All posts in Grand Prix Series

Entry is now open for the ever popular Clonliffe Harriers Grand Prix Series. Once again the series of 16 Races will commences in Morton Stadium on Thursday April 2nd with The Frank White, 5 Mile track race (Ireland’s only 5 Mile track race).

This year is the 20th running of the series and is once again sponsored by Behan & Associates bringing together all of the Clonliffe club races: The Irwin cup, Horan cup, O’Connor cup, Walker cup, Ahern cup, Bonass Trophy, McDonald cup, Frank White Cup, Mick Murphy Memorial 5, The McCarrick plate, etc plus of course one of the World`s Oldest Races, the Clonliffe 2. This year’s Clonliffe 2 is taking place on the May Bank Holiday and will be run in Glasnevin finishing at John Kavanagh’s The Gravediggers, Prospect Square.

Last year the Grand Prix went right to the wire, with Deirdre Fitzsimons triumphing , Mick Bermingham a very close second and  Gerard Fay in third place.

The Series is open to runners from Clonliffe Harriers as well as to runners from other clubs and is most exciting, as each runner is handicapped throughout the series, giving everyone a chance to compete on an even level. Prizes are awarded for each race along with post race refreshments. Points are awarded following each race and at the series finale in December overall prizes are awarded to the leading runners. With races on every surface:track, road, grass, and the country there is something for all.

For full schedule of races and entry form go to “Promotions” and use drop down to “Grand Prix series”

With the 2019 Grand Prix Series completed and Deirdre Fitzsimons of Dundoyne AC having taken the spoils by a single point attached is the final leaderbord.

So have a look see where you scored well and maybe no so! Blame the handicapper! But as always if you’ve enjoyed 2019 keep an eye on this site for details of 2020. coming soon!

Final leaderboard: Grand Prix 2019 results after Rd 16

Liam Hennessy reports: The Awards Night kicked off at the clubhouse on Friday evening. The master of ceremonies; Maurice Ahern began by giving a lengthy speech, where he thanked the President; Paddy Marley, the Grand Prix Committee of John O’Leary, Caroline and Paddy Tuite, Pamela Cooper, Liam Hennessy, Murray Ahern, Gerry Mc Cabe, Noreen Keane, Ben Lawlor and Mick Kearney. Maurice also thanked the volunteers; too many to mention; however their efforts were well appreciated during the series, He also thanked Caroline and Paddy Tuite for their excellent work in running the bar and providing refreshments for everyone following each race, the many sponsors who are vital to the success of the series and importantly everyone who took part during 2019. Maurice spoke of how well the series had been received during the year. The club president Paddy Marley then addressed the gathering and outlined how taken he was by the energy the series has brought to the club.

And so we came to the presentation of prizes. We hadn’t met as a group for any prizegiving in some time, so Maurice along with Paddy Marley, Pamela Cooper and Tom Griffin Jnr began the formal presentations.

The presentation for the Irwin Cup, incorporating the Club Cross Country Championship held in early November was first up.
The result of the handicap was as follows;
Winner – David O’Sullivan
Second Place – Des Shorten
Third Place – Mel Curran
The presentation for The Men’s and Women’s Club Cross Country Championship for 2019 was as follows;
Men –
Winner – Sean Doran – Club Champion Cross Country 2019
Second Place – Karl Nolan
Third Place – Mick Bermingham
Women –
Winner – Clodagh Moriarty – Club Champion Cross Country 2019
Second Place – Aimee Ahern
Third Place – Mel Curran

Next up was the presentation for the Ahern Cup, incorporating the Club Championship 10 Mile race held in October and kindly sponsored by Maurice Ahern. The results were as follows;
Club Championship – Men
Winner – Sean Doran – Club 10 mile Champion 2019
Second Place – Shane Casey
Third Place – Garreth Loye
Club Championship – Women
Winner – Aideen O’Connor – Club 10 Mile Champion 2019
Second Place – Rachel Eustace
Third Place – Marie Howard
The Ahern Cup – Handicap Result was as follows;
Winner – Gerard Fay
Second Place – Declan Grant
Third Place – Mary Ketterer

The presentation of prizes for the Horan Cup, (the oldest cup in the club’s history) the last race in the series, held on Saturday, November 23rd was next. This race was kindly sponsored by George Maybury and the result was as follows;
Winner – Clodagh Moriarty
Second Place – Aimee Ahern
Third Place – Mick Bermingham

Then we came to the presentation of prizes for the overall winners in the series for 2019. Maurice spoke about the sponsor of the overall winner in the Grand Prix Series; Behan & Associates and in particular he thanked Noel Guiden for his continued sponsorship.

