Week ending Saturday 3rd January 2026

Happy New Year to all members and friends of Mullingar Harriers

The officers of the Club wish all Club members, former members and supporters of the Club a very happy New Year, particularly those who returned home to Mullingar for Christmas or the New Year. 2025 was an excellent year for the Club and we celebrated the Club’s 50th Anniversary in great style with several events spread throughout the year. Hopefully 2026 will be as successful but members should now get back to training again without delay for the indoor and cross country competitions ahead.

Open day for younger juvenile registrations

We’ll be holding an open day at the Club on Saturday January 10 when membership for 2026 for girls and boys age 9, 10, 11 and 12 years in 2026 will be taken and they’ll return to training on Tuesday 13 January at 6pm. Membership for these young girls and boys will be taken on a first come first served basis and when the groups are filled, we’ll take no more. A change in 2026 is that unfortunately, we cannot accept membership from 8 year olds because we simply don’t have the coaches needed to manage this age.

An important rule introduced in 2023 and enforced every year since is that everyone in the 6pm groups had to represent the Club at least once in the year at a Championship or an inter-Club challenge competition. We’ve been recording every competition in 2025 so we know those that never competed. We’ll be enforcing this rule again in 2026, so if your child never competed for Mullingar Harriers during 2025, please don’t look to renew their membership in 2026 as it will be refused.

Membership for 2026

The Club’s online membership system is open for everyone (except those age 9, 10 11 and 12 years) to renew their membership online for 2026. It’s important to renew as soon as possible so you are insured to train at the Club and of course to enter events in January like the Leinster Intermediate and Masters cross country and Juvenile cross country relays, the National Indoor Games and other upcoming indoor events, and the many road races that will take place in the coming weeks. Memberships for the youngest members will be taken at the open day on Saturday 10th January and cannot be done online.

Senior walk titles and a piece of athletics history for Aisling and Oisin Lane

With yellow weather alerts, the forecast for the World Athletics Tour Racewalking event in St. Anne’s Park, Raheny on Sunday 14 December looked very bleak indeed, as visitors from 19 countries coming from as far away as Asia, Africa and both North and South America arrived in Dublin to take on a variety of continental racewalkers from the top European nations. This now annual event incorporates the Irish National Race Walking Championships, with seniors racing 20k, u/20 and masters racing 10k, together with a selection of open juvenile competitions. The programme this year included a Marathon Racewalk for the first time, so the programme started earlier than usual and also led to the standard senior 20k races starting at the later time of 12 noon. This later start proved a blessing in disguise, as the rains cleared but still left a damp surface with the potential to produce slow times.

As a consequence of his great performances in racewalk earlier in 2025 that led him to the World Championships in Tokyo, Oisin Lane is automatically qualified for the European T&F Championships next year in Birmingham, England. This allowed him to drop down to the shorter 20k distance. For the senior men and women, another new element was a combined start for both the 20k and half marathon (21.1k) distances. So, Oisín was joined on the start line by his younger sister Aisling Lane and his fellow clubmate Matthew Glennon. When the gun went so did Oisin. With many athletes aiming for the longer half marathon distance and therefore starting a little more cautiously, Oisin had his full focus on winning the National 20k title and therefore went straight to the front with focus and a relentlessly consistent pace. As the pack jostled for positions, Oisin kept increasing his lead through the key markers of 5k, 10k and 15k.

Amongst the pack, Matthew was having an extended battle with his main rivals for the Irish championship medals. Meanwhile, Aisling was walking close to her personal best through 5k and 10k, but soon after this she slowed a bit due to the cold and damp conditions. However, her rivalry with the athletes from the other nations had drawn her well clear of all her Irish competition. Meanwhile, Oisin raced on smoothly and confidently and was the first to cross the 20k line and win the National Senior title. Feeling strong, Oisín continued on and held off the fast finishing Eduardo Camarate of Portugal to also win the World Tour Half Marathon event, his second gold medal of the day.

Back in the field, the National silver medal position had got beyond Matthew, but in the head to head for bronze, his main rival was forced to concede to Matthew’s improved technique and dropped out. This left Matthew isolated as he fought to overcome the fatigue of these battles and the actual race distance but he held on bravely to claim the National bronze medal from yet another fast finishing Dublin rival. Not too far back, Aisling was also working hard but by the last quarter of the race she managed to lap her now tiring main rival and so could work on maintaining a comfortable rhythm to the end of the 20k and win her first National Senior title (while still only 19).

