News

Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month October 2017 Laura Nicholson

Laura Nicholson is Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month for October 2017

The Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month Award is sponsored by 96FM/C103FM, The Evening Echo, Leisureworld and The River Lee

Laura Nicholson (Bandon AC) - Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month for October 2017

Cork City Sports Homepage

Cork City Sports - Awards Archive

Cork Athletics Homepage

Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month - October 2017 - Award

Citation

"After a stellar breakthrough season on the track, particularly in the steeplechase event, Laura was a comprehensive winner the 6000m Junior Women’s race, at the prestigious Autumn Open Cross Country Festival, held at the National Sports Campus Abbotstown on October the 22nd last"

The award was presented to Laura at a function in the River Lee Hotel, Cork, on Tuesday November 21st 2017.

Related Articles

Laura Nicholson Wins Celtic Games Under-18 Girls Steeplechase

Autumn Cross-Country Festival Results - October 2017

Photos - Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month October 2017

Photos from the function on Cork Athletics Flickr account

Video - Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month October 2017

Laura Nicholson interviewed by John Walshe

Laura Nicholson - Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month October 2017 from Webmaster - Cork Athletics on Vimeo.

Cork Athletics Riverstick Grounds

Cork Athletics Grounds at Slieveroe, Riverstick

Slieveroe, Riverstick, Co. Cork

Drone View of the Cork Athletics Riverstick Grounds

Location & Co-ordinates

The ground is 15.7 Miles from the Jack Lynch Tunnel, 12.8 Miles south of Cork City Centre, and 2.8 Miles east of Riverstick village

The LOC8 code for the grounds is WCL-86-5WN

GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 51.77715464079801 - Longitude: -8.440460764990235

Elevation above Sea Level: 112m

Directions 

Riverstick general location map

From Jack Lynch Tunnel

Continue through the Jack Lynch Tunnel and along the N40 South Ring Road, as far as the Kinsale Road Roundabout. Approaching the Kinsale Road Roundabout, take the slip-road to the Roundabout. At the then first left onto the N27 Kinsale Road (Airport Road). 

At the Airport Roundabout, continue straight through, onto the R600 and continue on to Riverstick village. At the cross-roads in Riverstick, by the village church, turn left and continue on until you meet the L2494, where you again turn left. Continue for another Mile. The Venue is then on the right.

From Cork City

Take the N27 South Link Road as far as Kinsale Road Roundabout. Continue directly through the Roundabout, towards Cork Airport and continue as above.

From Carrigaline

Take the R611 Belgooly Road and continue for 2.2 Miles, then turn right onto the L2494 and continue for another 2 Miles. The venue is then on your left.

From West Cork

Take the N22 and then continue on the N40, as far as the sliproad to the Kinsale Road Roundabout and, again, continue aonto the Kinsale Road, towards Cork Airport, and on, as above.

The grounds are approx. 2.8 miles east of Riverstick village

Cork Athletics Grounds

Cork Athletics grounds at Slieveroe, Riverstick consists of thirty six (36) acres of grasslands, and includes a densely wooded area.

Riverstick Course Map for Cork Athletics County Masters Championships 2017
NB: From time to time, courses may vary from above

There is a hard stand area, for buses, just inside the entrance to the site. Alongside this, there is an extensive parking area.

The cross-country 'track' comprises of the start and finish areas, close to the centre of the site, along with 10m wide tracts around the perimeter of the site. There are long rolling sections, steep(ish) downhill and, in the lower sections, several twists and turns, as the course skirts several drains from higher ground, between the wooded sections.

Registered Cork Athletics Road Races This Weekend Sun November 19th

Registered Athletics Ireland Road Races in Cork This Weekend Sunday November 19th 2017

This Weekend: Cork Airport Runway Run, Coach Education, Cloyne 4k Series & Munster Masters XC
 

Friday November 17th, 12:00pm, Cork Airport - SPAR Fitlive Run Cork Airport 5k

Saturday November 18th, 10am, Bantry - Assistant Coach Course

Saturday November 18th, Derry, N.Irl. - British & Irish Masters Cross Country Championships

Sunday November 19th, 09:30am, Cloyne - Cloyne Commons 4k Series - Race 1

Sunday November 19th, 11am, Slieveroe, Riverstick - Munster Masters & Juvenile Inter-Club Cross Country Championships

Cork Airport Runway Run 2017 - Stewarding Update

120 Volunteer Stewards Needed for Friday Night's SPAR FitLive Cork Airport 5k

2015 Participants picking up their Race Packs at the Cork Airport Airline Check-in desks

SPAR Fitlive Runway 5k

Approx. 120 stewards are required to steward this event.

In general, individual clubs will be assigned specific areas, including parking, Goodie Bag pickup, and Route stewarding. Clubs will receive funding based on the number of stewards provided.

This event starts at Midnight on Friday November 17th, however stewards will be required from approx. 9pm (TBC). The duration for which stewards will be required will depend on the areas assigned

Priority will be given to clubs who have assisted in stewarding the Evening Echo Womens Mini-Marathon.

