The inaugural Hireco Clonilffe/IMC Grand Prix proved to be a major success in the Morton Stadium, Santry last night. There was a great night’s athletics provided by the athletes who supported this Meet in their droves with full fields in the sprint events, ten javelin throwers in the javelin pairs competition, a quality packed 1500 metres and then right at the eleventh hour Emmett Jennings of DSD producing a magnificent performance delighting the crowd with a time that qualifies him for selection for the world Junior championships.
The Men’s 400 metres got the night’s proceedings off in dramatic fashion as Clonliffe’s John Fagan ran strongly to hold a good lead only to literally fall at the final hurdle handing the win to Paul Byrne of St. Abbans with a time of 53.15 from Clonliffe’s Jeremy Lyons (53.45) and 3rd Barry Upton (Menapians).
The first sprint race of the night provided a close contest which was won by David Hynes of Menapians in a time of 11.01, 2nd was Patrick Phelan (DSD) 11.18 with Clonliffe’s Patrick O’Connor 3rd in 11.27. There was also a full field in the Women’s 100 metres race which was won by Joan Healy making the long journey from Bandon in a time of 12.55, 2nd was DSD’s Claire Bergin (12.89) and 3rd Catherine McManus (Celtic A.C.) in 13.11.
The first of the Irish Milers Club races was the Men’s 3000 metres which was won in fine style by Joe McAllister (St. Malachy’s). This proved to be a fine race for young Clonliffe athlete Conor McGuinness to run his second PB in a week, however, this time he took a massive 20 seconds or so off his previous PB running a time of 9:07.16. A strong run in this race also from Finnula Brittan running as a guest in the men’s race recording a time of 9:11.8.
Unfortunately the men’s 400 metres field was fairly well disseminated by a number of withdrawals, pre race favourite Nick Hogan (DSD) won comfortably in 48.41, unfortunately Clonliffe’s Ciaran Mackey sustained a hamstring injury and did not finish the race.
The men’s 800 A race was one of the races of the night. This was a field packed with quality and what a fantastic race was provided. There was a cracking pace from the off and down the final straight young Mark English (Letterkenny A.C.) proved strongest winning in an excellent 1:49.71 from Darren McBrearty (1:50.01). In 3rd place was Clonliffe’s Aidan Bailey running his third PB of the year adding a new 800 PB of 1:52.48 to his recent 3000 and 1500 PB’s recorded in earlier IMC Meets.
The 800 B Race was won by Patrick Flynn, there were two Clonliffe athletes in this race, 4th was Brett Paine running 1:56.8 with Mark McDonald 7th in 1:58.10.
The C Race was won by Denis Coughlan in 1:58.22, in 10th place in this race was Clonliffe’s Andrew Jenkinson who ran 2:04.45.
On then to the eagerly anticipated 1500 metres men’s race. There was a top class entry in this race including Liam Reale, Michael Mulhare, Gary Thornton, David McCarthy (Waterford) and from the UK Steve Davies. This race certainly lived up to expectations as young David McCarthy chased European qualifying time. Unfortunately, however, the wind had picked up mid race and young McCarthy found himself running into a head wind on each lap. He got great support from the crowd, however, ultimately was just outside of the qualifying time running a time of 3:42.95. A win by over five seconds from Liam Reale with Davis third. Clonliffe’s David Flynn ran 3:56.96 in 13th place.
An impressive winner of the ladies 1500 metres was Hazel Murphy running 4:20.29, from a Clonliffe perspective Louise Reilly got the better of Becky Woods, Louise finishing 4th in 4:35.59 from Becky in 5th 4:36.83.
In the field events David Donegan of Clonliffe won the pole vault and bravely went for a new club record of 4.95 metres and narrowly missed this. In second place was Clonliffe’s Ian Rogers with Raheny lady Mihah Pantea 3rd. The pairs javelin competion was won by Ryan Whelan/Paul Marry with throws of 44.64 and 55.5 providing a best combined of 100.14m, well clear of Anita Whyte/Marcin Klinzow with a combined 88.49m.
The final race of the evening was the 3000 metre steeple chase where DSD’s Emmett Jennings had made it clear that he was chasing that 9:10 world junior qualifying time. Pacemaker David Flynn did a very good job in the early stages and with some 2 ½ laps to go young Jennings found himself in the lead and was cheered on by the crowd all the way to record a superb 9:09.15 and get that elusive qualifying time. In second place was Ciaran Doherty (Letterkenny) with Clonliffe’s Jamie Rossiter 3rd in a new PB.
