Offaly athletics club stages annual Peter English 625

The 33rd edition of the Peter English 625 took place on Tuesday evening (17^th June), drawing club members and supporters together in memory of a cherished figure in the Tullamore Harriers community.

Above: Juveniles in action at the Peter English 625.

The race, held annually since 1992, covers a single 625-meter lap around the club’s tarmac circuit. More than just a race, it serves as a meaningful tribute to Peter English, a passionate athlete, dedicated club member, and dear friend to many in the club.

Peter served as Club Secretary from 1982 to 1983 and was a long-standing member of the Social Club team, having joined the club at a young age.

He was well-loved and widely respected within the club, always showing enthusiasm for athletics and pride in Tullamore Harriers. The inaugural race in 1992 saw Ann Carroll and Adrian Curley crowned as the first winners in the women’s and men’s sections, respectively. On that occasion, trophies were presented by Peter’s family, who have continued to be part of the presentation party over the years, adding a deeply personal touch to the event.

The current course records remain unbeaten: Aaron Mangan holds the men’s record at 1:26.40 (2019), while the women’s record of 1:43.30 is jointly held by Claire Rafter (2017) and Ava O'Connor (2019).

This year’s edition featured a total of 12 races - 8 juvenile and 4 adult races.

A heartfelt thank you goes to everyone who competed, volunteered, and supported the event. Special thanks to John and Libby English for attending and presenting the prizes, continuing the cherished connection between Peter’s family and the club that meant so much to him.

Results.

