Last week, the club was in shock with the devastating news that Dave O'Doherty had passed away. Dave was our senior male club athlete of the year for 2008 and had only recently qualified as a Masters athlete. Dave had been unwell later in the year in 2008 and had spent some time in hospital. Dave completed the Dublin City Marathon in late October, just outside his best time of 3:14 set in his marathon debut in Dublin one year before. We noted on this website the club's results from the Dublin marathon 2008 -- "..Dave O'Doherty fresh from a recent hospital stay. Dave ran a gutsy time of 3hrs 18mins 24secs which was particularly courageous after his recent bout of illness. Again, we look forward to another productive cross country season from Dave". None of us knew just how brave a run that was from Dave. In early November, Dave was diagnosed with a particularly aggressive form of liver / pancreatic cancer.

Dave was a friendly, good humoured down to earth guy and he will be sorely missed by all who knew him. Dave made a lot of friends at the club in a very short time. Teammate, Gerry Byrne, talked about missing going for the easy runs in Castletown house with Dave. Men's coach and athlete, Colm O'Connor, spoke at Dave's funeral last weekend of how much Dave will be missed. Dave is survived by his wife and two young children. Our thoughts are with them. May he rest in peace.

As a tribute to Dave, we have a summary of all his achievements from the past year, the performances which garnered him Lucan's male athlete of the year award. We also have photos from different races that Dave ran in the past 12 months or so plus results of all Dave's races since his first race for the club in June 2007.


David represented Lucan Harriers in the Dublin Master C/C Championships in a swamp in January and ran a P.B to be the 2nd finisher on the Lucan team. His time was a terrific 25.19 in probably the best C/C race of the year, which is the Garda business house race, again in the Phoenix park. Next, David ran a 24.06, just outside 6min per mile pace for the B..H.A.A 4 mile road race in Raheny but that barrier would fall soon enough. At this stage David was taking over our hill sessions using his experience as an aerobic instructor from his time in the U.S to lead the team through leg strengthening drills. In April, David ran 50.37 in the Kepak sponsored BHAA 8 mile race and this was another huge P.B. David recorded a breakthrough run in the R.T.E 5 Mile race in Donnybrook, with a time of 29.59 under 6min per mile pace for each of the 5 miles, a huge achievement for any athlete, especially one so late coming to the sport. David beat that time again with a 29.48 in the 5mile Road race in Dunboyne, beating more & more quality athletes as the year progressed. In May, David broke another huge milestone by dropping under 18 minutes for a 5k race with a time of 17.56 in the Bob Heffernan 5K race, another P.B! David was the 5th selection for our team for the Tom Byrne 5k race but because of the confusion over the final selection, he had to pass over his place to Garrett. The 10k time was the next to fall with a 37.46 in the Dunshaughlin 10k, a huge P.B for David. In the 10 mile Frank Duffy race on the 16th of August, David finished in a P.B of 65.19. All of these races were to lead to the Dublin Marathon in October, which David ran in 3.18, amazingly not a P.B! Once you look at the various results that David achieved this year, you realise that achieved a personal best time in the 5k, 4 mile, 5 mile, 8mile, 10k and 10mile road races as well as P.B’s for the 6k & 7k cross country races. Throw in the fact that he was more than happy to organize a bleep test for the club & sent out terrific results to all those who competed, shows to everyone in the club that David O’Doherty is very much a worthy winner of the Lucan Harriers Club man of the year award. Congrats David on your well deserved male club member of the year award.


On Sat 30th June 2007, David O'Doherty ran his first race ever in Dunshaughlin along with Stephen Rynne. David was delighted with his time of 41.04 for the 10K distance, Stephen was hoping for faster than his 42.26 but feels there is a fast time in him over the coming weeks. David used the race as a test for upcoming races and that’s probably true as Stephen had to tell him to stop talking in the first half of the race! Well done lads.

On Thur 26th July 2007, the Lucan Harriers Club Road Championships were won by Derval McCarthy and Tommy Buggle. Derval completed the 2 mile course in 12:08 while Tommy ran the men’s 3 mile race in an impressive time of 15:06. Freda Comiskey was second in the women's race with a time of 12:59. Freda has not been running for a while due to injury so it was great to see her back. Myra Nolan took time out from her marathon training to take third place and she was followed by Eithne Reid. Emmer McCarthy and Lorraine also taking a break from their long runs came 5th and 6th respectively. this time they were only separated by a second. In total 17 women ran on the day. It was great to see, men's captain, Tommy Buggle back to full strength after being out injured for approximately 6 months. Tommy showed all his qualities as he dominated to win very convincingly. John Canny showed another great performance and finished second with a time of 15:20. It was a battle for third place between Colm O’Connor Liam Cleary, but in the end Colm secured third place with a strong finish. David McCarthy was 5th followed by Dave Doherty. Next week the Club handicap will be held. This means that those who won the Championship will be starting from the back. And those members whose legs are a little slower will have the honour of starting first. The handicap will be a good test for all athletes. Results.

