Results of the Dungarvan 10 Mile Road Race - Sun 3rd Feb 2008
Looks like the weather forecast was spot on for this one with an awful wet morning followed by some dry clear cold weather. The race started in dry conditions and the weather was probably ideal for a 10 mile race.
Things were a bit chaotic at the registration with a queue going way out the door and some runners not getting their goody bags and t-shirt. Perhaps they would have been better off giving out these at the finish line as they had advertised on the entry form. It seems a pity considering they were charging €20 to enter on the day. (It was only €10 for the Mallow 10 race).
Just 2 shy of 700 runners turned out for this race, about 35% up on last years figure of 516. Yet again, another record crowd at a race. It would make you wonder what kind of crowd would the Ballycotton 10 race get if they didn't have to restrict the numbers due to safety reasons. As for todays race, the West Waterford guys had plenty of stewards out along the course so it was very safe at all of the road junctions. Due to the wet morning, there was a lot of suface water but nothing too serious. I did however hear of 1 runner who came a cropper after standing on some loose stones out along the course. Maybe that is something that could be checked for the day before next year?
Anyway, enough waffle! ...onto the results.

The link for the results is HERE.

The Category Results are shown below... (Note. Prizes were for the 1st 6 men, 1st two O40, O45, O50, O55, 1st O60 & O65) (1st 4 women, 1st two O35, O40, O45, O50, 1st O55 & O60)

DUNPHY INSURANCES VIVAS HEALTH/DUNGARVAN 10-mile Road Race, Dungarvan, Co Waterford
MEN
1 Sergiu Turea (Clonliffe Harriers) 50:18; 2 Ryan Montgomery (Raheny Shamrocks) 54:22; 3 Donal O’Callaghan (Riocht) 54:23; 4 Gerard Guina (West Limerick) 54:25; 5 Con Marshall (St Finbarrs) 55:14; 6 Martin Doody (Limerick) 55:16; 7 Cathal O’Connell (St Finbars, 1st M40) 55:23; 8 S Mullaney (Moycarley-Coolcroo) 55:27; 9 C Conroy (Sli Culainn) 56:01; 10 P Cody (KCH) 56:05.
M40: 2 P O’Sullivan (Carrick) 57:54; 3 Noel O’Regan (Midleton) 59:10.
M45: 1 M McCarthy (West Waterford) 58:57; 2 Joe O’Sullivan (Bandon) 60:14; 3 L Kennedy (Waterford) 60:42. M50: 1 L Lacey (St Josephs) 59:00; 2 G Cantwell (West Waterford) 61:39; 3 PJ Dwyer (St Senans) 62:33.
M55: 1 Pat Twomey (Eagle) 63:04; 2 Maurice Tobin (Grange-Fermoy) 64:38; 3
M60: 1 P O’Brien (unatt) 76:24.
M65: 1 P Doran (Limerick) 79:59.
Mens Teams
1st - West Waterford AC (Raivis Zakis 13, Sean Stilwell 16, Padraig Healy 20) 49 pts
2nd - Eagle AC (Declan O'Shea 33, Ciaran Dunne 38, John Desmond 62) 133 pts
3rd - West Waterford AC (Philip Harty 34, Trevor Mason 50, Pat O'Riordan 52) 136 pts

Women
1 M-M Meade (North Belfast) 58:59; 2 P Curley (Tullamore, F35) 59:02; 3 M Dorney (Thurles Crokes) 62:35; 4 Mary Sweeney (St Finbarrs, F45) 63:46; 5 T Roche (Dooneen) 63:55; 6 L O’Connor (Eagle) 64:28; 7 T Guilfoyle (Kilnaboy, 1st F40) 65:20; 8 A McCann (Clonmel) 65:26; 9 A Walsh (St Senans) 65:29.
F35: 1 D Behan (West Waterford) 65:09; 2 K O’Callaghan (Sportsworld) 66:27.
F40: 2 Angela McEcoy (St Finbarrs) 69:14.
F50: 1 Mary Sheehan (Grange-Fermoy) 68:05; 2 A Fitzgerald (Waterford) 69:57.
F55: 1 M Barry (Midleton) 86:05.
F60: 1 Maggie Dunne (Grange-Fermoy) 84:52.
Womens Team
1st - West Waterford AC (Brea Cooke 153, Mary Burke 179, Sylvia Malone 226) 558 pts.
And they're off...all 698 of them!!

