DUBLIN CLUBS ACTIVITIES ROUND UP, 11 - 12 JANUARY 2025

GIDEY BREAKS 39-YEAR OLD IRISH RECORD

Efrem Gidey (Clonliffe Harriers) set a new Irish record for 10km when he ran a time of 27 mins 43 secs in Valencia, Spain on Sunday (January 12). His time knocked three seconds off the 27:46. run by John Treacy in 1985 — almost forty years ago. Gidey already holds the Irish half marathon record after running 60:51 in Denmark last September. Gidey, representing Hoka, finished 20th in a race won by Andreas Almsgren of Sweden in 26 mins 53 secs becoming the first European athlete ever to break 27 minutes for the distance. Gidey’s focus is now on the 10,000m on the track with Alistair Cragg’s Irish record of 27:39.55 his immediate target

In the USA, Irish long jump champion Elizabeth Ndudi (DSD) equaled her own indoor personal best of 6.42m when competing for Illinois at the Fighting Illini Open in Champaign on Saturday (January 11). Ndudi finished fifth in the competition.

INDOORS

At the AI Indoor Games and Combined Events Championships held at the NIA, Abbotstown, Dublin over the weekend (January 11-12, Dundrum South Dublin AC won the inaugural mixed 4x400m indoor senior championship with a winning time of 3 mins 50.11 secs. Making up the team were Godwin Matias, Charlotte Bourke, Benjamin Hauer and Rachel Lynch. Finishing a close second in 3:50.43 was a second DSD quartet made up of Ciaran Carthy. Aobh Fords, Anton Roquette and Aisling Cunningham. Winning the men’s 1500m, was Lorcan Benjacar (Clonliffe Harriers) in a personal best 4:01.66. Fintan Kerins (Clonliffe Harriers) finished third in 4:03.00. Over 3000m, recently crowned Dublin masters cross-country champion Colin Rooney (Clonliffe Harriers) was the winner of the men’s race in a personal best 8:47.93. Amy O’Donoghue (DSD AC) won the women’s race in 9:46.10. In the sprints, Marcus Lawler (Clonliffe Harriers) won his 200m heat in 21:22, with Benjamin Hauer (DSD AC) second in 22:99 and Masahiro Watanabe (Crusaders) third in 24.14. In other heats, both Emmanuel Akinrolie (Titans AC) and Luke Timlin (Crusaders) were given times of 22.33. Over two rounds of 60m races, Bori Akinola (UCD AC) proved fastest with a time of 6.72 secs. Marcus Lawler clocked 6.82 in the second race. In a blanket finish to the men’s 60m hurdles, Valentinos Goularas (Crusaders) finished a close second with a time of 8.02 secs.Kate O’Connell (Lucan Harriers) proved fastest of the local runners in the women’s 200m clocking a personal best 24.40 secs in the second of seven heats. Molly Hourihan (UCD AC) won the opening heat in 24.77. Fastest overall was English visitor Jasmine Wilkins who won the third heat in 24.33. 

In the field, Colm Bourke (Raheny Shamrock AC) won the long jump with a 7.27 leap, while Daphni Doulapssi Teeuwen (also Raheny Shamrock) won the women’s triple jump with a final round careeer best of 12.28m. Molly Mullally (DSD) was second with 11.44. In a competitive senior men’s heptathlon, Lorcan Murphy (DSD) finished second with 4692 points, picking up his best points in the 60m, long jump, high jump and 1000m. Just 28 points ahead of him was winner Jack Forde (St Killian’s AC) with 4720 points. In the M50 competition, Kevin Byrne (DSD) finished third with 2250 points. Peader McGing (also DSD) finished second M60 with 2057 points. Of the women, Vanessa Sallier (Rathfarnham WSAF) finished second W50, with her best points coming in the 800m.

At the British Milers Club indoor meet at Cardiff University in Wales on Sunday (January 12), Lorraine O’Connor (Clonliffe Harriers) won the 1500m B race in a personal best 4:22.71 which is a Clonliffe senior indoor record. In the 1500m A race Emily Bolton, also Clonliffe, finished third in 4:27.96, also a personal best. Both women are still competing at under 20 level.

CROSS-COUNTY

Over 170 finished the second round of the Women's Meet and Train Cross-Country League held on a 3km course beside the Dundrum South Dublin track at Tibradden Road (cleared of its usual woolly-backed inhabitants— and of residual snow!). In a battle to the line between members of host club DSD and Sportsworld, DSD took the top three places. Leading them home was Lisa Gaughan, who had finished second at the opening round of the league last November in Tymon Park. Clubs who had entered teams included Donore Harriers, Crusaders, Brothers Pearse, Esker, Tallaght, Dublin Front Runners, Raheny Shamrock, Blackrock and Waterstown Warriors, as well as individuals from LSA and Civil Service Harriers. Next round, hosted by Dublin Front Runners at a Marino venue, is on Sunday February 9. Info Fiona Shine fionashine@gmail.com  The pics from the M&T are at https://www.flickr.com/photos/lindie/albums/72177720323144584 

Not far away in Tymon Park, also on Sunday morning Stephen Kelly (Express Side Gates) was the winner of BHAA Bank of Ireland 6km cross-country in a time of 21 mins 34 secs. Paul Fleming (Ornua/Rathfarnham WSAF)) was second in 21:50 and Hugh McDowell third in 22.33. In the team competition, ESB, led by Fionn Griffin in fifth place, won Grade 1 ahead of Gardai and Revenue. ESB also won grade 2, with Eir best in Grade 3. First woman was Clare Sullivan (CSO/Crusaders) in 24:55. Niamh Brophy was second in 25:02 and Maura Kearns (Teachers) third in 25:20. Team winners were Stronger with Esther, with Revenue second. Next BHAA race is the Garda St Raphael open 4-Mile and women’s 2-mile in the Phoenix Park on Sunday January 19 (11am). Registration is at Civil Service Harriers Clubhouse, just off the main road; note that there is no parking available at the clubhouse. Info Ian Redican 087 2200666; www.bhaa.ie

ROADS

Mahad Mohammed Egaal (Clonliffe Harriers led home 265 finishers at the R-ACE 5km, in Drogheda, Co Louth on Sunday (January 12) in a time of 14 mins 34 secs. His clubmate Ben Guiden finished third in 14:50. On a good day for Clonliffe, Helena Butterly was first woman in 16:55.