Cross country
Sunday’s Dublin Senior and Junior Cross-Country Championships ,which were returning to Santry for the first time since 2019, proved a great day for the resident club, Clonliffe Harriers, who won both men’s individual and team titles..In the senior men’s 9km race, Efrem Gidey not only made it a back-to-back victory but also helped his team to a fifth consecutive victory. On the first of five laps, Gidey quickly broke away making light of the muddy and strength- sapping conditions to finish in a superb time of 28 mins 50 secs. Over a minute behind for second was David Scanlon of Rathfarnham WSAF, followed by Colm Rooney and Jayme Rossiter, both Clonliffe, who were third and fourth. Eoin Pierce in eighth place ensured that team victory went to Clonliffe ahead of Rathfarnham WSAF and Dundrum South Dublin. They were followed by Brothers Pearse, Raheny Shamrock and Donore Harriers. Just six teams finished the race.
Following newly established international rules, women ran the same 9km distance as the men for the first time in the Dublin Championships. Dublin City Harriers dominated the race from the start, taking the top three places. Edel Monaghan was first in 34:49, Faye Dervan second and Cliona Murphy third. Fourth was Niamh Kearney of Raheny Shamrock. DSD took the next three places, with Eimear Maher fifth, the ageless Maria McCambridges sixth and Serena Tuffy seventh. DCH, with Sorcha McAllister the fourth counter in 11th place, easily won the team title. DSD was second, Raheny Shamrock third, and Clonliffe Harriers fourth. Only four complete teams finished.
A clear winner of the junior women’s race was Sadhbh Mohan of Metro St Brigid’s. Edel McCreery of Rathfarnham WSAF was second and Laura Nunan of Donore Harriers third. DSD, led by Saoirse O’Brien in fifth place, was first team ahead of Donore Harriers; only two complete teams finished the race.
Sean Cronin of Clonliffe Harriers won a more competitive junior men’s race, beating his team mate Mahad Egaal by five seconds. Louis Woodger of Metro St Brigid’s was third. Clonliffe, with four finishers in the top ten, was the winning team. DSD was second and Raheny Shamrock third.
Several great pictures are on Lindie Naughton's Flicker site at https://www.flickr.com/
A day earlier on Saturday, Clare Fagan of Mullingar Harriers was a comfortable winner of the women’s race at the Leinster Senior Cross-Country Championships held in the Cowpark, Dunboyne, Co Meath. Fagan, who finished the 6km distance in 24 mins 51 secs, was followed across the line by Dublin City Harriers pair Avril Deegan and Orla Duffy. With Claire Rafter 12th and Sinead Cronin 17th, DCH took the team title with 34 points. For second place, Mullingar Harriers, led by Fagan, beat Sportsworld on count-back, with both teams finishing on 88 points. Dublin was the winning county from Meath and Westmeath, with just three county teams signing up. Although it was taking place the day before the Dublin Championships, the women’s race in particular was well supported by Dublin clubs, possibly because of the shorter distance?
Fewer Dublin clubs competed in the men’s 9km race which was dominated by Mullingar As it happens, Harriers, with Vinny Connolly and Kevin Moore finishing first and second. Liffey Valley finished third team with 83 points. Making up the Liffey Valley team behind Geoghegan were Geoffrey Alexandre 16th, Conor Galvin 30th and James McKenna 31st. Westmeath was first country team ahead of Kildare, and Meath, with Dublin fourth and Wicklow fifth.
* Calling all women runners! Want to get a start in cross-country running? Tymon Park is the venue next Sunday (11am) for the opening round of this season’s Women’s Meet and Train Cross-Country League, with Sportsworld and Brothers Pearse the hosts. Race HQ is St Jude’s GAA club, Wellington Lane for registration and post-race tea and goodies. Series entry fee is €20 or €7 per race, with four 3km races in all, plus a fun prize-giving. All races are graded, so everyone has a chance of competing for their team at their own level. New clubs always welcome! Interested? Contact Fiona Shine at
