New year means it’s time to renew your club membership
Membership for the youngest members turning 9, 10, 11 and 12 years of age in 2026 will be taken at the open day this Saturday morning. Membership for these young girls and boys will be taken on a first come first served basis, starting at 11am, and when the groups are filled, we’ll take no more. A change in 2026 is that unfortunately, we cannot accept membership from 8-year-olds because we simply don’t have the coaches needed to manage this age. Membership for these young members will only be taken at the open day and cannot be done online. They will return to training next Tuesday January 13 evening at 6pm.
An important rule introduced in 2023 and enforced every year since is that everyone in the 6pm groups had to represent the Club at least once in the year at a Championship or an inter-Club challenge competition. We’ve been recording every competition in 2025 so we know those that never competed. We’ll be enforcing this rule again in 2026, so if your child never competed for Mullingar Harriers during 2025, please don’t look to renew their membership in 2026 as it will be refused.
For all other members, the online membership system is open to renew membership for 2026. It’s important to renew as soon as possible so you are insured to train at the Club and of course to enter events in January like the Leinster Intermediate and Masters cross country and Juvenile cross country relays, the National Indoor Games and other upcoming indoor events, and the many road races that will take place in the coming weeks.
Fit 4 Life returns
A new Fit 4 Life programme commences next Monday evening (January 12). Taking place over 10 weeks with trained coaches to support and assist participants, this is an ideal opportunity to get back to regular running. Over the 10 weeks, participants will build their fitness and the coaches will support them as they progress each week, with a timed 5k on the last night run on our all-weather track. Registration is from 6:45pm next Monday evening, with the session starting at 7pm.
Notice of Annual General Meeting
The Club’s Annual General Meeting takes place on Friday evening 23 January. We hope to see all our adult members attend and the parents of the many underage athletes who receive training, coaching and guidance throughout the year. The meeting will take about an hour and a half and we urge everyone to show your appreciation of the work done at the Club by attending the AGM. Items or motions for inclusion on the agenda must be submitted to the club secretary (by email or in writing) by the end of this week.
Tom Brennan Memorial 5k
Foregoing any New Year’s Eve celebrations, Ross Killalea was up very early last Thursday morning, New Year’s Day, to travel to Dublin and take part in the annual
Tom Brennan Memorial 5k in the Phoenix Park, the first member of Mullingar Harriers to lace up his running shoes and race in 2026.
Organised by Liffey Valley AC, this well-established fixture on the road-racing calendar attracted a big entry of just over 580 runners, racing over a flat two lap circuit in the park. Continuing his excellent recent form, Ross raced to in a fine eleventh place finish in 15 minutes 33 seconds to get 2026 off to a very good start [GD].
North West Indoor Games
With nearly 1,500 entries for the North West Indoor Games in TUS Athlone on Monday 29 December, it was a very long day of competition for everyone, both athletes and officials, but despite the pressure everything went off well in the end. Among the huge entry was a small but enthusiastic squad of some of the club’s younger members, eager to close out 2025 with some racing experience and get in some early practice for the upcoming indoor season.
There were nine races in the U10 girls 60m where Mia Barry was delighted to win her race, ahead of Cliodhna Fitzpatrick who raced well, while Meabh Doyle and Cara Hickey placed close second places in their races. Overall from the more than 50 runners, while the Mullingar girls didn’t finish in the medal places, they placed well up.
Mel Bohan was just too good for the opposition in the U12 boys 600m, winning his race with ease and placing first overall on time from the three races to win the gold medal and Mel will be one to watch in the upcoming Leinster indoors. The youngest age that can compete in race walking in Leinster is 12, but the organisers laid on some walk races for younger ages, racing over relatively short distances.
Not content with burning up the 60m sprint track, our U10 girls also took part in the U10 girls 400m race walk where Mia Barry, Cara Hickey, Meabh Doyle and Cliodhna Fitzpatrick showed great versatility in a new event for them. They rounded of the day in the U10 girls 4x200m relay where they blasted to victory and the gold medals.
In the field events, Donnacha Doyle competed in the U14 boys high jump, leaping to a fine 1.45m to place fifth, just outside the medal places, while his younger brother Gearoid Doyle finished sixth in the u/12 boys high jump [GD].
Leinster Intermediate and Masters Cross Country
The Leinster Intermediate and Masters Cross Country takes place in Fenagh, Co. Offaly on Sunday January 18. Entries are currently open but will close this Friday night, so anyone wishing to compete should tell Club Captains, Ian McCormack or Sinead Whitelaw before Friday if they wish to be entered.
Check the club’s website at www.mullingarharriers.com or the Facebook page for all the latest news. PRO