Tullamore Harriers athletes in action at Leinster intermediate and masters cross country

All roads led to Fenagh, Co. Carlow on Sunday last (18^th January) for the Leinster Juvenile Relay, Intermediate and Masters Cross Country Championships. While the club did not have any juvenile athletes competing on the day, we were well represented in the senior races, with athletes proudly wearing the blue and white.

The championships were hosted at the Carlow GAA Training Grounds, with courses mapped around the perimeter and through the training fields, using 1500m and 1000m circuits. While one might expect a flat course given the football pitch setting, -it proved to be a deceptively challenging course, featuring testing climbs along with plenty of twists and turns. While it lacked the traditional long cross-country hills and drags, it more than made up for it in difficulty and provided a true test for athletes across all distances.

Masters Ladies

First up were the Masters Ladies, with 75 athletes competing in the combined O35 and O50 and O65 men’s 4000m race. Tullamore Harriers had a strong showing, fielding 10 athletes - six O35 and four O50.

From the gun, Sarah Flanagan led the charge for the club. Sarah ran a superb race and was involved in a great battle with Caroline Donnellan (Edenderry AC) throughout. Finishing 7th overall, Sarah claimed silver in the O45 individual category and also helped secure bronze club medals alongside teammates Nita McLoughlin (14th) and Niamh McEnhill (19th).

Strong support came from Charlotte Abbott (25th), Evelyn Herlihy (26th) and Maeve Larkin (45th).

In the O50 team event, Tullamore Harriers was represented by Rita Daly Ravenhill, Hilary Duncan, Mary Galvin and Mary Daly finishing 6th place in the club team standing. Combining with the excellent run from Caroline Donnellan (Edenderry AC), Rita Daly Ravenhill and Hilary Duncan earned Leinster bronze medals in the county team competition.

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Masters Men

Next up was the Masters Men’s race, which as always featured a very large and high-quality field of over 100 athletes.

Alexander Wallace St Cocas AC dominated the full 7000m to take the win. Sean Hehir (Croghan AC) finished strongly in second, with Kevin Moore (Mullingar Harriers AC) claiming third.

Kevin Minnock once again delivered a brilliant performance. Running consistently in the top four throughout, Kevin moved into second and then third place on the final lap, only to be passed in the closing straight, finishing a very close and exciting fourth overall.

Clubmate Paul Mitchell also produced an excellent, controlled race, holding fifth place lap after lap. Kevin and Paul were joined by Padraig Berry, Garry Whittle, Alan Mitchell and Liam Byrne to secure 6th place in the club team competition.

In the county team results, Mick Fogarty (Ferbane AC) finished 8th, with Gerard Hanlon (Edenderry AC) in 22nd. Along with Kevin Minnock and Paul Mitchell, they combined to win silver county medals for Offaly.

Individually, in the O35 category Kevin Minnock claimed silver while Paul Mitchell took the bronze, rounding off their impressive medal haul.

Intermediate Men

In the final race of the day, the Intermediate Men’s 8000m, Darren Butler and David Hollywood put in strong efforts on a course that had become even muckier and more demanding by this stage of the afternoon.

Well done to everyone who lined out for the club, and sincere thanks to all our supporters who made the trip to Carlow.

Results

Masters Ladies

Sarah Flanagan - 16:46

Nita McLoughlin - 17:41

Niamh McEnhill - 18:12

Charlotte Abbott - 18:33

Evelyn Herlihy - 18:34

Maeve Larkin - 19:33

Rita Daly Ravenhill - 20:06

Hilary Duncan - 20:26

Mary Galvin - 21:45

Mary Daly - 22:11

Masters Men

Kevin Minnock - 25:04

Paul Mitchell - 25:19

Padraig Berry - 29:11

Garry Whittle - 29:13

Liam Byrne - 30:42

Alan Mitchell - 32:06

Intermediate Men

Darren Butler - 35:52

David Hollywood - 37:45

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Tullamore Harriers 5K

Tullamore Harriers AC will host the annual 5K Road Race on Sunday, 8th March. This race marks the first event in the 2026 Healthy Offaly 5K Road Race Series and is one not to be missed. The race starts outside the Tullamore Harriers club grounds on the Charleville Road and follows a looped course before turning back to finish on the tartan track in the stadium

The course is flat and fast, run on fully closed roads for added safety and always attracts runners of all standards to kick off the road race season. Entry is now open via PopUp Races.ie

Fixtures

January

27th January – First leg of Spring League – 1 mile on track

31st January – Leinster U20, Senior & Masters Indoor T & F Championships - TUS, Athlone

February

1st February - Leinster Juvenile Indoor T&F Relay Championships - TUS Athlone

3rd February – Second leg of Spring League – 3k on track

10th February – Third leg of Spring League – 1 mile on track

14th February – Leinster Juvenile Indoor T&F Championships Day 3 - TUS Athlone

15th February - Leinster Juvenile Indoor T&F Championships Day 4 - TUS Athlone

15th February - National Intermediate & Master & Juvenile B Cross Country Championship, Abbottstown.

March

8th March – Tullamore Harriers 5k – first race of the Offaly 5k Road Race Series.

15th March – McNamara 5 miles (Sealed Handicap)

Senior Training

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

For any enquiries contact club captains Glen 0868275228 or Rita 0868386687