All posts in Club Championships

Thankfully there is indeed light at the end of the tunnel and of course with the continued easing of Covid 19 restrictions the prospect of a return to the normality of athletics looks very good indeed. Athletics Ireland are expected to confirm over the coming days that the national senior track and field championships will take place in Morton Stadium on the weekend of August 22 and 23rd. Athletics Ireland are also expected to confirm dates for national juvenile Championships, possibly limited to the U/17 ages upwards, incorporated into national junior track and field championships over the weekends at the end of August and early September. It is also anticipated that Masters track and field championships will take place in September.

Of course we already have the good news of the confirmation of Leinster track and field championships for juniors/seniors/masters taking place on the weekend of 8th/9th of August (venue to be confirmed).Further good news came yesterday from the Dublin Athletics Board who have confirmed that there will be Dublin juvenile Championships for U/17, U/18 and U/19 athletes to be held in conjunction with the Leinster juvenile Championships on Saturday, August 1 (venue to be confirmed).

Clonliffe Harriers are delighted to confirm that the club will hold club track and field championships next month. These championships of course in this Covid 19 era will be somewhat different to the norm. There will be pre-entry, details will be announced closer to the dates, athletes will be expected to adhere to all health guidelines with regard to hand hygiene, absence of physical contact and social distancing pre-and post event, no dressing rooms/showers etc. These Clonliffe club championships will have to be confined to Clonliffe Harriers athletes only (regrettably this year we cannot allow guests). Clonliffe will of course fully implement all updated Athletics Ireland guidelines for these championships.

The dates for the club championships are:

Thursday July 16 – 5000m

Tuesday July 21 – 100m and 800 m

Thursday July 23 – 400m and 1500m. ( we would also like to include some field events for these championships, but these will have to be limited and of course subject to demand, if you would like to see field events included please speak to your coach and ask your coach to discuss)

Like

Efrem Gidey was the star turn in last night’s Clonliffe club 5000 championship in Morton Stadium. Efrem took up the running after only 3 or so laps to drive on at 70 second laps as he chased the club junior record. In the end he not unexpectedly won the race in a very fast time of 14.33.59. This time is faster than the 1971 time of Tom Cregan of 14.36.5 credited as the club junior record, however it has now been established that the record remains with Gerry Finnegan at 14.31.8  which he ran in Kirkby Stadium, Birmingham in 1975.

2nd place last night was Sean Doran with Greg Hossenny 3rd.

In the women’s championship Rachael Eustace with a time of 20.05 came out on top, with Maura Matthews 2nd (20.16) and Emma Cooper 3rd (21.13)

Just when you thought it was safe to into the Cross Country season the track beckons once again! On Tuesday next, September 3rd the club 5000 championships takes place in the stadium. This will be followed by two more September track races in the Grand Prix series: the Walker Cup on September 12th and then the club 10,000 for the Bonass trophy on September 26th.

Stephen Bateson reports: The club 1500 m championship took place as part of the Grand Prix series. A separate report to follow on the Grand Prix.

In the women’s championship Alannah Cooley topped off a good week placing first in 4.56, followed by Naoise Cullen 5.27 and Abbey Sheehy 5.32..

In the men’s race, Greg Hossney was first in 4.21, followed by Eoghan Murphy and Niall Sherlock.

The Committee of Clonliffe Harriers are extremely grateful and obliged to Pat Bonass who has most generously sponsored a new trophy for the Women’s Club 10,000 Championship.

Pat of course already sponsors the Men’s 10,000 championship and over 30 years ago presented the Bonass Trophy to the club for presentation to the Men’s 10,000 champion.

Both Men’s and Women’s Championships take place on Thursday September 13^th in conjunction with the Grand Prix Series round that night.  The club championship are open to all members of Clonliffe Harriers.

With the Dublin City Marathon taking place approximately six weeks later the 10,000 Championship represents an ideal opportunity for men and women’s athletes to get a good 10,000 race or indeed tempo under their belts. Whilst the thoughts of 25 laps on the track may be a little daunting to some it is important to bear in mind that 10,000 on the track is still the same distance as a 10k road race but there are no hills on the track in Morton Stadium!

All are encouraged, men and women to include this race in their schedule. See you on September 13^th.