Dublin Inter & Masters XC Champs 2025
Sunday, 05 January 2025
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Race Report

The Dublin Inter & Masters XC survived the weather scare and turned out to be another great day out with host Club Raheny Shamrock A.C. pulling out all the stops out to make the event happen. Thanks to Dublin City Council too for the use of the St. Annes Park. This year the Intermediate championship was included along with a new course. The course was a more challenging course but seemed to be a hit with athletes. Masters athletes seem to enjoy the pain and toughness of XC running. 
 
Numbers were at a record high with 645 registering in total across all races. Raheny Shamrock, Clonliffe Harriers and Rathfarnham were battling it out for the Pat Hooper Cup that combines all team scoring together for each club. This is about showing up in numbers and filling teams in all age team categories. This extra spice certainly makes things more interesting. 
 
The first masters race was the Women's 50+ and Mens 65+ combined race of 3k (2x1,500m loops). Annette kealy of Raheny Shamrock put on a master class performance to win the women's 50+. Annette was also recently announced and European Masters athlete of the year. Tara kenndy also of Raheny Shamrock A.C was 2nd. Another great performance from Tara. Donna Mahon of Rathfarnham WSAF was 3rd. Raheny were team winners. 
 
The Men's 65+ race was won by Liam Lenehan of Sportsworld RC. 2nd was Tom Cuddy of Rathfarnham WSAF with another Rathfarnham athlete Sean Doyle in 3rd. Rathfarnham won the club team to start the day off in good stead to rack up as many points as possible for the Pat Hooper cup. 
 
Next up was the Men's 50+ race with some very fine athletes indeed. Lea Fulcher of Plant Based A.C. ran one of the most gutsiest races seen in a masters race. Lea went from the gun as he knew this was a field stacked with fine athletes. He led from start to finish finishing well ahead of 2nd and 3rd. Last year's winner Ciaran McCarthy of Raheny was 3rd. Kevin O'Connor of Clonliffe Harriers was 2nd. Raheny took maximum points by winning the team award. 
 
The Women's 35+ was the race of the day as 2 of the host club's athletes went toe to toe right to the end. Fiona Roche and former national masters champ Kate Purcell treated us to a great and exciting race. Maria McCambridge of DSD A.C. another former National Senior XC champ and current Dublin masters champ was also in the mix all the way to the final lap. These 3 women treated spectators to a cracker. Fiona Roche took 1st place with Kate Purcell just behind. Sportsworld won the team prize. Sportsworld keeps coming up trumps in the Masters women's year after year. 
 
The last race of the day was the Masters Men's 35+ race. At this stage the rain was at its heaviest with daylight fading even at 2pm. This race was the biggest race of the day with athletes taking to the line. The course had become a real test for athletes to navigate their way through. Colm Rooney of Clonliffe Harriers had full control of this race taking a comfortable win. Mark Ryan of Rathfarnham WSAF was 2nd. Pierce Geoghegan of Liffey Valley was 3rd. 
 
Rathfarnham won the team award with Clonliffe and Raheny Shamrock 2nd and 3rd. All that was left after a great day of racing was totting up the Pat Hooper Cup Results. Points are awarded to each club based on their overall position in their team age cats. ex 10 teams in Mens 50+, team winners were Raheny so they scored 10points. For the 3rd year in a row Raheny Shamrock A.C. won the cup to stay in Pats home turf. Clonliffe and Rathfarnham came very close with only 5 points separating the top 3 teams. 
 
The Intermediate races were before the Masters race and seemed to be a great success moving to the same day as Masters. The Women's race was won by Helena Butterly of Clonliffe Harriers. In 2nd place was also another Clonliffe athlete Niamh Kelly. We had a real close battle with Clonliffe and Crusaders. In 3rd place was Saoirse McGrath of Crusaders. Just 1 point separated Clonliffe and Crusaders. 
 
The Men's Inter race was dominated by Donore Harriers who were the team winners with just 13 points. Kevin O'Boyle of Donore Harriers won the race with Dublin City Harriers, Christopher McLoughlin coming 2nd. In 3rd place was Donore Harriers David McConn. 
 
Today's race was a great event with incredible support around the course. Well done to everyone who took part. Well done to Raheny Shamrock A.C. and Dublin City Council for making this a great success. 
 
Check out all the results, stats, pics and videos below

RESULTS

STATS

PICS By deryckvincent

HELAN BUTTERLY INTER WOMEN WINNER

KEVIN O'BOYLE INTER MENS WINNER

MASTER WOMEN 50+ & MEN 65+

WOMENS F50+ & MENS 65+ FINISH

MENS 50+ LAP 1

MASTER WOMEN 35+ START

MASTER WOMEN 35+ FINISH

MENS 35+ START

COLM ROONEY WINNER

MAIN FINISHERS MASTER MEN 35+

UPCOMING EVENTS

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