Dublin Clubs roundup, 12 - 14 December 2025
EURO CROSS MEDALS FOR DUBLIN ATHLETES
Dublin club athletes played a vital part in Ireland’s thrilling performance at the 31st annual European Cross-Country Championships held at the Lagoa resort in the south of Portugal on Sunday (December 14). Nick Griggs (Candour TC), who celebrates his 21st birthday on December 18, gave himself an early birthday present with a runaway victory in the men’s U23 race. Griggs had finished runner-up U23 in 2024, as well as second and third U20 in 2022 and 2023, so his victory was long awaited. Griggs was also leading the Irish team to a clear-cut victory over France, with Jonas Stafford and Lughaidh Mallon, both of them members of UCD AC, part of the squad. Inspired no doubt by that performance, the men’s team then packed superbly in the senior race to come second behind Spain, with and all five members of the squad finishing in the top 20. Of the Dublin-based athletes lining out, Irish champion Brian Fay (Raheny Shamrock AC) finished tenth and Efrem Gidey (Clonliffe Harriers) nineteenth. Leading the team home was Jack O’Leary (Mullingar Harriers) who had the race of his life to finish fifth. It was a first team medal in these championships for an Irish men’s team in twenty-five years. Earlier in the day, in the men’s Under 20 race, Cormac Dixon (Tallaght AC) finished 13th and Tom Breslin (Clonliffe Harriers) 67th. It was a second championships outing for Dixon, who finished 35th in 2024 and had returned from his US base at Providence College, Rhode Island, specially for the race. The team finished fifth with nineteen teams entered. Running the opening leg in the mixed 4 x1 500m relay was Eimear Maher (Dundrum South Dublin AC) who did a good job in keeping the team’s hopes of a top three placing intact. Unfortunately a trip in one of the subsequent changeovers proved costly and the Irish team had to be satisfied with sixth place. Defending champions Italy led home the fifteen teams. Ireland’s other medal winner was 16-year-old Emma Hickey from Wexford, the Irish champion, who finished third in the women’s U20 race. Overall Ireland finished fifth of sixteen nations on the points table, with placings in the top eight counted.
The big question now is whether Ireland will send a team to the World Cross-Country Championships, taking place in Tallahassee, Florida on Saturday January 10. That’s just a month away and two months earlier than the traditonal date for the biennial fixture. The programme includes under 20 and senior races for men and women as well as a 4x2km mixed relay. At the 2024 championships, held in Belgrade, Serbia, Kenya and Ethiopia took all three places in the four races, as well as all four team titles and the mixed relay, where Great Britain finished third. Ireland sent eight athletes.
REVENUE HIT THE ROADS.
For the Revenue A 6km Cross-Country at Kiltipper, Dublin, the BHAA organisers had put in place a Plan B in case South Dublin County Council banned its cross-country race planned for Saturday (December 13). When that did indeed happen, the race was transferred to the paths of the park with the co-operation of the local football club, which acted as race HQ.
Race winner was Paul Cummins in 22 mins 27, with Joe Walsh second in 22:35 and Padraig Mahoney a close third in 22.39. Fifth and first woman in 22:59 was Laura McDonnell running her first race in some time. Sinead Tighe was second and Ramune Zolbiene third. Also hit with a ban were the much postponed Dublin Juvenile Cross-Country league races scheduled for Tymon Park a day later. The next two Dublin BHAA races, both cross-country, are scheduled for Tymon Park on January 11 and January 31. See www.bhaa.ie for updates.
HOLIDAY RACE CALENDAR
Friday December 26: 40th Anniversary Bull Run 7.5km, Bull Island, Dollymount, Dublin, 11am. Online entry €16.68 individuals; €40 families. Also 4km coastal stroll, 10.45am. Check-in 10-10.45am, 5th Port Dollymount Sea Scouts Den (D03 NR22). C: irishwrestling@outlook.ie; https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/bull-fun-run-walk-2025-tickets-1968877586863
Orienteering: Christmas Score Event, Pine Forest, Tibradden, Co Dublin, 10.30am. Fancy dress encouraged! www.orienteering.ie
Saturday December 27: 14th Fat Turkey10km Run, Suttonians RFC, Sutton, Dublin, 11am. Online entry €30 (incl.reg fee) www.fatturkey run.com
Sunday December 28; D15 Suicide Awareness 5km, Sports Campus Ireland, Abbotstown, Dublin, 11am. Online entry €28. www.myrunresults.com
Thursday January 1; New Year’s Day Tom Brennan Memorial 5km, Phoenix Park, 9.30am. Online entry €25; bobble hat all finishers. www.liffeyvalleyac.com
