All posts in Internal Club News

In view of the continuing rain and, of course, the absence of any indoor training facilities during these Covid-19 days Gladys has cancelled training for her group tonight.

Notice from Gladys Cooper: I’m delighted to bring you the good news of a return to training for our younger athletes after these unprecedented last 4 months (almost). It is however vitally important that all parents read the attached, discuss them with your children and that you are sure your children understand what they must do, can do and cannot do! Please also note that this is a phased return in a structured way that must be respected by all. Thank you for your cooperation.

Members are referred to our previous posting which includes Athletics Ireland’s Guidance. Clonliffe have now updated our protocol document to take account of these. This applies from tomorrow and is attached below.

All club members are required to read, understand and agree to this in full before coming to Morton Stadium tomorrow. If you attend at Morton Stadium for Clonliffe training this is taken as an acceptance on your behalf of these conditions. All members U/18 are required to refer this to a parent or guardian and your continued training is taken as an acceptance of these conditions by them on your behalf.

See next posting for the younger juvenile athletes (Gladys’ group)

Phase 3 of the easing of Covid 19 restrictions comes into effect on Monday, June 29. During this phase sporting activities can now recommence to an almost pre-Covid 19 level, the travel restrictions are lifted within the whole island of Ireland, total numbers permitted at a venue (Morton Stadium) are 200 to include coaches. From a practical point of view this means that the restriction on 15 per group can be increased to slightly bigger groups however all must be mindful that it really is not in anyone’s interests for Morton Stadium to be swamped with people looking to train on Tuesday evening.

In the interests of all it is not yet proposed to open the clubhouse. Toilets are available in the stadium. No showers at this time, arrive ready to train, and limit as much as possible congratulating in groups.

Please contact your coach to see if your group is back.

Please note the following:

Training for Clonliffe members continues in Morton Stadium on Tuesdays/Thursdays 7pm – 9pm, Sundays 9.30-11.30am.

Bookings must be made by the group coach bookingsclonliffeharriersac@gmail.com

There can be no physical contact whatsoever between the members of the training group.

Social distancing of 2M must be strictly observed.

Please observe coughing and sneezing etiquette.

Please refrain entirely from spitting.

Wash your hands before you leave home to go running, bring a hand sanitiser with you, do not press any pedestrian crossing buttons and if you are stretching do not use a railings or park bench or similar to support you while you stretch.

Do not share drinks, be absolutely careful that your drink bottle does not touch against another athletes drink bottle, do not handle another athletes drink bottle, it is vitally important that cross contamination is avoided.

If you have any symptoms of Covid-19 or flu like symptoms do not come to train, self isolate and contact your GP.

We are continuing at this stage with allocation on slots to groups as follows:

7.00 – 8.00pm Outside Hammer cage for Throws.

7.00-8.00pm Javelin on infield.

7.00-7.30pm; Philip O’Doherty/Maurice Ahern/Eugene Coppinger (lanes 1-5)

7.00-8.00pm: Gerry Carr (lanes 6 -10)

7.30-8.00pm: Joe Cooper/Peter McDermott/Pamela Cooper (lanes 1-4)

8.00-8.30pm: Mick Fogarty/Noel Guiden (lanes 1-4)

8.00-9.00pm: John Shields/ Ciaran Donohue (lanes 5-10)

8.30-9.00pm; Open for club members, not part of a training group, limited to 25 athletes.

See posting from Athletics Ireland:

Key Notes for this phase:
1. Permits sporting activity in outdoor public sports amenities for all ages.
2. Permits people to engage in outdoor sporting and fitness activities, either individually or in a group. 3. Permits individuals to travel anywhere on the island of Ireland.
4. If you feel unwell do not present to the Club.
5. If you are recovering from Covid19 seek medical advice prior to returning to train.
6. Permits outdoor social gathering for groups of up to 200 people and indoor gatherings of up to 50 people. Note these numbers include all people present at any gathering including athletes, coaches, officials and spectators.

