Collection in the Marshes this Saturday for Post Natal Depression

The Marshes

Local amateur photographer Darran Rafferty is planning to run the New York marathon later this year to raise funds for Post Natal Depression.

The 34-year-old will be collecting in the Marshes Shopping Centre this Saturday in aid of the worth cause, which supporters mothers who are suffering from depression following the birth of a baby.

Darran has previously raised over €5,000 by running three Dublin Marathons but hopes to add significantly to that tally this time around.

Anyone who would like to make a contribution can do so via PayPal to darranrafferty@gmail.com or by calling 087 1238421.

O’Hanlon triumphs in Newry City Marathon

Gary O’Hanlon approaching the finish line in Newry yesterday

It was another weekend to remember for local athlete Gary O’Hanlon as he won the Newry City Marathon yesterday in a time of 2:36:12.

The Kilkerley man runs for the Clonliffe Harriers AC team in Dublin and has already won the Tralee International Marathon this year, as well as the Irish National 50km Championship.

Both of those wins leave him on track to at least match the six marathon wins he claimed last year.

O’Hanlon triumphs in Tralee International Marathon

Gary O’Hanlon celebrates after crossing the line in Tralee

Local athlete Gary O’Hanlon continued his sensational start to the year by clinching victory in the Kerry’s Eye Tralee International Marathon at the weekend.

The Kilkerley man, who runs on behalf of the Clonliffe Harriers club in Dublin, was first home in a time of 02:26:53 – almost 12 minutes ahead of the second placed finisher Julio Cesar Castro, who had a time of 02:38:34.

O’Hanlon claims sixth marathon win of the year in Clonakilty

Gary O’Hanlon

Local runner Gary O’Hanlon won his sixth marathon of the year on Saturday when he led the field home in the Clonakilty Waterfront event in a time of 2:46.06.

O’Hanlon, who hails from Kilkerley but who runs for the Clonliffe Harriers club in Dublin, only took over the lead in the final three miles but finished comfortably clear of Raivis Zakis of West Waterford (2:47.59) and Rory Mooney (2:48.36).

The victory was even more impressive considering O’Hanlon had to overcome a niggling leg injury that had been bothering him for most of the previous week.

“It felt like a hamstring problem and I was hoping that I would be able to complete the distance on Saturday,” he told FIT Magazine.

“I had to run with a bit of caution but I am delighted to win what is a really brilliant event.”

This was O’Hanlon’s second successive victory in Clonakilty and comes just weeks after a sixth place finish in the Dublin Marathon that could have been better but for an incident which saw his phone stolen just hours before the race.

Related articles

• O’Hanlon’s marathon hopes hit by phone thieves (talkofthetown.ie)

O’Hanlon finishes sixth in Dublin marathon

Gary O’Hanlon

Kilkerley man Gary O’Hanlon was the sixth place finisher overall in yesterday’s Dublin Marathon.

Gary, who runs with the Clonliffe Harriers club in Dublin, finished in a time of 02:23:54, less than five minutes behind winner Sean Hehir, who finished in 02:18:19.

O’Hanlon’s performance was also enough to see him claim the men’s over 35 category.

A large number of other local runners also competed the racing including Gerard Fay of North East Runners, who completed his 100^th marathon and Gerry O’Connell from the same club, who was the 100th finisher in a time of 02:48:57, which was enough for third place in the mens over 50 category. Well done to all.

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• O’Hanlon continues Dublin Marathon preparations with win in Athlone (talkofthetown.ie)

O’Hanlon continues Dublin Marathon preparations with win in Athlone

Gary O’Hanlon

Kilkerley’s Gary O’Hanlon continued his preparations for the Dublin Marathon at the end of the month when he won the Athlone ¾ Marathon on Sunday.

The 39-year-old, who runs with the Clonliffe Harriers club in Dublin, finished a clear winner in a time of 1:47.42.

O’Hanlon, who is also making a name for himself as a coach and motivator, has enjoyed a number of memorable race wins this year but will face one of his biggest challenges to date when he participates in the Dublin Marathon on Monday October 28^th.

Dundalk’s Liam Dolan sets new Irish Ironman record

Liam at the finish line in Copenhagen

Dundalk’s Liam Dolan travelled to Copenhagen in Denmark on Sunday to compete in the third running of the Ironman Copenhagen race.

The race, set against the city’s iconic backdrop, saw 2,600 athletes cover the 2.4mile swim, 112mile cycle and 26.2mile marathon race in somewhat changeable weather that was well suited to an Irishman. Dolan is no stranger to races of this length, having previously set a new Irish record of 9:02 back in 2009, when he first attempted a long course triathlon in Austria. Since then the record had been lowered to 8:50, also set in Austria in 2011 by Derry’s Martin Muldoon.

Dolan started the day with a good swim, exiting the water of Denmark’s Amster Stall in 67 minutes before quickly setting out on the bike. The course saw the athletes tackle two laps in and around the north of the country, with a mixture of flat roads and a couple of rolling hills. Despite the high winds on the day, he finished the bike event having averaged an incredible 25mph, taking 4.5 hours. The runners were then quickly laced up for the daunting challenge of a full marathon in and around the iconic city.

At this stage the strong winds were replaced by rain but this did not dampen the atmosphere with the huge crowd. Ticking off the miles at a steady seven minute pace Dolan moved up the field, cheered up by a number of Irish fans scattered throughout the course. No training can really stimulate the feeling of still having 10 miles to go after having been on your feet for eight hours of non-stop swimming, biking and running but Dolan dug deep to complete the marathon segment in three hours flat, to get him home in 8 hours 45mins – a new Irish record by five minutes.

This time saw him finish up in 15th overall and as the third placed amateur. The result was good enough to qualify for the World Championships held in Hawaii every October, an event he has competed in three times previously, but on October 11th he will be swapping the lycra for a proper suit when he marries Annette Dawe of the Avenue Road.

Liam and fiancée Annette Dawe, who he will wed in October

Full results of Mint Dundalk 10k now online

Darragh Greene after completing the Mint Dundalk 10k Run

Dunleer AC’s Darragh Greene claimed yesterday’s Mint Dundalk 10k run with a time of 00:33:26, pipping Brian McCluskey of North East Runners by seven seconds.

The pair were a full two minutes ahead of third place finisher, Paul Smith, who had a time of 00:35:33.

Donna Evans was the first female home in 00:38:07, followed by Susan McDonnell and Louise Kierans.

In total 469 runners took part in the event, which raised money for the Irish Cancer Society.

Meanwhile, Kilkerley man Gary O’Hanlon – who had won the half marathon in Dundalk for the two years previously – followed up his Limerick Marathon success from a week ago by clinching the Kildare Marathon in a time of 2 hours 29 minutes – four minutes faster than his run a week earlier.

A full list of results from the Mint Dundalk 10k can be found here.