Results of the Churchtown 4-mile road race - Thurs 23rd of July 2026

The Churchtown South 4 Mile road race was held on Thurs 23rd July 2026 on yet nice dry evening in east Cork. There were 187 finishers this year.

Top 3 men & women...

1 John Meade St. Finbarrs AC M45 21:23 2 Donal Coakley Glanmire AC M40 21:45 3 Nathan Ryan O Hehir St. Finbarrs AC M 22:02 4 Jessica Coyne Leevale AC F 22:17 11 Lizzie Lee Leevale AC F45 23:19 17 Sinéad Flannery Ballintotis Fit For Life F45 25:10 

Full results below courtesy of John Hennessy

Place Name Club Category Time
1 John Meade St. Finbarrs AC M45 21:23
2 Donal Coakley Glanmire AC M40 21:45
3 Nathan Ryan O Hehir St. Finbarrs AC M 22:02
4 Jessica Coyne Leevale AC F 22:17
5 Michael Furlong East Cork AC M 22:21
6 Tim O Connor M45 22:35
7 Nick Hogan M45 22:47
8 Jason O Mahony Cork City AC M45 22:58
9 Alfie Davis Leevale AC M50 23:00
10 Gabriel Murphy M 23:14
11 Lizzie Lee Leevale AC F45 23:19
12 Sheldon Kirkwood Cork Track Club M40 23:47
13 Julien Cazelles M45 24:01
14 Thomas Hennessy Midleton AC MJ 24:02
15 Mark Cronin Midleton AC M45 24:50
16 Tim Hannon Midleton AC M45 24:56
17 Sinéad Flannery Ballintotis Fit For Life F45 25:10
18 Martin Hennessy East Cork AC M55 25:19
19 Linda Kelly Watergrasshill AC F50 25:24
20 Zena Mullane Aghada Running Club AC F40 25:44
21 Ger O'Regan Midleton AC M55 25:48
22 Luke Morrison St. Nicholas AC MJ 25:51
23 Tom O'Neill Aghada Running Club AC M40 25:52
24 Andrew De Klerk Ballintotis Fit For Life M50 25:58
25 Luke O'Reilly Aghada Running Club AC M 26:02
26 Katie Hennessy Midleton AC FJ 26:03
27 Gearoid Collins M 26:05
28 Seamus Ahern M 26:12
29 Donal McCarthy M45 26:19
30 Fiona Hallahan F 26:20
31 Aoife O Connor F 26:38
32 Tony Mc Carthy M 26:51
33 Cormac Ronayne M 26:53
34 Adam Ricken M 27:06
35 Trevor Kenneally Ballintotis Fit For Life M 27:07
36 Feargal Culligan M 27:08
37 Rob Mc Grath M 27:11
38 Maeve Boland Eagle AC F 27:16
39 Alan Hawkes M40 27:17
40 Dillon O Neill M 27:20
41 Conor Moloughney Ballintotis Fit For Life M 27:27
42 Brian O Callaghan M45 27:28
43 David Levy M40 27:29
44 Darragh O Sullivan M40 27:33
45 Richardt Rabe Midleton AC M45 27:40
46 Edmond Nicholson Youghal AC M50 27:47
47 Pat O'Connor Eagle AC M55 27:47
48 Brian Motherway M45 27:53
49 Anthony Archer M45 28:05
50 Tony Hennessy Midleton AC MJ 28:07
51 Mick Murphy Midleton AC M55 28:16
52 David O'Dwyer East Cork AC M50 28:28
53 Kieran Ivers Churchtown South AC M40 28:39
54 Avril Crowley East Cork AC F50 28:55
55 John Joyce M 29:00
56 Ross Kelleher M40 29:01
57 Rebecca Hennessy FJ 29:08
58 Gary Gibbons Eagle AC M50 29:09
59 Garrett Boyle Ballintotis Fit For Life M40 29:21
60 Louise Barry Midleton AC F45 29:29
61 Diarmuid Costine M40 29:32
62 Noel Brosnan M40 29:33
63 Adam Mc Auliffe M 29:37
64 David Curtin Midleton AC M 29:40
65 Gary Roche M45 30:01
66 Eileen Leahy Midleton AC F 30:08
67 David Murphy M55 30:16
68 Donal O Donoghue Watergrasshill AC M55 30:31
69 Rachel Fleming DSD F 30:32
70 Brian Crowley M40 30:33
71 Michael Daly Aghada Running Club AC M 30:42
72 Sinead Fitzgerald Aghada Running Club AC F50 30:46
73 Richard Coughlan Midleton AC M 30:53
74 Vincent Lucey M 31:10
75 Marian Cronin Ballintotis Fit For Life F40 31:17
76 Anna Preston Ballintotis Fit For Life F35 31:24
77 Fraser Macgilp Ballintotis Fit For Life M60 31:25
78 Catherine Cashman F40 31:35
79 Colin Murphy M50 31:38
80 Liam Walsh M 31:50
81 Denis Carroll Eagle AC M65 31:52
82 John Howard M55 31:57
83 Mollie Steele F 31:59
84 Luke Hallissey M 32:07
85 Liam Burns Youghal AC M55 32:12
86 Darren Clifford St. Finbarrs AC M 32:13
87 Rosaleen Mackeown Leevale AC F50 32:15
