Directions... If you are coming from Cork, take the N25 East and from the roundabout on the Midleton bypass, take the 3rd exit and follow the main R629 Midleton to Ballycotton road. Shanagarry is located on the main road between Cloyne and Ballycotton. If you are coming from Waterford, take a left at Castlemartyr for Ladysbridge and Garryvoe and follow the road on towards Shanagarry.
Parking... Note that due to the large number of cars, there are special parking arrangements. Follow the stewards instructions on the night.
Entries... Entries will be taken in a marquee at the GAA grounds in the centre of the village. There will be 2 queues for entries. If you ran the first race in the series in Ballyandreen then check the lists there for your number and join the appropriate queue. If not, join the other queue.
From the organisers...
SHANAGARRY ‘5’ RACE NUMBERS.......All those who ran in the first race of the Ballycotton Summer Series (Ballyandreen ‘5’) last month are automatically entered for the second race at Shanagarry this Thursday night.
The numbers are in alphabetical order and can be seen at this LINK - it would help if people could find their number in advance and ask for same at one of the entry desks. There will be three distribution desks – those with numbers 1 to 200; numbers 201 to 400; and numbers 401 to 598.
Also, it would be appreciated if people had the correct fee of €5 ready to speed up the process. Entries will open from 6pm onwards with the race starting at 8pm.
For new people on the night (anyone who didn’t run Ballyandreen), there will be a separate entry desk as normal – entry fee again €5.
The race starts at 8pm and people are requested to arrive early in view of the large numbers expected and due to parking facilities this year being some distance away from the race headquarters.
The race starts just outside the petrol station at the main road junction on the Ballycotton road. It then drops slightly into the hollow by the GAA entrance, up past the road junction where the finish will be, past the church, down again into another slight hollow and up a bit of a pull until the road flattens out as you head towards the 1 mile mark. A pretty fast mile with no major drags.
The second mile is pretty flat. You run down to Garryvoe next to the beach, around a sharp bend and head inland again. A flat fast mile.
The third mile is not so easy. It is basically a long gentle uphill section until you turn off left onto a quiet country road and the 3 mile mark. You can expect to lose some time on the long climb.
The fourth mile starts easy. The first half mile is along a flat road with a great view to the left over the East Cork countryside....
At the next road junction, you take a very sharp left and then the road drops rapidly. It's almost too steep to really run on comfortably. Then it flattens out for a short section and then, you hit the hill! Not as bad as the 'Beast of Ballyandreen' but a nasty one all the same. After the initial shock, the gradient reduces as you hit the 4 mile mark. A tough mile.
For the start of the fifth and final mile, there is still a gradual climb for about 300 metres after the 4 mile mark. Then it flattens out as you negotiate a series of bends with matures trees on either side of the road providing plenty of cover. The last half mile is very fast as it is slightly downhill all the way to the finish.
Note from the organisers...."Regarding the course, we would like to remind runners to keep on the left after passing Garryvoe, there is no advantage to be gained by crossing over to the right and it can also be very dangerous."
Just wondering would you know if the Shanagarry 5 mile race is still going ahead tonight considering the amount of rain that fell last night in many areas of Cork and with more rain due later today?
ReplyDeleteYes, the race is going ahead.
ReplyDeleteThanks John much appreciated
ReplyDelete