Comments on the race...
"All comments welcome good or bad. We had 700 goodie bags and t shirts with two goodie bags and two t shirt left over after regristration, John don't know what happened but you seem to be the only runner who got no T shirt or goodie bag. You also forgot to mention the glass gift to all participants who finished the race. I would have considered the runners got very good value in Dungarvan for their 15 euro, especially those who pre regristered.We gave out the goodie bags and t shirts before the race due to the bad weather conditions,which as you said later thankfully cleared up....James Veale, West Waterford AC "

"James...I hope I didn't sound too critical of the race but I was told by some of the race officials by the finish after the race that anyone who arrived late didn't get anything. €15 is fine but in my own personal opinion, €20 on the day is a bit much when you consider that the entry fee for the very successful 'Mallow 10' was only €10 and only €12.50 for the Ballycotton 10. Overall though, I thought it was a very good race, nice course, well organised (with a few blips!!) and I'm sure we'll all be back to help you break that 700 mark next year.....John Desmond"

"Great race. I made the trip down from Dublin on the day and was not disappointed. I thought that the organisation was superb, the marshalling on the course was faultless. Granted, I had pre-registered, so avoided having to queue up to collect number and goodie-bag. €15 entry fee was good value in my opinion, and I will likely return next year. Well done to the organising team at West Waterford!...anonymous "

"I thought it was a great event really well organised and the glass gift is a lovely reminder of the day. The atmosphere and comraderie was great in spite of the bitter cold. The marshalls support en route was much appreciated. Had to elbow my way through supporters and some runners on their cool down jog to get to the finishing line which was a bit frustrating, but apart from that, was really impressed. Thanks to all involved for the obvious effort that went into the day...anonymous"

"The race was excellent, really enjoyed it and will be back again. Excellent web site .... Victor"

"It would be hard to find fault with this race. My experience of West Waterford AC is that they are a club that do their best to ensure their events go as well as possible. Runners also have a responsibility to ensure they arrive in plenty of time before races, given the increasing numbers races are now attracting. As runners, we should recognise that in a way we have the easier task. We arrive, run the race, drink tea and head home...HB"

"John, firstly - well done on the blog, it has become my first point of reference for running news around Cork! Second - I think that the race organisation on Sunday was fantastic when you take account of the dramatic increase in numbers participating. There was a late arrival of runners and yet we were off withun five minutes of the published start time. I know of no-one who had a bad word to say on the event, the hot drink after and the weather management, well done West Waterford! ....Eamonn"

"Thanks to all at West Waterford AC. Great day out, fantastic turn out. I struggled to cross the finishing line with so many people in the way, but fair play to the stewards, they were shouting their heads off to get people out of the way. It was understandable as I almost finished last. People probably thought it was all over before I came around the bend. Bring on Ballycotton, looking forward to this one...John Dunphy, Rising Sun AC"

"I thought the race was very well organised. I didn't have a problem with queues or lack of goodie bags bags, having pre-registered. Anybody who has been running long enough, should know well enough at this stage to turn up early for events!! The course marshalling was excellent with sufficient water stops. The gift at the end was a very nice suprise! The run in to the finish line could have been managed a little better, maybe by actually taping off the last 100 meters, after you round the corner. I'm not sure if this is possible but it would have made it a little easier for runners and spectators alike. All in all, a great day and well worth €15....anonymous"

"In response to this last comment, the problems that I saw happened 30 minutes before the start of the race and the person who was last to enter should be treated the exact same as the first person through the door...John Desmond"

"As one of the people to turn up on the day having not pre-registered, I must say that I thought the whole day was very well organised. The queue was quickly dealt with and I thought the €20 was good value for money. The glass momento was a very nice touch. All in all, a great day. The one suggestion I would have is taping off the finishing area more. I stayed on to cheer others to the finish after I was done but I noticed a lot of people walking across the finishing area. As someone said previously, we should respect those who come in last as much as those in first. Otherwise great day and thanks to West Waterford AC for the hospitality....Terry H."

"Lovely run. They said it was a fast course and I have to agree. Blessed with the weather considering the weekend that had preceded it. The only problem I saw was the parking which in fairness wasn't that bad. Did they make the numbers out of old bullet proof vests?.....Dave H."

Anymore comments on the race...???

Other Reviews...
There is another review of this race up on the Eagle AC website.