88 Kate Fleming Ballintotis Fit For Life F 32:18
89 Jacob Crowley MJ 32:31
90 Ellen O Connell Ballintotis Fit For Life F 32:32
91 Denis Looney Eagle AC M 32:43
92 Tiarna Sands F 32:44
93 Brigid Ryan Midleton AC F55 32:47
94 Nessa Cronin FJ 32:48
95 Noel Camilleri Bondin Midleton AC M40 32:52
96 Martina Beechinor West Waterford AC F50 32:53
97 John Carey M60 32:57
98 Patricia Ivers Churchtown South AC F40 33:00
99 Alex O Connor M 33:04
100 Robert O Neill M40 33:06
101 Eileen Cazelles FJ 33:11
102 Fiona Camilleri Bondin F40 33:24
103 Sinead Ivers F45 33:27
104 Daniel O'Callaghan M 33:32
105 Dave O'Regan M40 33:35
106 Margaret Jones Midleton AC F55 33:37
107 Michelle Cott Ballintotis Fit For Life F45 33:44
108 Emma Ni Neill Ballintotis Fit For Life F 33:52
109 Thomas O'Riordan Midleton AC M50 34:11
110 Eibhlin Healy Ballintotis Fit For Life F 34:14
111 Felicity Mc Grath Aghada Running Club AC F50 34:18
112 Christine Murphy Midleton AC F55 34:32
113 Trina Donovan Aghada Running Club AC F45 34:39
114 Marie Archer F45 34:44
115 Kathy Murphy F50 34:47
116 Denis Fitzgerald Watergrasshill AC M40 34:50
117 Natasha Durity F50 35:03
118 William Kenneally M 35:05
119 Finola Nyham F45 35:06
120 Andy Wheeler M55 35:10
121 Brian Cahill M50 35:10
122 Rory Beausang M 35:13
123 Claire O'Farrell F35 35:14
124 Kitty Harrington Buckley St. Finbarrs AC F60 35:15
125 Alan Stirling M40 35:26
126 Cathy Hartley Coleman Watergrasshill AC F50 35:37
127 Orna Garde F40 35:42
128 Bernadette Looney Eagle AC F55 35:43
129 Noah Phipps M 35:45
130 Edward Long Ballintotis Fit For Life M40 35:47
131 John O'Neill Aghada Running Club AC M50 35:48
132 Vincent Tennanty M 35:50
133 Rachel Cullinane Ballintotis Fit For Life F35 35:55
134 Michael Carroll Ballintotis Fit For Life M60 35:57
135 Finn Crowley M 35:59
136 Daniel Cunningham M 36:04
137 Padraig Finn M55 36:06
138 Bernadette Twomey Midleton AC F50 36:07
139 Shannon Ramzan Coughlan Midleton AC F 36:10
140 Fiona Roche F45 36:14
141 Brian Healy M50 36:17
142 Niamh Jeffrey Ballintotis Fit For Life F 36:26
143 Sarah Tynan F 36:28
144 Katie Mc Grath F 36:29
145 Beth Coughlan F 36:29
146 Mags Coughlan F50 36:30
147 Sean Madden M45 36:56
148 Eibhlin Cleary East Cork AC F40 37:09
149 Marian Crowley F35 37:23
150 Mary Kingston Youghal AC F50 37:32
151 Keva Mc Namara Aghada Running Club AC F35 37:39
152 Donie O Connell Midleton AC M70 37:41
153 Ciaran Newlands M 37:43
154 Orna Power West Waterford AC F60 37:46
155 Christopher Walker M40 38:02
156 Tom O'Neill Ballintotis Fit For Life M70 38:07
157 Antoinette Cody F45 38:15
158 Mark Fuller Midleton AC M55 38:20
159 Eileen O Mahony F35 38:53
160 Ali Cotter FJ 39:03
161 Greg Cotter M55 39:22
162 Robyn Walsh F 39:35
163 Shauna Walsh Aghada Running Club AC F 39:36
164 Erick McPherson M70 39:45
165 Lucy Walsh Ballintotis Fit For Life F55 39:59
166 Jeffrey Nicholson Youghal AC MJ 40:13
167 Jack Lawton M 40:17
168 Keela Van Niekerk F35 40:43
169 Stephen Van Niekerk Ballintotis Fit For Life M 40:43
170 Mary Smiddy F 41:12
171 Maura Lawton F55 41:17
172 Juliette Nicholson F 41:57
173 Sarah Sinclair F 42:01
174 Emily Walsh FJ 42:18
175 Claire Walsh F40 42:34
176 Marie McGrath F55 42:37
177 Jemma Looney Eagle AC F 43:17
178 Margaret Sinclair F60 43:25
179 Martin Leahy Ballintotis Fit For Life M55 43:58
180 Michelle Aherne F50 44:31
181 Cathriona Simms Aghada Running Club AC F50 44:31
182 Bridget O Riordan F35 45:09
183 Shane Fleming Glanmire AC M40 45:11
184 Bartholomew Kearney Leevale AC M65 46:44
185 Alison Kenneally Aghada Running Club AC F40 52:38
186 Keith O Shea Aghada Running Club AC M50 52:38
187 Jerry Forde Blarney AC Wheelchair Athlete 58:00