Guidance for Clubs

Guidance for Athletes

Guidance for Coaches

From the mid 1960s in what looks like an audition for The Who’s “Quadrophenia” Billy Morton on a vespa on the cinder track in Santry Stadium!

This classic photo was donated to Clonliffe yesterday June 20th by a gentleman in Santry Demsene Park! The man in question a number of weeks ago was talking to Mick Fogarty at Saturday morning training in the park and said he had a brilliant photo of Billy Morton and he’d like to give it to the club. Low and behold true to his word he did! Soon to be displayed in the clubhouse.

Clonliffe Harriers are delighted with the announcement by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in the last few minutes of the further easing of Covid – 19 restrictions and the continued acceleration of the road to recovery. In particular we welcome the announcement of an almost full return of sport from Monday, June 29. Almost as exciting is the opening of hairdressers and barbers!

Clonliffe Harriers of course await further guidance from our governing body Athletics Ireland on the continued return to training and normal club activity. Hopefully this will permit the return of the U/13 athletes to training in Santry all of whom together with their long suffering parents have been waiting patiently! At present these athletes cannot return but hopefully on June 29. This website will be updated as soon as we have further news on that front.

Assuming all continues to go well it certainly looks like there will be a late track and field season for athletes. The club continues to work on the planned return of club races and our own club track and field championships.Hopefully early in July we can have a club race by way of a trial and then in mid/late July we can look to have our club junior/senior track and field championships. This time may also see a couple of the Dublin Athletics Graded Meets. August 8 and 9th will see Athletics Leinster hold the Leinster junior/senior/masters track and field championships. Leading on to August 22nd and 23rd and the national senior track and field championships at Morton Stadium.

Currently we do not have any confirmation of the position concerning juvenile Championships (again we will update as soon as possible)

Good to report on the continued increase in club training here in Santry tonight. Tonight there was a great turn out of athletes in the various groups all working under their coaches, split into the required groups, all observing social distancing and protocols put in place. Tonight saw the return of Graham’s group working under three coaches, with staggered start/finish times and in different parts of Santry Demesne. These athletes have all been involved in the Virtual Challenge (see previous postings) but tonight all met up for the first time since early March.

Also training in Morton Stadium, again, using their allocated time slots were various groups including Gerry’s sprints group, Eugene’s group, Philip’s, Pamela’s, Fogo’s, Noel’s, Joe and Stephen’s, the senior middle distance group under Peter and John’s senior sprints group.

As the restrictions continue to ease hopefully even more athletes can get back to the club. Again at the end of the month we expect news on possible track & field events. National seniors, according to media reports are penciled in for August 15th & 16th or 22nd & 23rd and according to athleticsireland.ie dates are provisionally planned for U/14 upwards competition in August & September. Will post further once we know.

Brilliant news today with the government announcing an acceleration of the easing of restrictions commencing with phase 2 on Monday, June 8. Groups of 15 individuals may now meet to engage in sporting activities. This means therefore from a Clonliffe perspective that from Tuesday the 9th coaches can bring together a group of a total of 15, including coaches to train in Morton Stadium. Please note that social distancing of 2m still applies to all. From a club perspective we have updated our protocol document to take account of this and also the fact that the travel restrictions no longer apply in that any Clonliffe member living within the county of Dublin is entitled to travel to Morton Stadium for training. Coaches must still book track slots for the group 24 hours before the session giving their name, the second coaches name and the name of the athletes who will be at the session up to a maximum of 15 (including coaches) please also supply contact details for all. As per usual the booking is made by email to bookingsclonliffeharriersac@gmail.com . Individual club members not part of a training group can book the 8.30 to 9.00pm slot, again you must e mail with your name and contact details.To assist with the orderly running (no pun intended!) of the sessions time slots have been allocated to all groups as follows:

7.00 – 8.00pm Outside Hammer cage for Throws.

