CORK CITY WELCOMES BACK GRANT THORNTON CORPORATE 5K TEAM CHALLENGE

Wednesday 29 June, South Mall

Grant Thornton Corporate Challenge 5k Logo 2016

Athletics Ireland Press Release

Business advisors Grant Thornton and Athletics Ireland have announced the return of the Grant Thornton Corporate 5k Team Challenge to Cork. Building on from the resounding success of last year’s event, the 2016 edition will take place on the evening of Wednesday 29 June starting outside Grant Thornton’s offices on South Mall.

Aimed at encouraging social running amongst the business community, the event welcomes both seasoned runners as well as beginners. This is a team event with four participants per team with their scores combining to determine the winner. There are prizes on offer for the top five teams in the Male, Female and Mixed categories, and all entrants receive a souvenir technical t-shirt and a goody bag.

Michael Nolan, Partner, Grant Thornton Cork said:  “We are delighted to see the return of the event to Cork. Last year was a phenomenal success with 870 runners, making up 218 teams. This year we’re aiming to be bigger and better. All participants are also encouraged to fundraise for this year’s chosen charity The Alzheimer Society of Ireland with the charity also receiving 10% of all entrants’ fees.”

John Kelly, former Munster Rugby player and Audit Director of Grant Thornton Cork said: “The event is a great opportunity to build team spirit and to create a sense of healthy competition. All corporates in the Cork area are invited to enter a team and to enjoy a great evening of exercise and fun.”

Olive Loughnane

For Olive Loughnane, who was recently upgraded retrospectively to world gold in the 20km race walk from Berlin 2009, the Grant Thornton Corporate 5k Team Challenge in Cork is a journey that has gone full circle.

"I'm looking forward to going full circle and taking part in the Grant Thornton Corporate 5k Team Challenge in Cork on June 9th," said Loughnane. "I started out in athletics just by participating before going on to compete at the highest level on the world stage. The relaxed and friendly atmosphere is something I'm looking forward to and being part of a team with my work mates in the Central Statistics Office. It's a great opportunity for people in the work place to bond in a healthy and fun way."


John Foley, Chief Executive of Athletics Ireland, said “As an association one of our core strategic objectives is to promote health and fitness in the population as a whole. This event enables us to reach beyond our core membership into the business community by encouraging them to focus on a fitness programme which targets a 5k run; a good starter point for novice runners.”

Entering Your Team

Teams can enter the Grant Thornton Corporate 5K Team Challenge at www.grantthortoncorporatechallenge.ie

Participants are encouraged to fundraise for the chosen charity, the Alzheimer Society of Ireland through mycharity.ie

Grant Thornton Corporate 5k Team Challenge - Race Route 2016

The 2016 course, as last year, will start outside Grant Thornton's offices in South Mall, however the route has been changed significantly, but will again finish close to last year's finish line. Details of this year's course will be released shortly, after it has been measured.