All posts in Grand Prix Series

Grand Prix Series 2019 continues this coming Thursday, July 4th at 8pm at Malahide with the 40th running of the 5 Mile Castle Classic (37th Michael Murphy Memorial Race – In memory of the winner of the 1980 race). The 5 Mile is one of the most popular in the series. Please support the race and meet up afterwards at the presentation of prizes at Malahide Cricket Club. Hope to see you there.

Report by Liam Hennessy: Round 8 of The Grand Prix Series Incorporating The Club Championship 800 Metres took place at The Morton Stadium last Thursday evening, June 20th. The evening was a perfect, calm, dry evening with a temperature of around 16 degrees. It was great to see many of our younger athletes take part in the Club Championship. There were six races in total.
The result of the Grand Prix Handicap for The Richie Barr Cup was as follows;
Winner – Dan Molloy
2nd Place – Ann Mc Donnell
3rd Place – Murray Ahern
Many thanks to Richie Barr for his kind sponsorship for the 4th year in a row.

The following is a full list of results
Sean O’Leary – 2.00
Efrem Gidey – 2.01.6
Greg Hosseny – 2.04.76
Sean Carrig – 2.08.7
Eoghan Murphy – 2.09
Murray Ahern – 2.17 – Equal PB
Peter Bissett – 2.17.2 – PB
Paul Keenan – 2.21
Alannah Cooley – 2.23
Niall Sherlock – 2.23.3
Sarah Bateson – 2.25
Fergie Keenan – 2.28
Dan Molloy – 2.28 – PB
Naoise Cullen – 2.29
Ray Dunne – 2.30
Aoife Hession – 2.32
Katie Halpin – 2.34
Alan Worrall – 2.34
Alanna Fitzsimons – 2.35
Trevor Wisdom – 2.35
Mick Bermingham – 2.37
David Reilly – 2.37
Shane Rooney – 2.38
Noel Daly – 2.41
Emma Dunne – 2.42
Jason Blake – 2.44 – PB
Abbie Sheehy – 2.44
Aideen O’Connor – 2.45.9
Niall Markey – 2.46
Cora Curran-Beggs – 2.48
Seamus Devitt – 2.48 – PB
Tom Cassidy – 2.50 – PB
Tom Dunne – 2.51 – PB
Carmel Ward – 2.52 – PB
Aimee Ahern – 2.53
David O’Sullivan – 2.55
Ray Mitchell – 2.55.5 – PB
Pam Curley – 2.57.77
Deirdre Fitzsimons – 2.58
Gerard Fay – 2.58.1 – PB
Orla Deighan – 2.59 – Equal PB
Ciara Daly – 3.01
Paul White – 3.02
Maura Shaughnessy – 3.03 – PB
Pat Healy – 3.04
Greg O’Beirne – 3.04 – PB
Dave Lyons – 3.08
Eva Tomonyiczco – 3.09 – PB
Ann Lyons – 3.14
Pat Devitt – 3.17
Evelyn Brennan – 3.19 – PB
Ann Mc Donnell – 3.25 – PB
Conor Daly – 3.50 – PB
Richard Connolly – 3.53
Dave Brady – 4.03
Apologies if i misspelt any name above.

Many thanks to all who helped make this race run so smoothly. Many thanks to Caroline and Paddy Tuite for organising the after race refreshments.

Next Race: Round 9 – Michael Murphy Memorial 5 Mile Race, Malahide, Thursday, 4th July, 8pm. The Michael Murphy Race (2 x 2.5 Mile laps on trail / tarmac) is one of the most popular in the Grand Prix Series. See you there

Race report by Liam Hennessy; Last Thursday evening (June 6th) saw the running of The O’Connor Cup, 4 Mile Grass Race, held at Santry Demesne. The going was soft underfoot following a few days of rain; however we had dry conditions during the race. A total of 55 runners toed the starting line for four one mile laps of the demesne.

