FAB FAY FINISHES 16TH IN WORLD CROSS Brian Fay of Raheny Shamrock AC ran the race of his life to finish 16th and fourth European in the men’s 10km race at the World Athletics Cross-Country Championships, Tallahassee, USA on Saturday (January 10). Fay, who had run the course while on an athletics scholarship in the USA, used that knowledge to plan for running the perfect race. From the start, he worked his way steadily through the pack from 37th at 4km, then 32nd at halfway and into the top twenty with 4km to go, picking up few more places on the final two laps. Fay, who set an Irish 5000m record of 13:01.40 two years ago, then used his speed in the chase for the line where he was just pipped for 15th place by France’s Jimmy Gressier, with the pair given times of 29 mins 36 secs and 29:37 for 15th and 16th places. Gressier is the reigning world 10,000m champion. It was the best result for an Irish athlete at the World Cross-Country Championships since Fionnuala McCormack finished 14th in 2013. Conditions in Florida last Saturday bore absolutely no resemblance to those experienced by Fay in chilly Derry last November, where splattered with mud, he won his first Irish national cross-country title. By contrast, in Florida there was not much mud to be found on the the artificially created course which featured a fake ramp, an equally fake ‘swamp’, artificial ‘hurdles’, a sandy ‘beach’ and even a few stretches of parched grass. Fay, aged twenty-seven and one of quadruplets, began running while a student at Belvedere College and later joined the Raheny Shamrock club. He continued running while at DCU, where Feidhlim Kelly was his coach, and made his Irish track debut in the 5000m at the 2022 European Championships. He would spend two years at the University of Washington in Seattle before returning to Dublin in 2023, competing at the World Championships that year and then at both the European Championships and the Paris Olympic Games in 2024. GIDEY IMPROVES HIS IRISH RECORD In Spain, Efrem Gidey (Clonliffe Harriers) took five seconds off his own Irish 10km record when clocking 27 mins 38 secs for 12th place at the Valencia 10km on Sunday (January 11). The top 35 men all broke the 28-minute barrier, with Sweden’s Andreas Almgren breaking his own European record when winning in 26:45. Gidey, like Fay, was part of the Irish silver medal winning team at the European Cross-Country Championships in Portugal last December, but opted not to run in Florida. CROSS-COUNTRY RETURNS TO TYMON PARK! After cancellations of more than a few some cross-country races at the end of 2025, it was a relief to have the annual Bank Ireland cross-country taking place in Tymon Park on Sunday — although steady rain during the night that did nothing to calm the organisers nerves. To their relief, the day dawned clear and bright, with good underfoot conditions. Taking the lead from the start of the combined 6km race was Kenneth Nugent from AIB who went on to win the race by over a minute in 22 mins 17 secs. Second was veteran athlete Sean McCreery, a Rathfarnham WSAC athlete, while third was Robert Gilligan. Finishing twelfth and first woman was Lorna Sheehan in 25:56. Sinead Tighe was second and Siobhan Nugent third. In the team competition the Accountants won men’s grade A, with Dublin Teachers winning men’s grade B as well as the women’s competition. More pics at https://www.flickr.com/photos/lindie/albums/72177720331391817 New companies and individuals are always welcome to sign up for the BHAA races, with Tymon Park again the venue for the postponed Eircom 4-mile on Saturday January 31. Assuming no last minute withdrawal of approval of course! See www.bhaa.ie for a full list of dates. WORLD HALF MARATHON WEEKEND David Murphy (Clonliffe Harriers, M40 ) was first home in the opening marathon of the World Half Marathon Festival taking place at Donadea Forest in Co Kildare on Saturday morning. Murphy finished in 3 hrs 8 min 49 secs and was part of a large contingent of Clonliffe Harriers lining out in Donadea although most of them settled for the half marathon, with a mighty total twenty-one completing the first of three half marathons held over the weekend. Also running in that race were nine members of Blackrock AC, plus members of D15 RC, Sportsworld RC, Civil Service AC, Waterstown Warriors and Cherry Orchard RC. In the second half marathon of the day Robert Kehoe (Balbriggan and District AC) was seventh and first M55 in 95:39. A day later, Eamon Keegan (Clonliffe Harriers, M40) was second in the marathon in 2:52.29, and Sallie Ennis (DSD AC, W45) second woman in 4:00.52. Mick Hallows (North Clondalkin AC) was third in the half marathon in 88:40. 

