Jan 3, 2011 [Noel Guiden] The Clonliffe Club Cross Country Championships held yesterday provided a fitting opening event for the Clonliffe Harriers 125 celebrations. There was an excellent turn out of athletes and supporters for the event held in Santry Demesene Park. The organisors had done sterling work in marking out a testing 2k lap which had surprisingly good underfoot conditions, meaning that some of the competitors just about got away with their spikless footwear. Between the men and womens races over 60 athletes took part with an age spread from 15 to 70 plus making for a great club event. The great and the good of Clonliffe were here: The great Padraig Keane suitably attired in a vintage Sub 4 Clonliffe singlet running in the Masters race, Noel Harvey, winner of the National cross country for Clonliffe in our centenary year in 1986 an interested spectator watching his sons, all life members of the club, former club Presidents Tommy Griffin, Maurice Ahern (running in what he termed The Vintage Race-1 lap!) and current President Paddy Marley.
First race was the women`s Championship race which incorporated the junior, senior and masters. A great turn out of some 15 athletes all running 4,000m (2 laps). This race was lead from start to finish by International athlete Becky Woods, in her first race since her excellent run in the Europeans. Becky was chased all the way by Ailish McDermott and Emma Cooper (still with time to smile for the camaras), these three filled the top places in the senior women`s race. First master was Mags Greenan, the European and World Masters Mountain Running Champion 2010. In the junior race Rachel Murray had a really good run to win comfortably from Aimee Carron, our guest from Skerries AC, Roisin Leahy and Larura Brennan.
The men`s race was again a combined affair with almost 50 starters: the juniors and Masters running 4k with the seniors taking in an extra lap. Upfront the leaders consisted of Gary O`Hanlon, Dave Fitzmaurice, home for Christmas from Boston, Lorcan Cronin and junior Ian Guiden. Further back in the pack the Padraig Keane was making great progress on lap 1 cutting through his fellow vets only to fall back into them on lap 2. As the juniors concluded their race after 2 laps Ian Guiden was the winner by roughly 30 seconds from Padraig Harvey and after a very strong run young Liam Ashton in his first junior race was third. First Master was the ever green Philip O`Doherty by a margin of nine seconds from Dave Dunwoody and Jeremy Chapman.
As the masters finished the seniors charged through the field after finishing their final tour of Santry. The race was won by Lorcan Cronin with a very classey run after a great road racing season in the Summer and Autumn, Lorcan`s time was 19.55, 2nd Dave Fitzmaurice (20.10) with Gary O`Hanlon, back in the fold, 3rd in 20.12.
The Post race function was extreamly enjoyable in the club bar, a great speech from Paddy Marley on the 125 year, presentation of prizes by Captains Pamela Cooper and Joe Cooper, and Lorcan Cronin being presented with the Harry Cooney Cup as the club champion. Thus the club`s celebrations are up and running after a truely great day. We look forward to more of the same throughout 2011. Happy New year.
RESULTS:
Women`s Championships (4,000m):
1 Becky Woods 14.53
2 Ailish McDermott 15.32
3 Emma Cooper 15.47
4 Bronagh NiBhriain 16.57
5 Christine Hannelly 17.07
6 Joyce O`Hare 17.46
7 Mags Greenan 17.53 1st Master
8 Rachel Murray 18.08 1st Junior
9 Emma Harding 18.21
10 Rachel McBride 18.22
11 Alison O`Sullivan 18.44
12 Aimee Carron (Guest) 18.49 Junior
13 Rision Leahy 18.53 2nd Junior
14 Laura Brennan 19.09 3rd Junior
Kate Purcell
Junior men (4,000m)
1 Ian Guiden 13.48
2 Padraig Harvey 14.14
3 Liam Ashton 14.20
4 Graham Mahon 14.28
5 Mark McKenzie 14.48
6 John Buckley 15.18
7 Ronan Doyle 15.49
8 Mark 16.11
Master Men (4,000m)
1 Philip O`Dohery 15.00
2 Dave Dunwoody 15.09
3 Jeremy Chapman 15.36
4 Martin Treacy 15.51
5 Tom Monks 16.14
6 Alan Worrell 16.32
7 Maurice McCrohan 16.49
8 Declan Murray 17.00
9 Liam Hennessey 17.05
10 Richie Barr 17.40
11 Noel Guiden 17.49
12 Paddy Tuite 17.53
13 Frank Devitt 18.10
14 Pat Bonass 18.18
15 Padraig Keane 18.44
16 Dave Brady (Guest) 19.51
17 Jimmy Bennett 20.18
18 Mick Kearney 22.08
Maurice Ahern (Vintage race!)
Senior Men (6,000m)
1 Lorcan Cronin 19.55
2 Dave Fitzmaurice 20.10
3 Gary O`Hanlon 20.12
4 Declan Power 20.56
5 Eric McCann 21.36
6 Conor McGuinness 21.45
7 Stephen Harkness 21.45
8 Larry Brady 22.55
9 Eoin Murray 23.02
10 Mark Birmingham 24.10
11 Murray Ahern 21.41
12 Gerard Kirwan 25.10
13 Fergus Keenan 25.19
14 Colm Hickey 23.30
15 Robert Beckett 25.36
16 Joseph Cooper 25.55
17 Joe Phibbs 27.06
18 Trevor Wisdom 29.30