Dublin Clubs activities, 12 - 16 February 2025

INDOORS 

Sarah Healy (UCD AC) again produced the athletics performance of the weekend when she finished second in the 1500m at the Keely Klassic indoors competition held in Birmingham on Saturday (February 15). Almost incidentally, Healy’s time of 4:01.62 was her third Irish record in as many weeks and beat her own Irish record of 4:03.83 set in France last year. She has also broken the Irish 3000m twice, running 8:35.19 at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix a fortnight ago in Boston and then 8:30.79 at the Millrose Games in New York last weekend.

In the USA, Rhasidat Adeleke got her 2025 season off to a good start when coming third in a 600m race in Clemson, South Caroline on Friday (February 14) with a time of 1min 30.30 secs. Unlike Healy, Adeleke has no plans to race indoors this season and will not appear at next weekend’s National Indoors in Abbotstown. A large Irish contingent was racing in Boston, also on Friday and in the 800m, Cian McPhillips (UCD AC) ran a PB of 1:45.33, which is inside the qualifying mark for the European Indoors. In Lievin on Thursday (February 13) Cathal Doyle (Clonliffe Harriers) improved his indoors 1500m time to 3:37 39 while running the mile where he finished third in 3:53.18. That’s just off the European Indoors qualifying mark for 1500m of 3:37.00.

A day later, in France, Jodie McCann (DCH AC)) clocked a time of 9:09.44 when finishing tenth in the women’s 3000m at the Meeting Indoor de Lyon. In the B 800m, Cillian Kirwan (Raheny Shamrock) clocked a time of 1:50.30. 

ROADS

Irish clubs won both team competitions at the annual Armagh International Road Races held on Thursday evening (February 13) despite large overseas international entry, mostly from British clubs. Efrem Gidey, who finished eighth and best of the Irish in 13:51was leading Clonliffe Harriers to team victory, backed up by Colm Rooney 29th in 14:04, Stephen Scullion 46th in 14:13, and Stephen Cashin 97th in 14:40. Morpeth Harriers, led by James Young, finished second and Cambuslang third. In the women’s 3km, Niamh Kearney (Raheny Shamrock) finished 11th in 9:24 and Amy O’Donoghue (Dundrum South Dublin) 15th in 9:26. With Grace Lynch 21st in 9:38, and Emma McEvoy (34th in 9:51. FDSD finished second team behind Finn Valley.

Making a welcome return to racing at the the Enniscorthy 10km on Sunday (February 16) after a long injury break was Kevin Dooney (Raheny ShamrockAC) who finished second in 33:04.

CROSS-COUNTY

Winning the women’s 4km race at the annual Rás na hEireann in Dunleer, Co Louth on Sunday was Sorcha McAllister (Dublin City Harriers) in 14 mins 46 secs. Dunleer beat Dublin City Harriers by a single point in the team competition.

BHAA CROSS-COUNTRY 

Sean Doran notched up another BHAA victory at the Teachers 5km Cross-Country held at St Columba’s College in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains, also on Sunday (February 16). Doran was part of the leading group from the start and only took over in front on the fourth and final lap, crossing the finish line in 17 mins 31 secs. Second in 17:43 was Edward O’Connor, while third was Paul Fleming in 17:52. First woman was Clare Sullivan in 20:24, followed by Susan Glennon in 20:57 and Orna Dignam in 21:07. Large groups from Dublin clubs turned out for their workplace teams, among them Ramune Zolbiene, one of seven members of Balbriggan and District in action, who was first W40. Clonliffe Harriers, Rathfarnham WSAF, Donore Harriers, Tallaght AC, Civil Service Harriers, Crusaders, Liffey Valley. Lucan Harriers, and Brothers Pearse were also represented. 

ESB was the winning team in Grade 1, ahead of the Gardai and the Teachers. Revenue won Grade 2, with Eir second and Bank of Ireland third. Best of the women’s teams was Stronger with Esther, with Legal A second and Health A third. Pictures from the BHAA Cross Country are at https://www.flickr.com/photos/lindie/albums/72177720323861852/. In a busy month for the BHAA, the Central Bank 6km cross-country takes place next Saturday, February 22 (11am) at the new venue of Jobstown Park. Details www.bhaa.ie

DUBLIN SCHOOLS SCORE AT LEINSTER CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS 

Charlie O’Neill of Belvedere College and Donore Harriers was an impressive winner of the boys’ inter race at the Leinster Schools Cross-Country Championships held at the 15 Acres, Phoenix Park, on Wednesday (February 12). O’Neill was also leading Belvedere to team victory. A team from the Institute of Education, Leeson Street, dominated the girls’ senior race, with Emily Bolton a clear winner of the race, ahead of her team- mate Lorraine O’Connor second. With Sinead Farrell 14th and Laura Nunan 15th the Institute took the team title. Other good runs included a fighting second for Cillian Gleeson (Colaiste Chiarain) in the boy’s senior race, where Ard Scoil Rís finished third team led by Lorcan Benjacar in fourth place. In the girls’ inter race, Megan Brunt of Loreto Dalkey finished second. In the younger age group, Samuel Redmond of Templeogue College finished third and Conn McCluskey of St Benildus fourth in the boys’ junior race where Castleknock College was second of the teams. Beth Reamsbottom  in second place was leading Santa Sabina to team victory in the girls’ junior race, while in the minor boys’ race, Danny Davis of St Fintan’s Sutton was the winner  and Belvedere best of the teams ahead of Willow Park. Mount Anville finished second team in the minor girls’ race. Pictures from the Schools Cross Country are at https://www.flickr.com/photos/lindie/albums/72177720323797971/