As the evenings gradually begin to get brighter, it's good to look forward to the Ballintotis 4-mile road race in east Cork. The race is on Thurs 23rd April 2026 at 7:45pm.
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From the organisers... All Set For Year 15 In Ballintotis
As the evenings gradually begin to get brighter, it's good to look forward to the Ballintotis 4-mile road race in East Cork. This year's race is on Thursday 23rd April 2026 and please note it will begin at 7:45pm. This is an important consideration if you're coming from the city and going through the tunnel. Make sure you leave yourself plenty of time.
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| At the ready - the start of the Ballintotis 4 Mile Road Race in 2025 |
Entries open on Sunday February 1st at https://eventmaster.ie/event/LdBbtp3H76. It's year 15 this time around with another very big line up expected to take part - the 2025 race saw exactly 1,200 finishers - the second highest in the history of an event which is organised by the Ballintotis Road Race Committee in association with East Cork AC.
A year ago three former race winners led the honours list as Leevale's Ryan Creech won the race for the second time in a new course record of 19:05, getting the better of Sean Doyle of Cork City AC by 16 seconds, with East Cork's Michael Harty finishing third in a high class field. Fiona Everard of Bandon AC, made a winning debut at the venue to take the ladies honours and has since gone on to enjoy a stellar cross country season at home and away.
Olympian Lizzy Lee from Leevale is the current ladies course record holder (21:22), with her Irish International colleague Claire McCarthy posting the second fastest time around the course.
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| Runners head for the Finish Line in Ballintotis in 2025 |
Once again another top quality athletics occasion is set to take place at the picturesque location. The usual comprehensive prize list awaits again with entry fee priced at €15 (including service charges) for Athletics Ireland members - non members pay an additional €2. Intending participants should note that there is an option of number postal service for an extra cost - this option will however not be available after Tuesday April 14th. Alternatively race numbers can also be collected on Wednesday April 22nd (5pm to 8pm) or on race day Thursday April 23rd from 1pm until 7pm at Ballintotis Community Centre. Just like recent years, this year's race will also incorporate the Cork County Road Championships.
The history books tell us that this 4 mile race formerly took place in Castlemartyr, but East Cork AC moved the race to Ballintotis, which has proved a hugely popular location, with the venue boasting in excess of 1,000 participants on a number of occasions. The scenic 4 mile loop includes a lap of road bordering Loughaderra Lake in the closing stages. Again this year's race offers great value for money with a very attractive prize structure of 1st to 6th overall and a full list of category prizes in all age groups (1st, 2nd and 3rd). As always all participants will receive the famous Ballintotis running buff.
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| Ballintotis - home of the big race on Thursday April 23rd |
In the inaugural race 15 years ago James McCarthy took top spot with a time of 19:54. McCarthy went on to win the race a remarkable eight times in a row, his best time being 19:23 set in 2016. Then in 2018 ... a new man was on the podium as another East Cork A.C competitor Michael Harty won in style and in the process set a new course record of 19:15, with the previous record also being broken by Sergiu Ciobanu who was runner up. Following the 2 year covid break the race has bounced back in style and continues to be one the most popular and high profile 4 mile road races in Ireland. Ryan Creech has since broken the course record on two occasions.
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| Race HQ - Ballintotis Community Centre |
*Finally, please note updated info regarding this year's race with details of car parks etc will be highlighted in the week before the race..
Email enquiries to ballintotisrace AT gmail DOT com OR call 089 4175296
Further ongoing updates will also be available on Ballintotis Community Council facebook page
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