Raheny reign supreme as Leevale threepeat at Road Relays

Raheny Shamrock won the senior men's title at the GloHealth National Road Relays for the first time in five years on home soil today while Leevale won the women's title for the third year in-a-row.

Perfect running conditions greeted the 33 clubs and over 80 teams on an excellent day of racing in the North Dublin suburb.

The Masters' women (O35 and O50) got racing underway at 2pm and it was Sli Cualann were first to strike gold in the 4 mile relay (1-2-1 mile legs) in the O35 section with 23:19. The F50 Raheny Shamrock women took top honours in 27:30.

There was a great finish to the Masters' men's O35 race with Donore Harriers just holding off Rathfarnham WSAF in the final one mile leg of the four mile relay in 19:34 to 19:36. Mick Traynor led Raheny Shamrock's M50 team to a comfortable win in 20:25.  

Leevale AC retained their women’s title in convincing style. Carol Finn got Leevale’s ladies off to a good start with a 5:11 opening mile leg, handing over to Lizzie Lee, who extended their advantage with a 10:38 two-mile leg. Next up was Michelle Finn, who took Leevale to victory with a 5:01 leg, giving them a 31-second winning margin over Crusaders, who edged Sli Cualann for second.

In the men’s race, a record-breaking three-mile leg from Raheny’s Mick Clohisey of 14:04 proved pivotal in helping them to gold for the first time in five years, with Mark Kirwan, Kieran Kelly and Daire Bermingham also playing their part. Raheny came home 18 seconds clear of Ennis Track, who held off Kilkenny City Harriers for second.

John Travers of Donore Harriers equalled Clohisey’s record on the three-mile leg, helping his team to fifth. Raheny Shamrock won the Paddy Boland trophy for the best men's overall club while Sli Cualann won the women's. 

Provisional Results

National Road Relays

Women's O35

1. Sli Cualann 23:19; 2. Drogheda & District 23:22; 3. Beechmount Harriers 23:33

Women's O50 (4 miles)

1. Raheny Shamrock 27:30; 2. Finn Valley 28:00; 3. Drogheda & District 28:13

Senior women's (4 miles)

1. Leevale 20:50, 2. Crusaders 21:21, 3. Sli Cualann 21:26

Men's O35 (4 miles)

1. Donore Harriers 19:34; Rathfarnham WSAF 19:36; Newbridge 19:39

Men's O50 (4 miles)

1. Raheny Shamrock 20:25; 2. St Finbarr's AC 20:55; 3. Tullamore Harriers 21:58

Senior men's (8 miles)

1. Raheny Shamrock 37:26; 2. Ennis Track 37:44; 3. Kilkenny City Harriers 37:45

Full results HERE