The result of the handicap for The O’Connor Cup was as follows;

Winner – Mel Curran

2nd Place – Pat Devitt

3rd Place – Richie Barr

The following is a full list of results;

Stephen Butler – 23.32

Paul Keane – 24.19

Eamonn Dunne – 24.20

George Brady – 24.35

Dave Dunwoody – 25.51

Shane Casey – 26.02

Mick Bermingham – 26.05

Murray Ahern – 26.10

Stephen Tracey – 26.35

Peter Bissett – 26.40

Mick Gleeson – 27.02

Richie Barr – 27.09

Maura Matthews – 27.35

Adrien Gerard – 27.57

Fergus Keenan – 27.57

Joe Cole – 28.45

Maurice Mc Hale – 28.47

Maria Howard – 28.50

Don Mollloy – 29.05

Philip Matthews 29.09

Trevor Wisdom 29.09

Aideen O’Connor – 29.13

Declan Grant – 29.14

Shane Rooney – 29.26

Deirdre Fitzsimons – 29.31

Sean Grimes – 29.54

Carmel Ward – 29.55

David O’Sullivan – 30.04

Elaine O’Loughlin – 30.35

Dave Killoran – 30.54

Ray Mitchell – 31.02

Greg O’Beirne – 31.19

Liam Hennessy – 31.28

Tom Dunne – 31.30

Ciara Peelo – 31.41

Jean Dunne – 31.42

Maura Shaughnessy – 31.44

Pat Devitt – 31.52

Orla Deighan – 31.57

Mel Curran – 32.03

Yvonne Mc Donagh – 32.15

Shay Byrne – 32.22

Evelyn Brennan – 32.40

Mary Purdue Smith – 32.59

Gerard Fay – 33.07

Karen Mc Afee – 33.18

Jason Blake – 33.26

Ann Lyons – 33.36

Conor Jennings – 33.49

Anthony O’Brien – 33.50

Darren Horgan – 34.35

Kevin Greene – 35.37

Dave Lyons – 36.12

Terry Mee – 39.09

Dave Brady – 41.15

Apologies if i misspelt any name above.

Many thanks to everyone who volunteered their time to make this race such a success.

Next Race –  Thursday, June 20th – Richie Barr Trophy – 800Metres / Incorporating Club Championship – Morton Stadium – 8pm, Kindly sponsored by Richie Barr.  The 800Metres is always a very popular race in the series – See you there !!

Next up:  O`Connor Cup, this Thursday June 6th.

Grand Prix Series 2019 takes to the Grass !!

The Grand Prix Series continues this Thursday evening at Santry Demesne with the running of The O’Connor Cup, 4 Mile Grass Race @ 8pm. The O’Connor Cup was traditionally a Cross Country Race, but became a Summer Grass Race with the advent of the Grand Prix Series. The O’Connor Cup is one of the oldest Clonliffe club races and is a most special race in our clubs history. The O’Connor Cup is a fabulous trophy, which was first presented to the club by J.J O’Connor, who in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s dominated Irish Cross Country running. O’Connor won the National Cross Country Championships on no less than four occasions with several different clubs, but it was in the colours of Clonliffe that he won the National Cross Country Championship in 1935.

The presentations for both The Mc Carrick Plate, which was kindly sponsored by Paul O’Loughlin and the O’Connor Cup, kindly sponsored by Alan Worral will take place on Thursday.

Round 5 of the Clonliffe Grand Prix Series took place in Morton Stadium last night. It was a very pleasant night in the stadium for an evening of miles. The Santry mile was last night’s event and such is the popularity of the mile that there was a series of five races held. It was also very pleasing to see a group of the Clonliffe junior women taking part in what for many of them was the first mile race and all suitably attired in their club vests.

There was competitive racing throughout as the races were graded by Maurice Ahern with some very close finishes particularly in races two and three. The fastest athlete on the night was Eoghan Murphy who ran a time of 4.46 (TBC). Fastest woman was Alannah Cooley, who showed no ill effects of her graded 1500 the night before. Fastest of the junior women was Katie Halpin (5.45). Winner of the Grand Prix was Dave O Regan with Peter Bissett 2nd.

Round 5 – Grand Prix Series – Report by Liam Hennessy. The Santry Mile / Guiden Trophy, kindly sponsored by Noel Guiden, took place last Thursday, May 16th at Morton Stadium at 8pm. There was a huge entry of 75 participants on the night. We had the pleasure of welcoming some of our promising young athletes to the mile and they certainly provided for a great evening of races.

