Ballycotton '10' statistics for 2012...

First off, a quick look at the number of entrants. Ignoring the places reserved for elite runners, there is a total of 3582 entrants this year. That's a jump of roughly 300 on the 2011 figure of 3266 (2010...3305, 2009...3315, 2008...3087). As the numbers were restricted to 2,500 for the open entry system, the increase is most likely due to more people joining athletic clubs and availing of the extended window for entries.

In 2011, some 27% of those who had entered did not turn up on the day. Going on the same basis this year, the number of runners in Ballycotton likely to turn up next Sunday may be around 2,600. This is not far off the record of 2813 set in 2006 when the entry system was more open.

Looking at the number of men v women, it works out this year that 37.9% of the total field of entrants are women. That's up from 36.7% last year (36.3% in 2010, 35.1% in 2009 and 33.4% in 2008). Compare that to 30 years ago back in 1982 where just 7% were women. By 1992, it had increased to 16.7%.

As you can see from the figures, the percentage of women has been growing slowly for the last 35 years to where it is today. But what about the future? Will it ever reach 50%?? A quick calculation would suggest that it might in roughly 12-13 years time in 2025! However, recent figures from the USA show that participation in Marathons there by women has been constant at around the 41% mark since about 2005. If the numbers in the Ballycotton '10' followed the same pattern then the 41% mark should be reached in maybe 4 to 5 years time.

Looking at the entries from the various athletic clubs, Midleton AC take pride of place yet again with 144 entries. It's a good example of how the club has grown over the last few years going from just 63 entries in 2008 to 144 in 2012. St.Finbarr's AC based in Cork City has also shown strong growth recently with 123 entries this year. Another city based club,Eagle AC stayed at a steady figure of 97.
The numbers from West Waterford AC were back up again this year to 60. They had declined somewhat in recent years as their own Dungarvan 10 race has grown to be such a success. Looking at the other club entries, there are a whole load of them around the 40 mark but Mallow AC made a jump up to 57 entries this year making it the 5th largest club by entry.

Entries by top 5 clubs....
Midleton AC...144 (2011 = 116, 2010 = 104, 2009 = 79, 2008 = 63)
St. Finbarrs AC...116 (2011 = 108, 2010 = 77, 2009 = 46, 2008 = 47)
Eagle AC...97 (2011 = 95 , 2010 = 93, 2009 = 73, 2008 = 73)
Mallow AC...57 (2011 = 42, 2010 = 38)
West Waterford AC...60 (2011 = 41, 2010 = 71, 2009 = 75, 2008 = 87)

Other Clubs (10+)
Navy AC    44  / Donore Harriers    43  / Galtee Runners AC    40
Waterford AC    40  / Kilkenny City Harriers    38  / Slaney Olympic AC    37
Limerick Country Club AC    30  / Youghal AC    29 / Gneeveguilla AC    24
Bandon AC    23 / Leevale AC    22 / Raheny Shamrock AC    21
Clonmel AC    20 / Donoughmore AC    20 /Limerick AC    20
NorthCork AC    20 / Mullingar Harriers    19 /East Cork AC    18
Rathfarnham-WSAF AC    18 / SliCualann AC    18 / Sportsworld RC    18
Grange-Fermoy AC    15 / West Limerick AC    15 Athenry AC    14
Kenmare AC    14 / CarraignabhFear AC    13 / Ballincollig AC    11
Bilboa AC    10 / CrusadersAC    10 / St.Abbans AC    10

(.........with thanks to John Quigley for generating the above stats)