Notice: Tracton 4-mile road race - Fri 12th July 2024

Tracton AC are holding their Tracton 4-mile road race on Friday the 12th of July 2024 at 8pm.

You can pre-enter online HERE

Info from Tracton AC... "Tracton AC are hosting a 4-mile road race on Friday 12th July 2024 at 8pm in beautiful Minane Bridge (near Carrigaline, and 20km south of Cork city). 

This year, in honour of the club's 70th anniversary, it will be bigger and better than ever before, and as part of the celebrations, there will be a free t-shirt for all race entrants.

Come along to this mid-summer’s evening race, along scenic country roads and skirting the stunning south Cork coastline. Delicious refreshments and prize giving will follow at Tracton Art and Community Centre.

The race is a chip timed, professionally measured course, with permit from Athletics Ireland. All age 16+ are eligible to run, and there will be cash prizes for all main categories.

Entry fee is €15."

As can be seen from the map above, the race takes place just to the south of Minane Bridge which in turn is just over 7kms to the south of Carrigaline. It's very easy to get to... just go through the centre of Carrigaline and keep going straight. Follow the signposts for Minane Bridge and Robert's Cove.

Notice: Ballintotis 4-mile road race - Thurs 18th April 2024

You know Summer is on the way when we start looking at evening road races and they don't get much bigger than the Ballintotis 4-mile near Castlemartyr in East Cork. It's coming up this year on Thursday 18th of April 2024 at 8pm.

Entries HERE

Info from the organisers... Ballintotis 4 Mile 2024

Update: 10th April... Course Record Bonus Announced For Ballintotis 4 Mile Race - With just over a week to go to the Ballintotis 4 Mile Road Race, the organisers have confirmed that there will be a course record bonus of 250 euro for the first man and lady to break the existing respective records.  

These are 19.11 set by Ryan Creech last year and 21.21 set by his Leevale colleague Lizzy Lee in 2016. Don't forget there are great individual prizes for the first six male and female runners across the line, first to third prizes in all age categories and team prizes (outside of first 6). 

