The rain arrived just in time for the start of this years Charleville Half-Marathon organised by North Cork on Sunday the 20th of Sept 2015. Despite the wet conditions, the wind wasn't a major factor for most of the course so it wasn't so bad in terms of running except that everyone got a good soaking.
The numbers were up 22.3% this year with 816 runners taking part which is in no small part due to the work of the race director Michael Herlihy and the members of North Cork AC. This started out a few years ago as a modest enough event. Now that the course is on closed roads, it is considered one of the quality half-marathons in Munster.
1 Ismail SSENYANGE (1) 01:06:04 01:06:02 Ages 18-39 (1) Male (1)
2 Ian KIPRONO (14) 01:07:00 01:06:58 Ages 18-39 (2) Male (2)
3 Liam BRADY (2) 01:07:03 01:07:03 Ages 18-39 (3) Male (3)
4 Ian WALSH (10) 01:09:37 01:09:37 Ages 18-39 (4) Male (4)
5 Ben THISTLEWOOD (4) 01:09:47 01:09:46 Ages 18-39 (5) Male (5)
6 Colin MERRITT (11) 01:11:41 01:11:41 Ages 40 - 44 (1) Male (6)
7 Neil WIKTORSKI (8) 01:11:50 01:11:49 Ages 18-39 (6) Male (7)
8 Myles GIBBONS (393) 01:12:49 01:12:47 Ages 40 - 44 (2) Male (8)
9 Simon MANGAN (130) 01:12:52 01:12:51 Ages 18-39 (7) Male (9)
10 Joe CUNNINGHAM (656) 01:13:00 01:12:57 Ages 40 - 44 (3) Male (10)
20 Maria MCCAMBRIDGE (15) 01:13:28 01:13:27 Ages 40 - 44 (1) Female (1)
55 Magin DAY (374) 01:20:49 01:20:45 Ages 18-39 (1) Female (2)
68 Ann Marie HOLLAND (17) 01:23:30 01:23:26 Ages 40 - 44 (2) Female (3)
90 Una PLANT (333) 01:25:00 01:24:55 Ages 45 - 49 (1) Female (4)
94 Joan ENNIS (415) 01:25:08 01:25:05 Ages 50 - 54 (1) Female (5)
97 Helen BARRY (20) 01:25:34 01:25:30 Ages 40 - 44 (3) Female (6)
100 Kim HICKEY (367) 01:25:48 01:25:44 Ages 18-39 (2) Female (7)
104 Karina TEAHAN (282) 01:26:04 01:26:00 Ages 18-39 (3) Female (8)
111 Florence CURLEY (349) 01:27:00 01:26:54 Ages 40 - 44 (4) Female (9)
124 Angela MCCANN (18) 01:28:11 01:28:06 Ages 40 - 44 (5) Female (10)
The provisional results can be seen HERE
Update......The official results are now available HERE
This also doubled up as the Munster Half-Marathon Championships. The final results should be available on the Munster Athletics website in a day or two.
Photos...(Updated Tues 2pm)
1) Kilmallock AC have a gallery HERE
2) Bobby Green has a gallery HERE
3) The organisers have a gallery HERE ...and another HERE in Kilmallock...
4) Gearóid Ó Laoi has a huge gallery of over 1200 photos HERE
5) Mick Dooley of Eagle AC has a gallery HERE
6) Ireland through a lens has a small gallery HERE
7) Susan Parker Laste Photos has a gallery HERE
Photos...Facebook account required to view
1) Amanda Lee has a gallery HERE
Video...
1) The organisers have a video of the start HERE
After paying out over 40 euro to run, I was disgusted to find out that they were charging a fiver for a shower. Really disappointed in this kind of greedy attitude is coming into running.
ReplyDeleteIs it the North Cork A.c. fault you had to pay 5 Euro?It was for a shower and a swim.Great value in my book.
DeleteThat was the Park Hotel charging a fiver, not the athletic club. Get your facts right please
ReplyDeletehats off 2 north cork ac have ran this for last 4 yrs and great to see numbers growing fully deserved well organised great event
ReplyDeleteVery well organised event. Special thanks to Tony Cambridge who paced the 1:35 group. Constant encouragement the whole way round.
ReplyDeleteLovely event. Cost me 26.50 to enter. Thats about 2 euro per mile on closed roads. Not many half's giving this kind of value. Well organised event.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Paudie
I ran the race and aftewards i went down to the hotel and it was five Euro to use the pool and the shower,which was great value.
ReplyDeleteHave to disagree about the wind. Found it very blustery once we turn to come back towards charleville. Great race if you're looking for a PB though. great to see the increase of numbers especially with nearly 7000 running the half in Dublin the day before hand.
ReplyDeleteGreat set up and organiser and effort put in by so many people, fair play, but yes I do agree, €5.00 to take a shower is pricey after spending €37-42 on the race, the least they could do was have a shower facility included in this price seen as you did not receive a medal/trophies!
ReplyDeleteI ran it for the 4th time in 5th years and again it was very well organised. Hats off. I entered it last March for 26 euro, great value. Well done to all concerned. As for the showers that was out of the club's hands, that was the business of the hotel.