MASTERLY ROONEY! Colm Rooney (Clonliffe Harriers) not only successfully defended his men’s over 35 title at the Dublin Masters and Intermediate Cross-Country Championships held St Anne’s Park, Raheny on Sunday, he raced away from the field from the start winning the 6km race in 17 mins 37 secs. That time put him well over a minute clear of the chasers led by Mathew Kane (Rathfarnham WSAF ACI who finished second in 19 :10 and Geoffrey Alexandre (Liffey Valley AC) third and first M35 in 19:24. Rooney, aged forty-two was also first M40. He first won this race in 2020 when he was in the over 35 age group. Finishing seventh and first M45 was David Kirwan (Raheny Shamrock AC) . With four finishers in the top fourteen, Raheny were comfortable winners of the team title ahead of Rathfarnham WSAF AC and Sportsworld AC. A runaway winner in the W50 3km race which opened the master’s programme on the day, was Olympian and many times Irish champion Maria McCambridge (Dundrum South Dublin AC) who moved into the over 50 age group a few months ago. McCambridge, who finished third in the over 35 race last year, raced away from the field to win the 3km race in 11 mins 21 secs. Finishing second and first W55 in 12:03 was Annette Kealy (Raheny Shamrock) , another athlete with a long and distinguished career. Third in 12:12 was Sinead Tighe (Brothers Pearse AC) clearly back in top form after a long injury break. In the team competition, Raheny Shamrock beat Brothers Pearse by just two points for the title. Dundrum South Dublin finished third. Winning the W35 title in some style with a time of 11 mins 2 secs was Lisa Madden (Sportsworld AC). Sorcha Loughnane (Donore Harriers) better known as an ultra runner, was second and first W45 in 11:23 and Louise Gaffney (Rathfarnham WSAF AC) third in 11:35. Finishing fifth and first W40 was Rachel Murphy (Plant Based AC). Madden was also leading Sportsworld to a comfortable team victory, with Rathfarnham WSAF AC second and Clonliffe Harriers third. Closest race of the day was the men’s over 50 6km, where defending champion Lea Fulcher (Plant Based AC) pushed the early pace although Bernard Geraghty (Donore Harriers) and Paul Fleming (Rathfarnham WSAF AC) were never too far behind. When Fulcher dropped out, Geraghty took over in front with Fleming on his shoulder. Only on the final lap did Fleming pass Geraghty racing away for victory in in 19 mins 51 secs. Geraghty was second in 20 minutes exactly and Ciaran McCarthy (Raheny Shamrock AC) third. Finishing fifth and first M55 was Des Tremble (Donore Harriers) while seventh and first M60 was Sean McCreery (Rathfarnham WSAF AC). Donore took the team title from Rathfarnham WSAF with Raheny Shamrock third. Winning the M65 3km race was Philip Doherty (Clonliffe Harriers) in 11 mins 44 secs. With just four seconds separating the top three, Tom Cuddy (Rathfarnham WSAF AC) was second in 11:46 and Tom O’Connor (Liffey Valley AC) third in 11:48. Rathfarnham WSAF was the winning team followed by Clonliffe Harriers and Tallaght AC. First M70 in the same race was Vincent O’Neill (Civil Service Harriers) Mick Carolan (Brothers Pearse) was second and Patrick McDonnell (Raheny Shamrock Thirds). First M75 was Pat Collins (Liffey Valley). Best of the over 60 women was Orla Gormley (Raheny Shamrock), with Fiona Byrne (Civil Service Harriers) not too far behind for second. Sheelagh Jones (Rathfarnham WSAF AC) was first W65, Mary Lynch (Raheny Shamrock) first W70 and Eileen O’Brien (Lucan Harriers) first W75. In the Pat Hooper Perpetual Cup combined team event Rathfarnham WSAF AC won the Cup for the first time with 45 points, beating Raheny Shamrocks AC (38 points) into second place and Sportsworld RC third with 32 points. Also taking place were the Dublin Intermediate Championships and winning the men’s 6km race was Adam Nason (Donore Harriers) in 18:22. Mahad Mohammed Egaal (Clonliffe Harriers) was second in 18:42 and Daniel O’Brien (Lusk AC) third in 18:46. Clonliffe won the team title with Donore second and Raheny Shamrock third. In the women’s 3km race, Edel McCreery (Rathfarnham WSAF AC) already the Dublin novice champion, was a clear inner in 10:53. Jesseka Gallagher (Clonliffe Harriers) was second in 11:01 and Eavan McLoughlin (Dublin City Harriers) third in 11:05. Clonliffe was first team with Liffey Valley second and Dublin City Harriers third. GOOD TURN OUT FOR TOM BRENNAN 5KM Dublin-based Mayo-man Hugh Armstrong was the winner of the New Year’s Day Tom Brennan Memorial 5km in the Phoenix Park with a time of 14 mins 44 secs. Second in 14:58 was Ben Brunton (St Brigid’s AC), while third was Christopher Keenan (Drogheda and District AC). Fourth and first Dublin was Adam Nason (Donore Harriers) in 15:09. Nason was one of many finishers using the race as a warm-up for the Dublin Masters and Intermediate cross-country championships title a few days later. He would win the men’s inter title. His clubmate Charlie O’Neill was second Dubliner and also second junior when finishing sixth in 15:10. First master was Pierce Geoghegan of host club Liffey Valley AC in 15:18. Faye Dervan (Dublin City Harriers) was first woman in 16:27 followed by Sheila O’Byrne (Parnell AC) in 16:53 and Helena Butterly (Clonliffe Harriers) in 17:02. Raheny Shamrock AC, led by Anthony O’Brien in ninth place, narrowly beat Liffey Valley for the men’s team prize. Donore Harriers finished third. Liffey Valley took the women’s title, led by Ellie O’Driscoll in eighth place. Crusaders AC was second and Raheny Shamrock AC third. Dublin winners in the age categories were Fiona Clinton (DSD) W35, Deirdre Ní Chearbhaill (Crusaders AC) W45, Bernadette Bruen (Raheny Shamrock) W50, Orla Gormley (Raheny Shamrock) W60, Sheelagh Jones (Rathfarnham WSAF AC) W65, Mary Lynch (Raheny Shamrock ) W70, Geoffrey Alexandre (Liffey Valley ) M35, Lea Fulcher (Plant Based AC) M50, Nathan Pearce (Clonliffe Harriers) M55 and Paul McEvoy (Civil Service Harriers) M70. OTHER HOLIDAY ROAD RESULTS Dubliner club athletes travelled in force to the Fields of Athenry 10km, Co Galway on St Stephen’s Day, where Will Boyle (Raheny Shamrock AC) in tenth place was first Dubliner in 32:34. His Raheny clubmate Cian Charlton was 15th in 33.30, Karol David Cronin (Sportsworld AC) third M40) in 33.32, Brian Regan (Crusaders AC) 19th in 33:49 Simon O’Toole (Donore Harriers) was 20th and Michael O’Connor (Blackrock AC) fifth M40. Elle O’Driscoll (Liffey Valley) was fifth woman in 37.00 and Doireann Hughes (Crusaders) sixth woman in 37;36. Lucan Harriers, Clonliffe Harriers, Dublin Front Runners and Lusk AC were also represented among the 2,323 finishers at the race, which was won eight times by Mick Clohisey of Raheny Shamrock between 2012 and 2021. David Kirwan (Raheny Shamrock AC was the winner of the 14th Fat Turkey10km at Suttonians RFC, Sutton, on December 27. Kirwan, also a