Juvenile Race 1

1 Niamh Daly 2.18.38

2 Izzy Kelly 2.29.24

3 Mollie Grennan 2.29.70

4 Maeve Makan 2.29.94

5 Áedamamair Campbell 2.41.29

6 Emily Dowdall 2.42.64

7 Mairead O' Brien 2.42.64

8 Olive Herlihy 2.43.88

9 Zoe Whittle 2.44.68

10 Leah Colbert 2.50.59

11 Molly Mahon 3.04.70

Juvenile Race 2

1 Conor Dunne 2.07.05

2 Caleb Neville 2.08.17

3 Nikodem Banach 2.08.38

4 Finn Cummins 2.19.02

5 Cathal Malone 2.19.26

6 Finn O 'Connor 2.21.58

7 Finn Martin 2.27.31

8 Jack Dunne 2.32.84

9 Cathal O' Meara 2.34.38

10 Johnny Moore 2.37.47

11 Lewis Westman 2.37.73

12 Dan Cusack 2.43.00

13 Joseph Cully 2.44.73

14 Tom Frazer 2.45.52

15 Jack Hannon 3.07.12

Juvenile Race 3

1 Lily May Grennan 2.07.82

2 Niamh O' Brien 2.10.32

3 Sophie Hynes 2.16.21

4 Cara Cummins 2.20.47

5 Kitty Doolan 2.22.51

6 Evie Mahon 2.22.78

7 Faye Carroll 2.24.66

8 Elsie Kelly 2.26.77

9 Maebh Geoghegan 2.29.75

10 Maisie Mahon 2.30.87

11 Hannah Brophy 2.43.28

12 Iona Geoghegan 2.46.34

13 Fayah Shaughnessy 2.47.65

14 Kate Brophy 2.50.86

15 Ella Maher 2.52.79

Juvenile Race 4

1 Connal Malone 2.02.18

2 Aubin Walsh 2.03.16

3 Luke Whittle 2.05.30

4 Noel Moore 2.06.34

5 Sean Mitchell 2.09.05

6 Aidan Herlihy 2.10.56

7 Sean Dunican 2.11.05

8 Levi Carroll 2.12.00

9 Paidi Scully 2.12.52

10 Rian McAndrew 2.12.92

11 Dan Corcoran 2.13.88

12 Patrick O' Meara 2.17.59

13 Dara McLaughlin 2.20.09

14 Mathew Hayes 2.20.71

15 Oran Begley 2.26.78

16 Conor Monaghan 2.29.41

17 Ben Mathews 2.31.47

18 Cillian McHugh 2.33.69

19 Eli Stokes 2.36.19

20 Martin Moore 2.37.30

21 Ben Johnson 2.39.33

22 Gearoid Conroy 2.54.61

23 Daniel Brereton 2.59.12

Juvenile Race 5

1 Tilly Cusack 2.01.39

2 Sarah Whittaker 2.03.61

3 Annabel Donegan 2.12.82

4 Roisin O' Brien 2.14.89

5 Kate McKinney 2.15.59

6 Meabh Boland 2.16.33

7 Clodagh Hayes 2.28.80

8 Amelia Carroll 2.29.50

9 Edie McNicol 2.39.75

Juvenile Race 6

1 Shane Cummins 1.56.07

2 James Hynes 1.58.13

3 Jason McKinney 2.02.59

4 Seamus Boland 2.03.53

5 Eoin Herlihy 2.04.73

6 Ben Kirwan 2.11.58

7 Willian McNamara 2.19.08

Juvenile Race 7

1 Elise Cusack 1.51.46

2 Emily Morris 2.03.54

Juvenile Race 8

1 Niall Whitaker 1.54.2

Senior Ladies Race A

1 Maire Triona Keane 2.06.16

2 Evelyn Herlihy 2.07.70

3 Niamh McEnhill 2.12.47

4 Michelle Mullaney 2.13.88

5 Karen Nolan 2.14.67

6 Tara McKinney 2.18.88

7 Aine Golden 2.20.22

8 Sorcha Galvin 2.26.92

Senior Ladies Race B

1 Mary Galvin 2.33.56

2 Mary Daly 2.37.46

3 Naomi Galvin 2.38.51

4 Olive Mannion 2.42.38

5 Helene Rouget 2.43.17

6 Sharon Daly 2.46.60

7 Hillary Duncan 2.52.34

8 Triona Muldoon 2.56.75

9 Mary Walsh 2.57.71

Senior Men's Race A

1 Ronan Keaney 1.35.18

2 Leonard Kgoboko 1.43.51

3 Daniel Molloy 1.44.87

4 Shane McGuinness 1.48.03

5 David Hollywood 1.48.87

6 Rachel Keaney 1.51.04

7 Mick O ' Brien 1.54.17

8 Alan Mitchell 2.01.32

9 Darren Butler 2.13.25

10 Liam Byrne 2.16.93

Senior Men’s Race B

1 Gearóid McHugh 1.53.51

2 Bryce Frazer 1.59.77

3 Lorcan Scally 2.02.17

4 Anthony Hughes 2.05.21

5 Jason McDermott 2.06.52

6 Dave Dunican 2.06.93

7 Enda Golden 2.10.76

8 Bernard Doheny 3.55.00

Leinster Track & Field Championships.

The inclement weather could not dampen the spirits of our endurance training athletes at the Leinster Track & Field Championships in the Harrier's home ground on June 13^th and 14^th.

Despite the challenging conditions, with wind and rain, our athletes delivered outstanding performances across a range of events.

Highlights:

Under 14

Shane Cummins - 300m - 45.35

Under 16

Adelyn Walsh - 1500m - 4:43.20

Adelyn Walsh – 800m – 2:21.13

Ally Duffy – 1500m – 4:43.82

Ally Duffy – 3000m -10:28.83

Under 17

Rachel Keaney – 3000m -10:33.68

4th-1500m

Ronan Keaney – 1500m – 4:21.39

Ronan Keaney – 800m -2:04.40

Under 18

Niamh Garvey – 800m -2:21.01

Aoibhe Moore – 1500m - 5:00.53

Aoibhe Moore – 3000m -11:13.84

Also competing with strong performances:

Kara Daly – 1500m

Elise Cusack – 3000m

Roisin Loughnane – 800m

Cara Cummins – 80m Hurdles

Kate McKinney- 75m Hurdles

Gold, silver and bronze for Harriers at 2025 Tailteann Games

Three of Tullamore Harriers juvenile squad travelled south on Saturday 21st June to compete at the Tailteann Games at the SETU Sports Campus in Carlow. The sun shone throughout the day and all three Harriers were in sparkling form too. All three finished in the medals. They all now will represent Ireland at the upcoming Schools’ International Athletics Board (SIAB) Track and Field which takes place on Saturday 19th July in Derby, England.

1500m Girls Steeplechase Rachel Keaney 3rd

1500m Boys Steeplechase Patrick Duffy 1st

1500m Boys Steeplechase Ronan Keaney 2nd

Jack Cox 10k

Round 2 of the Offaly Endurance Series - the Jack Cox 10k, attracted a superb turnout of over 300 athletes from the midlands and further afield on Sunday the 22^nd of June. The race served as the Offaly Athletic 10K Championship event.

Pictured: Kealan Eliffe Anne Daly Mary Galvin Alan Mitchell Padraigh Berry Mary Daly Paul Hensey Matt Corcoran Cian Keogh Fra Mollen Alan Heffernan Front row Noreen Hunt and Olive Mannion at the Jack Cox 10K.

Hosted by Kilcormac Killoughey AC, the race started and finished near the Faithful Fields in Kilcormac. The event was superbly organised, and even the weather seemed to cooperate -trading the recent heatwave for cooler conditions, light rain, and a steady breeze, making for a more comfortable race. The race itself is on a one looped course with a very gradual incline from 1k to 6k but generally regarded as a fair and popular challenge.

Tullamore Harriers had a strong presence with 47 athletes lining out, with some great results, PB's posted and age group victories.

Peter Somba, Ballyskenach AC was the winner of the Perpetual Jack Cox trophy in 32:48. Tullamore Harriers’ and Kilcormac native Paul Mitchell had a great run to take the 2nd podium spot in 32.59 with Kevin Minnock 3rd in 33.17.

