Road Runners set for Raheny Showdown
The Irish Life Health Road Relay Championships return to Raheny this weekend (April 24th) with a host of strong looking teams ready to take on the “Dash around Dublin” which will start on Wade’s Avenue.
The 2021 instalment of theses championships saw hosts Raheny Shamrock claim a suite of titles, including both the Senior Men and Women’s titles, as well as a Masters (W) gold. Raheny look to have a strong representation across all categories once again and will be looking to make a flying start in the Master Women’s race which gets the action up and running at 2pm.
The Women’s O35 race looks competitive on paper and defending Champions Raheny Shamrock will be calling on the experience of Zoe Quinn, Kate Purcell, and Sarah Quigley as they look to back up last year’s win. They won't have it all their own way however with stacked teams from Finn Valley AC, Clonliffe Harriers, Brothers Pearse AC and Crusaders AC all sure to be vying for positions heading into the opening bend.
In the O50 category, Raheny Shamrock’s Adrienne Atkins, Annette Kealy, Patricia O Cleirigh are back in action to defend their title, while Cathryn Brady and Pauline Robertson (Brothers Pearce AC) will be looking to take top spot after being within touching distance at last year's competition.
Donore Harriers will be aiming to defend their O50 crown in the men’s event, while Clonliffe Harriers AC will be looking to go one better as they look to improve on their 2021 silver medal finish.
Raheny Shamrock look among the favourites for the O35 title, with David Kirwin and Rory O’Sullivan returning and eager to improve on last year’s silver. Any team with aspirations on taking gold will have to topple reigning champions Liffey Valley who once again can call upon Ciaran Reilly, Lea Fulcher, and Keith Lunders. Kilkenny City Harriers will be led out by the in-form Eoin Everard who look to continue his brilliant form having recently taken the Streets of Kilkenny 5k title.
The senior competitions always provide plenty of drama, and there are a host of familiar names among the current entries including a star studded UCD teams which include Darragh McElhinney, Mark Milner Cian Mc Phillips, Luke McCann, Sarah Healy and Danielle Donegan to name but a few.
Lucy Barrett and Niamh Kearney will spearhead Raheny’s title defence, while Dublin City Harriers will be looking to take top spot with a strong looking team which includes Edel Monaghan, Lauren Tinkler, Sinead Cronin, and Niamh Donnelly. No one will be writing of the chances of Letterkenny AC who will be looking to call upon the inform quartet of Noeleen Scanlan, Nakita Burke, Natasha Adams, and Christine Russell.
The men’s event looks just as hard to call, with the hosts again looking to have a strong hand in with National 10KM Champion Michael Clohisey joining Juan Ignacio Pena, Kieran Kelly, and Cillian Kirwan in a formidable looking Raheny team.
Donore Harriers wont lack for speed of experience on the looped circuit with John Travers set to join Louis O’Loughlin, Oisin Davis, and Gavin Curtin. Rivals Clonliffe are sure to be among the leading pack with Sean O Leary, Jonathan Whan, and Ian Guiden set to take to competitive action alongside 2019 European Cross Country bronze medal (U20) winner Efrem Gidey.
The evergreen Rory Chesser looks set to lead out Ennis Track Club who have European Club Cross Country stars Dean and Dylan Casey among their entries.
A special thank you to Raheny Shamrock AC for once again hosting this event.
Directions and Venue Information: https://www.athleticsireland.ie/news/national-road-relay-information
Timetable: https://www.athleticsireland.ie/downloads/events-timetable/Road_Relays_Timetable_2022.pdf
Full list of entries: Click HERE