The fastest runner on the night was Eoghan Murphy, running a personal best of 4.52. Alannah Cooley was the first lady home in a time of 5.23.8 and Katie Halpin was the first Junior home in 5.45.6.

The Result of the handicap was as follows:

1st Place – David Comiskey – Winner of The Santry Mile / Guiden Trophy 2019.

Second Place – Peter Bissett

Third Place – Don Molloy

Full Results as follows:

Eoghan Murphy – 4.52 – PB

Gavin Mc Ardle – 5.01 – PB

Eamonn Dunne – 5.03 – PB

George Brady – 5.05

Peter Bissett – 5.06 – PB

Paul Keenan – 5.12 – PB

Shane Casey – 5.14

Murray Ahern – 5.15

Clive Ahern – 5.17.8

Alannah Cooley – 5.23.8

Alex Devitt – 5.31

Fergal Keenan – 5.34 – PB

Dessie Shorten – 5.36

Mick Bermingham – 5.37 – PB

Alan Worrall – 5.39

Brian Connor – 5.42

Ciara Peelo – 5.45

Katie Halpin – 5.45.6

Richie Barr – 5.47

Aoife Hession – 5.47

Mick Gleeson – 5.47.6 – PB

Declan Grant – 5.49

David Comiskey – 5.50 – PB

Seamus Devitt – 5.52 – PB

Maria Howard – 5.53 – PB

Alan Townsend – 5.53.4 – PB

Shane Rooney – 5.54

Alan Curley – 5.55

Emma Dunne – 5.55.7

Noel Daly – 5.57

Don Molloy – 5.57

Maura Matthews – 6.00

Julie Larkin – 6.02

Niall Markey – 6.03

Aideen O’Connor – 6.05

David Reilly – 6.05

Elaine Mc Loughlin – 6.06

Ella Cooley – 6.07

Laura Kernan – 6.08

Joe Cole – 6.11 – PB

Aimee Sheehy – 6.12

Aimee Ahern – 6.14

Maurice Mc Hale – 6.14 – PB

Cara Curran – 6.14.2

Alex Eustace – 6.17

Emma Byrne – 6.18

Declan Murray – 6.19

Philip Richards – 6.19 – PB

Carmel Ward – 6.20.7 – PB

Jenny Bowers – 6.22

Tom Cassidy – 6.22

Aimee Daly – 6.23

George Maybury – 6.24

Tom Dunne – 6.25 – PB

Claire Roche – 6.27

Greg O’Beirne – 6.27.8 – PB

Clodagh Moriarty – 6.28

Siobhan Mc Carthy – 6.28 – PB

David 0’Sullivan – 6.31

Vicky Mc Donnell – 6.34

Orla Deighan – 6.35

Gerard Fay – 6.39.6 – PB

Karen Mc Afee – 6.49 – PB

Sinead Smith – 6.49

Melissa Curran – 6.49

Maura Shaughnessy – 6.54 – PB

Pat Healy – 6.59

Yvonne Mc Donagh – 7.01

Dave Lyons – 7.13

Mary Purdue-Smith – 7.15

Shay Byrne – 7.18

Ann Mc Donnell – 7.30

Dave Brady – 8.43

Conor Daly – 9.16

Apologies if i misspelt any name above.

There were at least 22 personal bests recorded on the night proving again that the race series offers runners fabulous opportunities to run best times. Many thanks to all who volunteered to make this race happen.

Next Race: Round 6 – Mc Carrick Plate – Thursday, May 30th @ 8pm – Malahide – 2.5 Mile (One lap of trail / tarmac route). Training shoes / Racing flats should be fine for this one !! See you there !!.

The latest round of the club’s popular Grand Prix series takes place on Thursday night in the stadium at 8 PM with the Santry mile. This race which is sponsored by Noel Guiden and has been a part of the Grand Prix since its inception in 2001. Originally the Santry mile was a road mile in the park at the rear of the stadium but in recent years to meet the demands of the athletes is now a track mile race

Being a pretty popular race distance year upon year attracts most of the Grand Prix competitors. On Thursday night the races will be broken into ability and it is anticipated that there will be four or possibly even 5 mile races.

