Google+ Running in Cork, Ireland: Results of the East Cork Road Championships in Ballynoe - Thurs 20th Aug 2020

Thursday, August 20, 2020

Results of the East Cork Road Championships in Ballynoe - Thurs 20th Aug 2020

The East Cork road championships were held on Thursday the 20th of August 2020 in Ballynoe in East Cork. Below is a report from John Walshe with the full results further down the page.

 

EAST CORK ATHLETICS DIVISION ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS ...by John Walshe

Normally held in April, the unbroken sequence which has seen the East Cork road championships taking place every year since 1980 was maintained at the traditional venue of Ballynoe.

After the initial postponement four months ago, hopes for the new date seemed dashed earlier this week when the updated Covid-19 strategy was announced but, after getting the go-ahead from Athletics Ireland, both races went ahead while adhering to the recommended guidelines.

The aftermath of Storm Ellen made the testing course even tougher with gusting winds and hail showers adding to the discomfort of the long hill which the women had to climb twice and the men four times.

A minutes silence was observed before both events in memory of local man Dan McCarthy who passed away earlier this year. Dan was instrumental in getting these championships established on the athletics calendar with the first event taking place on St Patrick’s Day 1980 when Pat Whyte led home just 18 finishers.

Kevin O’Leary (East Cork) became the 15th different winner over the years of the men’s five-mile race, improving one place and 59 seconds from last year when coming home an impressive first in a time of 26:11. Two Midleton junior athletes, Paul Hartnett and Frank O’Brien, took the silver and bronze medals in respective times of 26:39 and 27:13.

With the individual medal-winners not scoring in the teams, East Cork came out best on a total of 30 points ahead of Watergrasshill (45 points) and Midleton (74 points).

Fiona Santry made it an East Cork club double when winning the women’s 3000m in 11:22. Second was Jennifer Goggin-Walsh (Carraig na bhFear) in 11:56 with Linda O’Sullivan (Watergrasshill) third in 12:04.

Midleton, with 34 points, were the winners of the team contest from Ballymore-Cobh who finished on 42 with St Catherine’s third on 45 points.

She may have won medals at Olympic, World and European level but one award which had eluded Sonia O’Sullivan over her long glittering career was an East Cork senior medal.

However, an eight-place finish was enough for Ireland’s greatest-ever athlete to finally set the record straight as she led her Ballymore-Cobh club to silver. 

(L) Kevin O'Leary, second last year but number one on this occasion / (R) Fiona Santry, winner of the women's 3000m race

East Cork Road Championships  Thursday August 20th 2020            
    
Men's Result 
           
                    
Place    Race #    Name    Club    Category    Time
1    72    Kevin O'Leary    East Cork AC    M    26.11
2    99    Paul Hartnett    Midleton AC    MJ    26.39
3    50    Frank O'Brien    Midleton AC    MJ    27.13
4    71    Kevin O'Brien    East Cork AC    M    27.37
5    74    Kieran McKeown    Watergrasshill AC    M    27.56
6    65    James McCarthy    East Cork AC    M    28.05
7    140    Sean McGrath    East Cork AC    M35    28.10
8    31    Daire O’Sullivan    Carraig na bhFear AC    MJ    28.14
9    159    Tony Forristal    Midleton AC    M    28.16
10    66    John Hennessy    Midleton AC    M50    28.37
11    157    Stephen Crowley    Watergrasshill AC    M    28.44
12    77    Kristaps Liepins    Watergrasshill AC    M    28.45
13    57    Graham Swords    East Cork AC    M35    28.46
14    160    Trevor Cummins    Ballymore/Cobh AC    M    28.59
15    100    Paul Kearney    Aghada RC    M    29.14
17    6    Aidan Noone    Watergrasshill AC    M    29.19
18    35    Dave McCarthy    St Nicholas AC    M    29.23
19    139    Sean Ahern    Youghal AC    M    29.27
20    25    Chris Kelly    East Cork AC    M    29.41
21    161    Willie Walsh    Carraig na bhFear AC    M45    30.04
22    70    Keith Kelly    Youghal AC    M    30.37
23    149    Shane Meyler    Ballymore Cobh AC    M45    30.44
24    40    David Maher    Carraig na bhFear AC    MJ    31.08
25    69    Joseph Daly    Carraig na bhFear AC    MJ    31.15
26    162    Ger O'Regan    Midleton AC    M50    31.23
27    91    Mick Mulcahy    Carraig na bhFear AC    M40    32.27
28    68    Jonathon Kenneally    St Catherines AC    M    32.37
29    34    Daniel Bloom    Midleton AC    M    32.46
30    129    Séamus McSweeny    St Nicholas AC    M45    32.46
31    29    Chris O Connell    St Catherines AC    M    33.13
32    42    Declan Dorgan    Midleton AC    M40    33.53
33    45    Don Sheehan    Carraig na bhFear AC    M45    34.02
34    67    John Mulcahy    St Catherines AC    M    34.03
35    86    Matthew Browne    Watergrasshill AC    M    34.17
36    8    Andre Brodkorb    Midleton AC    M50    34.27
37    155    Stephen Collins    St Catherines AC    M    34.49
38    150    St John O'Connor    St Nicholas AC    M45    35.02
39    24    Brendan Hickey    St Catherines AC    M    35.14
40    158    Tom O Riordan    Watergrasshill AC    M    35.27
41    44    Denis O’Leary    Aghada RC    M    35.31
42    123    Richard Hawkins    Carraig na bhFear AC    M50    35.41
43    126    DonMurray    Aghada RC    M    36.32
44    47    Ed Kinane    St Nicholas AC    M50    36.45
45    73    Kieran Harte    St Catherines AC    M    37.36
46    144    Sean Norris    Aghada RC    M    38.04
47    43    Denis McCarthy    East Cork AC    M55    38.28
48    119    Paul O Flynn    St Catherines AC    M    38.38
49    124    Richard Morrison    St Nicholas AC    M45    39.28
50    46    Donal O'Donoghue    Watergrasshill AC    M50    40.16
                    
