All posts in Club Championships

After the juvenile club cross was concluded it then fell to the senior athletes to do their stuff in the Clonliffe senior cross country for the Harry Cooney Cup. Today’s championships was of course incorporated into the historic Irwin Cup, round 15 of the Grand Prix Series.

The prerace favourites Sean Doran and Karl Nolan quickly establish a substantial lead over the chasing pack undeterred by the sticky underfoot conditions and the threat of more rain. And just like the rain stayed away from the chasers!

At the end of the 6k distance Doran had pulled away to take the 2019 cross country title from Nolan 2nd and best of the rest Mick Birmingham 3rd. Best of the women and club champion was Clodagh Moriarty, 2nd Aimee Ahern and 3rd Mel Curran.

Full Grand Prix report from Liam Hennessy later.

A fine turnout for tonight club club 800 Championships which were incorporated into round eight of the Grand Prix Series. The first race of the day was the sub 2.10 race,essentially the men’s championship. This proved to be a fine and exciting race with Sean O’Leary taking up the running with 300 to go from Efrem Gidey, Sean proving to be stronger over the final 200 to take the 2019 club championship in the time of 2.00. Efrem was second (2.01) with Greg Hossenny in the third (2.07)

Race number two was the sub- 2.35 race and turned out to be the women’s club championship. There was a fast pace from the off with Alanna Cooley successfully defending her title from last year winning a time of 2.22. Second was Sarah Bateson in a new PB of 2.25 with young Naoisa Cullen fine third in 2.29.

The top three in the Grand Prix for the Richie Barr cup was 1st Don Molloy,  2nd Anne McDonald and 3rd Murray Ahern.

Full results will be published as soon as possible.

The club 800 championships incorporated into the latest Grand Prix Series for the Richie Barr cup takes place tonight Thursday the 20th at 8.00pm. This race is open not only to the Grand Prix athletes but to all club members. With the popularity of the distance there may well be some half a dozen races needed. Prize giving for both the championships, men and women and the Grand Prix, sponsored by Richie Barr takes place after the races.

in the Grand Prix series itself the  leaderboard after seven rounds shows Mick Birmingham a clear leader on 185 points from the 800 sponsor Ritchie Barr second on 172 points, tied for third on 171 points are Deirdre Fitzsimon’s and the 2018 Grand Prix series champion Mick Gleeson. The latest updated leaderboard can be found on the Grand Prix page.

Under lights at Morton Stadium last night Declan Power led the field on a merry dance in the Club 10,000 Championship for the Bonass Trophy. the Championship was incorporated into the latest round of the Grand Prix Series and drew a bumper field of some 50 starters, undoubtedly the largest 10,000 track championship in the country.  Although Declan refrained from “turning cartwheels across the floor”, he certainly left the opposition feeling “kinda seasick” and looking a “Whiter shade of Pale”!

Chased hard in the early laps by Sean Doran and Tom Sherlock, in the end Declan powered away to win and be crowned the Club 10,000 champion 2018 (possibly his third or fourth win in this event?) in a fast 33:47.  Tom Sherlock was runner up with Sean Doran 3^rd.  Declan won the Bonass Trophy, sponsored by Pat Bonass.

It was also pleasing to see such a great turnout of women athletes for the Women’s Championship and the first ever Women’s Cup, again sponsored by Pat Bonass which was own by Maura Matthews in a time of 40.58 from Emma Dunne, the 2017 Grand Prix Champion and Aideen Brady 3^rd.

In the Grand Prix handicap, 1^st place was taken by Murray Ahern from Sinead Smith and Joe Cole 3^rd.

A big thank you to the officials who kept tight tabs on affairs and succeeded in keeping athletes firmly on track for the 25 laps of Santry and a big thank you also to sponsor, Pat Bonass.