Another weekend of Irish endurance performances brought to life on Fast Running by Lindie Naughton.

James Doran of Kerry club An Ríocht was the winner of the Fast Lane 3/4 Marathon at Grange Castle Business Park, Clondalkin, Dublin. Doran had over two minutes to spare when winning in 1 hr 54 mins 6 secs. First woman was Niamh Staunton of St Abban’s AC in 2:09.57.

With the Dublin Marathon just three weeks away, the race was one of a trio of three-quarter marathons on offer.

Winner of the Tarmonbarry 3/4 Marathon in Ballytoohey, Co Roscommon, was master athlete David Tiernan of East Mayo AC in 2:01.47. Aine Kenny of Crusaders AC, also a master athlete, was eight overall and first woman in 2:29.11. Kenneth Nugent of Donore Harriers won the half marathon in 72:40, with Therese O’Connor of Lanesboro Tri Club first woman in 90 mins 34 secs.

Also taking place was the Irish 3/4 marathon at Longwood – the original of the species – where Tudor Moldovan was the winner in 1:47:02 and Fiona Stack the women’s victor in 2:13:31. Both looked to lead from gun to tape in their respective races.

At the Armagh 10-mile, held at the Navan Centre, Eskander Turki of Annadale Striders was the winner in 51 mins 5 secs, with his clubmate Cameron Stewart second in 51:41 and Gareth King of Portadown Runners third and first M40 in 52:37 in an Annadale double Robyn McKee was first woman in 60:50, followed by Louise Smith of North Belfast Harriers in 63:55, who was also first W50, and Fiona Purse of Springwell Runners third and second W50 in 71:41.

Winners at the Grange 10km in Co Sligo were Seamus Somer in 33:39 and Heather Foley in 39:00. Both are members of Sligo AC.

Saturday roads

At the Run Galway Bay Half Marathon at Claddagh on Saturday (October 7) Sergiu Ciobanu of Clonliffe Harriers had a comfortable victory in 70 mins 33 secs. Second in 70:57 was David Mahon. First woman was Norah Pieterse of Mayo AC in 79:58 with Dee Collins second in 80:28.

In the 10km, the winners were Mihai Sprincean in 32 mins 25 secs and Leevale AC’s Lizzie Lee in 34:54; Lee was fifth overall. Winning the marathon in 2:32.19 was Wayne Waldron; Gina Clifford was first woman in 3:14.18.

Robin Mooney proved the class of the field in the annual Simon Home Run 5-Mile held in the Phoenix Park winning in 27 mins 29 secs. First woman was Carmel Ward in 31:49. As has become traditional, a large group of students from the High School Dublin took part in the race. It was led home by Daniel Tallon who finished an excellent eighth place in 30:49.

Jordan Heron of Larne AC was the winner of the Dundrum Gr8 with a time of 46 mind 25 secs for the 8.4 mile distance. Tom Crudgington was second in 46:54 and Jack Sinclair of Belfast-based Roadrunners AC third in 48:25.

First woman in 56:52 was Lauren Hackney, followed by Laura Wylie of Jog Moira in 57:08 and Diane Watson in 57:24.

Winners of the 3.5 mile were father and daughter Jonny Gregg in 20:53 and Brianna Gregg in 23:11. Both are members of Newry AC.

Cross-country

Finn Valley’s Sean McGinley and Nakita Burke of Letterkenny AC took the individual titles at the Donegal Senior Cross-Country Championships held at Mullaghderg on Sunday (October 8).

For McGinley who shook off the challenge of Letterkenny AC’s Donal Farren on the fourth of five laps, it was a first county senior title. Last December McGinley took team silver with the Irish U20 team at the European Cross-Country Championships. Farren finished third with Oisin Toye beating his Finn Valley team mate Jon-Jo Doherty for the bronze medal.

In the women’s race Burke, who won the Dublin Women’s Mini Marathon for the first time last June, battled it out with Teresa Doherty of Finn Valley for much of the race before surging away for victory and her third county title.
Finn Valley won both men and women’s team titles.

All levels of cross-country begins

At novice level, Dara Donoghue of Lucan Harriers led home 110 finishers in the men’s 6km race at the Dublin Novice Cross-Country Championships held in Tymon Park, on Sunday (October 8).

Donoghue finished in 19 mins 14 secs, with Fintan Kerins of Clonliffe Harriers second in 19:23 and Colm Parnell of Crusaders AC third in 19:26.

Clonliffe Harriers took team gold ahead of Dundrum South Dublin AC and Dublin City Harriers, with eleven teams entered.

In the women’s 4km, Elizabeth Gahan was the winner in 14 mins 44 secs ahead of her Dublin City Harriers teammate Cristin Scollard with the pair leading their club to team victory over Crusaders AC and Clonliffe Harriers, with ten teams entered.