HIRECO CLONLIFFE/IMC GRAND PRIX RESULTS
400 metres hurdles men
1. Paul Byrne 53.15
2. Jeremy Lyons 53.45
3. Barry Upton 53.79
4. Jonathan Millar 55.31
5. John Fagan 1:00.97
Men’s 100 metres
1. David Hynes 11.01
2. Patrick Phelan 11.18
3. Patrick O’Connor 11.27
4. Danny Kavanagh 11.35
5. Daenea O’Byrne 11.4
6. Conor Coleman 11.4
7. Darragh Graham 12.09
Women’s 100 metres
1. Joan Healy 12.55
2. Claire Bergin 12.89
3. Catherine McManus 13.11
4. Zita Murphy 13.23
5. Sharon Kilduff 13.31
6. Ailish Fitzpatrick 13.39
7. Francesca Reveille 13.45
8. Phil Healy 13.53
9. Kate Fitzpatrick 14.36
3000 metres
1. Joe McAllister 8:32.56
2. Ed McGinley 8:35.57
3. Jake Byrne 8:36.91
4. Robert Corbally 8:40.10
5. Mark Dooley 8:54.9
6. Patrick Cassidy 8:56.57
7. Conor McGuinness 9:04.16
8. Tommy Scanlon 9:07.68
9. Finnula Britton 9:11.8
10. Cormack Fitzpatrick 9:28.21
400 metres Men
1. Nick Hogan 48.41
2. Shane Gorr 52.08
3. Ruairdhi Kidney 52.38
Men’s 800 A
1. Mark English 1:49.71
2. Darren McBrearty 1:50.01
3. Aidan Bailey 1:52.48
4. Kevin Moriarty 1:52.53
5. Darragh Bermingham 1:52.87
6. Patrick Monaghan 1:54.17
7. Gareth Hill 1:54.74
8. Julian Krupper 1:54.77
9. Niall Robinson 1:54.82
10. Ivan Kinahan 1:55.25
11. James Ledingham 1:55.72
12. Richard Corcoran 1:59.66
800 metres B
1. Patrick Flynn 1:53.01
2. Ruairi Finnegan 1:54.6
3. Alex Flynn 1:54.71
4. Brett Paine 1:56.8
5. Dermot McDermott 1:57.27
6. Eric Keogh 1:57.33
7. Mark McDonald 1:54.10
8. Ray Hynes 1:58.81
9. Ronan Kearns 1:59.01
10. Fionn Cleirigh Butler 2:02.8
11. Patrick Hogan 2:03.73
800 metres C
1. Denis Coughlan 1:58.22
2. Jordan Stokes 1:58.22
3. Neil Cowzer 1:58.9
4. Sam Miller 1:58.93
5. Eoghan Durkin 1:59.02
6. Chris Kelly 1:59.32
7. Fintan Reilly 2:00.32
8. Steve Dineen 2:01.67
9. Karl Fitzmaurice 2:03.03
10. Andrew Jenkinson 2:04.45
11. John Hayes 2:06.63
12. Brian O’Donoghue 2:10.46
1500 metres Men
1. Dave McCarthy 3:42.95
2. Liam Reale 3:48.31
3. Steve Davies 3:48.85
4. Michael Mulhare 3:50.79
5. Gavin O’Sullivan 3:51.63
6. Tommy Carroll 3:51.81
7. Thomas Cotter 3:52.31
8. Pat McCarton 3:52.78
9. Patrick Brennan 3:53.47
10. Eoghan Flynn 3:54.45
11. Thomas Casey 3:54.63
12. Thomas Fitzpatrick 3:55.96
13. Dave Flynn 3:56.96
14. Gary Thornton 3:59.0
15. Andrew Monaghan 4:01.71
16. Shane Kerr 4:05.92
17. Pauric McLoughlin 4:06.4
18. David Moorewood 4:06.56
19. James O’Hare 4:06.61
20. James Strawbridge 4:12.35
1500 metres Women
1. Hazel Murphy 4:20.29
2. Amy O’Donoghue 4:33.97
3. Laurence Scott 4:34.43
4. Louise Reilly 4:35.59
5. Becky Woods 4:36.83
6. Aoife Brady 4:39.36
7. AN Other 4:44.66
8. Claire Phelan 4:54.10
9. Catriona Brady 4:55.2
10. Cindy Kelly 5:00.29
3000 metre Steeplechase
1. Emmett Jennings 9:09.15 (World Junior QT)
2. Ciaran Doherty 9:16.9
3. Jamie Rossiter 9:47.81
Javelin
1. David Donegan
2. Ian Rogers
3. Mihah Pantea
Javelin pairs
1. Ryan Whelan (44.64)/ Paul Marry (55.5) 100.14
2. Anita Whyte (40.04)/ Marcin Klinzow (48.45) 88.49
3. Olivia McDonald (35.33)/ Matthew Martin (49.94) 85.27
4. Denise Byrne (37.36)/Barry Kirwan (40.43) 77.79
5. Brianan Conway (24.2)/ Rory Kirwan (41.03) 65.23
In all this was an excellent occasion.This was the club`s first partnership with the Irish Milers Club and was clearly most successful. Clonliffe would like to thank our sponsor Hireco Trailer Rentals, the officials and club members who turned out to help on the day, the spectators who turned out to this most enjoyable event and to the athletes for their support.