winner in 2023, finished in 34 mins 34 secs. A day later, on Sunday December 28, Lee Duddy (Clonliffe Harriers) won the D15 Suicide Awareness 5km held at Sports Campus Ireland, Abbotstown, in 15:56. Noah Ferron (Donore Harriers) finished third in 16:01. Roisin McDonald (Castleknock RC) was second woman in 20:02 and Aoife Donaghy (Dublin City Harriers) third woman in 21:41. SHELAKE WINS WATERHOUSE-BYRNE-BAIRD 10-MILE HANDICAP. Taking place on St Stephen’s Day was the 129th Waterhouse-Byrne-Baird 10-Mile Handicap, organised annually by Donore Harriers and run on a two-mile loop in the Phoenix Park. This year’s winner was Kishor Shelake, who started with a 15 minute handicap and finished in 88 mins 54 secs. Second was Andrew Stanley, off seven minutes, in 88.54, while third was Aidan Kelly, off 14.00 in 89.09. First woman was Sorcha Loughnane, off eight minutes, in 92.04. Captions Kishor Shelake, winner 129th Waterhouse-Byrne-Baird 10-Mile Handicap. Photo Donore Harriers Dublin Masters Cross-Country Championships - Maria McCambridge (DSD AC) winning eh W50 race. Dublin Masters Cross-Country Championships - Lisa Madden (Sportsworld AC), winning the W35 women’s race. Dublin Masters Cross-Country Championships - Colm Rooney (Clonliffe Harriers), winner M35 men’s race Dublin Masters Cross-Country Championships - midway through M35 race. Further photos at https://www.flickr.com/photos/lindie/

A YEAR IN DUBLIN ATHLETICS

EURO CROSS MEDALS FOR DUBLIN ATHLETES Dublin club athletes played a vital part in Ireland’s thrilling performance at the 31st annual European Cross-Country Championships held at the Lagoa resort in the south of Portugal on Sunday (December 14). Nick Griggs (Candour TC), who celebrates his 21st birthday on December 18, gave himself an early birthday present with a runaway victory in the men’s U23 race. Griggs had finished runner-up U23 in 2024, as well as second and third U20 in 2022 and 2023, so his victory was long awaited. Griggs was also leading the Irish team to a clear-cut victory over France, with Jonas Stafford and Lughaidh Mallon, both of them members of UCD AC, part of the squad. Inspired no doubt by that performance, the men’s team then packed superbly in the senior race to come second behind Spain, with and all five members of the squad finishing in the top 20. Of the Dublin-based athletes lining out, Irish champion Brian Fay (Raheny Shamrock AC) finished tenth and Efrem Gidey (Clonliffe Harriers) nineteenth. Leading the team home was Jack O’Leary (Mullingar Harriers) who had the race of his life to finish fifth. It was a first team medal in these championships for an Irish men’s team in twenty-five years. Earlier in the day, in the men’s Under 20 race, Cormac Dixon (Tallaght AC) finished 13th and Tom Breslin (Clonliffe Harriers) 67th. It was a second championships outing for Dixon, who finished 35th in 2024 and had returned from his US base at Providence College, Rhode Island, specially for the race. The team finished fifth with nineteen teams entered. Running the opening leg in the mixed 4 x1 500m relay was Eimear Maher (Dundrum South Dublin AC) who did a good job in keeping the team’s hopes of a top three placing intact. Unfortunately a trip in one of the subsequent changeovers proved costly and the Irish team had to be satisfied with sixth place. Defending champions Italy led home the fifteen teams. Ireland’s other medal winner was 16-year-old Emma Hickey from