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Saturday, January 29, 2011

National Walks Championships...Cork...Sun 30th Jan 2011

The National Walks Championships take place at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork City on Sunday, the 30th of January 2011. While it's not exactly running ;o) it might be of interest to local runners to go and watch. From what I hear, they will be using the Monaghan Rd / Central Park Rd circuit near the Marina.
While there are a number of race walking events on next Sunday morning, the main one will be the men’s 30km and the women’s 20km race walks.

In the men’s 30km race, local Rob Heffernan (Togher AC) will be the hot favourite to claim the national title. Rob finished in 4th place in both the 20km and 50km events at last summer’s European Athletics Championships in Barcelona, narrowly missing out on a medal in both cases. Heffernan won the title last year in a competitive time of 2:14:31.

More info about the course from John Quigley of Eagle AC who measured the course....
The race starts on Monahan Road, about 200m up the road from the Showgrounds, and will involve 12 loops of the Monahan Rd/Centre Park Rd circuit.

The loop is actually approx. 2.8 metres short of 2.5k, so there is an 'adjustment', near the showgrounds, where the walkers will have to head away from the kerb, around cones. This adjustment brings the loop up to 2.5k.

Here is part of the press release...
Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Cork’s Marina this Sunday is the venue for last month’s postponed 2010 Woodie’s National Walks Championships. A wide range of events is planned for the day and it promises to be a great day out for all the family for competitor and spectator alike.

Events.....
A 5km Development race for U13 Boys & Girls
A 5km Development race for U15 and U17 Boys & Girls
A 10km Development race for Junior Men & Women

& ‘Fit4Life’ 3km Walk for Men & Women (Fit4Life is a 3km fun walk open to everyone. €5 entry fee, €10 per family, Togher AC fundraiser, Pairc Ui Chaoimh, 9am to 9:45am, the walk will be on the footpath and will be in the opposite direction to the race)

All events will be starting at 10AM sharp.
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3 comments:

  1. Anonymous29/1/11 11:02 am

    From your photo of the walkers is the man 3rd from left off the ground with 2 feet... Is that allowed in walking.. I thought one foot has to be on the ground at all times..

    ReplyDelete
  2. John Desmond29/1/11 11:39 am

    You're spot on! ....and no, it's not allowed.

    From wikipedia..."Although it is a foot race, it is different from running in that one foot must appear to be in contact with the ground at all times."

    Here is a better resolution pic...HERE

    ReplyDelete
  3. Denis29/1/11 8:12 pm

    Is anonymous the same person who shopped Padraig Harrington at the golf last weekend. :-) http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,2043807,00.html

    ReplyDelete

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