Ongoing results of the Euro X-Country Championships..Sun 9th Dec 2012

European Cross Country Championships now live online from Hungary....minus 4 deg C!...This is the timetable of events (Irish time)...Junior Women – 4000m 9:15 / Junior Men – 6000m 9:55 / U23 Women – 6000m 10:40 / U23 Men – 8000m 11:25 / Senior Women – 8000m 12:15 / Senior Men – 10000m 13:08

Ireland's Junior Women finish 8th team at Euro X-Country... Sarah Collins 31st, Siofra Cleirigh Buttner 36th, Mary Mulhare 41st, Clare McCarthy 68th and Linda Conroy 70th............93 finishers

Ireland team......Junior Mens race...Stephen Kerr  37th, Eoghan Totten 59th, Killian Mooney 87th, Ian Guiden 105th. The team finished 18th overall. 114 finishers.

Womens U23...Laura Behan 53rd, Una Britton

Men U23.......John Travers 44th, Patrick Hogan 52nd, Dave Fitzmaurice 76th, Sam Mealy 80th, Christopher Johnston 86th. Team 11th

Senior Women Fionnuala Britton 1st, Linda Byrne 8th, Ava Hutchinson 20th, Lizzie Lee 23rd, Sarah McCormack 36th, Sara Treacy 42nd.

Senior Men: B. O'Neill 22nd, J. Sweeney 27th, D. Rooney 38th, M. Mulhare 44th, S. Hehir 52nd, B. Maher 73rd, team placed 7th

Results of the Clonakilty Marathon...Sat 8th Dec 2012

Having done the Marathon here three years in a row, this was by far the best in terms of the weather. Blue skies and sunshine for all three races on what was a very pleasant winters day. This of course really made for very nice views, especially in the full Marathon as it followed the coast.

This was also the first year that it started and finished in Inchydoney as opposed to inside in the town of Clonakilty as it had on the two previous occasions. It was however not without it's problems with it seems a lot of people having trouble getting to the start line on time. It's obvious that if the location is changed then there are going to be new problems and the cul-de-sac nature of Inchydoney made things difficult.

This resulted in a delay in the start of each race which may not have been such a big issue in itself but the real problem was that the Half-Marathon started too soon after the full.. The faster Half runners had to thread their way through a bunched Marathon field on narrow roads. That really needs to be fixed. A larger gap between the races starting would have helped a lot.

The courses were hillier and harder this year. Then again, no-one goes to Clonakilty to run a fast time. Both courses are challenging and I liked the full course. Nice rural country roads with a mix of countryside and coastal running.

From my viewpoint, the finish area was fine with tea/coffee, bars, sausages and black pudding on offer! I heard however that it was a different story for many of the Half-Marathon finishers. There were too many finishing in a short space of time and everything was very crowded. In this respect, the empty building last year was much better as there was loads of space. The marquee was just too small with one entrance/exit. The queues for the spa/showers in the hotel were apparently so long that many people didn't bother.

From my own point of view, I thought it was a good event. It obviously has some issues that need to be dealt with for next year. However, my opinion is from the viewpoint of someone who ran the Marathon as a 3:45 pacer. I did not have to weave my way through slower runners and I finished when most of the Half-Marathon runners had left.

What did you think? Leave a comment below...

Update...Mon 10th Dec...Please note that the results are still provisional at this stage. It would seem as if there are still lots of errors with Half-Marathon runners appearing in the mini-marathon results.

6 mile mini-marathon HERE
(Updated 9:45am Mon 10th Dec)

Half-Marathon results HERE
(Updated 9:45am Mon 10th Dec)

Marathon results HERE

Photos......(Updated 11th Dec 2012)
1) Eoin Fegan has a large gallery of photos HERE

Ballycotton 10 entry forms now online...

Now that the online entrie for this race are closed, the entry form can now be downloaded HERE

This can only be used by members of athletic clubs, those who completed the Summer series this year or those living overseas. There is no limit of the number of entries.

Club runners and series runners have until Tuesday, the 18th of December to get their entries in...in other words, you should post it by next Friday, the 14th of December.

Overseas runners have until the 8th of January 2013 to get their entries in.