***

The 13th running of the Ballintotis 4 mile road race, hosted by Ballintotis Area Community Council and held in association with East Cork AC, will take place this year on Thursday April 18th (starting time 8pm.)   

Results of the Buttevant 4-mile - Fri 19th May 2023

Top 3 men & women...
1 James Doran An Ríocht A.C. M40 0:20:45
2 Damien Madigan North Cork A.C. M 0:21:03
3 Declan Guina West Limerick A.C. M 0:21:09
21 Carol Finn Leevale A.C. F 0:23:22  
24 Michelle Kenny Leevale A.C. F40 0:23:37  
31 Breda Gaffney Mallow A.C. F50 0:24:22

Full results HERE

Notice: Cork BHAA Stryker 4 mile race in Carrigtwohill - Wed 31st Aug 2022

This 4 mile race in Carrigtwohill in East Cork is coming up on Wednesday the 31st of August at 7:30pm. As with all Cork BHAA events, the entry fee is €5 for registered runners and €10 for non-registered.

Located just a few minutes drive from the Jack Lynch tunnel, this one is very close to Cork City and is easy to get to.

The race HQ is the local community centre and the race route takes in a loop to the north of Carrigtwohill. Note that the start line is a few hundred metres away so allow plenty of time to get there.

As BHAA races go, this one is noted for having some pretty good prizes and of course, there are loads on offer with the various categories and teams.

Course Preview........A full preview of the course can be seen HERE

Notice: Ballymacoda 4 mile road race in East Cork - Fri 27th May 2022

The annual Ballymacoda 4 mile road race is coming up on Friday evening, the 27th of May 2022 at 8pm. 

The entry fee is €10 and you can enter on the day.

From the organisers... "Excitement is building as we prepare to make this years event as enjoyable as can be for all that will be in attendance. All proceeds go to Kilcredan national school which this year is celebrating 50 years.

Results of the Rylane 4-mile - Sun 10th Apr 2022

A total of 163 runners turned out for this 4-miler in Rylane to the north of Macroom with proceeds from the event going to a local playground.

First 3 men & women...

1 Henry Browne 687 M 00:24:45
2 Jason Nichol 658 M 00:24:56
3 Willie O'Connor 478 M 00:24:57
6 Jean Lucey 583 F 00:26:48
8 Margaret Murphy 621 F 00:27:20
10 Breeda McGinn 641 F 00:27:54

Full results HERE

Results & Photos of the Killeagh 4-mile road race - Sun 13th March 2022

Top 3 men in the Killeagh 4 mile (L-R): Donal Coakley 2nd, John Meade 1st & James McCarthy 3rd

Just under 200 runners turned out for this years Killeagh 4-mile road race on what turned out to be a lovely sunny morning.

Top 5 men & women...

1 John Meade St Finbarrs AC     20:40 SM 186
2 Donal Coakley Leevale AC     20:48 SM 17
3 James McCarthy East Cork AC     20:59 SM 200
4 Michael Herlihy North Cork AC     21:02 M40 153
5 Aidan Noone Glounthaune     21:02 SM 96
15 Jennifer Montague Leevale     23:58 SF 211
16 Sharon Rynne Cork City     23:58 SF 135
24 Nadine Forde Cork City     25:18 SF 37
32 Eileen Leahy Midleton AC     26:00 SF 210
33 Lucy O'Keeffe Youghal AC     26:05 SF 230

Full results are on the Premier Timing website HERE 

Top 3 women (L-R): Sharon Rynne 2nd, Jennifer Montague 1st & Nadine Forde 3rd.

Photos...

1) There are three galleries up on the Running in Cork Facebook page

...a) Start HERE

...b) ~3.4 mile mark - sub 32:00 finish - Approx 96 photos HERE

...c) ~3.4 mile mark - 32:00 plus finish - Approx 70 photos HERE

2) Mick Dooley has two galleries

...Start line HERE

...Finish line HERE

Notice: Killeagh 4 mile road race - Sun 13th March 2022

This 4 mile race in East Cork is organised by Killeagh Community Healthy Clubs Project in association with Youghal AC. It will be held this year on Sunday the 13th of March 2022 at 11am.