Wexford, the Irish champion, who finished third in the women’s U20 race. Overall Ireland finished fifth of sixteen nations on the points table, with placings in the top eight counted. The big question now is whether Ireland will send a team to the World Cross-Country Championships, taking place in Tallahassee, Florida on Saturday January 10. That’s just a month away and two months earlier than the traditonal date for the biennial fixture. The programme includes under 20 and senior races for men and women as well as a 4x2km mixed relay. At the 2024 championships, held in Belgrade, Serbia, Kenya and Ethiopia took all three places in the four races, as well as all four team titles and the mixed relay, where Great Britain finished third. Ireland sent eight athletes. REVENUE HIT THE ROADS. For the Revenue A 6km Cross-Country at Kiltipper, Dublin, the BHAA organisers had put in place a Plan B in case South Dublin County Council banned its cross-country race planned for Saturday (December 13). When that did indeed happen, the race was transferred to the paths of the park with the co-operation of the local football club, which acted as race HQ. Race winner was Paul Cummins in 22 mins 27, with Joe Walsh second in 22:35 and Padraig Mahoney a close third in 22.39. Fifth and first woman in 22:59 was Laura McDonnell running her first race in some time. Sinead Tighe was second and Ramune Zolbiene third. Also hit with a ban were the much postponed Dublin Juvenile Cross-Country league races scheduled for Tymon Park a day later. The next two Dublin BHAA races, both cross-country, are scheduled for Tymon Park on January 11 and January 31. See www.bhaa.ie for updates. HOLIDAY RACE CALENDAR Friday December 26: 40th Anniversary Bull Run 7.5km, Bull Island, Dollymount, Dublin, 11am. Online entry €16.68 individuals; €40 families. Also 4km coastal stroll, 10.45am. Check-in 10-10.45am, 5th Port Dollymount Sea Scouts Den (D03 NR22). C: irishwrestling@outlook.ie ; https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/bull-fun-run-walk-2025-tickets-1968877586863 Orienteering: Christmas Score Event, Pine Forest, Tibradden, Co Dublin, 10.30am. Fancy dress encouraged! www.orienteering.ie Saturday December 27: 14th Fat Turkey10km Run, Suttonians RFC, Sutton, Dublin, 11am. Online entry €30 (incl.reg fee) www.fatturkey run.com Sunday December 28; D15 Suicide Awareness 5km, Sports Campus Ireland, Abbotstown, Dublin, 11am. Online entry €28. www.myrunresults.com Thursday January 1 ; New Year’s Day Tom Brennan Memorial 5km, Phoenix Park, 9.30am. Online entry €25; bobble hat all finishers. www.liffeyvalleyac.com 

DUBLIN COUNTY DOUBLE AT MUDDY NOVICE NATIONALS in Abbotstown Alex Murphy led Dundrum South Dublin AC to a solid team victory over Clonliffe Harriers when finishing third in the women’s race at the National Novice Cross-Country Championships in Abbotstown on Sunday (November 7). DSD were comfortable winners of the title ahead of Clonliffe, led by Hope Saunders in ninth place. With four in the top fifteen, Dublin won the county title ahead of Tipperary and Donegal. Making up the Dublin team were Murphy, Saunders, Serena Tuffy (DSD AC) and Fiona Hawkins (Dublin City Harriers). In the men’s race, Dublin champion Mahad Mohamed Egaal (Clonliffe Harriers) finished a fighting third. Clonliffe finished third of the club teams and helped Dublin to a county double. Counting for the winning Dublin team were Eanna