The LVAC Winter League 2026 Champion is Hilary McDonnell
Tuesday, 31 March, 2026
Phoenix Park, Co. Dublin
Winter League Final Standings – After Race 6 🏆
Race 6 brought the Winter League 2026 to a thrilling conclusion, delivering a dramatic finale where every point truly mattered 📊🔥. After five races of tight competition, the final standings were decided in a race that rewarded both performance on the day and consistency across the entire series.
Final Podium 🏆
🥇 Hilary McDonnell (187 points)
🥈 Mark Naylor (186 points)
🥉 Neil Duffy (181 points)
Race 5 ➜ Race 6 – Final League Movement 📊
The final race delivered a major reshuffle on the podium 🔄.
🚀 Champion Confirmed:Hilary McDonnell held onto the overall lead and is crowned Winter League 2026 Champion, thanks to a season defined by consistency, smart racing, and strong performances throughout 👏🏆
🔥 Late Surge to 2nd Place:Mark Naylor produced an outstanding final race to climb into 2nd overall, finishing just one point behind the winner, one of the closest finishes in recent Winter League history ⚡
📈 Podium Finish Secured:Neil Duffy delivered a strong series to secure 3rd place overall, completing a highly competitive podium.
Meanwhile, Paul Balfe and Donal Iremonger, both long time podium contenders throughout the league, finished just outside the top three after leading at different stages of the competition, highlighting just how tight and competitive this year’s league has been.
Consistency Pays Off 💪
The final standings clearly demonstrate that the Winter League rewards commitment as much as performance.
Athletes who consistently showed up across the six races, especially those who secured the 5-race bonus, positioned themselves strongly in the final standings. The balance between participation, pacing, and peak performances proved to be the winning formula 🧠🏃♂️.
Biggest Gains 📈 (Race 5 ➜ Race 6)
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🚀 Mark Naylor: incredible final push into 2nd overall (+4 places, 6th ➜ 2nd)
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🔥 Neil Duffy: climbed onto the final podium with a strong finish (+6 places, 9th ➜ 3rd)
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📈 Joseph Whittle: impressive move into the top 5 overall (+10 places, 14th ➜ 4th)
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🚀 Paddy Doyle: continued his strong late season form (+6 places, 12th ➜ 6th)
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⬆️ Aoife Brady: major improvement into the top 15 (+5 places, 20th ➜ 15th)
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⬆️ Alejandro Cavallo: solid finish to break into the top 20 (+2 places, 18th ➜ 16th)
Season Highlights 🌟
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A highly competitive league with constant movement across all six races
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The introduction of the 5-race bonus playing a decisive role in the standings
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Strong participation numbers and continued new runners joining throughout the series
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A dramatic final race that reshaped the podium and top positions
Closing Message 🎉
A huge congratulations to all participants of the Winter League 2026 👏💙
From those battling for the podium to those simply showing up race after race, every runner played a part in making this year’s league such a success. The spirit, commitment, and camaraderie across all six races truly define what the Winter League is all about ❄️🏃♀️🏃♂️
A special thank you also goes to all the couches, volunteers, and supporters who made each race possible, from timing and results to course marshaling and logistics. Without your efforts, none of this would happen 🙌
Whether you raced once or completed the full series, you are part of this journey.
🏁 That’s a wrap on the Winter League 2026!💙 See you all next season, stronger, faster, and ready for more!
Winter League 2025/2026 Resume
Winter League Final Standings
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