Amy Moran and Ben Branagh ran the fastest parkrun times in Ireland this weekend (23rd November)

After a recent PB and win at the Brain Tumour Ireland 10k Amy Moran was the fastest woman at parkrun in Ireland this weekend. The Dundrum South Dublin athlete ran 19:09 to comfortably top the charts from the next fastest runner Edel Reilly. Moran finished 19th at the Rathfarnham 5k in September running 18:34 and 10th at Roscommon Harriers 10 mile race in July.

After Sean Tobin’s record breaking performance last week it was another sub 15 minute clocking at the top of the men’s times this week. Ben Branagh’s 14:54 was enough to break the course record at Waterworks and his own parkrun PB. The St. Malachy’s man had a break through performance at the Leeds Abbey Dash 10km in October clocking 29:38 to top the Northern Ireland road 10km rankings for 2019.

Edel Reilly was the second fastest female runner this week also running a parkrun PB and clocking the second fastest time over the Castlebar course. Mayo AC athlete Reilly was second at the Hollymount 6km road race last week where the yoga instructor ran 23:25.

The third fastest woman this week was Martina Kiely who ran 19:21 at Ballincollig a little short of her best time of 18:12 which represents the fourth fastest time run on the Innishmore course. AAI National Masters Cross Country Champion Kiely was also a member of the St Finbarrs team who won the National F35 Road Relay title in April.

Another runner setting a parkrun PB this week was Jamie Gahan who in clocking 15:49 again showed Malahide is a great course for quick times. Gahan, who ran 2:47:41 at Dublin Marathon, took 17 seconds off his previous parkrun best set last week at St Anne’s. Gahan looks to have really benefitted from the endurance built up through marathon training as this was a significant jump forwards for the Portmarnock A.C. man.

Eoin Mullan’s time of 16:04 at Omagh was a massive 43 second parkrun PB for the Omagh Harrier who was second at last week’s County Down 5km where he clocked an impressive 15:10. In September Mullan ran 33:33 at Bangor 10km to eqaul his PB set at the Seeley Cup in 2018. He looks in excellent form so should be set to improve that mark if he lines up on Ormeau Embankment next week.

Men’s top 10

1) parkrun: Waterworks

Ben Branagh, 14:54

2) parkrun: Malahide

Jamie Gahan, 15:49, Portmarnock Athletic Club

3) parkrun: Omagh

Eoin Mullan, 16:04

4) parkrun: Malahide

Gary McLoughlin, 16:16, Portmarnock Athletic Club

5) parkrun: Belfast Victoria

Kent Swann, 16:20, North Belfast Harriers

6) parkrun: Belfast Victoria

Keith Purdy, 16:23, Annadale Striders

7) parkrun: Lees Road

Liam Naughton, 16:34, Ennis Track A.C.

8) parkrun: Stormont

Dylan McBride, 16:35, Willowfield Harriers

9) parkrun: Antrim

Tommy Hughes, 16:44, Termoneeny Running Club

10) parkrun: MUSA Cookstown

Brian Taggart, 16:45, Sperrin Harriers

Women’s top 10

1) parkrun: Marlay

Amy Moran, 19:09, Dundrum South Dublin Athletic Club

2) parkrun: Castlebar

Edel Reilly, 19:18

3) parkrun: Ballingcollig

Martina Kiely, 19:21, St Finbarrs AC

4) parkrun: Bangor

Fiona MxQuillan, 19:32, North Down AC

5) parkrun: Wallace

Karen Wilon, 19:36, Jog Lisburn

6) parkrun: St Anne’s

Mary Walsh, 19:37, Raheny Shamrock AC

7) parkrun: Malahide

Elaine Howard, 19:42, Portmarnock Athletic Club

8) parkrun: Hartstown

Eimear English, 19:44, Dunboyne AC

9) parkrun: Vicarstown

Breda McDonald, 20:03, Ballyroan Abbeyleix & District AC

10) parkrun: Glen River

Neasa De Burca, 20:04

If you would like to run faster at parkrun, top tips to help runners of all abilities can be found here.

Are you a fan of Fast Running? Then please support us and become a patron. For as little as the price of a monthly magazine you can support Fast Running – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.