News

Raheny Shamrock Athletic Club will play host to this weekend’s 123.ie National Road Relay Championships which take place on Wade’s Avenue in Raheny from 1.30pm on Sunday (April 28th).

The road specialists will be joined on the start-line by a host of track stars as they battle it out for team honours around the now familiar lapped route.

The senior men’s race was enthralling right from the gun last year and the 2023 champions in Conliffe Harriers are back with a bumper entry as they bid to retain the title. Their leading team looks stacked with Efrem Gidey listed alongside, Ian Guidan, Jayme Rossiter, and Colm Rooney.

Hosts Raheny have a remarkable recent winning history in the race which should add plenty of spice to proceedings. Two strong looking teams from the hots will see Clonliffe pushed all the way to the line as the lapped route comes to a conclusion. Kieran Kelly, Cillian Kirwan, and Juan Ignacio Pena are all set to don the green and white once more.

It’s going to be ultra-competitive with strong teams also entered from DCH who call upon Pierre Murchan, while DSD will turn to Emmet Jennings to lead them home on the roads once more. Donore’s John Travers will be favourite to lead home his leg, while young teams from Ennis Track and Craughwell can’t be discounted.

The senior women’s race looks just as competitive on paper where we’ll have new champions in the absence of Leevale. Raheny once again boast a strong lineup with Iseult O’Donnell, Niamh Kearney, and Lucy Barret all listed among their entries.

DSD have been no stranger to success on the roads over the past 12 months and a team of Amy O’Donohue, Emma McEvoy, and Eimear Maher could well be the ones to push Raheny closest.

Rathfarnham list national 1500m champion Carla Sweeney among their entries, while a talented Tullamore team which including Niamh O’Connor and Donegan sisters Danielle and Nadine could be in contention for the podium places alongside UCD.

The day’s action will get underway at 1.30pm on Sunday, with the women’s (masters) race getting the action up and running. Raheny will bid to defend their crown in the O35 race, while Raheny once again having a strong hand in the O50 race.

The men’s masters O35 title went back to Brothers Pearse AC 12 months ago, and they can be expected to put in another brave show.

The men’s O50 race is a tough one to call, with a strong entry from Clones and City of Derry Spartans ensuring the Dublin clubs won’t have it all their own way.

Race information:

Raheny Shamrock will host the 123.ie National Road Relay Championships on Sunday April 28th.

The start area is on Wades Avenue in Raheny.

There are five races:

• 1:30pm – Masters Women (All)
• 2.00pm – Masters Men (35 – 49)
• 2:30pm – Masters Men 50+
• 3:00pm – Senior Women
• 3:30pm – Senior Men