The organisers are keeping the entry fee at €11.90 (€10 & fees).

Online entries HERE

From the organisers... We are encouraging entry online but will also have registration on the day those that register on line are in with a chance to  in some great spot prizes.

Notice: Ballintotis 4 mile road race - Thurs 21st Apr 2022

You know Summer is on the way when we start talking about evening races! The Ballintotis 4-mile in East Cork is coming up on  Thursday the 21st of April at 8pm.

Entries... These open on Friday 4th February. Link... https://www.myrunresults.com/events/ballintotis_4_mile_road_race/4360/details

Info from the organisers... The 11th running of the  Ballintotis 4 mile road race, hosted by Ballintotis Area Community Council and held in association with East Cork AC, will take place this year on Thursday April 21st (starting time 8pm.)   The organising committee are delighted to be back again on the race calendar, following the enforced break due to the covid pandemic  in 2020 and 2021.

In 2010, the first staging of the race took place and attracted 425 runners, a figure which at that time well exceeded the organisers' expectations. 

 Our last race in 2019 which was our 10th anniversary race saw a record breaking 1240 finishers.

That aforementioned 2010 race got fund raising underway for Ballintotis Community Centre which has since been built and is now the hub of the race.. The event formerly took place in Castlemartyr, but East Cork AC moved the race to Ballintotis, which has proved a hugely popular location, with the venue boasting in excess of 1,000 participants on a number of occasions. The scenic 4 mile loop includes a lap of road bordering Loughaderra Lake in the closing stages. 

Great Prize List... Again this year's race offers great value for money with a very attractive prize structure overall and a full list of category prizes in all age groups (1st 2nd and 3rd) as well as the opportunity to win one of the many spot prizes on offer. 

Castlemartyr Resort will again sponsor the top prize of overnight accomodation for 2 people both the male and female winners. 

Trabolgan Holiday Village have again confirmed that they will sponsor a  Family Weekend Away or Mid Week stay for both the race runner up and ladies runner up.   Once more Garryvoe Hotel Leisure Centre have come on board with a magnificent prize for the third runners home, in the shape of six months membership to their superb facility.  

As well as the famous Ballintotis Buff again kindly sponsored by Simon Ahern of  Ahern's Centra, J.J Coppingers', Midleton are again on board to help sponsor a goody bag for all finishers.

Registration Update... Registration is open on line from Friday February 4th.   Registration costs 15 euro  including service charge, with the option of  availing of your race number being posted out for an additional cost (+€2.50).  Alternatively you may collect your number on race day in Ballintotis Community Centre from 1pm onwards.

Please enter   on  www.myrunresults.com   

Exciting Race History

In the inaugural race James McCarthy took top spot with a time of 19:54. McCarthy went onto win the race a remarkable eight times in a row, his best time being 19:23 set in 2016. Then in 2018 ... a new man was on the podium as another East Cork A.C competitor Michael Harty won in style and in the process set a new course record of 19:15, with the previous record also being broken by Sergiu Ciobanu who was runner up. Our last race in 2019 saw a new name on the roll of honour - as yet another East Cork Man - Kevin O'Brien broke the tape in a time of 20.13.

The entry was a remarkable 1,170 runners in 2015.  Irish Olympian Sonia O Sullivan was among those taking part  that year following up on her previous visit in 2013.  

Fellow Olympian Lizzy Lee from Leevale is the ladies course record holder (21:22), with her Irish International colleague Claire McCarthy posting the second fastest time around the course.   Fiona Santry of East Cork A.C made it back to wins in the ladies race in 2019 to complete a fine double..

More Information... Anybody requiring further information on this year's race can e-mail their query to ballintotisrace@gmail.com or call 086 8778182. . 

***Updated race info will be issued nearer the event.

Race enquiries to 086-8778182

https://www.ballintotis.com/

* * * 

Location... Ballintotis is located just west of Castlemartyr in East Cork.

Preview......You can see a preview of the course HERE

Please arrive early as very large entry expected.

Where it all began - the start of the very first Ballintotis 4 Mile Road Race in 2010.