7.00-8.00pm Javelin on infield.

7.00-7.30pm; Philip O’Doherty/Maurice Ahern/Eugene Coppinger (lanes 1-4)

7.00-8.00pm: Gerry Carr (lanes 6 -10)

7.30-8.00pm: Joe Cooper/Peter McDermott/Pamela Cooper (lanes 1-4)

8.00-8.30pm: Mick Fogarty/Noel Guiden (lanes 1-3)

8.00-9.00pm: John Shields/ Ciaran Donohue (lanes 6-10)

8.30-9.00pm; Open for club members, not part of a training group, limited to 20 athletes

It is important that all stick to the rules, again no more than 15 (including coaches) per training group at a time. If your group includes more than 15 please spread the group over Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday morning if needed. Once again we remind all that it is the responsibility of coaches and athletes to be fully aware of the protocols in place and their responsibilities. Please coaches ensure that every athlete in your group has read and understands the attached protocols and also the document prepared by Athletics Ireland. (See also our Covid-19 page).

Please note that at this time athletics Ireland specifically exclude the return of the U/13 groups. The older juvenile group training under Graham Mahon will return to training in Santry on Tuesday, June 16, that group will not be on the track at this stage but will train in Santry Park. Parents will be notified through the WhatsApp group however if any parent is not in that WhatsApp group please contact Eugenia Bateson 0861722451.

In today’s ‘Speculation Times’ we consider the potential impact of further opening of society, economic and social activity as we head to phase 2 of the Government roadmap and speculate on the possible effect on increasing Clonliffe Harriers club activity and the sport of athletics in general.

As matters currently stand, here in week three of phase 1 we have seen a very limited return to club training. Whilst currently restricted to junior and senior athletes (the guidance from Athletics Ireland currently prohibits U/13’s and O/70s), and athletes living within 5K of Morton Stadium the club has been in a position to implement protocols which has meant that groups of four have returned to training in the stadium.The only certainty, if it is possible to use that word during these times, on the changes envisaged under phase 2, which starts on Monday June 8, is the extension of the radius to 20K. That will mean a greater number of athletes will be eligible to come to club training however what can be done to allow more athletes return is entirely dependent on what the roadmap means by ‘small group teams’ and how many individuals that means. Social distancing, presumably remaining at 2m for phase 2, still must be maintained along with no physical contact etc. If an updated guidance issues from Athletics Ireland allowing more than 4 Clonliffe will follow suit.

We have been successful so far in dividing our track/field time into slots for various coaches, your coaches will do the best they can to get as many athletes training in Santry as is possible under the restrictions spread over the 3 days Clonliffe has stadium usage. You as athletes must however contact your coach and in turn it is your coach who will make the booking for the group. We must at this time strictly observe the requirement for bookings, the group structure and most importantly maintain absolute records of who was training at a particular time together with their contact details and details for all others in that particular group. Also social distancing must be continued to be observed.

At this stage we do not know whether phase 2 will allow younger athletes to return to limited club training. With the obviously challenges around social distancing it would, we speculate, seem unlikely. We will act as directed by Athletics Ireland.

Competition for juvenile athletes: the Dublin track and field leagues and Dublin track and field championships have been cancelled. It would seem that the prospects of national juvenile Championships later in the summer are remote, particularly for younger athletes. Possibly for the older age groups who are also junior athletes it may be possible for those Championships at national level to be incorporated into the national junior track and field championships. At the minute the club’s juveniles U/14 to U/16 are engaged in the Athletics Ireland Virtual Club Challenge.

Club competition: while the 2020 Grand Prix Series will not take place the club is actively considering the possibility of some of the club races and club championships. If possible and of course under whatever guidelines are in place at that time, the club would like to hold Clonliffe Track & Field championships, maybe spread over a couple of weeks in the late Summer/early Autumn. Likewise the club are keen to ensure that the Clonliffe 2 takes place later in the year, possibly as a time trial type of event on the road with limited numbers, or on the track under lights in the winter, maybe as a club only event, maybe as an invitational race but absolutely in some format. Likewise the club would like to run our club cross country races, many of which are by tradition handicap races with runners setting off individually in any event, but possibly this year with a twist: scratch off first! Rest assured whatever we do will be in full compliance with Athletics Ireland’s guidelines.