O Bradaigh (DSD AC), Aaron Donnelly (DSD AC) , Dylan Wright (Lucan Harriers), Malcolm Kiplagat (Clonliffe Harriers) and Ayoub Essarghini (Donore Harriers) as well as Egaal. In the U19 races, Megan Brunt (Blackrock AC) finished second in the women’s race with Dundrum South Dublin second of the teams. Dublin was beaten by Antrim for the county title, with just two points in it. As for the U19 men, Conrad Latham (Raheny Shamrock AC) finished fourth and first Dublin athlete, with Rhys Johnson (Donore Harriers) just behind him in fifth place. In the team competition Donore Harriers beat Raheny Shamrock with Clonliffe Harriers third and Dublin took the team title. JINGLING IN THE PHOENIX PARK! Meath invader Kevin McGrath (Bohermeen AC) out-sprinting Dublin-based Hugh Armstrong (Ballina AC) for victory at the 34th annual Jingle Bells 5km, held on a wet Saturday morning (December 6) in the Phoenix Park. His time was 14 mins 14 secs. Fintan Kerins (Clonliffe Harriers) was third, Louis O’Loughlin of host club Donore Harriers, fourth and Philip Marron (Dublin City Harriers) fifth. Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill (West Limerick AC, W40) an ex-member of Donore Harriers, was first woman, with Faye Dervan (Dublin City Harriers) second. Junior winners were Conor McGuirk (Lusk AC) and Aisling Fitzpatrick (Lucan Harriers). Other Dublin club winners were Paul Fleming (Rathfarnham WSAF) M50 and Tom O’Connor (Liffey Valley AC) M60, while in the women’s over 50 women’s category, Maria McCambridge (Dundrum South Dublin AC) was followed home by Dee O’Keeffe and Sinead Tighe, both Brothers Pearse AC for a Dublin clean sweep. With three in the top ten, Donore Harriers was first of the men’s teams ahead of Clonliffe Harriers and Raheny Shamrock. A massive total of 151 men’s teams had entered. First of the 137 women’s teams was Dublin City Harriers, followed by UCD AC and Crusaders AC. INDOORS At the opening round of this year’s Track and Field Live series in Abbotstown on Wednesday evening, (December 3) junior athletes Gloria Oigbochie (Tallaght AC, U19) burned up the track with a fast time of 7.70 secs in the second of two rounds of 60m races. Chidina Adikaibe (Metro St Brigid’s AC) and Ella Curtin (Brothers Pearse AC) both of them juniors clocked times of 7.79 and 7.94 respectively. In the men’s 800m series, Sean Carrigg (Clonliffe Harriers) proved fastest with a time of 1:56.51. Robyn Carey (Lusk AC, U19) was the quickest of the woman in 2:25.54. In the long jump, Agnese Daves (Brothers Pearse AC, U18) had a best of 5.86m. A highlight of the night was a world record in the women’s W40 4 x 400 relay for a team that included Clonliffe’s Snezana Bechtina and Sinead O’Connor of Metro St Brigid’s AC. Track and Field Live is back at Abbotstown on Wednesday December 17. Register at www.athleticsireland.ie DONORE MAKING HISTORY! A packed audience assembled n the Hilton Kilmainham on Thursday evening (December 4) for the long-awaited history of Donore Harriers, called —approrprioately— ‘The Story of Donore Harriers’ with Eamonn Coghlan, a member of Donore’s senior cross-country winning team of 1978 performing the honours. As one of Ireland’s oldest clubs, dating back to 1893, the Donore story is a fascinating one and writers Maurice Ahern and Pat Cassidy, backed up by editor Mary Ahern and publisher Colin Moore have done it more than justice. We’ll give it a proper review in a week or so! 