A unique piece of history was made, as according to the experts, going back to the first Irish Championships in 1873, Oisin, Aisling and their father, Michael, are the first “father, son and daughter” combination to win a National Championship Senior title in the same event. So, in a historic year for Mullingar Harriers, their athletes continue to make unique National athletics history too.

The Irish Road Racewalking Championships also included the National 10k u/20 Championships. The line up for this included John Glennon. While John has won several titles, including the SIAB Schools International, he knew that he was facing massive competition from the up and coming Seamus Clarke who won a silver medal in the European u/18 Championships. Wisely, John choose to walk his own pace and settled into a hard, strong and steady pace that guaranteed him a National u/20 silver medal and a big new personal best of 46 minutes 35 seconds. From the National Road Championships, Mullingar athletes “walked” away with 2 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medal, not a bad finish to 2025.

Along with the World Athletics World Tour events and the Irish National Championships, the event included several open juvenile competitions and competing in the underage 5k was Daniel Glennon. Having won medals over 3k at both the SIAB Schools International and the Irish Juvenile Championships, Daniel was moving up to the longer 5k (while still only u/17). Daniel walked with the focus and maturity of a much older athlete to record an excellent time of 23 minutes 17 seconds to finish in second place, splitting two top young Greek racewalkers who were seeking qualification standards for next year’s European u/18 Championships. As Daniel left the best of Irish and British racewalkers way behind him, he too can look forward to achieving the required standard for the European u/18 next year if he gets the right training and the right competitions.

Also racing was Gareth Glennon, who took part in the u/16 open 3k, even though he is only u/14. He too finished second in 14 minutes 48 seconds, a very good time for one so young [ML].

Indoor 1,000m record for Aimee Wallace

Aimee Wallace ended 2025 in style with an Irish u/20 indoor 1,000m record of 2 minutes 47.76 seconds at the Track &Field Live Meeting at the National Indoor Arena in Dublin on Wednesday evening 17 December, bettering her own record of 2:48.40 set this time last year. Aimee went out hard from the gun, tracking the pacemaker, Niamh Murray (Bray Runners AC), a 400m specialist who took Aimee though 700m right on target and over the final 300m Aimee maintained the pace to win by a long way and set a new National u/20 record, which sets her up perfectly for indoor Championships in the New Year [GD].

Post-Christmas Races

As in previous years, there was plenty of club representation at local road races held over the post-Christmas period, with members young and older out in big numbers. Well done to the race organisers and volunteers who make these events happen at a time of the year when everyone else in taking a well-earned holiday break. Lots of really good performances were recorded by Club members, showing no signs of any Christmas over-indulgence, with many getting among the prizes.

Kilbeggan 6k

A regular favourite on the race calendar, the annual Kilbeggan 6k continues to grow year on year and attracted nearly 500 participants on St Stephen’s Day, including a large contingent of nearly 50 from Mullingar Harriers who enjoyed a fine dry calm day, perfect for running. John Ryan did his best to keep in touch with eventual race winner, Michael Murphy (Tullamore Harriers AC), but had to concede in the closing stages though finished a strong second place in 18:18, followed in by Dan Morris fourth (19:14), Kevin Moore fifth (19:26) and Kris Foster ninth (19:42). Showing her class in the women’s race, Claire Fagan pulled clear to win the women’s race with relative ease in 20:03, finishing an excellent tenth place overall. Other notable performances came from Paul O’Reilly eleventh (20:21), Oisin Clarke twelfth (20:27), first u/20 man, Conor Walsh (20:50), second u/20 man, Lily Walsh (21:59), third senior woman and Daniel Cummins (22:53), third u/20 man to give Mullingar a clean sweep 1-2-3 in the u/20 men category.

Others competing were Eddie Lynch (22:55), first in his master category, Morgan Isdell (23:01), Dara O’Shea (23:11), Aaron Kenny (23:18), Kieran Nolan (23:32), Cillian Gavin (24:17), John Gallagher (24:58), Catherine Smyth (25:32). Breda Daly (25:32), first in her master category, Thomas Tynan Daly (25:42), Conor Gavin (25:43), Siomha Leonard (25:49), third u/20 woman, Paddy Daly (25:58), Conleth Mullen (27:42), Caoimhe Lynam (27:43), Caroline Mullen (27:43), second in her master category, Brendan Rice (27:49), Miriam Walsh (27:56), third in her master category, Zane Smukste (27:59), Claire Lennon Gavin (28:17), Maisie Walsh (28:36) running with her father Colm Walsh (28:36), Ellen Cummins (28:37), Aoibheann Lynam (28:39), Brian Boyle (29:11), Isabel Tynan Daly (29:15), Sarah Cummins (30:04), Conor Kiernan (30:48), Sean McMullin (31:44), Caroline Boyle (31:55), Grace Cummins (33:13), Aidan O’Donoghue (33:14), Heather Kelly (33:14), Gemma Kelly (36:08), Catherine Walsh (36:39) and Estere Skrastina (41:42).

