ST. JOSEPH’SA.C.

In the athletic world, the October bank holiday weekend means only one thing, the Dublin City Marathon.

St. Joseph’s were proudly represented on the start line by an amazing number of 14 runners, all with many months of hard training behind them. A total of 26.2 miles of running faced them with all the physical and mental reserves each of them could muster to be called upon.

Making a return to marathon running after a five-year absence, Patrick Bookle led the team home in an excellent time of 3.11.04.

A debut marathon is a daunting experience but David Lanigan made light of the challenge in crossing the finish line in a superb 3:22:42 and being the second St. Joseph’s athlete home.

Anne Watkins was next of the St. Joseph’s gang to finish, making marathon running look easy in a fantastic time of 3:41:29.

Another club stalwart made a return to marathon running for the race, and no one can call upon more experience and toughness than Larry Leacy who crossed the line in 3:54:22. Paul Sheehan enjoys his running and even the rigours of a marathon could not stop him smiling and waving to supporters in finishing in 3:56:15.

Anita Barry is so used to the marathon scene with the Marathon Club of Ireland, that at this stage it’s just another 26-mile run to her and she arrived at the finish in 3:58:07.

Breda Hennessy, in her seventh Dublin marathon, looked comfortable all the way and she arrived at the finish line in 4:18.22. Marathon running and injury unfortunately go together and Tom McDonald bravely limped to the finish line in 4:25:57. All the early morning long runs paid off for Mary McDonald who finished in a fine 4:30:22.

Sinéad Ryan-Croke and Susan Lanigan finished close together in 4.42.21 and 4:42:27 respectively, with Susan and husband David both completing their first marathons.

Jackie O’Shaughnessy came from France to run in her debut marathon and finished proudly in 5:37:36. Catherine Hennessy and Anna O’Dwyer trained together and crossed the line together in 5:49:54.

The county marathon was run in conjunction with the Dublin marathon with three athletes to score on club teams. The St. Joseph’s women’s team of Ann, Anita and Breda finished second club in the county, with the men’s team of Patrick, David and Larry finishing third.

To all 14 of our club members who completed the Dublin Marathon, all your hard work and training paid off, and you should be well proud of your accomplishment.

The Leinster cross-country even ages and Novice championships took place in Navan on October 28.

The day started with a non-championship race for Under-10 athletes, and Joss O’Connor, double county champion at the Under-10 and Under-11 age groups, stepped up to provincial level and stamped his class on the race, almost leading from start to finish to record a fantastic win.

In the Under-10 girls’ race, Sarah Foley ran well in this, her first-ever Leinster cross country race, but finished outside the medals.

Huge fields in excess of 150 athletes were a feature of the Under-12 races, and the girls’ race over 2,000 metres saw wonderful performances from the St. Joseph’s crew.

Grace Glennon finished in a superb 15th position and was a scorer on the Kilkenny county team which won gold.

Not far behind was Maeve Bookle in an excellent 24th position, with great runs also by Eabha Mullally (66th), Mairéad Mullally (86th), Aoife Lanigan (117th), Lily Doyle (128th) and Caoimhe Barry (142nd), bringing the girls to seventh club team overall..

A challenging 3,000 metres faced the Under-14 athletes, and Danielle Griffin made it look easy in crossing the line in an excellent 20th position and scoring on the county team which won gold.

The other three girls battled all the way to the finish with Áine Purcell 59th, Rachel Foley 78th and Ciara Mullally, bravely running with a chest infection to ensure the club had four runners to make a team, 92nd. The girls were ninth club overall in Leinster.

Jamie O’Connor and Katie Bookle kept the club colours flying in the Under-14 boys’ and Under-16 girls’ races, finishing in 65th and 50th positions respectively.

The Novice ladies’ Leinster championship saw Sally Forristal continue a great year of performances, finishing fifth and placing second on the county team which won gold.

A huge field of athletes were spread across the start line for the Novice men’s championship, and Stephen O’Connor was the sole St. Joseph’s representative, finishing in 95th place.