from Donore Harriers website Saturday proved to be a busy day of various races for Donore athletes. The most prominent of these events was the British & Irish Masters Cross Country Championships in Santry Demesne which saw some great Irish performances.
Four Donore runners competed for Ireland in their age groups bringing home a clutch of medals. Conditions stayed reasonable for most of the day in Santry and there were plenty of supporters out in force for the Irish teams. First off were the women (combined with the men’s 65+) over 6k.
Anne Curley ran on the W35 team finishing in 21st place overall and the Irish team won gold in this category – winner of the race was England’s Claire Martin. Anne Woodlock ran in the W65 category and this Irish team also won gold. Terry Mee got a late call up to compete in the M65 category and his team finished in 4th place. Jim McNamara ran a powerful race to finish 2nd M70 and lead his team to gold.
The men’s 50-60 race followed and the day of competition culminated in a thrilling men’s 35-45 race which was won by Ireland’s Peter Matthews. A great day’s racing – helped in part by our own Bernie Kavanagh and Ann Gormley who are part of the Irish Masters Athletics Association.
In Maynooth Mark Dooley was in action running in his DCU vest in the Irish Universities Athletics Association Road Relay Championships. Mark ran the 3 mile leg of five leg relay (1-2-3-2-1) and had a solid run clocking 25.05. Mark ran on the DCU B team which finished in 4th position.
On Dollymount strand was the venue for the BHAA Bank of Ireland 6K beach race. According to gossip the race was actually 6.7k and was set over 2 laps of an out and back loop. A number of Donore runners took part. Simon Meyler finished in 8th place in 24:03 and was 1st man over 40. Donal Iremonger was 27th in 25:29 and Colin Moore 33rd in 25:45. Jennifer O’Keeffe was 2nd women over 45 and finished 136th overall in 30.37 while Des Gill finished in 31:38 in 157th position.
?In other news, Fiona Mahon won the Senior Ladies’ Sandra Floyd Cup 3K open cross country race today in Dunleer.
A special mention must also go to Tommy Hayward who won the official of the year award at the AI Annual awards ceremony in the Santry Crowne Plaza last night.