Lucan Harriers had 11 representatives competing in the Adidas Dublin City Marathon 2007 on Bank Holiday Monday. John Canny had his second outing over the distance this year and he produced an excellent time of 2 hours 56 mins. This bettered his Edinburgh time earlier this year by 4 minutes. John was followed home by Henry Langton who finished in a time of 3 hrs 4 minutes. David O'Doherty, taking part in his first marathon completed the course in a very respectable 3 hours 14 minutes. David only took up athletics in the past eight months and this time reflects the time and effort he has put in to training. This men's section is really going from strength to strength.

On Sun 13th Jan 2008, Eileen O'Brien claimed bronze in her age-category and Lucan teams fared well at the Dublin Masters Cross Country Championships held in the Phoenix Park. Making her masters debut, Freda Comiskey led our women's team to the finish. Deirdre Counihan, who is new to cross country, finished close behind followed by Eithne Reid and Eileen O’Brien. Fresh from her National marathon exploits, Eileen took a well earned bronze medal in her age category. On our men's team, Colm O’Connor was the first Lucan runner to finish the tough 8km course. In wet and muddy conditions, David O’Doherty, John O’Leary and Gerry Martin completed the team for Lucan. Well done to all!

On Sat 23rd Feb 2008, two Lucan athletes placed in the top 20 at the Garda-sponsored BHAA cross country in the Phoenix Park. John Canny (23.25) had a great run in the 4 mile race with another storming run from Tommy Buggle (23.30) hot on his heals in 16th place. David O’Doherty (25:19) also had a tremendous run finishing 48th with John O’Leary (26:03) close behind in 61st place. Also running was Henry Langton (27:00), Colm O’Connor (27:08) and Stephen Ryen (28:44). Bernie Stapleton (31:29) was placed 18th in the women’s 4 mile event. This was the second last race in the BHAA cross country league and has left Tommy Buggle in 9th place overall and John Canny in 15th place overall in the series. Well done to all. Results.

On Sat 5th Apr 2008, John Canny placed 9th as Lucan athletes performed well in the Dublin City Council-sponsored BHAA 4 mile road race in St Anne's Park, Raheny. A 9th place finish in a very good time (21:48) was a big step forward for John Canny, this being John's first top ten finish in these competitions. Tommy Buggle had another good run (23:12) while David O’Doherty's time (24:06) is without doubt one of his best runs to date. Great to see Dave making big strides too. Brian Brunton (26:06), Stephen Rynne (26:23) and Jim Dwyer (31:40) all put in very good runs. The BHAA series is a lot of fun and we are sure to see more and more of our athletes out at these races over the course of the summer. Well done to all. Results.

On Sat 19th Apr 2008, our athletes had some good results in the Kepak-sponsored BHAA 8 mile road race in Clonee, County Meath. David O’Doherty showed another good run with a time of 50:37, Stephen Rynne was next Lucan athlete in 54:37 followed by Jim Dwyer in 65:14. Well done to all. Results.

On Sat 26th Apr 2008, our athletes took part in the RTE-sponsored BHAA 5 mile race in Donnybrook. Dave O'Doherty had a great run dipping under 30 minutes with a 29:59, Brian Brunton clocked 33:35, Stephen Rynne (34:24). Bernie Stapleton (37:06) and Jim Dwyer (40:46) had good runs. Well done to all. Results.

On Tue 6th May 2008, our athletes ran in the Govt Services/Cultural Diversity-sponsored BHAA 5 mile road race in Dunboyne, Co. Meath. Dave O'Doherty (29:48) had a very good run, followed by Brian Brunton (32:42), Stephen Rynne (33:24), Eileen O’Brien (38:39), Jim Dwyer (40:34). All these athletes are improving heading into the summer. Well done everyone. Results.

On Tue 27th May 2008, lucan athletes again supported the Bob Heffernan Memorial 5km road race in Enfield, Co. Meath. Tommy Buggle led the charge of Lucan athletes with a season's best time of 16:52, just outside his lifetime best time. Joe Corcoran is having a great season and he clocked an impressive 17:41, with the improving David O’Doherty in close attendance (17:56). Brian Brunton (19:12), Brendan Maher (20:11), Hilary McGee (20:19), Jim Dwyer (20:56), Freda Comiskey (20:58), Bernie Stapleton (21:57), Liz Arkins (21:58), Myra Nolan (22:39), Eileen O’Brien (23:38), Lorraine Heffernan (23:51), Deirdre Counihan (24:36), Evelyn McMahon (24:40), Brid Fogarty (25:32) and Bernie Doyle (25:41) all posted their best times of the season. Well done to all.