It was great to see so many members of Mullingar Harriers running in support of a local race and as the race is a fundraiser for the Crumlin Children’s Medical and Research Foundation, supporting a great cause too, as they worked off the Christmas excesses in Kilbeggan [GD].

Athenry 10k

Eddie Newman has raced the Fields of Athenry 10k every year since 2010, with the exception of 2020 when it was cancelled die to Covid. This popular annual event on St. Stephen’s Day is regarded as one of the top road races in the country, so it was no surprise that it attracted over 2,300 finishers, a record number since the inaugural race back in 2002. In cold but otherwise ideal running conditions, Eddie was pleased to finish in 38:27, winning his age category with ease. Linda Cunningham won an entry to the race, so was happy to make her first appearance in Athenry and take on the rolling hills of the local countryside, finishing in a fine time of 45:03. Also competing and enjoying the race and atmosphere in Athenry was Ciaran Mulkerrins and Sorcha Hennessy Silke who ran along together and finished in 54:54 [LC/GD].

Cavan Christmas 5k Dash

The Cavan Christmas 5k Dash was held in the grounds of Farnham Estate on the outskirts of Cavan Town on St. Stephen’s morning. Run on a trail around a local lake it attracted nearly 360 runners, including Alan Crowley who finished fifth overall in 17:33. Clubmate Mark Ronan was in a chasing pack and he eventually pulled away to take twelfth place in 18:16, with Pauric Brady coming home in 19:40 [MO’S].

Shane Brennan Memorial 5k

Newtownforbes was the venue for the annual Shane Brennan Memorial 5k on St. Stephen’s morning where just over 400 runners completed the run, including six members of the Glennon family, along with the McCabe husband and wife duo, Brigid and Nicky, and Steven Underwood and Breda McDonnell.

Matthew Glennon was third overall in 17:05, followed by Daniel Glennon just 10 seconds adrift in fourth place in 17:15. Andrew Glennon was next in for Mullingar Harriers in 18:36, with Susan Glennon finishing third woman in 19:16. John Glennon completed the course in 20:47, followed in by Gareth Glennon in 21:33. Brigid McCabe finished off another successful year of running with a time of 25:21 to win her master category with ease. Nicky McCabe came home in a time of 27:18, winning his master category in a very close finish, followed in by Steven Underwood in 27:32, and the Mullingar contingent was completed by Breda McDonnell, third in her master category [MO’S/GD].

Navan AC “Robbie & Rita 5k”

Navan AC hosted the annual Rita & Robbie Christmas 5k last Saturday morning and 450 runners packed into Claremont Stadium for the race start, which took runners around the surrounding road network on the east of the town, before returning for a lap of the track to the finish. Conor Sherwin was in excellent form, always vying for the lead before having to give way to a more experienced senior athlete but still showing good form to finish second with a fine time of 15:23, which was also first u/20 man. Enda Seery was also very smooth in his running throughout and finished in 18:17 [MO’S].

Ardagh Challenge Road Races

Over 160 took on the challenging hilly course in the Ardagh 10 mile around the picturesque Longford village last Saturday morning. The course included a significant very tough uphill climb at the 2 mile mark that stretched for over a half mile, followed by some fast downhills before another uphill climb to the finish. It certainly wasn’t a course for the faint-hearted but up for the challenge was Andy Nevin who raced hard all the way and though couldn’t close the gap on the winner finished an excellent second place in a swift 57 minutes 31 seconds. He was followed home by Mark McAdden sixth place (59:08) and Timmy Mescall (68:46) battling all the way to finish well up the field of runners.

There was a 5k race, which took nearly 130 runners on a fast course until the final climb to the finish. Leading the Mullingar group home was young Aaron Kenny finishing fifth overall in 19:05, first u/16 boy. Finishing fast behind him in eighth place was Mel Bohan in 19:28, alongside his father, Val Bohan. Also competing was Aisling Farrell (21:04), followed by Penny Bohan in 21:26, first u/16 girl and Dean Keogh in 21:39 [GD].

Sympathy

Finally, the executive and members of the Club wish to express sincere sympathy to the Troy family on the death of their father, Paddy, in Ballynacarrigy before Christmas. All the Troys were valuable members of Mullingar Harriers at some stage.

Check the Club’s website at www.mullingarharriers.com or its Facebook page for all the latest news.

PRO