The success of the Ballintotis event which was brought to the picturesque venue by East Cork A.C in 2010, is due to a number of factors. It's fair to say that the generous sponsorship and backing from the local business community has been a key component in it's rise and with this in mind, the local Ballintotis Race Committee wish to acknowledge again the wonderful backing of the their sponsors.

Here are some updates and advice for those taking part  this year in the race or walk or indeed coming to watch the action.

Car Parks
There will be a number of  main Car Parks for runners and walkers and these will be located in close proximity to the Race HQ at Ballintotis Community Centre. At various times, different Car Parks may be prioritised to cater for traffic flow - so the advise is to please follow the instructions of gardai and stewards who will be on duty. In relation to the Car Parks on race route – cars  will not be allowed exit until all runners have passed.

Race Start/Finish
The race begins at 8pm sharp – the Start Line is approx 200 meters from the Church on way to the main Road. The Finish Line is in front of the Church. ALL RUNNERS ARE ASKED TO BEGIN THE RACE IN THE TIME ZONE, WHICH REFLECTS THEIR EXPECTED FINISHING TIME. The year’s race is again chipped timed by Ronan Wogan and the team at myrunresults and as always there will be with timing mats at the start and finish line.

********************

All Race Enquiries to 086-8778182

Results of the Buttevant 4 mile road race - Sun 7th Nov 2021

This 4-mile race in Buttevant attracted a field of 173 runners which is pretty good for a road race in North Cork. Looking through my previous posts, the last time this race was held was two and half years ago in May 2019.

I was suprised to see that back in 2019, it had a field of 302 runners which would have made it one of the bigger road race in the region. This year however, there is a 42% drop to 174.

Doing a quick back of the envelope calculation, that's just over a €1,000 drop in income (2019 - €12 entry, 2021 - €15 entry).

 4 Mile
2154 1 Gary Scully Nenagh Olympic A.C. M 0:21:53 0:21:54  
401 2 Darren Coleman Buttevant R.C. M 0:22:32 0:22:32  
5325 3 Vincent Mc Cormack Newbridge A.C. M 0:23:16 0:23:17  
2223 8 Carol Finn F 0:24:21 0:24:23  
2168 9 Ailbhe Mc Daid F 0:24:29 0:24:30  
2024 20 Linda O Connor F 0:25:40 0:25:41

Full results HERE

Photos...

1) Adrian Ryder has a number of galleries... Pre-Race & Mile 1 ... Pre-race & mile 2-Pt2... Finish Line pt1 ... Finish line pt2... Finish line pt3... Finish line pt4... Finish line pt5... Finish line pt6... Finish line pt7... Finish line pt8

Carol Finn... winner of the 2021 Buttevant 4-mile. Photo: Adrian Ryder

Results of the Castlemartyr 4 mile road race - 21st April 2005

In a recent guest article, John Walshe of Ballycotton wrote about the history of the Castlemartyr 4 mile road race which included the results for 1994. See post HERE

The results for the 2005 race are shown below...

Results of the Castlemartyr 4 mile road race - 20th April 1995

In a recent guest article, John Walshe of Ballycotton wrote about the history of the Castlemartyr 4 mile road race which included the results for 1994. See post HERE

The results for the 1995 race are shown below...

Guest Post: LOOKING BACK AT THE CASTLEMARTYR ROAD RACE... by John Walshe

Up until recently, the middle of April was the start of the Summer season of evening road races in Cork. In this guest post by John Walshe, he looks back at the Castlemartyr 4 mile road race which preceded  the current Ballintotis 4 mile.

LOOKING BACK AT THE CASTLEMARTYR ROAD RACE (John Walshe)

Given the glorious weather we’re having of late, no doubt there would have been a huge turnout for this Thursday’s Ballintotis four-mile road race, traditionally the opener to what promised to be another exciting summer of evening events. But alas, for obvious reasons, it is not to be.

Therefore, as we while away these strange times, less us take a look back to the race that preceded Ballintotis which took place in the nearby village of Castlemartyr. On this Blog there is another article [March 2015] on one of those four-milers which was prompted by a photograph discovered by local man Pat Walsh and shows the start of the 1989 event on Castlemartyr’s main street.

