Liam Hennessy reports: The Grand Prix Series continued last Thursday evening, April 11th, with the second race in the series; The Mc Donald Cup, 4 Mile Track Race at Morton Stadium. The Mc Donald Cup was first run in Clonee back in 1908. The Cup went missing for decades before turning up in someone’s attic in the 80’s and was subsequently returned to the club.
On Thursday the weather was a dry, cool 9 Degrees; absolutely perfect for distance running. There was a smashing turnout with runners of all levels taking part. Up front, George Brady, Eamonn Dunne, Paul Keenan and Shane Casey led out the field. Elsewhere many other groups worked together in their attempt to achieve personal best times. With a couple of laps remaining George Brady and Eamonn Dunne stretched away with Eamonn taking the win from George by a second in a lifetime best of 23.33. There were many fine runs on the night with almost half of the field producing lifetime best performances, so well done to everyone. The Mc Donald Cup is of course run on a handicap basis, and the recent form shown by Declan Murray helped him win the handicap and claim the cup on the night, so well done Declan.
Full results as follows;
Result of Handicap:
Winner – Declan Murray
2nd – Niall Markey
3rd – William Kavanagh
Full Results:
Eamonn Dunne – 23.33 – PB
George Brady – 23.34
Paul Keenan – 23.37 – PB
Shane Casey – 23.42 – PB
Mick Bermingham – 24.52 – PB
Kevin Dowling – 25.01
David Dunwoody – 25.33 – PB
Mick Gleeson – 25.38
Philip Matthews – 25.38
Seamus Devitt – 25.44 – PB
Maura Matthews – 25.49 – PB
Declan Grant – 25.55 – PB
Emma Cooper – 25.58
Niall Markey – 26.01
Adrien Gerard – 26.37
Maria Howard – 26.39 – PB
Richie Barr – 26.41
Dave Comiskey – 26.57 – PB
Laura Kernan – 26.59 – PB
Sean Grimes – 27.01 – PB
Shane Rooney – 27.03
Aimee Ahern – 27.13 – PB
Ray Mitchell – 27.14 – PB
Declan Murray – 27.26
Carmel Ward – 27.40 – PB
Deirdre Fitzsimons – 27.41 – PB
Jason Blake – DNF
Eimear Brennan – 28.23 – PB
Aine Mc Cann – 28.24 – PB
Gerard Fay – 28.50 – PB
Maura Shaughnessy – 28.59 – PB
Dan Molloy – 29.07 – PB
Liam Hennessy – 29.13
Pat Devitt – 29.18
David O’Sullivan – 29.23
Elaine O’Dowd – 29.29 – PB
Orla Deighan – 29.32.56 – PB
Conor Jennings – 29.35
Tom Dunne – 29.39
Ann Lyons – 29.58
Evelyn Brennan – 30.39
Mel Curran – 30.41
Shay Byrne – 31.06
Mary Purdue-Smyth – 31.08
William Kavanagh – 31.14 – PB
Yvonne Mc Donagh – 31.23
Rhona Sheehan – 32.02 – PB
Aoife Devitt – 33.03
Siobhan Mulvey – 33.16
Dave Brady – 36.52
Sinead Morrissey – 38.16
Apologies if i misspelt any name above.
Many thanks to everyone who volunteered to make this race run so smoothly.
Next Race: Thursday, April 25th, The 128th Running of Ireland’s Oldest Road Race – The Clonliffe 2 Mile, Morton Stadium, 8pm (Starts on the track, running down the Swords Road, turning in to Northwood, entering the Santry Demesne to complete a lap of the park and finishing on the track). Hope to see you there !!!