On Sat 28th June 2008, Lucan athletes ran well in the Dunshaughlin 10km road race. David O'Doherty had another very good run with a tim of 37:46, Bernie Stapleton had a good 47:16 with Jin Dwyer posting a good time of 52:13. Well done to all.

On Sat 16th August 2008, Lucan athletes put in their best performances at the Frank Duffy 10 Mile Road race in the Phoenix Park. First across the line was Joe Corcoran in a brilliant 63mins 09 secs. David O’Doherty continued his run of personal bests this season taking 3 minutes of his time to come home in 65 mins 19 secs. Our next athlete across the line was Henry Langton who clocked a very quick time of 68mins 07 secs. Freda Comiskey continued her great form this season finishing in an excellent 79 mins 30 secs while Lorraine Heffernan also had a very strong performance with her time of 81mins 55 secs. Well done to all.

On Sat 20th Sept 2008, a group of Lucan athletes ran in the Lifestyle Sport/Adidas-sponsored BHAA Half Marathon in the Phoenix Park. Derval McCarthy led the way for Lucan running a brilliant 1 hr 35 mins 44 secs for the half marathon distance finishing 2nd in her category. Bernie Stapleton continued her busy season running a great time of 1hr 50 mins 52 secs finished 26th of the 207 athletes in her category. Eileen O’Brien had another super performance for Lucan finishing 2nd her category in 1 hr 54 mins 30 secs. David O'Doherty had a very good run finishing in 1 hr 32 mins, Brid Fogarty clocked 2hrs 02 mins, Sinead McIntyre 2 hrs 04 mins, Anne Murtagh 2 hrs 08 mins, Ursula Murphy 2 hrs 08 mins and Bernie Doyle 2 hrs 14 mins. These are some very good times on a course which is quite challenging. Great to see so many representing the club. Well done to all. More.

On Mon Oct 27th 2008, our athletes had some exceptional performances in the Dublin City Marathon. As in the past number of years, the Dublin City Marathon hosted the National Championship Marathon, a race within a race. The outstanding performance from a Lucan perspective came from our queen of the marathon, Eileen O Brien, who recorded a sensational time of 3hrs 48mins. Eileen judged the pace of the race perfectly and was the first Irish lady home in her age category. Eileen’s latest victory completed a hat trick of victories in the Irish ladies F55 section. In the past four years, she has won 3 gold medals and a silver medal in the National Championship marathon. Next lady home was Emer Mc Carthy who ran a great time of 3hrs 55mins, Emer was smooth and controlled through out the race and managed to make the distance look easy if that’s possible! Making an excellent marathon debut was Brid Fogarty in another great time of 4hrs 34mins and we look forward to seeing Brid in action over the rest of the season. Barbara Whelan achieved another great time of 5hrs 37mins who was very happy to get round the course after many months of training. First home for the men was Henry Langton in a superb personal best time of 3hrs 1 min 42 secs. Henry looked strong through out the race, maintaining a very even pace throughout, and it was great to see all his hard work and dedication come to fruition. Henry's goal for a long time has been a sub 3 hour marathon and that looks within his grasp on his next outing at the distance. Henry will use this excellent marathon as a base for the cross country season ahead. Next home in his second ever marathon was Joe Corcoran in another fantastic personal best time of 3hrs 4mins 23 secs. Joe showed great heart to grind home a great result over the latter sages of the race. Joe placed 19th overall in his age-category, an outstanding performance. This experience will stand to Joe and we all look forward to his next marathon outing. Joe was followed home by Dave O Doherty fresh from a recent hospital stay. Dave ran a gutsy time of 3hrs 18mins 24secs which was particularly courageous after his recent bout of illness. Again, we look forward to another productive cross country season from Dave. Next home was Brian Brunton in an excellent time of 3hrs 33 mins 40 secs. Brian had to dig deep and showed real determination over the closing stages to reach his time target. Stephen Rynne completed his recent run of good form by completing the course in a brilliant 3hrs 41 secs and beat many of his close rivals in the process. His time was an improvement of 40 mins on his last marathon outing. There were some outstanding Lucan Harriers performances from our 9 athletes in what proved to be a great day for the club. Well done to all. Results.