40 years ago Clonliffe Harriers celebrated the centenary of the club’s foundation. For those of you not blessed with a mathematical mind that means that Clonliffe Harriers this year is 140 years old! (1886 – 2026). Anyway back to centenary year, 1986 when a whole series of events was arranged to mark this monumental occasion including 40 years ago today the hosting by Clonliffe Harriers of the national cross country championships in Santry Demesne on Sunday, February 23, 1986.
Dominic Branigan’s “Clonliffe Harriers 1886 – 2013” has an excellent account of that special day which is now reproduced below:
“As a tribute to its long and dedicated service to Irish athletics, the club was granted permission to stage the national cross country championships on its own home ground. On Sunday 23rd of February all members not participating were commandeered by the committee to ‘help out on the day’. Course director Johnny O’Leary ensured that a tough but fair course was laid out and that, in true Clonliffe tradition, spectators would get full value for their money.
Just like their predecessors in 1976 the senior ladies race provided a kickstart to a memorable day when Mary Donoghue became the 1st Clonliffe woman since Katheryn Davis in 1978 to win the individual title. The form book for the senior men’s race suggested that Clonliffe had a real opportunity of picking up a few medals on home ground. In the weeks beforehand Jerry Kiernan who have been setting the roads of Ireland on fire was expected to challenge for his 2nd individual title but would face some stiff opposition from pre-race favourites John Woods (Liverpool), as well as Roy Dooney (DCH) and previous winner Dave Taylor (Clonliffe). Unfortunately, Jerry suffered an injury just before the race and was forced to withdraw. Noel Harvey was out injured for 7 weeks in November and December and did not feel he had a gold medal performance in him. Following his marriage to Sandra in December he began to settle back into training.
As the race unfolded Noel stayed in the leading pack with all the prerace favourites. Around the three mile mark John Woods fell and brought down Mulligan and Taylor. Being just before the halfway point this disruption did not have a major effect as all three quickly regained their places in the leading group.
As the race neared its climax on the final lap Mulligan, Woods and Dewdney were in command but Harvey was only slightly adrift. The race report in the Irish Independent described the finish thus: ‘when they reemerged from behind the tall pines Harvey was still there and went Dooney and Mulligan made their final efforts it was the man in the black and amber who had the answer to score a fine win in 36:20, fast running for the 7.5 mile course’ Noel was follows home by Mulligan, Dooney and Woods. To put the icing on the centenary cake the Wasps also won the senior men’s team title. Behind Harvey were Dave Taylor (5th), Eugene Curran (15th), Dermot Redmond (20th), Gerry Finnegan (28), Eamon Tierney (31st) and Padrig Keane (42nd).
It proved to be yet another unforgettable occasion in Clonliffe’s long and distinguished history. For the first time ever the same club provided the ladies and men’s individual champions in the same year. It was also a record for Clonliffe which saw the largest ever number of club athletes racing in the national senior event. The 19 who ran that day were Noel Harvey, Dave Taylor, Eugene Curran, Derek Redmond, Gerry Finnegan, Eamon Tierney, Padraig Keane, Gerry Wyse, Dennis Noonan, Liam Marley, David Dunne, Martin Tracey, Jim Cleary, Jim McGlynn, John Murphy, Loughlin Campion, Noel Guiden, Dermot Higgins and Jim Hyland.’
See also report in Irish Runner by Ken Harris: