DSD Masters Games: A Huge Day for Irish Masters Athletics

The inaugural Masters League brought athletes from every corner of the country to Dundrum South Dublin’s Tibradden Road track on Saturday August 30th, for what turned out to be a mostly wet but memorable day of competition.

Despite the wind and rain, a strong crowd of family, friends and clubmates lined the track, creating the kind of close-knit and encouraging atmosphere that is the hallmark of Masters athletics. 130 athletes from 50 clubs, along with 13 teams took to the track in Rathfarnham on Saturday. 

One of the most anticipated moments was the Irish W40 4x400m team of Bronwen McDonald, Denise Toner, Fiona Kehoe and Rachel Murphy attempting to lower the world record. The team of Michelle Cox, Martina McDonagh, Zoe Quinn and Val O’Gorman provided opposition. Conditions conspired against record pace, but the W40 quartet still delivered a strong run of 9:29.28.

In the Mixed 4x100m, Tullamore Harriers AC topped the Mixed 4x100m standings, with a time of 50.40. Clonliffe Harriers (51.97) and St. Laurence O’Toole AC (53.83) rounded out the top the three ranked teams respectively.

All told, 13 teams lined out:

• Tullamore Harriers AC
• Clonliffe Harriers AC
• St. Laurence O’Toole AC
• Dundrum South Dublin AC (1 & 2)
• Lucan Harriers AC
• St. Cocas AC
• Dublin County
• Louth County
• Galway County
• Drogheda & District AC
• Rathfarnham WSAF AC
• Enniscorthy AC

Alongside the relays, the meet featured a variety of individual events, from sprints to throws with athletes from all four provinces contributing to a truly national feel.

When the dust  (and rain) settled, the podium finishers were:
1. DSD 1 
2. St. Laurence O’Toole AC
3. Clonliffe Harriers 

The success of the day was built not only on the athletes but on the tireless efforts of officials and volunteers, who kept events running smoothly in difficult conditions. Special thanks were also due to Adam Jones for providing a livestream of the action, and to JF Sports, Last Lap and Tribal Running (Sean McDermott and Ian Egan) for adding music and commentary that brought colour to the mostly damp afternoon.

📺 Rewatch the Livestream
📊 Results

Images courtesy of Ronan Gately