And so, after 16 Races, run on Track, Trail, Road and Cross Country from April through to November 2019, the final results were revealed;
I’m going to go in to a bit of detail here but these people deserve to be talked about.
The Green Jersey Winner was Shane Casey – Shane has had a standout year, so well done Shane.
In 6th Place overall – Shane Casey – Again Shane achieved a top six finish overall, so well done Shane.
In 5th Place – Mick Gleeson – Mick was the overall winner last year and ran PB’s right through this series battling to finish in a very credible 5th place. He is without doubt one to watch next year !!
In 4th Place – Richie Barr – Richie showed flashes of the old Richie and  the fierce rivalry between himself and Mick Gleeson is always a joy to behold, as he snatched 4th place from Mick by just one point !!
In 3rd Place – Gerard Fay – Ger had a fab series running every race and was in the hunt to win the overall prize right up to the last race, so well done Ger.
Runner-up – Mick Bermingham – Mick ran so well throughout the series and like Ger had been in the hunt for the overall prize up to the last race. Mick has now finished 3rd, 2nd and 2nd the last three years, so here is hoping next year will bring fab performances from Mick and edge him closer to that top prize.
And the Winner – Deirdre Fitzsimons – Winner of the Behan & Associates sponsored Grand Prix Cup presented for 2019 – Well, what can I say about Deirdre. Deirdre has hardly missed a single race in the series over the past few years. She is a most popular winner and becomes only the second lady to take the overall title since Emma Dunne’s win in 2017. Deirdre was leading going in to the last race when she tired and scored zero points, but when the points were tallied she hung on to win by just a single point in the end. As Deirdre said in her victory speech “the Grand Prix Series is the best race series in Ireland” and for those of us lucky enough to enjoy it each year we have a gem of a series and long may it continue. Speaking of continuing, it was sad to hear Maurice announce that he would be stepping down from his role as Chairperson and handicapper of the series. On behalf of the Grand Prix Committee, volunteers and club members I would like to thank Maurice for the amazing job he has done over the past number of years. Maurice, your passion, attention to detail and commitment have without doubt contributed to make the race series so popular year on year. How are we going to find a replacement for Maurice. Well, the show must go on and we have to ensure that the Grand Prix Series in 2020 is the best yet.
Well that’s it – The 2019 edition of the Grand Prix Series has been a great success. We would like to wish everyone a Happy Christmas and the best of health in 2020. We will convene again next April when we hope to kick off the new series, so keep yourselves healthy and let’s make 2020 the best year yet !!

This Friday, December 6th, the Grand Prix Presentation Night takes place in the Club Lounge from 8.00pm. After a 16 race season the winners will be announced with the winner presented for the 19th time with the Behan & Associates Cup. The 2018 champion was Mick Gleeson, there are three in the running for 2019 glory: Deirdre Fitzsimons, Gerard Fay and Mick Birmingham.

Presentation of the Pat Linane Cup for the Green Jersey winner will also take place, along with the presentation of cups for recent Grand Prix races.

A great night is in store for all, with hot food served and a good old fashion knees up.

After almost an eight month long series, the 2019 Grand Prix Series comes to a close with another of the jewels in the crown, the Horan Cup, on Saturday in Santry.  Some 111 years ago the Cup was presented to the club by Michael Horan, then a vice President of Clonliffe Harriers to be competed for in the 1907/1908 season was won by Mr. T. Hassell with the fastest time for the six mile cross country course recorded by Mr. H. Mullally in a time of 38.07.

The final standings in both the Grand Prix and the Green Jersey will be decided. Deirdre Fitzsimons holds the advantage on 327 points but Gerard Fay with a final throw of the dice will make a last ditch attempt at glory, as he looks to bridge a 9 point gap. In the Green Jersey competition Eamonn Dunne leads on 46 points, followed by Shane Casey 42 and Paul Keenan on 41.

The 2019 Horan Cup is kindly sponsored by George Maybury.

Liam Hennessy reports on the Grand Prix Series, Round 15, The Irwin Cup – 6000metres, Cross Country / Incorporating the Club Senior Cross Country Championship held at Santry Demesne, Sat last, Nov 6th at Noon. The rain stopped after a morning of heavy downpours,; however there was a sharpish breeze out there to test the runners. The course carried a lot of water from the last few weeks of wet weather. The course director marked a course unique to the Grand Prix, but despite some better grip in places the ground still provided a challenge for everyone that took part. At 12 noon the bugle sounded and the first of the two winter cross country races in the Grand Prix calendar was underway. Up front Sean Doran meant business and pushed on, followed by an ever improving Karl Nolan and further back to Mick Bermingham and that’s the way it finished in the men’s championship. In the women’s race Clodagh Moriarty was crowned women’s club cross country champion for 2019 followed home by runner up Aimee Ahern and in third place Mel Curran. The result of the handicap was as follows;
Winner – David O’Sullivan
2nd Place – Des Shorten
3rd Place – Mel Curran
Full list of results as follows;
Sean Doran – 20.24
Karl Nolan – 22.23
Mick Bermingham – 24.42
Des Shorten – 25.21
Mick Gleeson – 25.38
Dan Molloy – 26.15
Murray Ahern – 26.18
Richie Barr – 26.19
Clodagh Moriarty – 27.14
Deirdre Fitzsimons – 27.34
Shane Rooney – 27.59
Niall Markey – 28.01
Aimee Ahern – 28.02
Phillip Matthews – 28.41
Declan Murray – 28.49
David O’Sullivan – 28.51
Sean Grimes – 28.52
David Comiskey – 28.57
Dermot Doyle – 29.06
Declan Grant – 29.19
Pat Devitt – 30.04
Mel Curran – 30.19
Shay Byrne – 30.37
Gerard Fay – 30.43
Trevor Wisdom – 31.12
Yvonne Mc Donagh – 31.44
Terry Mee –

Many thanks to everyone who volunteered to help make this race run so smoothly.

Murray will post the current standings in the race for the Grand Prix title 2019 soon.

The next race and can you believe it ? The last race in the series for 2019 is for the oldest trophy in the club, The Horan Cup, 6 Miles Cross Country, which will be held at Santry Demesne on Saturday, November, 23rd at 12 noon. Hope to see you there !!

Leaderboard: Grand Prix 2019 results after Rd 15