Results of the 4th annual Floodlit X-Country race at CIT...Fri 7th Dec 2012

4th Annual Floodlight Cross Country...Cork Institute of Technology

Photos...
1) Joe Murphy has a gallery HERE 

Mens Race 5000m
Position Number Name M/F Club/Town College Time
1 515 Mark O'Sullivan M Bandon AC CIT 18:04
2 517 Josh O'Sullivan‐Hourihan M UCC AC UCC 18:40
3 505 Michael Harrington M West Muskerry AC ROTW 18:58
4 503 James O' Driscoll M Skibbereen AC CIT 19:02
5 506 Jamie Skelly M DSD AC CIT 19:39
6 501 Craig Harrington M Togher AC CIT 19:40
7 502 Ian O' Sullivan M Leevale AC CIT 20:21
8 519 Louis Kelleher M Leevale AC ROTW 20:48
9 518 John Lynch M Tracton AC UCC 20:49
10 508 Denis Kelleher M Midleton AC ROTW 20:59
11 511 Roy Evans M CIT AC CIT 21:11
12 509 Guillaume Huyet M CIT AC CIT 21:17
13 520 Leonard Kelleher M Blanchardstown ROTW 22:37
14 504 Mark Clifford M Caherciveen CIT 23:24
15 507 John O'Callaghan M Rising Sun AC UCC 23:57
16 523 Gerry O'Connor M Eagle AC ROTW 24:20
17 525 Michael Brennan M CIT AC CIT 24:50
18 524 Ciaran Lane M Cork ROTW 25:08
19 522 Chris McGlennon M Ballincollig CIT 29:15

Women's Race 3000m
Position Number Name M/F Club/Town College Time
1 510 Johanna Siccama F UCC AC UCC 13:54
2 512 Gillian Ryan F St. Finbarr's AC CIT 15:42
3 521 Emma McDonnell F Waterfall UCC 15:51
4 514 Aine Murphy F UCC AC UCC 16:12
5 528 Fiona Burke F CIT AC CIT 16:28
6 513 Sarah Cahill F Cork UCC 16:52
7 516 Frances Buckley F UCC AC UCC 17:15
8 526 Eirn McGuigan F CIT AC CIT 19:50
9 527 Orlaith Crowther F CIT AC CIT 21:30

Ballycotton 10 poll question...

Now that the first 2,500 entries for the Ballycotton 10 mile road race are full, what did you think of this year's system?

Did you prefer the old system with 2,500 postal entries? Did you like the mix of postal and online entries this year? Or do you think all of the entries should be online in future?

Leave your comments here and vote in the poll to the right.

Ballycotton 10 online entries closed...!

After opening at 2pm today, the 1095 online entries sold out in just under 2 hours 40 minutes.

At this stage now, there is no rush. Entries are only open to club runners, those that completed the summer series or those living overseas.

Details to follow...

There are no more entries for non-club runners now.

Upcoming Euro Cross Country Championships...Sun 9th Dec 2012

The 2012 SPAR European Cross Country Championships take place this Sunday, the 9th of December in Budapest, Hungary. A record number of athletes from all across Europe are set to compete with 539 athletes from 35 member federations taking part including a 30 strong Irish team.

2012 Euro Cross Team as follows:
Senior Women...Fionnuala Britton(Kilcoole AC),
Lizzie Lee (Leevale AC), Ava Hutchinson (Dundrum South Dublin), Linda Byrne( Dundrum South Dublin), Sara Treacy (Moynalvy AC), Sarah McCormack (Clonliffe Harriers AC)

Senior Men...Joe Sweeney (Dundrum South Dublin), Michael Mulhare (Portlaoise AC), Sean Hehir (Rathfarnham AC), Brian Maher (KCH AC), David Rooney (Raheny Shamrock AC), Brendan O’Neill (Dundrum South Dublin AC)

U23 Women...Una Britton (Kilcoole AC), Laura Behan (KCK AC)

U23 Men...Chris Johnston (Letterkenny AC), Dave Fitzmaurice (Clonliffe Harriers), Patrick Hogan (Ferrybank AC), Sam Mealy (Crusaders A.C), John Travers (Donore Harriers)

This is the timetable of events (Irish time)...Junior Women – 4000m 9:15 / Junior Men – 6000m 9:55 / U23 Women – 6000m 10:40 / U23 Men – 8000m 11:25 / Senior Women – 8000m 12:15 / Senior Men – 10000m 13:08

The ones to watch are Joe Sweeney who finished an impressive 5th last year and of course, Fionnuala Britton who is defending her title having won in Slovenia last year.

The event will be covered live on RTE2 television from 12-2pm or via live streaming on the European Athletics Website.

