighting ninth in 3:36.09 was Nick Griggs, which took over four seconds off Cian McPhillips’ Irish U20 1500m record of 3:40.56. Big target for Griggs this season is the European U20 Championships in Israel in August, where he will defend his 3000m title.

Ciara Mageean of City of Lisburn AC finished 11th in the mile with a time of 4:22.03 at the Bislett Games in Oslo on Wednesday (June 14). Mageean’s time was not far off her best mile time of 4:19.03 which dates back to 2019. She has recently regained the Irish 800m record and ran a fine time of 4:00.95 for 1500m at the Florence Diamond League earlier this month.

On the same evening, at the BMC meet in Watford, Amy O’Donoghue of Dundrum South Dublin AC ran a time of 4:17.52

In a blanket finish to the women’s 1500m at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland on Tuesday (June14), Sarah Healy of UCD AC bided her time before sprinting home for victory in 4:03.85. Finishing on her heels were Gaia Sabatini of Italy in 4:03.88 and British athlete Ellie Baker in 4:03.95. Healy is now training with Trevor Painter’s group in Wigan having finished her primary degree course at UCD.

In the men’s 800m, an off-form Mark English of Finn Valley AC finished eighth in 1:50.39.

Track at home

A track record in the women’s 5000m for Irish international athlete Shona Heaslip of An Riocht AC proved the highlight of the inaugural DSD Games held at the Dublin’s club’s new campus on Tibradden Lane in the foothills of the Dublin mountains on Sunday (June 18).

Heaslip had an early start from her Kerry home to race and although she had hoped to break 16 minutes, she was pleased with her time of 16:07.84 secs – not far from her best of 15:50.38 dated back to 2018.

Only a fortnight ago, Heaslip was part of the Irish team at the European Cup 10,000m in Pacé, France where she ran a time of 33:26.96 – just three seconds off her best.

“I haven’t raced much on the track for the past few years and it’s difficult finding 5000m and 10,000m races so it’s great to have this one,” she said.

At the NI and Ulster Championships on Friday and Saturday (June 16/17), Conán McCaughey won the men’s 10,000m in 30:56.27. Fastest over two 5000m men’s races was Neil Johnston of Annadale Striders in 14:39.50.

Conall McLean of St Malachy’s AC was second in 14:42.11. Winning a poorly-supported women’s race was Sarah Lavery of Beechmount Harriers in 17:56.06. There was a better turn-out for the 1500m, won by Rebekah Osborne of Dromore in a personal best 4:26.76, with Rachael Gibson of North Down AC second in 4:27.19. Winning the men’s title was 20-year-old Callum Morgan of Candour Track Club in 3:56.64.

Off-road

Shane Lynch of Glenmore AC was the winner of the Flagstaff to Carlingford mountain race on Sunday (June 18), clocking a time of 1 hrs 47 mind 29 secs for the 11-mile point-to-point race with 1000m of climb.

Second in 1:47.50 was Jonny Steed of Glens Runners, while third in 1:49.43 was Andre Tees of BARF. First woman was Esther Dixon of Newry AC in 2:10.29 followed by Alexa James of Carmen Runners in 2:22.30 and Ciara Coffey of Newry AC in 2:48.31.

Broken Arrow Skyrace

Out in the USA there was two Irishmen battling in both the Vertical Kilometre and 23k at the Broken Arrow Skyrace in Tahoe, California. Set in the picturesque Palisades Ski resort, it was a big snow year that created an entirely different experience for the runners this year.

Starting at high altitude and only getting higher, the VK was on the Friday with a full report here. Both Paddy O’Leary and Zak Hanna toed the line for both races, with the best result being Hanna’s 5th at the VK. The altitude certainly hits, especially on the second lap. Full report on the 23k to follow on the website too.

Photo: Nancy Hobbs