RECORD NUMBERS SIGN UP FOR WOMEN’S WINTER LEAGUE Rebekah Vickery (Brothers Pearse AC) led home 181 finishers at the opening round of this season’s Women’s Meet and Train Winter League, hosted by Dublin Front Runners AC. Vickery pushed the pace from the start of the 3.3km cross-country race held on a undulating course at the Curragh in Co Kildare. Her time of 12 mins 55 secs put her eight seconds clear of her clubmate Sophie McGovern who finished in 13:03. Third in 13:11 was Roisin McMahon (Sportsworld AC). Emma Finlay Esker RC) was fourth, Lorna Sheehan (Sportsworld AC) fifth and Grainne Black (Rathfarnham WSAF AC) sixth and first W40. Other age group winners were Helen Maher (Blackrock AC) W50, Linda Timpson (Waterstown Warriors) W60, Hazel Foster (Waterstown Warriors) W70 and Ann Woodlock (Donore Harriers) W80. Woodlock, aged 87, recently won the W85 1500m title at the European Masters Championships. Over three hundred women of all ages from seventeen Dublin running clubs and groups have signed up for this year’s series where the best three results from four will count. Teams consist of six runners with three to count and are divided into five graded categories, giving everyone a chance to score for their team and win a prize. There are also individual age group awards with the best three of four results to count. Clubs who have already entered teams include Crusaders, DSD, Sportsworld, Dublin Front Runners, Brothers Pearse, Lucan Harriers, Waterstown Warriors, Esker, Love2 Run, and Tallaght AC. A new club entering for the first time this year is Artane Beaumont RC. Belpark Tri Club has also entered a team. Next round of the league takes place on January 18 at the DSD grounds in Tibradden on January 18. Other dates are Tymon Park on February 22, and Abbotstown on March 22 followed by a fun run and prizegiving at a later date. Since the best three results count, entry for the series is still open. Fee is €20 for the series or €7 for an individual race. Email Lisa Shine at meetandtrainleague@gmail.com to sign up your group or club. More pictures are at https://www.flickr.com/photos/lindie/albums/72177720330642026 . CIOBANU FIRST M40 IN WATERFORD ‘HALF’ Finishing fourth and first M40 at the Waterford Half Marathon on Saturday (November 29) with a time of 69:39 was Sergiu Ciobanu (Clonliffe Harriers). Jason Reilly (Civil Service Harriers) was eighth overall and second M40 in 73:40. Alex Murphy (Dundrum South Dublin C) was third woman in 78:46, while Margaret Foley (Crusaders AC) was second W40 in 88:56. Paul Mac Gabhann (Sportsworld) was first M60 in 88:44.

FAY- BULOUS WIN FOR BRIAN - AND FIVE TEAMS TITLES FOR DUBLIN! Brian Fay (Raheny Shamrock) was the surprise winner of an epic men’s senior race at the All Ireland Cross-Country Championships held in cold, wet and muddy conditions at the Templemore Sports Complex in Co Derry on Sunday (November 23) — a true cross-country test. In a battle to the line with Nick Griggs (CNDR TC) and 2023 champion Cormac Dalton (Mullingar Harriers), Fay, holder of the Irish 5000m record, came out on top with a time of 25 mins 13 secs for the 7.5km course. Just three seconds separated the top three with Griggs, who was also first U23, timed at 25:15 and Dalton at 25:15. Finished a fighting sixth was Efrem Gidey (Clonliffe Harriers, who with his clubmate Colm Rooney 15th, was helping Clonliffe to third place in the team category. Dundrum South Dublin finished fifth, Raheny Shamrock AC eighth and Donore Harriers 13th. Pictures of Brian Fay running through the mud to victory are courtesy Athletics Ireland Facebook site, In the women’s race, Eimear Maher (Dundrum South Dublin AC) came home tenth and third U23 in 28:07, while Jodie McCann (Dublin City Harriers) was 15th in 28:31. Dundrum South Dublin took team bronze, with Dublin City Harriers fourth and Clonliffe Harriers seventh. As well as the senior races, combined U18 and U20 races over a 4.5km distance took place earlier in the afternoon, and in the women’s race, Cara Mohan (Metro St Brigid’s AC) finished eighth, followed closely by Isabel O’Reilly (Blackrock AC) ninth and third U18. Other strong runs came from Leia Ryan (Metro St Brigid’s AC) fifth U18 and Megan Brunt (Blackrock AC) sixth U18. With two in the top six, Blackrock AC finished second of the U18 teams, followed by Donore Harriers fourth