That was the fourth year of the race organised by East Cork AC and Castlemartyr in mid-April would herald the start of the spring and summer races for well over two decades. Just 81 runners took part that night, with victory going to Liam O’Brien of the promoting club in 19:25, eight seconds ahead of his team-mate, John Kearney. Eileen Prunty, also East Cork, was first of the women in a time of 23:41.

However, there was a four-mile race in Castlemartyr before East Cork was formed and this was held on three occasions from 1983 to 1985. The first event, on the evening of Friday July 8th, was organised by Imokilly Social Club and sponsored by local firm O.R.M. The winner was Michael Dwyer from Limerick in a time of 19:53. Michael had run in the junior race at the previous year’s World Cross-Country Championships in Rome and at the time of his Castlemartyr victory was working in Shanagarry.

Second that night (20:08) was Denis McCarthy, then of the Youghal club. Later that same evening Denis travelled to Midleton where he took part in the 5000m organised by the East Cork Board, finishing fourth. Dick O’Brien of St Nicholas, who had also run in Castlemartyr, fared better in Midleton when coming second in the 5000m behind club-mate Mike Griffin.

Michael Dwyer had finished 18th in that year’s Ballycotton ‘10’, his time of 52:40 putting him one place and 10 seconds behind Castlemartyr man Pat Whyte, a member of the Midleton club. Pat would go on to run 49:52 for eight position the following year at Ballycotton. No doubt his early morning runs before work around that Castlemartyr circuit – which formed part of his 100 miles a week training schedule – played a major part in his significant improvement.  

Although, as that picture shows, by 1986 the race commenced on the main street those early races had a slightly different start. The route was the same, on to the Ladysbridge road for almost a mile, then a left around Dower before re-joining the main N25 Youghal road just before three miles with the finish on the roadway outside the national school.

Pat Whyte’s brother John, who worked at O.R.M., was involved in those early races and was responsible for the results (below) of the 1984 race which shows 87 finishers, a fine turnout at the time. Two Youghal natives, Martin Drake and Mary Sweeney, took the individual honours with both setting respective course records of 19:40 and 23:49.

A year later just 23 runners took part and so brought the first piece of the Castlemartyr story to an end. With the formation of East Cork AC in that year of 1985, a road race was planned for the following April over the same route and this continued for the next 24 years until Ballintotis came along in 2010. Numbers there continued to increase for the following decade, culminating in last year’s record 1,240 finishers.

And so, along with the 1984 results (below), let us also take a nostalgic look back to the 10th (1995) and 20th (2005) Castlemartyr 4-Mile events and recall those enjoyable races as we scroll through the names of those who participated ‘All in the April Evenings’ going back to a quarter-of-a-century ago.

1984 results...

1989 Results

1995 Results

2005 Results

List of John Walshe's articles

Notice: Ballintotis 4 mile road race - Thurs 16th Apr 2020

You know Summer is on the way when we start talking about evening races! The first 4-mile evening race of 2020 in Cork is coming up on  Thursday the 16th of April at 8pm.

Update: Mon 9th March - Online entries are now open... https://register.primoevents.com/ps/event/Ballintotis4Mile2020

Info from the organisers... This year's Ballintotis 4 Mile Road Race will take place on Thursday April 16th with an 8pm start. After last year's record entry of 1,240 for the 10th Anniversary Race, another very large crowd is expected for this year's event. Online entry opens on Monday March 9th and all those who avail of this option will automatically be entered into a draw for an overnight stay for two people at the splendid Garryvoe Hotel.
So save the date in the running diary and enjoy another great sporting and social occasion in Ballintotis.  Again this year there will be  a free running buff for all finishers and a comprehensive overall and category prize list.  This year there is a minimum age limit of 16 years on the race.

Race enquiries to 086-8778182

https://www.ballintotis.com/

* * * 

Notice: Cork BHAA Stryker 4 mile race in Carrigtwohill - Wed 22nd April 2020

This 4 mile race in Carrigtwohill in East Cork is coming up on Wednesday the 22nd of April at 7:30pm. As with all Cork BHAA events, the entry fee is €5 for registered runners and €10 for non-registered.