Latest Ballycotton 10 news...Thurs 6th Dec

ONLINE ENTRIES

A total of 1,405 postal entries were received up to Wednesday December 5th, leaving 1,095 remaining for online entry. All the names of those entered can be seen here in alphabetical and numerical order.

Online entries will open at 2pm on Friday December 7th and will close when total limit of 2,500 has been reached – meaning 1,095 online places are available.

Once online entries have closed, a pdf copy of the entry form will appear on the website. This is for AAI club runners (and those who have ran the Summer Series), along with people living overseas. These entries will be accepted by post up to Tuesday December 18th and Tuesday January 8th respectively.  

You can enter online HERE from 2pm on Friday, the 7th of December.

Looking ahead to the Clonakilty Marathon...Sat 8th Dec 2012

For the first two years of this race, all three events started and finished in the town of Clonakilty. This year, the start and finish has been moved to Inchydoney on the coast which means the races go nowhere near Clonakilty itself.

Please note the different scales above for the 10k race and the other two.

10k.......Even though the top graph might suggest otherwise, it's really not too hilly. The start is largely downhill for about a mile....reasonably flat until 5 miles.......and then a pull for the last mile to the finish line. Not a serious hill but a hill all the same.

Half-Marathon......In the first two years, the Half-Marathon turned for home well before it reached the scenic coastal stretch by Rathbarry and Long Strand. While it doesn't quite make it to Longstrand this year, you should get a good view of the coastline. Note the hill around mile 9! By comparison, the finishing hill looks tiny but expect it to be felt as you get tired.

Marathon.......A longer version of the Half with added hills as a bonus! I don't think anyone runs Clonakilty to try and run a Marathon PB as it's not a fast course. The attraction is the coastal route and the scenery. Note that the bad hills are in the second half. Keep something in reserve when you are doing the first half. Remember that hill at the end. It might seem tiny in comparison to the others but at 25 miles, it wont feel so small.

Weather......The current forecast is that it will be sunny, dry and cold......around 5 deg C. In fact the conditions sound ideal. If you are running the Marathon then make sure you have plenty of clothes. A jacket might be overkill but wearing two dry fit tops may not go amiss. Needless to say, gloves and a hat are essential.

Ballycotton 10 reminder...

Just a reminder about the Ballycotton '10' entries...

1) Postal entries for non-club runners close today...i.e. they must arrive by post today. There is no posting your entry form today as it will be rejected.

2) The organisers posted all of the SAE's last Friday. Approximately 50 were returned by An Post due to insufficient postage. If your SAE never arrived then it might be one of those.

3) The organisers will now process all of the entries that arrived on Tuesday and Wednesday. That doesn't necessarily mean that they will be lodging cheques so there is no point in checking your bank account. I'd imagine they'd have their hands full just checking the forms and getting the names into the computer system. Once that is done, they will generate a list of successful entries. When? I'd guess very late tonight or maybe tomorrow? It depends on the number of entries. They should have good idea later today as to how many spots will be available for online entry.

4) At that stage then you'll know if you are in or not. If you didn't get in then you have a second chance with the online entries. Once they release the list of successful entries, they will announce a date and time for the online entries to open. This is likely to be very soon after.

5) Once the 2,500 limit is reached, the entry form will go up online. The only people that can use them are members of athletic clubs, those that ran the 4 Summer Series races and those living overseas.

Results of the Castlefreke 5k Fun Run by the Sea - Sun 2nd Dec 2012

After it was postponed for a week due to bad weather, the Fun Run by the Sea 5k in Castlefreke went ahead last Sunday. Results below...

# Name Mins SecCategory
1 John Collins 17:17M 1st
2 Ciaran Bouse 18:21M 2nd
3 Mark Griffin 19:23M 3rd
4 Pat Griffin 20:11
5 Damien O Leary 20:36
6 Joseph O Leary 20:37
7 Simon Locke 20:49
8 Ronnie Barry 20:52F 1st
9 Derek Whelton 21:14
10 Wayne Brennan 21:19
11 Denis Griffin 21:29
12 Danny Hayes 21:35
13 David Duggan 21:47
14 Richard Murphy 22:6
15 Sean Keohane 22:21
16 John Harrington 22:22
17 Eleanor Griffin 22:38F 2nd
18 Jessie Kennedy 23:53
19 Barry Hooper 24:11
20 Jill Turner 24:14F 3rd
21 Ger Cullinane 24:20
22 Donnacha McCarth 24:34
23 Ben McShane 25:7U16 1st
24 Noel O Donovan 25:13
25 Ciaran Goggin 25:50
26 Michael Keohane 26:6
27 Denis O Donovan 26:12
28 Rachel Sheehy 26:30U16 2nd
29 Julie Harrington 26:51F
30 Ciaran McCarthy 27:28
31 Aisling Sheehy 27:30U16 3rd
32 Helen O Neil 27:44F
33 Rory O Connor 28:58U16
34 Fiona Collins 31:35F
35 Denise Foley 31:35F
36 Lucy O Brien 35:9F
37 Sinead O Connor 36:26U16
38 Mary Harrington 37:3F
39 Adrian Whelton 39:36U16
40 K Whelton 39:37
41 Breeda Hayes 40:28F
42 Mary O Callaghan 42:35F
43 Elise Crowley 43:35F
44 Caithlin Harrington 43:56U16
45 Roni Crowley 44:36
46 ??? 46:43
47 Kathleen Harrington 48:42F
48 JJ O Brien 49:0