Winning the Cork novice women’s cross-country title in 16 mins 9 secs was Leevale AC’s Nadine Forde. Avril Cashman of Youghal AC was second in 16:16 and Meadhbh Moynihan of Leevale AC third in 16:54. Leevale was the winning team, ahead of St Finbarr’s AC and Togher AC, with nine teams entered.

Bandon AC took the first two places in the men’s 6km with Naoise O Flaitheartaigh the winner in 21:44 and Gavin Kenny second in 21:53. Third in 22:01 was Niall Duncan of Togher AC. As in the women’s race, Leevale took the team title, beating Togher and Bandon into the minor placings, with eight team entered.

Rose Finnegan of Bohermeen AC was a clear winner of the women’s race at the Meath Intermediate Championships held at Navan Adventure Centre. Ratotah AC was first team. Taking the men’s title in some style was Aaron Smith of Cilles AC, who had finished second in the novice championships a week earlier. Bohermeen AC took the team title.

Masters of the mud

Mark Malone of Newry AC won the M35-59 race at the Northern Ireland Masters Cross-Country Championships and Trials held at Queen’s Playing Fields, Belfast on Saturday (October 7).

Malone was chased hard by Ricky Johnston with the pair timed at 27 mins 16 secs and 27:20. Third in 27:38 was Lochlainn Connolly of Annadale Striders. All three were in the M35 category. Fourth and first M55 was Steve Cairns of Hunters Bog Trotters in 27:45; fifth and first M45 was Martin McKenna of Armagh AC in 27:48.

Winning the M65 plus race was Laurence Johnston of North Belfast Harriers in 23:06.

In the women’s race, Catherine O’Conor of East Down AC was the winner and first W35 in 22:21; Judith Storm of City of Derry Spartans was second in 22;52 and Gillian McCrory of St Peter’s AC third and first W40 I 22;58.

Fourth and first W45 was Kelly McNeely of City of Lisburn AC in 33:05. Karen Wilton of Jog Lisburn RC was first W50 in 24.40 and Anne Paul of City of Derry Spartans first W60 in 27:16.

School’s Cross Country

Finn Diver of Belfast school St. Malachy’s was a clear winner of the boys’ 4000m at the annual Brother Clonliffe Harriers Schools Cross-Country held not in Santry demesne but in the Trinity grounds next door on Wednesday (October 4).

Diver broke away from a lead pack of five about halfway through the race. Lorcan Benjacar of Ard Scoil Ris finished second and and Jamie Whelan from Ardgillan Community College third with St Aidan’s CBS taking the team title.

Most competitive of the girls’ races came at intermediate level where Goda Buiuydyte from St. Dominic’s Cabra was the winner ahead of Megan Brunt from Loreto Abbey Dalkey and Laura de Burca of Loreto Stephen’s Green. St Dominic’s took the team title by just four points from Loreto Dalkey with Loreto Stephen’s Green third.

Overall team title went to St Dominic’s Cabra with three wins from the four races. In the primary schools competition, with races in three age groups,, St Vincent de Paul were the girls’ winners and St Bridget’s Foxrock best of the boys.

Photo: Nancy Hobbs

Into the hills

Philip Goss of North Belfast Harriers finished 16th and first M35 in 13 mins 55 secs in the vertical kilometres at the Smara Gora Races in Ljubljana-Tacen, Slovenia on Friday.

Sharon Woods 8th overall in 17:59 won the W35 category, with Anne Marie Kenny in 19:54, Lisa Byrne n :20:20 and Paula Walsh in 20:54 taking he next three places.

In the men’s race, Des Kennedy was 19th overall in 14:37 and second M50 with Ray Kenny third M50 in 15:34; 14 in category

A day later in the Smara Gora classic mountain race, Philip Goss was 17th and again first M35 in 51 mins 48.7 secs, Des Kennedy third M50 in 54:27.3, and Ray Kenny fourth the M50 in 57:57.1. Sharon Woods finished 12th and first W40 in 1:06:19.3, followed by third W40 in 1:11:02.2, Anne Marie Kenny 4th W40 in 1:12:59.2 and Paula Walsh fifth W40 in 1:13:46.1.

Photo: Lindie Naughton

Orienteering

Irish international orienteer Cillin Corbett of Cork OC was the winner of the 7.3km ‘brown’ course at the Leinster League orienteering event, organised by Three Rock OC at Glenmore, near Carlingford, Co louth on Sunday (October 8).

Corbett’s time for the on a hilly and rock strewn course was 61 minutes exactly. Second fastest with a time of 65:36 was Valdas Tilunas, of the host club, an Irish masters international. First woman was Ciara Largey of Fermanangh OC in 84:45.