The National Road Relay Championships took place today in Raheny with Clonliffe represented by no less than 7 teams .Our mens team proved too strong for the opposition to add this particular National title to the National Senior Cross Country title won on Feb. 25th.
The mens race was a cracker.Clonliffe first leg man Gary O`Hanlon was in the lead pack at the end of lap one,however, lost a bit of ground over the second lap, handing over to Cian McLoughlin in 4th place.Gary`s time for the 2 mile was 9:35.Raheny A and B were clear leaders at this stage.Cian ran a super mile of 4:41 to get us back up to third, closing the gap considerably.
Third leg man was Mark Keannelly some 20seconds behind Raheny`s Mick Clohisey,however by the end of their first lap Mark was up to second, the gap was now 9 seconds.A lap later Mark led by 7 seconds and when he handed over ,having run 14:05 for his 3 miles, to Killian Lonerigan the lead was 15 seconds.We were not to be beaten as Killian, running 9:34 for his 2 miles, held this lead to the finish.National Road Relay Champions in a new course record of 37:55.
Our B team also ran well with Kevin English running 10:19 for 2, Stephen Harkens 4:56 for the mile, Nigel Brunton(by the way the holder of the fastest mile on this circuit of 4:14)running 16:05 for 3mile and young Dara Boylan, in his senior debut, recording 11:31.
Our ladies although not featuring in the final shake up did the club proud, 3 full teams taking to the line, the largest representation by any club on the day.
Team A : Bronagh 6:03, Chrissy 12:38, Beckey 5:48.Team time of 24:48.
Team B Ger 5:54, Fionnula 12:46, Sheila 6:53.Total time 25:33.
Team C Grainne 7:21, Annette 14:43, Khdijah 6:21. Total 28:25.
In the mens Masters we had 2 teams, although finishing well down the pecking order.
Team A Philip O`Doherty 5:03, Dave Brennan 11:11, Tom Monks 5:38 for a total time of 21:52.
Team B Noel Guiden 5:31, Ronan Mulvanney 11:29, Stephen Byrne 5:37.Total time 22:37.
Well done to all, a special mention also to Paddy Tuite who rescued Cian McLoughlins gear from his locked car just as the panic levels began to rise!