ReplyDeleteThanks to Pat O'Connor and the other 1.30 pacer, fantastic job lads, John Dunphy
ReplyDeleteEcho this comment. My first sub 1:30 Half. Paced so well factoring in the turn into the slighted bluster of wind in the return miles. Cheers guys.
DeleteThere were shower facilities in GAA Hall as advertised in pre-race directions page. So there was a choice.
ReplyDeleteI understand that even with the Roads Closed, you will always get a small amount of local traffic, but they tend to behave themselves and drive with great care. However, I noticed this year that there was a lot more cars driving on the course and some of them were going too fast and too close to runners. Was it just me or did anyone else notice ?
ReplyDeleteBrilliant race, my favourite half marathon course by a mile! Excellently organised and pacers are spot on and very encouraging!! Well worth the money.
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ReplyDeleteSORRY TO BUST THE BUBBLE HERE GUYS BUT THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NO WATER LEFT FOR RUNNERS COMING IN AT THE 2 HOUR MARK WAS A BIG OVERSIGHT ,THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED IT AND ARE THE BACK BONE TO ANY RACE.
ALSO THE FARCE ABOUT THE MEDALS IT WAS ODD ENOUGH TO CHARGE €2 BUT THEN WHEN PEOPLE WENT TO BUY THEM THEY WERE GONE ??????? ACTUALLY KNOW PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT THE MEDAL AND DID NOT EVEN RUN THE RACE.
ON A POSITIVE SIDE I HEARD THE PHYSIOTHERAPISTS DID AN EXCELLENT JOB,
why does the charleville half attract some really odd (veering on the nutty) complaints which are totally out of order? great
ReplyDeleterace. i was chatting to some 2 hour runners and they enjoyed the race
Well I have to say this was my first time doing the half in Charleville and I really enjoyed it apart from the torrential weather which was out of the organisers control but apart I was disappointed after paying €37 that you did not even get a medal and little did I know till now that you had to pay €2.00 for it! I paid €10.00 for a 5 miler and got a tshirt, a free shower and a trophy so it's the little things that count, rant over!
ReplyDeleteLoved the race and the course and well done to the pacers -ye did a great job. A great value race for only €26 early bird offer I would have been more than happy to pay the €5 to use the hotel leisure centre after that weather, but was even happier to find that the GAA club right next to the finish have lovely hot showers with great pressure too. The spread was great. Thanks a lot too to the physios - spent a good bit of time with everyone as far as I could see and my tired legs felt a lot better after a post race massage. Nice t-shirt too- good quality. As far as the medal is concerned - I'd have bought one if I knew they were there - after all €2 isn't much - they could have just charged everyone €2 extra and them you wouldn't have had a choice. I had a PB to take home with me anyway. Although I'd still pay €2 for a medal if I could get one - anyone want to sell me theirs? I'll definitely be back again next year, and many years to come I hope
ReplyDeleteHats off to the organisers and stewards and support for a great race
ReplyDeletewell done to the pacers who were a great help for me breaking the 90 minute mark, broke it by nearly a minute
outstanding value. pitty the weather was poor but that sort of helped me. great shaking Sonia O'Sullivans hand at the end as she finished 20 seconds ahead of me.
wekk done , i will be back fvor sure
My first time doing this race, I don't get the negative comments here, I thought it was superbly organised, parked 2 mins walk from race pack pick up. The start line, finish line, & refreshments were all in close proximity to registration area. I don't think I have ever seen as many stewards on a course & hats off to the locals who came out in their numbers in the rain to support the runners, the supporters at Kilmallock were a great lift. Plenty toilets, food, water, love the t-shirt, good quality, I never understand the fuss about medals, but that's my personal opinion. People seem to expect more and more these days from races. Well done Michael Herlihy and all in North Cork AC.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with john about no water being available and medal situation . not only to have to pay €31 for the race but then to have to pay for a medal at the end , and no medals were even available . I have been to a lot of races never had to buy a medal ?????
ReplyDeleteIt was a great run but again no water at the end for those who finished at 2hr mark and no medals , I was really looking forward to getting a medal and was very disappointed but on a good note all the steward s were so nice and helpful .
ReplyDeleteThis half marathons was my personal best so i was thrilled! 9 minutes deducted from the downhill half marathon in Cahir! Half to say I found this one tougher which was a good tester on the legs! If there is any medals still out there I would be happy to pay for them thanks in advance! P.s gutted we just missed Sonia O'Sullivan!
ReplyDeleteLovely course, plenty of on course water stations -all with sports top openings!!, local support out on course was great, pacer was superb in encouragement. On the down side no water on finishing and after race refreshments was a let down. The mobile coffee van in the car park made a fortune! Medal issue needs to be addressed for future - disappointing that you need to pay for it and also that not enough available.
ReplyDeleteI traveled to Charleville from the United States to run this race because of the flat and fast course, and great competition. Well done to the organizers! Although the weather was a bit less than favorable, the course was great. I really enjoyed the pace groups. It was such a treat to run with a great group of people!
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