TRAVERS WINS JERRY KIERNAN RACE
John Travers of Donore Harriers was the runaway winner of the inaugural BHAA SNAP Jerry Kiernan Foundation 6km, held at the National Cross-Country Track, Abbotstown, on Sunday morning (September 8). Travers, who was coached by the late Jerry Kiernan, led from the start and and had over a minute to spare when finishing in 18 mins 22 secs. Second in 19:35 was Stephen Cashin, while third in 19:52 was Sean Doran, one of a large contingent from Kiernan’s club, Clonliffe Harriers. Doran was also the first Business Houses Athletic Association member to finish reprensenting Harrier Products. Fourth and first M45 was Paul Fleming of Ornua and RathfarnhamWSAF AC. Des Tremble of the Dept of Social Protection was first M50 with his Donore Harriers clubmates, Charlie O’Neill and Terry Mee (running barefoot!), first M60 and M80 respectively. Category winners among the women were Vanessa Sallier of AON and Rathfarnham WSAF AC, Olwyn Dunne of Crusaders AC, and Fiona Byrne of the HSE and Civil Service Harriers. All funds raised through the race will go to supporting Irish athletes through the Jerry Kiernan Foundation. Some pictures from the race are below and more ar at https://www.flickr.com/photos/lindie/albums/72177720320157940/with/53980187209.
SATURDAY RACING
First woman at the Seamie Weldon 5km in Ardee, Co Louth on Saturday evening (September 7) was Orla Duffy (Dublin City Harriers) who finished sixth overall in 17 mins 37 secs. In the age categories, Garett Loy (Clonliffe Harriers) was second M40. Also taking place was a 10km race, which was won by Dave Rooney of Raheny Shamrock AC in a time of 30:50, with his clubmate Mick Clohisey, the former Irish marathon champion, third in 32:02
COSTELLO, CASSIDY TAKE RAHENY SERIES TITLES
The annual Lord Mayor of Raheny 2-Mile Series concluded last Tuesday (September 3) with James Cassidy and Rachel Costello winning the series title. A total of 27 men and 16 women completed the minimum eight races necessary over the 13 race series. In the women’s category, the top three were juvenile athletes, with Rachel Costello the clear winner followed by Chloe Griffin and Georgina Bruen Liston. Age category winners were: W45 Orla McElhinney, W50 De [stet] O’Connor, W55 Orla Gormley, W65 Bernie Kearns, W75 June Comiskey. Gormley finished fourth overall. The men’s competition was tight with just four points separating the top three. Master athlete James Cassidy took the title with 30 points just two ahead of rising star Cillian Cooney with Ciaran Chandler two points behind again for third. The age category winners were M40 John Dolan, M45 Ivan Griffin, M50 Keith Fleming, M55 Dave Feeney, M60 Colm Gormley, M65 Colm Cahill, M70 Stephen Rowe.
PARALYMPICS
At the Paralympic Games in Paris last Tuesday (September 3), a delighted Orla Comerford (Raheny Shamrock AC) won a bronze medal in the T13 100m with a time of 11.94 seconds, running a heat and final in the same day. Winning the title in a world record time of 11.76 seconds was Azerbaijan’s Lamiya Valiyeva. It was a third Paralympic Games and a first medal for Comerford, who has been a member of Raheny Shamrock AC since the age of six and was coached by the late great Brian Corcoran.
OTHER TRACK AND FIELD
In Copenhagen on Tuesday (September 3), Luke McCann (UCD AC) ran a personal best for the mile of 3:52.70, finishing second in the race behind Waleed Suliman of the USA who crossed the line in 3:52.03. On the same night, Mark Smyth (Raheny Shamrock) was in Turnov, Czech Republic, where he clocked a time of 10.53 secs to finished second in the 100m at the Ludvik Danek Memorial meet. Smyth, the Irish indoor 200m record holder, also finished second in his specialist 200m with a time of 20.92 secs.
Cathal Doyle (Clonliffe Harriers) finished eighth in the 5th Avenue Mile in New York on Sunday in a time of 3:52.1. What a season!
ULTRARUNNING
A small Irish group was competing at the World Skyrunning Championships in Soria, Spain which started on Friday (September 6) with the vertical race (5km with 1 km of climb) where Ian Conroy (Raheny Shamrock) finished a creditable 16th in 34:22 In the Sky Ultra World Championships a day later over a distance of 70km with 4,350m of climb, Sean Meehan (Cherry Orchard AC) finished 36th in 9 hours 31 minutes 32 seconds. Ireland finished 20th team after Vertical and Sky results were combined.
HAPPY 100TH NICK CORISH!
Celebrating his centenary last Tuesday was the legendary Nick Corish of Raheny Shamrock Athletics Club and the BHAA. Until his mid 80s, Nick, a retired school principal, was running four miles several times a week as well as swimming, cycling, gardening — and ballroom dancing when he got the chance! At the age of 81, he joined the Toastmasters, and he was also an active member of the Teachers Union of Ireland's Retired Members Association until a few years ago. Nick’s first love was swimming and in his native county of Wexford, he taught generations of locals the art of staying afloat with style as well as giving swimming lessons to adults at the Central Remedial Clinic, always emphasising the need for safety when in the water.
As an athlete, his speciality was the middle to long distances and he won numerous medals at national European and even world level, competing for his club and also with the Trinity College team in Business Houses Athletic Association races. He was president of Raheny Shamrock Athletics Club from 2008 to 2015 and remains a president emeritus. His secret to a long a healthy life? ‘The important thing in life is to keep on having an adventure. You have to keep doing what you're able to do. The performance might not always be what it once was, but I’s still there.’ Although not as able bodied these days, Nick’s eyes still light up when the conversation turns to running and swimming — or the activities of his many talented grand-children. Long may he flourish !
