The final Clonliffe promotion of 2018 the ERP Christmas Cracker 5k Road Race took place at noon today in Santry. In what was a perfect day for a race with little or no wind and very mild indeed some 200 starters took to the line in Morton Stadium. At noon the race was started with the athletes completing a full lap of the track in the stadium and as the field headed out the gate onto the road the elites had gathered at the sharp end of the pack led out by Sean O`Leary, Efrem Gidey, Ian Guiden, Aaron Hanlon, young Ben Guiden, Dave Fitzmaurice and Sean Doran all of Clonliffe.
The race then took a route through Northwood, Ballymun and back down the almost mile length of Santry Avenue before turning back into Morton Stadium. At the turn from Northwood Ian Guiden took up the running as Sean O`Leary was dropped, but Efrem held firm. First back into view at the Stadium entrance was Efrem with a big lead of some 10 to 15 seconds from Ian. Efrem took the win in a fast 14.47 (unofficially) good going indeed on this tough loop. In 2nd and 3rd places were Ian Guiden and Sean O`Leary.
First women home was Irish U/23 international athlete Siofra O`Flaherty (SLOT) followed by Sinead Lamb (Donore) and Mary Leech.
In the very completive junior categories the top three men, all wearing the Clonliffe colours, were Ben Guiden, an excellent 5th place overall in a PB of 15.58, Jordan Byrne and Stephen Cashin. Likewise the top three junior women were all in black and amber: Sarah Bateson, 19.12, a huge pb, Aoife Hession and Alana Fitzsimons.
Great also to have back some of “the Clonliffe Wild Geese”, Dave Fitzmaurice and Conor McGuinness racing today.
Unfortunately a technical difficult with our timing partner meant we could not announce the winners in the Masters categories at the presentation. Results: M40 1. Shane Larkin, 2. John Dolan. M50 1. Ian Egan, 2. Aengus Burke. M60 1. Desie Shorten, 2. Charlie O`Neill. W40 1. Ciara O’Reilly 2. Maura Matthews. W50 Annette Kealy, 2. Cathryn Brady. W60 1. Mary Keane, 2. Bernadette Leonard. (Please contact us by e mail to clonliffeharriersac@gmail.com so we can arrange to get your prize to you)
Clonliffe would like to extend our thanks to all the athletes who ran today, to the club members who gave up their morning to help out, St. John`s Ambulance, the Gardaí and of course a special grateful thanks to our sponsor ERP.
Full results: ERP Xmas Cracker 18 Results
Photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHskPDvpYC