Dublin Clubs Roundup, 14 - 15 November 2026
MASTERFUL IRISH AT ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CROSS-COUNTRY!
For only the third time ever, the Irish team are overall winners at the 37th annual British and Irish Masters Cross-Country Championships, held in perfect conditions at Abbotstown on Saturday (November 14) - and Dublin athletics club members helped in so small way. The vital four points collected in the over 75 women’s age group, added to the programme for the first time this year, proved critical in assuring a two-point victory for Ireland over perennial rivals England. Members of the team included the great June Comiskey (Raheny Shamrock), who turns 80 next year, and the super consistent Eileen O’Brien of Lucan Harriers. Ireland remains the only nation ever to have beaten the might of England in this popular event, where teams points in the eighteen age categories teams competition are all important the team results are vital.
In the men’s competition, victory went to the Irish M35, 45, 50 and 75 teams. Among those lining out for those teams were Eoin Flynn (Rathfarnham WSAF) and Keith Young (Metro St Brigid’s AC) both on the M45 teams and Ruben Bartelink (DSD AC) and Paul Fleming (Rathfarnham WSAF AC) on the M50 team. Helping the M40 team to second place were were Colm Turner (Brothers Pearse) and Pierce Geoghegan (Liffey Valley AC). Also finishing second was a M55 team that included Des Tremble (Donore Harriers) and the M60 team for which Michael Counsel (Raheny Shamrock AC) and Sean McCreery (Rathfarnham WSAF AC) were among the finishers. Of the women, finishing fourth overall in the 6km race, as well as fourth W40, was Fiona Roche (Raheny Shamrock AC), while fifth and first W45 was Ciara Hickey (Brothers Pearse AC). Seventh overall and first W35 was Lisa Madden (Sportsworld AC), who was leading Ireland to team victory in this category. Also taking victory and collecting valuable points were the over 45 and 70 teams. The Irish W50 team, which included Zoe Quinn (Raheny Shamrock) finished second as did the W55 team led by Annette Kealy (Raheny Shamrock) second in this age group. Back in 2005, Kealy was the overall winner of this race when it was held in Santry. Finally the Irish W65 team, which included Sheelagh Jones (Rathfarnham WSAF AC) finished third, while finishing second in the M65 open 4km race was her club mate Tom Cuddy.
In Germany, Efrem Gidey (Clonliffe Harriers) finished seventh in the Sparkassen Cross Pforzheim 7.7km on Saturday (November 14). His time of 19 min2 45.36 secs put him about half a minute behind the winner and sets him up nicely for next Sunday’s National Cross-Country Championships at Abbotstown, where he will take on, among others, last year’s champion Brian Fay (Raheny Shamrock) and recently crowned Dublin champion Paul O’Donnell (DSD AC).
More pictures at at https://www.flickr.com/.../lindie/albums/72177720336736286/
DCU WINS COLLEGE ROAD RELAYS
At the annual Irish Universities Road Relays in Maynooth, a DCU team including Finn Woodger (Metro St Brigid’s AC) had almost a minute to spare when winning the men’s race ahead of University of Galway and University of Limerick. In the women’s race, Eimear Maher (DSD AC) helped UCC to a narrow two second victory over DCU. Maher ran a time of 10 mins 37 secs for the two-lap leg - the fastest of the day.
ROADS ROUND-UP
At the Stook 10-Mile in Co Kilkenny on Sunday (November 15), ultramarathon man Ger Prendergast (Ballymun AC) finished second M40 in 66 mins 32 secs. Ballymun AC make an annual trip to this race and the men’s team finished third, with Eamon Carthy, 13th in 72:01, backed up by Damien Crystal and Ian Franzoni. The Ballymun women took the team prize, led by Ashley Carroll, who was fourth woman in 79:10 with club mates Emily Furphy, Katie Sheridan and Kim Keogh not too far behind. Completing the 10km was Michelle Bennett.
Winners at the Bear Races Clontarf Half Marathon on Saturday were Leo Corry (Belpark Tri Club) in 72 mins 1 sec. Sebastian Hansen (Crusaders AC) was second in 72:14. First woman was Spanish triathlete Sonsoles Panadero in 82:30. A total of 4,345 complete the run.