Age group winners for Tullamore Harriers were:

Sarah Flanagan - 1st O45

Karen Nolan 1st O50

Barry Minnock - 1st O50

Mary Daly - 1st O60

Brendan Abbott - 1st O60

Eileen Kenny - 1st O70

The Tullamore Men and Women's teams both took the winning honours.

Men's Team: Paul Mitchell, Kevin Minnock, Barry Minnock and Jonathan Dunne.

Women's Team: Sarah Flanagan, Evelyn Herlihy, Karen Nolan and Maire Triona Keane

Tullamore Harriers results.

Paul Mitchell 0:32:59

Kevin Minnock 0:33:17

Barry Minnock 0:34:49

Jonathan Dunne 0:36:40

Padraig Berry 0:38:16

Gary Whittle 0:38:47

Jodie O'Reilly 0:40:28

Darren Butler 0:41:03

Alan Heffernan 0:41:17

Cian Keogh 0:41:23

Brendan Abbott 0:41:29

Gerry Dunican 0:41:52

Gaelan Elliffe 0:41:59

Diarmuid Herlihy 0:42:21

Sarah Flanagan 0:42:31

Evelyn Herlihy 0:42:39

Dave Dunican 0:42:44

Liam Byrne 0:43:04

Karen Nolan 0:43:37

Maire-Triona Keane 0:43:46

Michelle Mullaney 0:44:02

Liam Dunne 0:44:22

Niamh McEnhill 0:44:36

Francis Mollen 0:44:47

Rita Daly Ravenhill 0:45:25

David Hollywood 0:45:20

Charlotte Abbott 0:45:43

Forrest Mc Cormack 0:46:45

Enda Golden 0:48:07

Eileen Kenny. 0:48:49

Elysia McCormack 0:48:53

Mary Daly 0:49:09

Finian McDermott 0:49:23

Bryce Fraser 0:49:43

Mary Galvin 0:50:33

Emer Rigney 0:52:56

Hillary Duncan 0:53:21

Paschal Naughton 0:54:02

Matt Corcoran 0:54:15

Noreen Hunt 0:56:43

Anne Daly 0:56:52

Mary Guest 0:58:30

Olive Mannion 0:59:06

Pat Kennedy 1:00:59

Mary Hussey 1:01:07

Triona Muldoon 1:01:08

Mellisa Hogan 1:42:01

Strong performances at NI Masters Track & Field Championships

Stephen Byrne and Rory Deverell made the trip to Belfast to compete at the Northern Ireland Masters Track & Field Championships, held at the Mary Peters Track.

Stephen Byrne had a great day in the M50 category, securing:

2nd in the 200m - 25.13

2nd in the 100m -12.06

Rory Deverell, competing in the M40 category, also put in a strong showing:

3rd in the 200m- 26.61

5th in the 100m -12.71

UCD Open Meet

Four club members took part in the UCD open meet on Wednesday June 18th, with fantastic weather and ideal wind conditions. Alisha Maher competed in the 100m against a top-class field of senior sprinters where she finished second in her race, recording her fastest time to date -12.08 seconds, with a plus wind of 2.7m/s.

Pictured: Halimet Balogun and Alisha Maher at the UCD meet.

Her training mate Halimet Balogun competed in the long jump and also performed very well against a strong field of athletes. With four consistent jumps out of the six, she recorded a PB of 4.68m.

Jack Donegan and Cian Law both competed in the Senior Men's 1500m with Jack in 4:02.34 and Cian 4:02.60.

Donegan Sisters Shine at British Milers Club Meets

Nadine Donegan delivered another PB performance at the British Milers Club (BMC) Record Breaker Meet, held at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, UK, on Wednesday, June 18th. Racing on the famed Sir Mo Farah Athletics Track, Nadine placed 5th in a highly competitive Women’s 1500m A race, posting a superb personal best of 4:22.38.

Just days later, on Saturday, June 21st, both Danielle and Nadine lined out at the BMC Grand Prix in Loughborough, held at the Paula Radcliffe Athletics Track.

In the Women’s 3000m A race, Danielle took a brilliant 2nd place, finishing in 9:20, just behind Ita Fennelly (9:17). Nadine, continuing her fine form, ran another personal best, clocking 9:31 for 11th place in a deep field. A fantastic week of racing from the Donegan sisters, with two PBs for Nadine and a podium finish for Danielle at top-tier meets.

St Abbans Fit for Life League

Richie Faulkiner was in action last evening for Round 4 the St Abbans 4K League. This race was in Barrowhouse, Co Laois. Richie clocked 15.12 - a very good run on such a hot evening.

Condolences

Tullamore Harriers AC extends its deepest sympathies to the Mangan family on the recent passing of Ignatius (Eggie) Mangan. May he Rest in Peace.

Fixtures

Sunday 13^th July – Edenderry 10 Mile

Gowran 8 – Tuesday 22^nd July

SEE NEXT: Offaly club gives great account of themselves at national Feile hurling finals

Senior Training

Training Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6.40pm to 8.30pm.

For any enquiries contact club captains Glen 0868275228 or Rita

0868386687