All posts in Internal Club News

Dominic Branigan: Saturday 14^th December marks the 50^th anniversary of the passing of former club Hon Sec and 1936 Irish marathon champion Billy Morton.

Billy was the main driving force behind the establishment of Clonliffe Harriers as one the top clubs in Ireland and one of the most well known throughout the world of athletics.

During his time as club secretary from 1943 to 1969 he attracted the cream of world athletics to compete against the best of the Irish in venues which regularly attracted crowds in the tens of thousands.

These meetings reached their peak in 1958 when 3 world records were set at the newly acquired club stadium in Santry.

His legacy continues to this day through the organisation of the Morton Games which are now the premier Track and Field in Ireland.

Photo shows Billy with the famous shovel which was used by Ronnie Delany to turn the first sod in Santry.

At today’s Athletics Ireland Irish life National Athletics awards Efrem Gidey was announced as the 2019 Schools Athlete of the year. Efrem was the dominant schools athlete of 2019 repeating his 2018 feat of winning both the All Ireland track 5000 and Cross Country titles.

Sarah McCormack, who was the winner of the World Mountain World Cup this year was not unexpectedly awarded the Mountain Runner of the year.

The Official of the year was Bernie Dunne.

Stephen Scullion was a nominee in the Endurance athlete of the year category.

Representing Clonliffe at the Awards were club president Paddy Marley, and committee members/coaches including Gladys Cooper, Eugenia and Stephen Bateson, Noreen Keane, John O’Leary, Caroline and Paddy Tuite and Noel Daly.

Juvenile athletes please note: Training on Tuesday 22^nd October – National Indoor Arena, Abbottstown, 7.15pm sharp.

Please bring:

• Running Gear
• €5 Entry Fee
• Water

If you have any queries please contact Gladys 087 9852836 / Eugenia 086 1722451

On Thursday next the Clonliffe club lotto hits it’s biggest jackpot in many a year: €7,000. The purpose of the club lotto is to raise money for the club`s athletics programme, in particular to assist with the expense incurred in competiting in European Champion Clubs Competition. So this week club members in the words of the Wise One; “Don’t forget your club lotto!”

Gladys Cooper: Juvenile athletes will return to training this Thursday August 15th 7.00pm as usual.

Folks please note that from July 1st until July 21st I will have limited access to WiFi so if there is something of significance to report on club web site please e mail your brief report to clonliffeharriersac@gmail.com I will pick these up every few days and do what I can to put a few general “Round ups” on the site. Alternatively maybe send your posting to Stephen Harkness at the Clonliffe Facebook Page. During this time please do not send results of road races etc to me by text as they will not be picked up. Thanks for your cooperation.

The St. Aidans annual awards night took place in the school tonight. Clonliffe were once again the sponsors of the Athlete of the year award for the Brother Clarke Memorial Cup. All six nominees are Clonliffe Harriers: Sean Boyne, Callum Simpson,  Evan Foster, Dermot Buckley,  Daniel Lacey and Jordan Byrne. The Athlete of the year was Daniel Lacey who received the award from Stephen  Harkness on behalf of the Committee and the night’s special guest of honour, Clonlifffe Atlanta Olympian and Wannamaker Mile winner, Niall Bruton.

Earlier in the evening Niall spoke fondly of his years in St. Aidans from 1984 onwards and of his time with Clonliffe Harriers paying particular tribute to his school and club coach Peter McDermott. Niall also most generously presented his old school with his Olympic Games race number.

Clonliffe stewards for Sunday`s Night run in Dublin city meet at Ringsend Library at 8.00/8.15pm. If you haven’t confirmed yet but are available please text Joe Cooper 0872256004.

Clonliffe Harriers extend our condolences to our club coach Ben Lawler and his family on the passing of his father John early this morning. Arrangements: Reposing at home in Ballymun on Tuesday from 5pm to 8pm. Removal on Wednesday morning to the Church of the Holy Spirit, Sillogue Road, Ballymun for 10.00am mass, followed by burial in Dardistown.

As we recover from the weekend`s cold and rain news just in from Monte Gordo, Portugalof 20 plus degrees where Ian Guiden and Cathal Doyle are putting in excellent sessions gearing up for the track season. Also travelling to Portugal in recent days, Lisbon for a warm weather training camp are the sprinters under John Shields. It`s a hard station!

(Liking it hot!: Guiden & Doyle)