Q4, 2026 News & Reports – October to December

December

November

October

Tarmonbarry Three Quarter Marathon

It was dull and overcast with occasional drizzle and a slight breeze on Sunday morning 4th October, ideal conditions for long distance running and the annual Tarmonbarry Three Quarter, Half Marathon & 8k, which attracted big numbers to the area on the Longford/Roscommon border. The races were run primarily on country roads either side of the village with start and finish parallel to the main street.

The Three Quarter Marathon was an ideal opportunity for any athletes among the nearly 190 entrants preparing for the Dublin City Marathon in just three weeks, including 5 from Mullingar Harriers. Tom Byrne returned a time of 2:30:39, Mary Stuart had a great run that saw her finish in 2:38:39, followed by Dara O’Shea in 2:45:26, with Criona Reid recording a time of 2:52:17, and Joan Hickson finishing in 2:53:44. All five of them expressed satisfaction and are now into a tapering period for the big day at the end of October.

Meanwhile, in the Half Marathon that attracted an entry of just over 110 runners,  Eddie Newman ran 1:24:03, Maura Dervin ran 1:42:08 and Darragh O’Donoghue finished in 1:46:26.  Earlier in the morning, in the 8k run, Mark Darby came home best of the just over 230 others in the race to win in 26:05, followed by Shane McLoughlin finishing 3rd in 26:49 [MO’S].

Galway Bay Half Marathon

A gentle breeze on a looped course on Salthill Promenade made running conditions ideal for the Galway Bay Marathon & Half Marathon on Sunday morning 4th October. Hoping to reap the benefit of all the work put in over the 14 weeks leading up to the event, Orla McLaughlin joined nearly 600 others to make her Marathon debut with a target time of 3:30. With the most consistent run she has ever had, Orla was delighted to finish inside her pre-race target, crossing the line in 3:28. Ciara Foy used the Half Marathon as part of her preparations for the Dublin City Marathon in three weeks. Going out with a good pace plan set, she was feeling good in the last four miles and pushed on, running a negative split of nearly a minute to place a terrific 8th overall of the just over 1,800 finishers, 2nd woman in 1:20:21, a PB by two minutes [EMcC].

Irish Three Quarter Marathon

Sunday 4th October, Longwood, Co. Meath

1,006 finishers

Griffin Kearney (2:12:00), Joan Flynn (2:20:39) 4th in master category, Barry White (2:31:58), Lisa McEntee (3:33:15)

Athletics Westmeath XC – Day 1

For u/8, u/10, u/ 12, u/14, u/16 results, click HERE; for u/18, u/19, u/20, Novice, Senior Master results, click HERE.

We were absolutely blessed with a beautiful sunny morning in Belvedere on Saturday 3rd October for Day 1 of the Athletics Westmeath Cross Country. You’d never think there had been some very heavy rain during the week before, as the ground in Belvedere holds up brilliantly despite rain, so underfoot conditions were excellent.

We moved from our usual Sunday date to Saturday this year so as not to clash with a round of the National Cyclocross League in Belvedere on Sunday, which was hosted by our friends in Lakeside Wheelers Cycling Club. It was an honour for them to be asked to host the event and is testament to their reputation in cycling circles. Mullingar Harriers was only too happy to move our date.

Competition on day 1 was for girls and boys under 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 years of age and for women and men under 18, 19, 20 and novice, senior and masters. There was great competition in each race and performances were very encouraging in the older age groups in particular, where the focus was on places on Club and County teams at the Leinster Cross Country Championships.

The boys and girls that ran in the non-Championship under 8 and under 10 races really enjoyed themselves and were delighted with their medals, one for everyone that finished. In a change to the normal timetable, this year we held the combined race for women and men under 18, 19 and 20 years, and for novice, senior and master women and men between the under 8 and the under 10 races. This is normally the last race of the day, so it was great to see the young underage athletes spectating the adult race and shouting encouragement as they warmed up for their own races. All the women ran 4,000m, the older master men also ran 4,000m, the senior men ran 8,000m and the rest of the men ran 6,000m, with everyone starting together and running over the same course but with different numbers of laps. It was some spectacle to see nearly 50 runners racing hard out from the start and making their way around the rolling hills of Belvedere. An added incentive to perform well this year was the chance to win one of the Perpetual Trophies for u/20, senior and masters women and men, generously sponsored by Apache Pizza, John Gavin & Co. Accountants, Bell Lane Coffee Ltd., Brigid & Nicky McCabe, and Eoin Clarke & Co. Solicitors.

Lydia McDonnell won the Apache Pizza u/20 woman trophy, Matthew Molloy won the Apache Pizza u/20 men trophy, Orlaith Flanagan won the John Gavin & Co. Accountants senior women trophy, Vinny Connolly won the Bell Lane senior men trophy, Sinead Whitelaw retained the Brigid & Nicky McCabe master women trophy, and Kevin Moore won the Eoin Clarke & Co. Solicitors master men trophy.

The Club’s masters group was well represented and it was great to see a number of our most recent new members compete in cross country for the very first time after just a few training sessions over the last few Saturdays. The training continues each Saturday now, so further opportunities will become available as the cross country season gets into full swing in the coming weeks.

Moving on to the underage Championships, the course in Belvedere is a great test of cross country endurance and those that train there regularly will have no problem with any course at Leinster. There were some very good individual performances but Championship cross country is also about team running, so everyone was being closely watched by Club coaches, particularly the newcomers and those running out of their age. Cross country racing always throws up some surprises, and we saw some surprising changes in the finishing order down through the fields in some races, which we expect to see more of as the season progresses. Some weren’t sure they’d finish in the medals and they surprised themselves on the day. It’s still early in the season and some will improve more than others as we near the Leinsters, so keep up the training.

Any of our juveniles who may be disappointed with their race on Day 1 has a chance to make amends on Day 2 in Belvedere, when there will be races for boys and girls under 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17 years of age.

The Leinster Championships take place over two days, with two weeks between each, so juvenile athletes can run in their own age group and can move up an age group to make up teams. Therefore, we expect all juveniles to compete on both days of the Westmeath Championships unless ill or injured or they might be disappointed if not selected. The results of both days and application in training will be used to select teams to represent the Club and Westmeath in the Leinster Championships. The results of the men and women races on Day 1 will also be used to select Club and County teams for the Leinster Championships.

Thanks to all who helped to record the results, marshal and steward on the course, to the many parents who came and supported the competitors, and to the Management & Staff of Belvedere for the use of the excellent grounds, our generous sponsors of the Perpetual Trophies, but especially to the athletes who provided great competition [GD].

For u/8, u/10, u/ 12, u/14, u/16 results, click HERE; for u/18, u/19, u/20, Novice, Senior Master results, click HERE.