Once again competitors in the Grand Prix are asked to respect the ongoing training in the stadium of the club’s athletes, many of whom are preparing for the clubs competing in the European Champion clubs track and field in two weeks time. Grand Prix athletes are requested therefore to do all warm-ups outside of the track (there is a big park at the rear of the stadium!). When your race is over again can competitors move to the infield to give their name place etc and when crossing back across the track be mindful of fast athletes coming down the outside lanes.

The prize giving for the Grand Prix races will take place as soon as possible in the clubhouse once the results are available. In addition the race sponsor is providing a prize to the first junior athlete (on-time) in the races on Thursday as there will be a number of junior athletes guesting in this race.

The Grand Prix committee looks forward to as many competitors as possible competing in Thursday night’s race. As always if you are not competing please come along and help out with officiating on the night.

Report by Liam Hennessy. The Grand Prix Series continued last Thursday evening with Round 4, The Pat O’Hara Memorial Cup, was kindly sponsored by Janice and Declan Hetherington in honour of the Clonliffe 1949 Club Captain. The 3000 Metres Track Race was held at the Morton Stadium. There was a great turnout of 55 runners, who were split in to three races. The fastest athlete on the night was George Brady.

The result of the handicap was as follows;

1st Place – Elaine Mc Donnell – 2019 Winner of The Pat O’Hara Memorial Cup.

2nd Place – Niall Markey

3rd Place – Greg O’Beirne

Full results as follows;

George Brady – 10.16

Paul Keenan – 10.19 – PB

Eamonn Dunne – 10.23

Shane Casey – 10.34

Clive Ahern – 10.40

Peter Bissett – 10.41 – PB

Murray Ahern – 10.53

Philip Matthews – 10.58 – PB

Mick Bermingham – 11.06

Dave Dunwoody – 11.08

Alan Worrall – 11.19

Adrian Gerard – 11.27 – PB

Richie Barr – 11.28 – Equals PB

Niall Markey – 11.31 – PB

Trevor Wisdom – 11.32

Mick Gleeson – 11.33 – PB

Seamus Devitt – 11.41 – PB

Sean Grimes – 11.53

Joe Cole – 11.54 – PB

Noel Daly – 11.55

Peter Cahill – 11.56 – PB

Declan Grant – 12.01

Clodagh Moriarty – 12.05

Deirdre Fitzsimons – 12.07 – PB

Laura Kernan – 12.11

Aimee Ahern – 12.15

Declan Murray – 12.17

Alex Eustace – 12.20

Tom Cassidy – 12.22

Carmel Ward (Guest) – 12.26 – PB

Greg O’Beirne – 12.39 – PB

Ray Mitchell – 12.42 – PB

Eimear Brennan – 12.44

Ciara Peelo – 12.44

David O’Sullivan – 12.46

Gerard Fay – 12.48 – PB

Jason Blake – 13.00

Philip Richards – 13.04 – PB

Sinead SmIth – 13.05 – PB

Siobhan Mc Carthy – 13.08 – PB

Maura Shaughnessy – 13.10 – PB

Orla Deighan – 13.17

Pat Devitt – 13.19

Yvonne Mc Donagh – 13.23

Eva Tomonyiczco – 13.23 – PB

Melissa Curran – 13.23 – PB

Elaine O’Dowd – 13.25 – PB

Dave Killoran – 13.25 – PB

Mary Purdue-Smith – 14.00

Aoife Devitt (Guest) – 14.30

Ciara Daly – 14.36 – PB

Dave Lyons – 14.54

Ann Mc Donnell – 15.02

Dave Brady – 16.05

Sinead Morrissey – 16.41 – PB

Apologies if i misspelt any name above. Many thanks to everyone who volunteered their help.

Next two races: Round 5 – Thursday, May 16th, Morton Stadium, 8pm, Santry Mile, Kindly sponsored by Noel Guiden.

Round 6 – Thursday, May, 30th, Malahide, 8pm, 2.5 Mile Race, Mc Carrick Plate.