Dublin Clubs activities, 11 - 19 October 2025

CROSS-COUNTRY - MASTERS ON TRIAL AT ABBOTSTOWN

 In the women’s senior race at the Autumn Open Cross-Country held at. the National Cross-Country course at Abbotstown, Dublin, on Sunday (October 19), Orla Duffy (Dublin City Harriers) who finished 13th in 22:18 was best of the Dublin club athletes, while Leia Ryan (Metro St Brigid’s AC) finished third in the U20 women’s race. In the men’s race, Colm Rooney (Clonliffe Harriers) finished sixth and first M40 in 25:06. Ryan O’Neill (Rathfarnham WSAF AC) finished third in the U20 race. Leading home 51 finishers in the senior men’s race was Callum Morgan of CDR TC) in 24:42. William Fitzgerald (Craughwell AC) was second in 24:53 and Lughaidh Mallon (UCD AC) third in 24.5, was Frank Buchanan of St Michael’s College AC won the junior men’s race in 19:04. Ryan O’Neill (Rathfarnham WSAF AC) finished third in 19:01, with thirty three finishers. The races also served as a trial for the annual British and Irish Masters Cross-Country which will take place in Leeds on Saturday November 15. Of the Dublin club athletes, Rachel Murphy (Plant-Based AC) , fresh from the European Masters Track and Field Championships in Madeira, finished third W40, Orla Gormley (Raheny Shamrock AC) fourth W60, Sheelagh Jones (Rathfarnham WSAF AC) third and Grainne Grennan (Blackrock AC) third and fourth W65. In the W75 category, Eileen O’Brien ( Lucan Harriers) finished second and June Comiskey (Raheny Shamrock AC) third. 

Of the master men (apart from Colm Rooney), Pierce Geoghegan (Liffey Valley AC) was second M40, Paul Fleming (Rathfarnham WSAF AC) third M50 and Sean McCreery (Rathfarnham WSAF AC) first M60 In the M65 category,Liam Lenehan (Sportsworld) was first and Philip O’Doherty (Clonliffe Harriers) second. Many masters were absent due to the clash with the European Masters, with the half marathon also taking place on Sunday.

Winning the mixed 4 x 1500m in 18 mins 23 secs was a team from Dublin City Harriers,. Niamh Carr, Pierre Murchan, Lucy Holmes and Philip Marron made up the team. Two other Dublin clubs were competing with DSD finishing sixth and Crusaders AC eighth. 

BHAA - BACK IN BUSINESS!

The beautiful grounds of NUI Maynooth were the location for the AIB cross-country races on Saturday (October 18) — the first Business Houses Athletics Association race of the new cross-country season. First up were the women, with Caroline Crowley (Solicitors/Crusaders AC) proving the class of the field when winning in a time of 13 mins 5 secs for the two-mile distance. Second was Emma Finlay (Esker AC) while third was Ann Marie Delaney (Na Fianna AC). Finishing a close fourth and first W45 was Rachel Eustace (HSE/Clonliffe Harriers). Team winners was Health Team C. In the men’s four-mile race, Colm Turner (Gardai/Brothers PearseAC ) pushed the pace from the start but couldn’t shake off the challenge of Sean Doran (Harrier Products/Clonliffe Harriers. Doran moved to the front on the fourth and final lap winning in 21 mins 4 secs. Turner was second in 21:13. George Snee (FII/Dunboyne AC) was third in 22.22. Leading Meta to team victory in fourth place was Conor Grant in 23:02. Fifth and first M40 was Joseph McDermott (Dunnes Stores/Crusaders AC). 

Next Dublin BHAA race is the Central Bank4-mile in Jobstown on Saturday November 8 (11am), Newcomers welcome!

EUROPEAN MASTERS - LOTS OF MEDALS FOR DUBLIN ATHLETES

Ann Woodlock (Donore Harriers) got the Irish team at the European Masters Track and Field Championships in Madeira last week when she won the W85 1500m on Saturday (October 11) even getting well deserved publicity for masters athletics with an interview on the radio. Edel Maguire (Clonliffe Harriers) took four medals in the W65 age group, beginning her campaign by winning the 400m on Sunday (October 12) in a European record time of 68.44 secs. On Monday, she was second in th 100m in 14.63 secs After two days rest, Maguire won the high jump with 1.32 on Thursday (October 16), and was second in the 200m in 30.08.

Also in action for Clonliffe were Thomas Morgan 7th in the M50 00m and Snezana Bechtina 4th in the 400 in a season’s best 59.68 secs, Bechtina, was also seventh in the 200m, and helped the W40 4x400 team to victory. Philip O’Doherty was part of the winning M65 cross-country team, as indeed was Tom O’Connor of Liffey Valley AC

For Raheny Shamrock AC, Annette Kealy was having a busy week.After finishing third in the W55 5000m, she was runner-up both the 10km road race and the half marathon. She also helped the W55 team to victory in both the 10km and half marathon. 

In the cross-country team races, Vanessa Sallier (Rathfarnham WSAF AC) was part of the second placed W45 team and Ann Gormley (Donore Harriers part of the second placed W60. cross-country team. Sue Zlnay (Dundrum South Dublin, W60) won three gold and three silver medals Her golds came in the 2000m steeplechase (9:28.17), 8km cross-country and the 10km, followed by a silver in the half marathon on the final day of competition She also took team silver in the W65 10km.

In the mixed 4 x 400m, Shane Sheridan (Dundrum South Dublin AC) and Carole Kearney (Lucan Harriers) helped the over 60 team to silver. Other medals winners from Dublin clubs included Rachel Murphy (Plant-Based AC) third W40 1500m, Carol Kearney (Lucan Harriers) second in the W60 400m and Tom Cuddy (Rathfarnham WSAF AC) third M65 cross-country. Cuddy also took silver with the M65 half marathon team. Well done to them and to all members of Dublin clubs in action!