Donore hold successful 32 Jungle Bells 5km race

DONORE Harriers 32nd Jingle Bells 5km was an exciting race.

Seven athletes vied to take victory in what was a monumental tussle for places at the head of the field.

There were five different race leaders as the race progressed and only in the last 700 metres was the top three places decided – but in what order.

As the race unfolded in the final run to the line it was Mitchell Byrne of Rathfarnham WSAF AC who prevailed in a time of 14.13, with Eoin Everard of Kilkenny City Harriers settling for the runner-up spot in 14.16. Philip Marron (14.18) of Ratoath AC came 3rd.

This was a sweet victory for Byrne, who placed 3rd in both 2021 and 2022.

His progress in athletics can be measured by the fact that she came 14th back in 2013.

Everard, who won the race in 2018 and who is the winner of six national track titles, was unable to match Byrne’s speed in the final race to the line.

Jingle Bells 5km 2023 Men’s winner Mitchell Byrne

Fourth place went to another Rathfarnham athlete as David Scanlon (14,22) improved on his previous JB5k efforts of 6th in 2021, 7th in 2019 and 10th in 2015.

This time round John Travers of the host club (Donore Harriers) had to settle for 5th place in a time of 14.26, thus failing to win the race for the 7th time.

But Travers put in a huge effort to repeat last year’s win, having led the race at various stages.

Another Donore Harriers favourite and Irish Orienteering international Josh O’Sullivan-Hourihan ran a smart race by staying on the coattails of the more high-profile race leaders.

He was rewarded with 6th place and a PB time of 14.32.

Vinny Connolly (Mullingar Harriers) was the last of the leading group to reach the line as he placed 7th in 14.34.

The ‘chase’ group was led home by William Fox (14.51) of St. Abban’s AC in 8th place, with Joseph Hastings (14.50) of Dundrum South Dublin AC next.

Solomon Holden-Betts (14.54) of UCD AC came 10th and took the Junior Men’s prize.

The women’s race had two masters athletes as the favourites – the 3-times winner and Rio Olympian Lizzie Lee of Leevale AC, and the current national marathon champion Anne-Marie McGlynn of Letterkenny AC.

Rathfarnham WSAF AC won the men’s team prize on a score of 37 – with Byrne 1st, Scanlon 4th, and Louis McCarthy in 32nd.

Donore Harriers were runners-up with Travers 5th, O’Sullivan-Hourihan 6th and Jamie Sales 30th.

Clonliffe Harriers scored 53 for 3rd place.

There were 111 closing teams.

Whilst Donore Harriers had John Travers and Josh O’Sullivan-Hourihan place 5th and 6th, there were very encouraging performances by some of the younger up and coming club athletes.

Jamie Sales (15.26) easily best his previous best time to place 30th overall.

Another much improved athlete is John Cleary (15.31) who also ran a PB to cross the line in 35th place.

Not far behind was Adam Foy (15.44 PB) in 42nd spot.

Training partners Ian Fitzgerald and David McConn were competing for ‘bragging rights’, with Fitzgerald gaining the upper hand this time by placing 44th in 15.50, whilst McConn (16.07) ran below his own expectations when crossing the finish mat in 55th position.

Eoin Gormley (16.47) continues to improve and will be encouraged with a personal best and 93rd spot.

He was followed home by Andres Clemenger (17.27) in 160th place.

Andres was making his competitive debut and will surely improve.

Louise Kelly led a small Donore Harriers women’s team home in 370th position overall in a personal best time of 19.37.

Next in was Ruthanne Barry (22.09 PB) in 596th and then Fit-4-Life group member Jo Hughes W50 (25.51) in 846th overall.

M40 athlete Ray Armstrong (29.01) ran the race with his young son – also Ray Armstrong – and they took overall positions of 1,015th and 1,016th.

The remaining 4 club members are all from the Fit-4- Life training group and they are – Seamus O’Donohue M50 (29.14 & 1,032nd), Catherine O’Donohue W40 (33.26 & 1,143rd), Ana Maria Rodrigo W40 (33.45 & 1,159th) and Maria Elena De Blas Menendez W40 (33.46 & 1,160th).

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