Located just a few minutes drive from the Jack Lynch tunnel, this one is very close to Cork City and is easy to get to.

The race HQ is the local community centre and the race route takes in a loop to the north of Carrigtwohill. Note that the start line is a few hundred metres away so allow plenty of time to get there.

As BHAA races go, this one is noted for having some pretty good prizes and of course, there are loads on offer with the various categories and teams.

Course Preview........A full preview of the course can be seen HERE

Notice: Boherbue to Kiskeam 4 mile road race in NW Cork - Mon 13th Apr 2020

This years Boherbue to Kiskeam 4 mile road race in NW Cork is coming up on Easter Monday, the 13th of April 2020.

Note that there is a long sleeved dry fit top for all runners.

This 4 mile road race starts in Boherbue and finishes in the village of Kiskeam. As you can see from the map below, it's a central location for a lot of people in N.Cork, W.Limerick & E.Kerry...

The race is being organised by Gneeveguilla AC, one of the largest athletic clubs in Kerry. The entry fee is €20 on the day and there is a large array of prizes on offer. These are usually in the form of vouchers for a local co-op and are pretty generous.

There will be the usual refreshments of tea. coffee. sandwiches, etc afterwards as well.

Preview.......A full preview of the course with directions, maps, photos, etc can be seen HERE

Notice: Killeagh 4 mile road race - Sun 1st March 2020

This is the 5th year of this 4 mile race and it's organised by Killeagh Community Healthy Clubs Project in association with Youghal AC. It will be held this year on Sunday the 1st of March 2020 at 11am.

Entry on the day is €10.

Considering that Killeagh is on the N25 Cork-Waterford road, the race should have a pretty big catchment area.

As you can see from the course map below, the race takes in a loop to the west of Killeagh. The race finishes at the entrance to the Killeagh GAA grounds which is the race HQ. There will also be changing and shower facilities here.

Notice: Great Glenville 4 mile road race - Sun 24th Nov 2019

The annual Glenville 4 mile road race is coming up on Sunday the 24th of November 2019 and it should be of particular interest considering its proximity to Cork City.

Update: 6th Nov 2019...Over half of the entries are now gone.
Update: 13th Nov 2019... Fewer than 80 places left now.
Update: 14th Nov 2019... 1:30pm... The lights are now flashing on and off for last call... 10 places left!
Update: 14th Nov 2019... 3pm... SOLD OUT!! 
Update: 17th Nov 2019... The organisers have released an additional 100 places.
Update: 18th Nov 2019... Now 30 left!!
Update: 19th Nov 2019... All 600 places are now gone!

Results of the Rathcormac 4 mile road race - Thurs 22nd Aug 2019

There was a record number of finishers for this years Rathcormac 4 mile road race with 365 crossing the finish line, up over 18% on last year.

Top 3 men & women...
350    Maunsell    Kevin    Male    Clonmel AC     00:19:18
394    O'Brien    Alan    Male    Eagle AC     00:19:53
170    Corbett    Michael    Male    St Finbarrs     00:20:39
66    Murphy    Catherine    Female    Eagle A.C     00:25:51
1    Kelly    Linda    Female    Unattached     00:26:44
38    Ennis    Joan    Female    Grange-Fermoy A.C     00:27:05

Photos...
1) Derek Costello has three galleries
...start  part 1 of 3
...finish part 2 of 3
...finish part 3 of 3

Start of the 2019 Rathcormac 4 mile race (Photo: Derek Costello)

Full Results below...(Chip timed by the Race Timing Guy)
Bib #     Last Name     First Name    M/F     Team Name     Finishing Time
350    Maunsell    Kevin    Male    Clonmel AC     00:19:18
394    O'Brien    Alan    Male    Eagle AC     00:19:53
170    Corbett    Michael    Male    St Finbarrs     00:20:39
362    Smith    Mark    Male    Eagle AC     00:20:50
329    Scully    Gary    Male    Nenagh AC     00:21:35
424    Hennessy    Pat    Male    West Waterford AC     00:22:05
125    Treacy    Liam    Male    Watergrasshill A.C     00:22:08
146    O'Flaitheartaigh    Naoise    Male    Bandon AC     00:22:29