Kildare mountain runner represents Ireland in Wales
Hannah Cash represented Ireland at the British and Irish international in Wales
With sleep disrupted and day becoming night and night day, the World Championships in Tokyo has dominated athletics since last Saturday. In the last iteration in Budapest, Kildare AC athlete John Fitzsimons qualified for the 800m.
Unfortunately injured this time around, and with no Kildare athlete represented, our attention is focused on the other Irish team members. The most inspirational performance thus far has to be that of Wicklow’s Fionnuala McCormack who at 41 years of age, finished 3rd in the ladies marathon.
An international race of a different kind beckoned for a Kildare lady. Hannah Cash represented Ireland at the mountain running international in Wales last weekend. While her clubmate Michelle Cox was crowed British Masters 800m champion. Closer to home Clane AC held their 4-mile road race, one of many road races that Kildare athletes attended.
It was Wales’ turn to host the 2025 British & Irish Junior Mountain Running International in North Wales. The 25th edition of the competition took place at Canolfan Y Fron near Caernarfon. Ireland sent both an u17 and u20 team for both boys and girls with Hannah Cash (Newbridge) being part of a strong Irish u17 team. The 6.23km race had a 257m ascent with mixed terrain with plenty of hills and rugged that made training in the Curragh look like an easy jaunt.
It was Scotland who dominated the u17 race, taking gold with England in second and Wales third. There were no medals for Ireland on this occasion. Hannah gave a great account of herself navigating the steep ascent and at times goat path trails. With several steep ascents and descents, the irish team navigated their path with care. Hannah was joined by her teammates from Wicklow, Offaly and Laois. The course also included running through a slate quarry.
Michelle Cox has won the British Masters Championships held in Moorways Stadium in Derby. The Newbridge AC athlete took the title in a time of 2:23.41 beating British athlete Sian Lewis by a second and a half. The Newbridge AC athlete set a new season’s best in the process.
Taking the race from the gun, Cox was part of a group of three athletes that dominated from start to finish. Cox is no stranger to masters (and senior) athletics. Last year she was part of an Irish 4x800m relay team that broke the over 40 world record.
She has also been successful at the European Masters where she won a gold medal.
Over 1400 athletes took part in Medieval Marathon in Kilkenny last weekend. The Dublin marathon date is fast looming and many runners are now completing race distances of 30km and the half marathon as part of their preparation. The Kilkenny event offered distances of 10km, half marathon, 30km and a full marathon.
David Browne (Newbridge) finished 2nd in the 30km race, where over 200 runners completed the distance. Browne was just 25 seconds adrift of the winner Thomas Moran. Two other Newbridge AC athletes competed: Dan Kavanagh completed the course in 2:17.30 with Erica Hargaden taking 2:26:33 to compete the race.
Closer to home, the Medic three quarters marathon was held in Monsterevin. The winner was Ethan Cleary with Michael Coyne in second. Shane O’Rielly (Naas) finished third clocking 21;10.47 – well within his target time for the Dublin marathon in six weeks’ time.
Large crowds competed in the Charleville half-marathon. Now in its 15th year of operation, this hugely popular race attracted over 1600m runners of varying degrees of ability. The overall winner was David McGlynn (Waterford AC). While 19-year-old Ava Crean won the ladies race.
Amongst those competing were; Thomas Kelly (Newbridge AC) who finished 33rd. Three runners from Naas AC took part: Barry O’Connell, Stephanie Moreau and Ella O’Connell. Kildare’s Alex Murphy now competing with UCD took third lady home.
The Clane AC 4 mile road race took place last Friday with participants competing on a fast flat course around the Butterstream area. This is the fourth Kildare club to host a road race in the past six weeks with St Coca’s, Celbridge and Newbridge preceding the Clane event. The overall winner was Kieran Little (Blackrock AC) in a time of 20.45.
Marc Augustin (St Coca’s) who has been having a stormer of a year took second. Seamus Cardiff (Newbridge) was 3rd over 40, with Ian McManus (Celbridge) just one place behind. Junior athlete Kate Kinsella was 3rd in the ladies race with Kate Kinsella in 4th place. A total of 130 runners completed the 4 mile race.
The ever-popular Ratoath half marathon took place last Saturday with over 1600 runners taking part. Cathal McCarron (Donadee Running Club) finished runner-up to Peter Somba. Athletes from Celbridge, Naas AC and Coca’s took part.
The cross-country season is almost here. This weekend Newbridge AC will host their annual cross-country at Newbridge College. With entries for the races flowing in, athletes from Kildare, Offaly, Meath, Westmeath, Dublin and Wicklow are scheduled to take part. There will be races for boys and girls u8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 with an open age event scheduled after the juvenile events. A perpetual trophy is awarded to the best overall visiting club.
The Leinster Cross-country squads have been taking place already this season with over 150 athletes attending the recent one located at the Curragh. There was plenty of Kildare representation with athletes being selected based on their individual medal position attained at the 2024 cross-country season. The final squad day will take place on September 27th also in the Curragh.
Sept 20: Newbridge Open Cross-Country
Sept 27: Leinster Cross-Country squad session
Oct 5: County Cross-Country
Oct 12: County Cross-Country