Cork Teams score well in the Munster Masters X-Country...Sun 2nd Dec 2012

The Munster Masters Cross Country Championships were held in Newmarket-on-Fergus in Co.Clare last Sunday, the 2nd of December. In the womens Over 35 section, the Cork team took first place ahead of Kerry and Clare. In the mens Over 35 section, the Cork team repeated the feat by taking first as well. In the mens Over 50 section, the Cork team took second place.

Women O35 Team County Team Points
Place County Positions Points
1 Cork 4, 6, 7, 8 25
2 Kerry 1, 2, 10, 16 43
3 Clare 2, 5, 17, 19 59

Men O35 Team County Team Points
Place County Positions Points
1 Cork 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 17 41
2 Tipperary 3, 11, 13, 15, 18, 23 83
3 Clare 1, 10, 16, 19, 20, 41 107

Men O50 Team County Team Points
Place County Positions Points
1 Clare 32, 40, 42, 43 157
2 Cork 27, 35, 51, 56 169
3 Kerry 39, 54, 72, 113 278

Full results HERE

Photo courtesy of Joe Murphy

Dungarvan 10 entries now full...

The John Treacy Dungarvan 10 mile road race is now full! After a steady of entries last week, there was a huge surge yesterday and the limit of 1,750 was reached late last night.

Not only is this a record number of entries but it is also the earliest that it has closed. Last year, the limit of 1,500 entries was reached on the 28th of December which in itself was 3 weeks ahead of the previous year.

They are now only accepting elite entries. Men must have run sub 55 minutes and women sub 60 minutes in the 3 years prior to the race date. The Dungarvan 10 mile road race takes place on Sunday, the 27th of January at 1pm.

Las Vegas Marathon drops 14,000 entries this year...

Following last years record entry of 44,000 entries for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Half-Marathon and Marathon, there is a drop of 14,000 this year. With an entry fee of roughly $160, that's a loss of $2.24 million in income.

In 2010, there were 28,000 entries and this mushroomed to 44,000 in 2011 but it resulted in huge criticism of the event. Some people complained of severe overcrowding while hundreds felt ill after drinking the water which was dispensed in plastic cups scooped from large open bins of water.

Just a year ago, some were calling for the race to be expanded to 60,000 entries but the 14,000 drop suggests that most people thought otherwise. Last year, the race was run at night and the organisers explained the drop by saying..."We couldn’t replicate the novelty again"........as if last years problems had nothing to do with it ;o)

There's probably a lesson in there for all races organisers...commercial or otherwise. Grow the event carefully and look after the people that enter.

The Las Vegas race is among 27 in the national Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series, operated by Competitor Group. Last year, the Las Vegas marathon reportedly brought more than $100 million into the local economy. A spokeman for MGM Resorts International, said the event is one of the 10 most profitable of the year for Las Vegas businesses and the event allows the tourism and hospitality industries to extend the weekend by an extra day helping to pull revenue in a month that typically lags in profitability.

The Competitor Group are due to hold a Rock 'n' Roll Half-Marathon in Dublin on the 5th of August, 2013.

Dungarvan '10' entries nearly full...

As of last Sunday evening (2nd Dec), the number of entries for the John Treacy Dungarvan 10 mile road race had just passed 1,400. That means that there are just 350 places left.

It seems very likely that the entry limit of 1,750 will be reached by next weekend...maybe Friday, maybe Sunday. If there is a sudden surge then it will be earlier.

If you are interested in doing this race......and it's one of the best in Munster.....then enter asap. Details in a previous post.