End of the Munster Ten-Mile Spring Classics Series...

This time, a bit of sad news. There will be no Munster Ten-Mile Spring Classics Series next year. While the individual races will still go ahead, the overall series will not.

Here is a statement from Ballycotton Running Promotions.......
MUNSTER TEN-MILE SPRING CLASSICS SERIES

The Munster Ten-Mile Spring Classic Series, inaugurated by Ballycotton Running Promotions in 2003, will not take place next year.

One of the aims of the Spring Series – which incorporated the Mallow, Dungarvan, Ballycotton and Kilnaboy events - was ‘to promote each race at the classic distance of ten miles’ and nine years later it can certainly be said that this has been achieved.

In 2003, the Mallow race had 215 finishers while Dungarvan had 223. This past year, with Dungarvan now the opening race, over 1,260 took part. The complexities of adding together the times for the four events is therefore more labour intensive and an added difficulty is that the races use separate entry and timing systems so that a name in one may appear different in another.  

When the Spring Series began, the Mallow race was in January, Dungarvan in February, Ballycotton in March and Kilnaboy in April. Now, for various reasons, this sequence has been broken and there are also a number of new ten-milers on the scene.

In 2003 (remember, this was four years before the Cork City Marathon reappeared), there were virtually no races longer than 10km in the Munster area during the first half of the year so therefore it is apparent that the four-race Series has run its course.  

Thanks must go to the four races who enthusiastically embraced the idea of a ‘Spring Classics Series’ and to the individuals in each who contributed to its success.

Much appreciated also was the sponsorship from John Buckley Sports who from the outset provided the commemorative T-shirts which went to every runner who completed the four races.

And if you’re the proud holder of one of these long-sleeve ‘tees’, hang on to it – it might be a collector’s item in the years to come!

Ballycotton Running Promotions...November 2012

Results for Munster Ten Mile series after 3 races

The standings in the John Buckley Munster Ten-Mile Spring Classics Series have now been calculated. A total of 221 people have completed  the first three races.....Dungarvan, Ballycotton and Mallow. You can see them HERE.

If you notice any omissions or errors then contact ballycottonrunning@eircom.net before Monday next, April 2nd.

I can't remember what the figure was for last year but in 2009, a total of 243 people had completed the first three races. That's a drop of 22 this year by comparison despite the fact that the numbers at each race were way up. Reason? Possibly because some could not get into the Ballycotton race? Or did more people opt to do fewer races?

The fourth and final race in the Spring Classics Series will be the Kilnaboy ‘10’ in Clare
on Sunday April 8th, commencing at 2pm.

Next big race...the Mallow 10 mile on the 19th of March

Now that the Ballycotton '10' is out if the way, the next big race locally is the Mallow 10 mile on Monday, the 19th of March at 12:30pm. This is also the third race in the John Buckley Sports Munster Ten-Mile Spring Classics Series.....(Dungarvan, Ballycotton, Mallow, Kilnaboy)

Entries.......It costs just €15 to pre-enter this race. That includes a dry-fit running top for the first 1,000 entrants. Note however that the entries are already over the 750 mark! If you intend to do this race then enter now. If you leave it too late then it's unlikely that you will get the dry fit top. It will cost €20 to enter on the day. For all that, they have an accurately measured 10 mile course, chip timing, pacers and a €3,000 prize fund with prizes in all the usual categories.

You can enter online HERE or you can find the entry form HERE and post your entry in. The Mallow AC website is http://www.mallowac.ie

Anyone who entered for the cancelled race last year (Jan 2011) and who could not make the rescheduled race (Mar 2011) is entitled to free entry for this year. The organisers have already e-mailed those people but they asked me to remind them of the offer. To avail of it, they need to e-mail the organisers and let them know of any changes to their details from last year… (Club, email address, etc)

Race notice...Mallow 10 mile race - Mon 19th March 2012

With entries to the Ballycotton '10' and the Dungarvan '10' now closed, the next big ten mile race in Munster after that is the Mallow 10 mile road race on Monday, the 19th of March 2012 at 12:30pm.

Sponsored by Kostal Ireland and organised by Mallow AC, this race attracted 750 runners last year and they hope to get closer to the 1,000 mark this year. Located in north Cork, Mallow is within easy reach of runners in all of the counties in Munster.

If you are living say closer to Dublin, Mallow isn't the long slow trip that it would have been before. It's now motorway all the way to Mitchelstown and you then turn off for Mallow. The Mallow '10' is a reasonably fast 10 mile course with a wide start so if you are looking a fast time, this is as good as they come....for Ireland anyway! ;o)

Entries.......It costs just €15 to pre-enter this race. When you consider that includes a Dry-Fit top for the first 1,000 entrants, it's excellent value. It will cost €20 to enter on the day. For all that, they have an accurately measured 10 mile course, chip timing and a €3,000 prize fund with prizes in all the usual categories.

You can enter online HERE or you can find the entry form HERE and post your entry in

Anyone who entered for the cancelled race last year (Jan 2011) and who could not make the rescheduled race (Mar 2011) is entitled to free entry for this year. The organisers have already e-mailed those people but they asked me to remind them of the offer. To avail of it, they need to e-mail the organisers and let them know of any changes to their details from last year… (Club, email address, etc)

Dungarvan...Sun 29th Jan 2012...This race is on next Sunday and Mallow AC will be taking entries for the Mallow '10' race at it. If you are going to Dungarvan, then this is an easy way to enter the Mallow '10'. Mallow AC will have an entry desk in the main sports hall so get there early if you are going to use this option. To save a bit of time, print out the entry form...fill it in and just turn up next Sunday with €15 and you're in.

Munster Ten Mile Series.....The Mallow '10' is also the third race in the John Buckley Sports Munster Ten-Mile Spring Classics Series. The others are the Ballycotton '10', Dungarvan '10' and Kilnaboy '10'.

The Mallow AC website can be seen HERE