        Team Results (outside the first three finishers)            
    1    East Cork AC    30 pts        
    2    Watergrasshill AC    45 pts        
    3    Midleton AC    74 pts        
    4    Carraig na bhFear AC    78 pts        
    5    St Catherines AC    130 pts        
    6    St Nicholas AC    130 pts        
    7    Aghada RC    145 pts        
                    
                    
Women's Result
                    
Place    Race Number    Name    Club    Category    Time
1    250    Fiona Santry    East Cork AC    F    11.22
2    295    Jennifer Goggin Walsh    Carraig na bhFear AC    F35    11.56
3    305    Linda O’Sullivan    Watergrasshill AC    F    12.04
4    300    Laura Rooney    Watergrasshill AC    F    12.22
5    318    Natalie Nicholson    St Catherines AC    F    12.30
6    330    Sarah Morrisson    St Nicholas AC    FJ    12.50
7    249    Eileen Leahy    Midleton AC    F    13.01
8    348    Sonia O’Sullivan    Ballymore/Cobh AC    F    13.05
9    322    Rhona Lynch    Carraig na bhFear AC    F45    13.16
10    293    Gwen Conroy    Watergrasshill AC    F    13.24
11    318    Niamh O'Connor    East Cork AC    F40    13.33
12    242    Caroline Geary    Midleton AC    F40    13.35
13    320    Norah O'Brien    East Cork AC    F    13.45
14    342    Sarah Mulcahy    St Catherines AC    F    13.47
15    325    Sally Drennan    Midleton AC    F55    13.51
16    294    Jennifer Andersson    Ballymore/Cobh AC    F    14.06
17    345    Sinead Kearney    Carraig na bhFear AC    FJ    14.07
18    315    Margaret O’Regan    Ballymore/Cobh AC    F    14.08
19    200    Alanna Drennan    Midleton AC    FJ    14.10
20    296    Jennifer Kearney    Carraig na bhFear AC    FJ    14.25
21    306    Louise Barry    Midleton AC    F40    14.40
22    241    Breeda Sheedy    Midleton AC    F50    14.49
23    316    Mary De Barra    Ballymore/Cobh AC    F    14.57
24    246    Claire Fitzgerald    Midleton AC    F45    14.59
25    297    Joan Hough    Midleton AC    F60    15.00
26    299    Laura O Flynn    St Catherines AC    F    15.05
27    277    Gillian Bransfield    Midleton AC    F40    15.22
28    245    Christine Murphy    Midleton AC    F50    15.33
29    347    Siobhan Murphy    Midleton AC    F45    15.39
30    304    Linda Curtin    Midleton AC    F45    16.05
31    314    Mags Twohig    Midleton AC    F50    16.39
32    240    Astrid Micheel    Midleton AC    F50    16.53
33    298    Joan McCarthy    Midleton AC    F60    20.42

Midleton, with 34 points, were the winners of the team contest from Ballymore-Cobh who finished on 42 with St Catherine’s third on 45 points
                    
Team Results (outside the first three finishers)            
1 Midleton AC    34 pts        
2 Ballymore/Cobh AC    42 pts   

3 St Catherines AC    45 pts        
4 Carraig na bhFear AC    46 pts        

Sonia O'Sullivan (who finished eight) leading Niamh O'Connor up the hill
Sonia O'Sullivan (who finished eight) leading Niamh O'Connor up the hill
 

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Are road races capped at 200 allowed to ahead after the latest government guidelines of only 15 out doors gathering together?

Talk about mix messaging

Shane McMahon said...

It's great to see Sonia running for her local club, it must have added a great buzz to the race and for the other athletes to say they ran alongside one of the greats