Tullamore Harriers strike gold in Abbotstown

On Sunday last, the 7^th of December, at Abbotstown, Dublin, the club cross country season concluded with the All-Ireland Cross-Country Championships for uneven ages. Despite torrential rain at times and a very muddy course there were many smiling Tullamore Harriers juveniles after their races. The victory of the Under 17 Girls squad was the highlight of the day. All seven girls have really committed this season and were decisive winners scoring 62 points which was a staggering 119 points ahead of second place Finn Valley. Ally Duffy led home the team with a fine run for an individual silver medal.

This victory marks only the third juvenile cross-country team title in the club’s history. The previous titles were achieved in 2009 and 2010, when those squads -now young adults, claimed All-Ireland team silver medals for Tullamore Harriers.
2009 -Boys Under 11: Eoin Mulligan, Cormac Izuchuku, Christopher Whittle and Ciaran Mulligan
2010 - Girls Under 11: Niamh Rafter, Claire Rafter, Amy Cuskelly and Danielle Donegan

Matilda Cusack also had a superb individual run in the Under 13 Girls race finishing 5th out of a field of two hundred who started the race. Matilda like Ally led home the Leinster squads to provincial bronze medals. Elise Cusack also won bronze having scored on her Leinster team.

Under 11 Girls

37th- Sophie Hynes

Under 11 Boys

94th- Dara McLaughlin

Under 13 Girls

5th- Matilda Cusack

Under 13 Boys

Team 17th

37th- James Hynes

144th- Jason McKinney

152nd- Eoin Herlihy

163rd- Paidi Scally

168th- Matthew Berry

Under 17 Girls

Team 1st

2nd- Ally Duffy

16th- Rachel Keaney

19th- Elise Cusack

25th- Maeve Duffy

46th- Aurelia Crotty

52nd- Adelyn Walsh

Under 17 Boys

Team 4th

22nd- Patrick Duffy

37th- Daniel Rigney

42nd- Ronan Keaney

75th- Sean Goodings

93rd- Darragh Stewart

126th- Jack Cowman

128th- Jack Marron

Under 19 Girls

34th- Éabhadh Multaney Kelly

National Novice Cross Country

Evelyn Coughlan was the club’s sole representative at the 123.ie National Novice Cross Country Championships on the 7^th of December. in the women’s 4,000m race, lining up against strong competition, Evelyn delivered a solid performance, finishing 21st out of 131 athletes.

Earlier in the day, the juvenile races had taken place, and by the time the novice athletes took to the course, the ground was well and truly churned up, with scarcely a patch of green in sight, making for a tough run. Despite this, Evelyn produced a great effort, clocking a time of 17:01.

New Club Record - O’Connor Runs 9:03 for 3000m

In preparation for the European Cross Country championships which take place in Portugal next weekend Ava O’Connor headed to Boston to race the 3000m at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Opener at Boston University. After months of developing her fitness to race well over 6000m Ava wanted to sharpen her speed at the shorten distance to be ready for the fast course in Lagoa.

She did so in some style. Ava went with the pacemaker in her 3000m heat and passed the first kilometre looking comfortable in 3:02. When the pacemaker stepped off the track Ava was determined to keep the pace honest and she led through 2000m in 6:02. She continued the fast pace over the laps that followed and was rewarded with a seven second PB of 9:03.03. While Ava was pipped on the line by the fast-finishing Isabelle Schmitz of Minnesota she is still delighted with her breakthrough run.

Valencia Marathon
Congratulations to Stephen Murphy on a superb run in the Valencia Marathon on Sunday the 7th of December. Stephen clocked 2.34.29, just weeks after the Dublin Marathon where he produced an equally impressive time (2.34.01).
Stephen passed the half marathon point in 1.14.58 and maintained an even pace for the 26.2 miles.  We also had two other athletes in action in Valencia. Well done to Gary Whittle and Peter Bennett, who both lined out in the Spanish marathon.  
Gary delivered a superb performance, finishing in 3:02:34. Peter put in a strong effort to complete the course in 4:38:28.
Great running especially impressive considering all three competed in the Dublin Marathon only a few weeks ago.

New Balance contract for James Dunne.

Congratulations to club member James Dunne, who has recently signed a professional contract with New Balance and joined the Team New Balance group based in Stockport, Manchester, UK.

James, who previously studied on a sports scholarship at Adams State University in the United States and later at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., has been a member of Tullamore Harriers since early childhood, where he has been consistently supported by his coaches and fellow club members.

We extend our warmest congratulations to James and wish him every success in his professional career.

European Cross Country Championships

Best of luck to Tullamore Harriers athletes Danielle Donegan and Ava O’Connor, who will be in action in Portugal this weekend. Both ladies were selected as part of the Athletics Ireland team for the upcoming SPAR European Cross Country Championships, taking place in Lagoa, Portugal, on Sunday, December 14th. 
Danielle has been selected for the Senior Women’s team. She will line out alongside: Fiona Everard (Bandon AC), Niamh Allen (Leevale AC), Mary Mulhare (Portlaoise AC) and Emily Haggard-Kearney (North Belfast Harriers).
Ava will compete as part of a strong U23 Women’s team, which includes: Anika Thompson (Leevale AC), Roise Roberts (Candour Track Club), Amy Greene (Finn Valley AC) and Kirsty Maher (Moy Valley AC).
Best wishes to Danielle and Ava -everyone at Tullamore Harriers is behind you.

Tullamore Harriers Hospice Mile

Christmas Day just wouldn’t be the same without the annual lap (or two!) of the Tullamore Harriers track

You are all warmly invited to the annual Tullamore Harriers Hospice Mile -the perfect way to start your Christmas morning. Drop in anytime between 10am and 12 noon to walk or run a few laps at your own pace. The competitive mile race begins at 11am, so why not step up to the start line and earn that guilt-free Christmas dinner!

This event is more than just a fundraiser for the remarkable work of Offaly Hospice -it’s a cherished Christmas tradition. Friends reconnect, share stories from the past year, children test out their new bikes, and even the doggies (on leads!) enjoy a festive spin on the tartan track.

So spread the word to friends near and far and let’s make this year’s Hospice Mile another fantastic community gathering.

Collection buckets will be available throughout the stadium for donations to Offaly Hospice, and you can also donate online.

Fixtures

Sunday 21^st December – Christmas Grand National Club race- 9am

Christmas Day – Hospice Mile in the Tullamore Harriers Stadium 10am -12md

Wednesday 31^st December – New Year’s Eve Club race – 12md in Tullamore Harriers.

SEE NEXT: Tullamore firsts dig deep to take all 5 points at home to Wexford Wanderers

Senior Training

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

For any enquiries contact club captains Glen 0868275228 or Rita

0868386687