BHAA AGM 2024

Nice setting and weather for Maynooth cross country race

Leafy balmy Dublin 4’s Sean Moore Park was the venue for a BHAA race that started in its original form in 2005 at Irishtown Stadium and Ringsend Park. So for twenty years except for the Covid hiatus, Dublin City Council runners continue to deliver two BHAA races annually. The 2025 version had a race course in Sean Moore Park and the Poolbeg peninsula with beautiful views of Dublin bay. Before the race, dark clouds threatened rain. However it t was pleasing to see 167 entrants line up and finish without a drop of rain.

On a warm Summer’s evening….

From Terra “Feirme” to Terra Firma and everything in between. The Winter League prize presentation will be held at the Irish Life race on 27th May in Dunboyne. It is fitting that the prize-giving for the Winter League 2024-25 takes place in Meath, because that’s where the league began in November on Ledwith Farm in Batterstown. The townies were delighted with their day out down on the farm, complete with a real live bull and all the sights and sounds and smells of agriculture to accompany the race. Revenue pulled a race out of the bag in record time and presented us with a new race in a new venue on 1st December. Santa arrived a little early with plenty spot prizes and treats. BHAA Stalwarts Bank of Ireland were back in Tymon Park for the annual race that wakes us all up after Christmas. A little earlier than usual, the Garda Cross country race took place in Phoenix Park. As ever, a popular race on a tough cross country course. We were disappointed when the Eir race had to be cancelled. Teachers and Central Bank of Ireland hosted their races in two new locations. The Teachers, (back on the BHAA Calendar after a sabbatical) in St. Columba’s College and CBI in Jobstown Park. The Central Bank race has been nomadic for the last few years, but hopefully it has found a new home and will continue to host this very popular race for years to come. In a new venture, BHAA and AIB teamed up with the Women’s Meet & Train League to host the 2 and 4 mile races in Abbottstown in March. An unprecedented statistic from this race, there were more running the 2 mile women’s race than the men’s. Normally a no-no in BHAA races, Athletic club singlets abounded for the 2 mile race! We ended the league with another constant on the BHAA calendar. ALSAA hosted the 2 and 5 mile races on an unseasonably warm day. We thought warm weather training had started early! Kudos to all of the Race Promoters and to the BHAA volunteers who turn up week after week (and in February there were 4 races in as many weeks!); and Kudos to all of the athletes, without whom Business Houses Athletics would not happen. The BHAA committee continues to work away behind the scenes planning and arranging races. If your company would like to participate in our races, or would like to host a race, please email us at info@bhaa.ie. We have the knowledge and will help you, all you need is the enthusiasm.

It was like the first day of summer with a lovely bright and dry morning for running. St Anne’s Park was the beautiful setting for the annual DCC BHAA 4 mile race on Saturday 5 th April. Over 220 participants got around the scenic course, which included the Rose Garden and the tree lined Central Avenue. The race featured the Lord Mayor’s 5 Alive participants in their distinctive green tops. Lord Mayor Cllr Emma Blain started the race and she stayed until the end, when she presented the 5 Alivers with their medals. The men’s race was won by Sean Doran in 20.54, followed by Christopher O’Reilly and Paul Fleming. Master athlete Paul was also third behind the winner Sean, at the BHAA ALSAA cross country race in early March. Laura McDonnell was also a double winner at ALSAA and again at St Anne’s, where she finished in 8 th place overall. Laura was closely followed by Sarah Mulligan in 10 th overall and Máire Nic Amhlaoibh, 2 places back. Hats off to the remarkable June Cumiskey, who won the over 75 section and BHAA is proud to acknowledge her membership of the Irish women’s W75 team, which set a new World indoor record 4x400m at Abbotstown in February 2025. Another impressive master’s winner at men’s over 65 was Tom Cuddy, who was second in the M65 category at the World Masters Athletics Marathon Championship in Bucharest, in a time of 3:01:14. The Team prizes were won by the Revenue Men’s Team and ESB Women’s Team. A novel feature of the race was the Irish and International Peace Runners. The world's largest peace torch relay was in Ireland for five days and visited schools, community groups and local Councils to inspire people of all ages to foster unity and goodwill. There was good grub afterwards and a feel good buzz of post –race satisfaction in the warm Northside. Race Director Enda Currid paid tribute to BHAA stalwarts Charlie Cronin and Hugh Reddy for setting up the start/finish and once again they were among the first to arrive and last to leave. He also noted that race results were promptly produced by Kathleen Horgan and Frank Wade, even before the quiz started. Next race is the ESB beach race at Sandymount on 14 th May.

For the week that's in it, here is nice article on Bertie Messitt, one of the founding members of the BHAA. The BHAA launched the Dublin City Marathon in 1980 and Bertie was on the Organising Committee. https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2024/1022/1476583-bertie-messett-dublin-city-marathon-1980-rome-olympics/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGI9flleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHRbr5iSnxwV1pwy5_uz6ecHbKhyWuWZ4lAitRMACKe26DBOjsCPHX0czPg_aem_hhzbtSNBhF-FDmzOih7fWA

Dublin BHAA is very pleased to cooperate with the Jerry Kiernan Foundation/ Snap race to deliver the inaugural and special Snap/JKF 6K on Sunday 10 00 am in Abbotstown, Blanchardstown. It is special as it commemorates Jerry Kiernan, a Kerry athlete who ran for Dublin’s Clonliffe Harriers AC with distinction. A 1984 Olympian, Jerry won the Dublin marathon, and many track and road races including BHAA races. He was a BHAA member and supporter. After his racing career, he coached and encouraged many young and prominent Irish athletes to success. The Jerry Kiernan Foundation as a tribute to him raises funds to sponsor emerging talented athletes. This race can help boost its financial support to young athletes. Moreover it would be a positive for Irish athletics to develop this new race into an annual one. So the continuation of this race would honour to the great Jerry Kiernan help of the JKF, BHAA and Snap. Runners of all standards are encouraged to support this race scheduled with Sport Ireland Campus at Abbotstown on Sunday 8 th September 10 a.m. start. Registration is on the BHAA website. Some more details and information will follow.

The BHAA held its 2023 AGM in ESB Sportsco on Monday 4 December. Tea and coffee were available before the meeting start at 7pm. Frank Wade stepped down this year as BHAA registrar and he was thanked for his dedication and service. The new registrar Kathleen Horgan was welcomed and wished every success in her new role. The BHAA financial accounts for 2023 were presented at the meeting. The accounts were audited by the BHAA auditors and were deemed to be a fair and reasonable representation. The drop in race numbers at BHAA races in recent times is of concern and the new 2024 BHAA committee will try to address this issue in the coming months. The BHAA and the Dublin City Marathon team continue to work closely on common matters and Eugene Coppinger from DCM gave a very interesting review of the Dublin City Marathon and the Summer Race Series in 2023. A new committee was elected for 2024, see below: President; Jim Kelly Chairperson; Charlie Cronin Vice-Chairperson; Mary Rigney Treasurer; Enda Currid Registrar; Kathleen Horgan Secretary; Sinead Lyons Webmaster; Colm Murray PRO; vacant, to be addressed by 2024 committee Committee Members Hugh Reddy, John Fitzgerald, Stephen Naughton, Jim Dwyer, Marius McNicholas, Daithi O’Murchu, Hugh McCann, Mary Purdue Smyth. Auditors Michael Walsh, Graham Mantle.