Competition for senior/master athletes: at present the Dublin graded competitions are simply being cancelled on a week to week basis and it would seem to be fairly clear that there is little prospect of a resumption of competition until possibly phase 4 from July 20. What a Graded meet might look like in this Covid – 19 era is also a matter of pure speculation. It is known that Athletics Ireland are keen to hold the national track and field championships. These championships were originally supposed to take place at the end of this month, World Athletics subsequently designated the weekend of August 8th and 9th as a national championship day. Under the Government roadmap Ireland will not have moved into phase 5 at this stage (that is down for August 10th) so that appears to be an unlikely date. The rumour mill is a date possibly four weeks later in early to mid September for National seniors with a national junior championships to take place the following week (again this is rumour and speculation only). Will a Masters track & field championship take place this (extended) season, again that is a matter for Athletics Ireland to issue directions on. There is an obvious concern surrounding the upper age categories but would it be possible for such a championship on a scaled back basis?

The road racing scene: this really seems to be an impossibility over the coming months. Already of course the Dublin Marathon, Dublin race series, rock ‘n’ roll half marathon and Athletics Ireland national road racing series have become victims and been deferred to 2021. If social distancing is to remain as a part of our lives going into the autumn and winter one would speculate that road racing and even the humble Park Run are pretty unlikely this year with the gathering of numbers at the start and finish areas. Staggered starts may be a solution but with road closures and insurance issues?

Cross country championships: the speculation is that cross country may be the best opportunity for a return to racing, open fields, no dressing rooms, possible controls on the numbers taking part may make an autumn/winter cross country season a possibility. And in the distance stands December 14th and the European Cross-Country Championships in Abbottstown Dublin……..?

The above is speculation and speculation only. Questions on all our lips but at this time without answers! Answers will ultimately come. When they do we will let you know.

It’s great to be in a position to report on the return to training at Morton Stadium last night of Clonliffe Harriers AC. The club very much appreciates the cooperation of coaches and athletes in adapting to the new way of going about our sport at these challenging times.

There were six different groups, subdivided into the required smaller groups of four, training last night. The dividing of the Clonliffe time into individual shared timeslots worked very well, likewise it was very pleasing to see the observation of the protocol for not coming onto the track until the allocated time and the continued observation of social distancing throughout (it is of course very strange and not the way anyone wants to do things but at present it is the way forward).

If we can continue these good practices the future looks an awful lot brighter. In particular, and sorry for once again banging on about this:

Groups to be split into subgroups of four individuals.

Social distancing of 2 m between all.

Do not attend if you are displaying any symptoms of Covid-19 or have been out of the country in the preceding 14 days.

Continue all current hygiene practices. Continue coughing and sneezing etiquette (no spitting!)

Book your athletes in 24 hours in advance.

Training continues again on Thursday with once again the same protocols in place (these will continue until further notice) coaches must make bookings and must notify us of all members in the training group taking part – email bookingsclonliffeharriersac@gmail.com – if there is a no-show email so we can amend the attendance record. Again it is of fundamental importance that we have the names and contact details of all in attendance at a particular time.

Athletes please note that you cannot just turn up you must make a booking for a place with your training group with your coach. If you are an athlete who is not a member of a training group there is a slot available at 8:30 PM – you must however also go to the same protocol with regard to booking as above. One further thing which must be observed is the completion of an athletics Ireland questionnaire which is attached below. Every person who is attending the training session must complete this and give it to their coach before the session. Coaches please collect these and give them to the Covid 19 safely officer – Noel Guiden on the night.