Annual road race ‘keeps door open’ for new generation
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Ready for the start of the Micheal Manning Memorial 10km at Dunshaughlin were (from left) Bing Fay, Fiona Hanley, Laura Marshall, Michelle Doyle and Geraldine De Bonis. PHOTO:s DAVID MULLEN/WWW.CYBER IMAGES.NET. David MullenImage 2 of 18
Tara AC athletes Iris Mills, Bronagh Kennedy, Susan Keogh, Nicky Hamill, Rob Campion and Paul O’Donnell. David MullenImage 3 of 18
Thumbs up. At Micheal Manning Memorial Dunshaughlin 10k were Eddie Dunne, Dylan Murphy, Max Corry, Stephen Kelly and Declan Fahy from Tara Athletic Club. David MullenImage 4 of 18
Cian Murphy, Ethan Rueter, Susan Keogh, Emer O’Hanlon, Ethan Murphy and Charlie Rueter were in Dunshaughlin. David MullenImage 5 of 18
Na Fianna athletes John Kangley (left) and Pat Payne were at the Dunshaughlin 10km in the colours of Na Fianna AC. David MullenImage 6 of 18
Sinead Togher, Ger Byrne, Mark Ginnerty, Hannah Hartnett and Jarlath Farrelly proudly wore the Trim colours . David MullenImage 7 of 18
Runners from the host club included (from left) Edward Smith, and Michael and Rachel Anderson, with a guest appearance from club chairperson, Michael Summerville. David MullenImage 8 of 18
In attendance at Dunshaughlin for the 10km run were Ciara Gleeson, Leslie Duffy and Sandra Smith. David MullenImage 9 of 18
Violet Molloy with her brother Michael and his wife Sharon Molloy get ready to run in the 10km event. David MullenImage 10 of 18
Volunteers pictured at the 10km included members of Dunshaughlin Cycling Club (from left) Barry Leonard, Maire White, Susan McCabe, Dan O’Sullivan, Sean Fox, Nicki McGoldrick, John Curtin, Patricia Fairbrother, Nicholas Stewart, Peter Slevin and Paul Foley. David MullenImage 11 of 18
Declan Kearns, Caroline Cummins, Paul Daly, Deboragh Ryan and Derek Maguire were among the big contingent of athletes who ran in the Dunshaughlin 10km. David MullenImage 12 of 18
Dawn (left) and Owen Neary with James Murphy and Andrea McGuinness, and a friend, were in Dunshaughlin. David MullenImage 13 of 18
Dunboyne AC runners who looked relaxed at the start were Ollie Duffy, Cian Mangan, Keith Flynn and Eoin Hyland. David MullenImage 14 of 18
Jan Millington and Rachel Hyland took part in the 10km. David MullenImage 15 of 18
Representing Moynalty AC in the 10km were Sylvia Mullin and Lucy Carolan. David MullenImage 16 of 18
Geraldine and Mark Caulfield proudly wore the colours of Trim AC at Dunshaughlin. David MullenImage 17 of 18
Aisling Dardis and Ciaran Watters ran in the 10km. David MullenImage 18 of 18
Arlene Hanley, Jill Thornton, Ciaran Coogan and Christopher Kellett all took part in the famous Dunshaughlin 10km race. David MullenHistory and tradition. They can mean a lot in sport. What has been termed ‘Ireland’s oldest 10km Road Race’ took place again recently with hundreds of runners descending on Dunshaughlin from all over the country - and the fact that the race takes place at all is logistical feat of Olympian proportions.
The Michael Manning Memorial Dunshaughlin 10km Road Race is now as much a part of the Irish athletic landscape as Santry Stadium itself.
With main sponsor, Kealy Construction, the race was part of the Peugeot Race Series 2023 a fact that made the event the focus for many talented athletes who had highlighted it as one to win. Entries were capped at 1,200 and places were coveted with Conor Duffy of Glaslough Harps emerging at the head of the field to claim number one position in a time of 30.19 while the first female runner home was Ide Nic Dhomhnaill who clocked up a time of 33 minutes.
Local athletes Ronan Moore (Trim AC) as well as Rory Kavanagh and Barry Comer (both Dunboyne AC) finished strongly while the first athlete across the line from the host club was Finbar Smith.
The event took place only because of detailed planning by the members of the organising group and considering the huge level of logistics involved they have to be admired. A lot of people are needed to make a club work, year in year out. The staging of the 10km race is certainly an important factor in helping Dunshaughlin AC not only stay on the road but prepare for the future.
"Something special grows when a community comes together to steer an idea into a reality. Since 1979, the men and women of Dunshaughlin AC have been carefully working away developing the club, piece by piece," pointed out Dunshaughlin AC's Pearse Fahy. "This year saw the opening of a new grass running track and a new 1km running pathway, looping the perimeter of a new facility at The Willows where pony racing once took place.
"Our 10km over the years has given us the wherewithal to put this in place so new generations of boys and girls have the opportunity to discover the wonderful world of athletics. Now, on our doorstep, let's help them open the door." The staging of the annual 10km takes a lot of hard graft and organising but it also helps to keep that door open.