and Clonliffe Harriers sixth. In the U20 team category, Lucan Harriers in fifth place proved best of the Dublin teams A fighting third in the men’s U18/U20 with a time of 14 mins 11 secs race was Tom Breslin (Clonliffe Harriers). Not too far behind was Conrad Latham (Raheny ShamrockAC) who finished 11th and second U18 and Ryan O’Neill (Rathfarnham WSAF AC) who was 17th. A large group had travelled from Donore Harriers and with Rhys Johnson 18th overall and fifth U18, Callum Twomey) 20th and sixth U18, Liam Morris 20th and seventh U18 and Charlie O’Neill 24th and eighth U18, they mopped up both the U18 and U20 team titles. In the U20 category, Clonliffe Harriers was second. Raheny Shamrock fourth and the Donore B team sixth. When it came to the county team titles, Dublin won five of the six on offer — men’s senior, U20 and U18 and women’s U20 and 18 — with the senior women finishing third. Not a bad haul! MEATH MUD-FEST FOR DUBLIN CLUB RUNNERS A day earlier, the Business Houses Athletic Association was at a private farm in Batterstown, Co Meath for the Ledwith Construction 6km, where Sean Doran (Harriers Products/Clonliffe Harriers) finished third and Des Tremble (Dept of Social Protection /Donore Harriers) was fifth and first M55. After recent cross-country cancellations in the city, Dublin clubs were well represented and finishing sixth and first woman was Celine Gavin (Donore Harriers). Malika Hammani (Eir/TT Racers) was second woman and Niamh Clarke (Donore Harriers) third. Age group winners included Claire Mulligan (Donore Harriers) W45, Maria Dolan (Rathfarnham WSAF AC) W55, and the ageless June Comiskey (Raheny Shamrock AC), W75 while Mary McDermott (Donore Harriers) was second W55. Balbriggan and District AC, marshalled by Chris Keeling, was well represented with Ramune Zolbiene first W40, Alessandro Porazzini second M40 and Denisa Adela Santo sixth woman. Next BHAA fixture is the Revenue 6km cross-country at Kiltipper Park on Saturday December 13 (11am). That’s assuming it goes ahead, of course, with the clamp-down on all cross-country races, including club races, still ongoing — and not only in Dublin. The Louth Intermediate Championships were postponed last weekend, as was a Clonliffe Harriers club race. Pictures from these BHAA races are on Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/lindie/albums/72177720330499098/. TOP TEN FOR ABDEL Abdel Laadjel (Donore Harriers) made the top ten in the men’s race at the NCAA Div 1 National Cross-Country Championships held on Saturday in Colombia, Missouri. In a closely fought 10km race, Laadjel, representing the University of Oregon, finished ninth in a time of 28 mins 46 secs and led his team to fifth place. ROADS At the Clane GAA 10km/5km, in Co Kildare, Daragh Keegan (Donore Harriers) clocked a personal best time of 16:15 for third place, while Ian O’Reilly (Brothers Pearse AC) finished fourth and first M50 in 16:57. Laura McDonnell (Brothers Pearse, W45) was first woman in 18:17. Sharon McGrane (Civil Service Harriers) was first W60 in 23:12 followed by her clubmate Carol Dempsey in 23:12. In the 10km, Wayne Waldron (Donore Harriers) finished fourth in 32:52 with Cian Murray (Clonliffe Harriers) fifth in 33:12. Sarah Mulligan (Dundrum South Dublin AC) was first woman in 38:31, followed by Kathryn Gibbons (Crusaders AC) second in 38:58. OFF-ROAD At the Run the Line 26km in aid of Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue held in the Dublin mountains on Saturday (November 22), Aideen Burke (Donore Harriers) was third W45 with a time of 2:45.57. A total of 492 completed the race with a further 687 finishers for the shorter 13km distance. SIGN UP FOR MEET & TRAIN LEAGUE Next Sunday (10am) sees the opening round of this year's Women’s Meet and Train cross-country league at the Curragh - yes in Co Kildare! Entry is still open with teams and individuals welcome to sign up on the day. Four races will take place over the winery months with the best three results to count. Teams, which are graded into four categories, are of six with three to count, which makes it very flexible. All races are 3km-ish cross-country/off-road and entry is €20 for the series or €7 per race; pay on the day in cash. Other dates are January 18, DSD Campus; February 22nd Tymon Park, and March 22, Abbotstown. Info meetandtrainleague@gmail.com