EVENT REPORT

What a day in Raheny for the National Road Relays Championships. This is one of the most exciting events that you could attend or be lucky enough to take part in. There is something special about the Raheny Road Relays.

The course is very spectator friendly and allows supporters to get around the course quickly. Local residents also get into the race atmosphere frenzie. The air of excitement is hard to match anywhere in the country. Raheny Shamrock A.C. are the host club and have been a vital part of the National Road Relay success and its popularity as an event over many years. Many clubs prepare for this event and hold their own qualifiers in order to select teams for this prestigious day of racing.

The first race up was the Masters Women's relay race. The nervous tension pre race was very evident and could be clearly felt as they took to the line. Not only were the runners nervous with anticipation but also, onlookers, club mates, officials and of course the timers. The excitement of a big race is what every athlete craves for. This was do or bust for many today. The extra responsibility of running in a team also creates a heightened will to achieve and not let your teammates down.

The first race burst into action and Raheny Shamrock A.C., who were one of the pre race favourites gave the home crowd lots to cheer about. A deafening wall of noise was created at the relay exchange point each time the women came through. Rahney took top spot with Zoe Quinn, Kate Purcell and Sionhan Eviston taking gold. In 2nd place was Finn Valley A.C. In 3rd place was Sportsworld RC.

Within the same race we had the women's master 50+ race. Again Raheny took gold with incredible performances from Trish Fitzgerald, Anette Kealy and Adrienne Atkins. They were the favourites going into the race and certainly did not let the tag of race favourites affect their performance.

Next up was the master men's 35+. This race has grown so much that the master men's 50+ was held as a separate race this year. Dublin club Brothers Pearse had a great performance winning what was a fiercely competitive race. The winning team was Ian O'Reilly, Colm Turner and Eddie O'Connor. Ian had not much time to basque in the glory as he was getting prepared again for the Senior race. The 2nd team was East Cork A.C. who had also had a very strong team. In 3rd place was Donore Harriers. The men's 50+ race that followed shortly after was another helter skelter affair with some really fine athletes competing. The results of splits just show the pace that these over 50s were running at. Rathfarnham WSAF took gold with Sean McCreery, Shane O'Neill and Pearse Coyle. Clonliffe were 2nd and Donore Harriers 3rd. This was all the traditional Dublin clubs battling it out.

After a pulsating first 3 races we then moved on to the Senior women's race. This on paper looked eye droppingly good. Household names in women's track and road race circles were on show and took to the line. Leevale A.C. were this year's champions with a remarkable performance from former Olypmian and National Champion Michelle Finn in the middle 2 mile leg. She ran one of the the performances of the day making up 4 places within her first lap and winning her relay by 10 seconds in her 2nd lap. The very talented and promising athlete Niamh Moore steered the Cork club home with a total of 15 secs to spare. Rathfarnham WSAF were 2nd and in 3rd was Raheny Shamrock A.C.

The final race was the men's senior race. The relay legs were a lot longer in distance and made of 4 men per team. The legs consisted of just over 2 mile, 1 mile, 3 mile and 2 miles. The times ran were sizzling hot in the race. The splits will back up how fast these guys were. The winners were Clonliffe Harriers with one of Ireland's hottest young athletes Efrem Gidey running 13:45 for his 3 mile, which was closer to 5k in the way the laps workout. Efrem's teammates all ran a champions race with Stephen Cashin, Eoin Pierce, Efrem himself and Jayme Rossiter running in the above order. Donore Harriers were 2nd and St. Abban's of Laois were the 3rd team.

Well done to Raheny Shamrock A.C., Athletics Ireland, Local residents and participating clubs for a great day.

RESULTS

LAP 1 MASTERS WOMEN

TOP FINISHERS MASTERS WOMEN

MASTERS MEN START

LAP 1 MASTERS MEN

NATIONAL EVENTS CALENDAR

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Caroline AYTON