All posts in Relays

With considerable thanks to Killian Lonergan we bring you the Clonliffe stats of the National Road Relays since they found their permanent home in the Raheny village. This makes a most interesting read and put into perspective the fine effort the team put in on Sunday. The team actually ran the third fastest ever road relay by a Clonliffe team. On an individual basis it is noteworthy that Cathal Doyle’s mile leg of 4.17 was the fastest ever mile leg recorded by a Clonliffe Harrier. Colm Rooney’s 2 mile leg was only one second slower than his fastest ever 2 mile leg. Ian Guiden’s 3 mile leg was the 4th fastest ever recorded by a Clonliffe athlete. Ian also now joins Connor Healy on the most ‘capped’ list in the road relays having turned out for 6th occasion for the club last Sunday.

Click on attachment: R-Relays

(Cathal Doyle on the way to a 4.17 Clonliffe Mile record leg)

Another good step forward for the senior men`s middle/long distance squad with the taking of bronze at the National Road Relays in Raheny today. After a number of years were the squad has finished well outside of the points paying positions there was a fresh determination about the guys today. Indeed with three teams competing as a whole it was a great turnout by the senior men.

With Raheny having another crack squad out they started as firm favourites and with very strong teams from DSD the Donore Harriers and KCH the Clonliffe men were always up against it to finish in the top three. Efrey Gidey got the a team off to a very solid start running a strong lead leg and passing over in fourth (9.28)  to Cathal Doyle. Cathal who last year made significant strides over 1500 once again showed great speed over his mile leg and ran superb, the fastest of the day of 4.17 to propel the team into second place. He passed on to Ian Guiden who was running the crucial 3 mile leg. Ian has been a prolific supporter of the Clonliffe Road relays effort in recent years and this was his sixth time to race in this event. The 3 mile leg featured Kevin Dooney (Raheny), Hiko Tonsa (DSD) and John Travers (Donore). Travers proved to be the class of this leg with a 13.55 to bring Donore right back into the proceedings however Ian stuck gamely to the task and ran an excellent leg of 14.34 to pass over to Colm Rooney holding onto bronze ahead of DSD. By this stage it was a battle up front between host club Raheny and Donore over the final 2 mile leg, in the end it was Brian Fay who took the home team Raheny to gold and retain the national road relay title. A short time later it was the battle for bronze, a three way knock out contest: Clonliffe v KCH v DSD. Down the home straight Colm Rooney sprinted like the Rooney of old to pull away with a 9.25 leg and deliver brilliant bronze for the Clonliffe men.

It also must be said that the other two teams performed gamely, the B team put in an excellent effort with strong runs from Sean O’Leary (9.32), Jarlait Jordan (4.54), Sean Doran (15.32) and Eoin Taggart (10.01). Likewise the C team performed gamely with battling runs by Liam Roarty (9.58), Greg Hosseny (4.49), Thomas Sherlock (15.55) and Paul Keenan (11.26). A word also for the reserve Ben Guiden who came out and was ready to step into the breach if required. The B team placed 8th and the Cs 17th.

It is also very pleasing to report on a solid run by the Clonliffe women, again and a resurgence in the women section to see a black and amber women’s team been fielded for the first time in a couple of years. It was indeed a very young squad but a squad with a great future. The team put in great battling effort by Ali Fernandez (6.01),  Alannah Cooley, who it must be said ran an excellent 2 mile leg of 12.04 and Hannah Browne (6.26) as the team placed 15th.

Congratulations to all of the Clonliffe athletes today. Great stuff!

Photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmAMRQHH

The National Road Relays take place this Sunday, April 28th in Raheny. In recent years this event has been dominated by Raheny Shamrocks, who once again have a very strong looking team and will start as favourites. The men`s race is 2 mile, 1 mile, 3 mile, 2 mile. There are 3 Clonliffe men`s teams entered with the A team looking like they will contend for medals:

A: Efrem Gidey, Cathal Doyle, Ian Guiden, Colm Rooney.

B: Sean O’Leary, Jarlath Jordan, Sean Doran, Eoin Taggart

C: Liam Roarty, Greg Hossenny, Thomas Sherlock, Paul Keenan

The women`s race is 1 mile, 2 mile, 1 mile with a youthful Clonliffe team of Hannah Browne, Alannah Cooley and Ale Hernandez.

There is also a Masters mens team, M/50 of Declan Grant, Kevin Dowling and Sean Grimes.

Timetable:

• 2.00pm Master Women
• 2.30pm Master Men
• 3.00pm Senior Women
• 3.30pm Senior Men

The National Road Relays took place today in Raheny Village. The senior men`s race was won by Raheny after a great battle with Donore. The Clonliffe A team placed 8th (Richie Owens 2 Mile 9.33, Eoin Taggart 1 mile 4.36, Cathal Doyle 3 Mile 15.12, Sean O`Leary 2 Mile 10.14) the B team was 17th (Sean Doran 10.18. Jack Maughan 5.01, Liam Roarty 15.44, Alex Gibbons 10.22).

The senior women placed 7th : Alannah Cooley, 1 mile 5.42, Emier O`Brien, 2 Mile 11.34 and in her first race for the club in some time Eleanor Alexander 5.14. The race was won by Queens.

In the master`s  race the O/35 men were 6th: Clive Ahern 1 mile 5.14, Shane Casey 2 Mile 11.30, Thoms Frayner 1 mile 5.23. The O/50 team were 6th: Fergal O`Shea 5.19, Niall Markey 12.32, Kevin Dowling 5.28. The Master women O/35 placed 6th Aideen Brady 6.08, Maura Matthews 12.40, Emma Cooper 5.43.

(Pictured Masters women: Aideen Brady, Maura Matthews, Emma Cooper)