Due to the funding received by clubs assisting in this event, there is a high demand for stewarding places.

Stewards

Each steward will receive a 'Goody Bag' and a Technical Top. In addition, each club will receive a per-capita fee for each of the stewards provided, consequently clubs providing significant numbers of stewards can benefit significantly, by way of club funding.

Cork Athletics is required to submit the names of stewards before Wednesday 15th, so please email (preferably) or phone This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 0872772922

Contact

Clubs and volunteers should contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., phone 087 2772922

The SPAR Fitlive Run / Cork Airport 5k is organised and hosted by Cork Athletics, with the assistance of Cork athletics clubs, on behalf of Athletics Ireland and the Irish Independent.  Cork Athletics receives a fee for organising and hosting the event, and the clubs providing stewards for the event also receive funding. The funds received, both by Cork Athletics and it's member clubs, are entirely ploughed back into athletics in Cork.

Cork Athletics is a not-for-profit voluntary organisation. The Officers, Committee members and others who help to run the business of the Board are all volunteers, who give their time and expertise, free of charge, for the benefit of the athletes and the sport.

Cork Athletics is a designated Sports Body, Registered GS Number 3014 - Cork County Board (Athletics Association of Ireland) - under Section 235 Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997

Orla Coffey, Aisling Cassidy & Brian Lynch Compete in SIAB International

Orla Coffey, Aisling Cassidy & Brian Lynch Compete in SIAB International

Emirates Stadium, Glasgow, Scotland

Friday November 10th 2017

 Irish SIAB Combined Events Squad - Glasgow, November 2017

Cork Athletes Orla Coffey, Aisling Cassidy and Brian Lynch are among those representing Ireland in today's SIAB schools combined-events international at the Emirates Arena, in Glasgow, Scotland

Orla Coffey (St. Angela’s College Cork / Carraig na bhFear AC) is on the Junior Girls team, Aisling Cassidy (Bandon Grammar School / Leevale AC) is on the Intermediate Girls team, while Brian Lynch (Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh / Old Abbey AC) is on the Intermediate Boys team.

The full line-up is:

Junior Girls: Jennifer Hanrahan (Our Lady’s Terenure), Niamh McCorry (Loreto College Cavan), Jennifer Leahy (Loreto Kilkenny) and Orla Coffey (St. Angela’s College Cork).

Intermediate Girls: Lara O'Byrne (St. Joseph’s Lucan), Ella Duane (Cross & Passion Kilcullen), Aisling Cassidy (Bandon Grammar School) and Niamh O'Neill (Ballyhaunis C.S.)

Junior Boys: Iarlaith Golding (St Colman's Claremorris), Jordan Cunningham (St. Malachy's College Belfast), Alan Miley (Dunlavin C.C.) and Jack Forde (Wexford C.B.S.)

Intermediate Boys: Troy McConville (Craigavon S.H.S.), Ciaran Carthy (St. Michael’s College), Brian Lynch (Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh Bishopstown) and Darragh Miniter (Ennistymon C.B.S.)

Results

Results are being posted on the Irish Schools Athletics Association Facebook Page

Cork Trio Run in Belgian International Cross-Country

Stephanie Cotter, Darragh McElhinney & Evan Byrne in Mol, Belgium, XC

Mol, Belgium

Sunday November 5th 2017

 Irish Squad

Eight Irish athletes were in action at the Easykit Crosscup International event in Mol, Belgium, last weekend

The Junior Women competed strongly, with Stephanie Cotter (West Muskerry) 6th in 21:36, Avril Deegan (Ballyroan Abbeyleix) 16th in 22:12, Aisling Kelly (St John’s Clare) 18th in 22:28 in their race.

The Junior Men fared well over 6,200m. Darragh McElhinney (Bantry) was in the shake-up, finishing 4th, in 20:34, in a battling finish. Micheal Power (West Waterford) finished 5th, in 20:51, and David McGlynn (Waterford) was 18th, in 21:50.

Evan Byrne (Togher), an U23 athlete, ran in the Senior Men’s 9,200m, and finished in 31st place, in 32:28.

Shona Heaslip (An Riocht) sharpened her preparations for the Irish Life Health National Cross Country Championships and the European Cross Country with a second place finish in Belgium last weekend. Heaslip was the top finisher, in second place, in the combined Senior and Junior Women’s 5,500m in 19:37.

The course was tough in parts with sandy sections, and a particularly gruelling sandy run-in to the finish.

Irish Squad & Team Management

Coach Education First Bantry

Successful Assistant Coach Course in Bantry

Saturday November 18th 2017

The town of Bantry hosted it's first ever coach education course last Saturday, when an Athletics Ireland Assistant Coach course was held in the Westlodge Hotel. This is the first time that a coach education course has been held in Cork, that has not been held at CIT Track, in Cork city. 

There was a full attendance of twenty four, with clubs from Cork and Kerry represented; Nine from Beara, six from Kenmare AC, with others from Bantry AC, Skibbereen AC and Killarney Valley AC, in Kerry. The course was presented by Chris Regan, and arranged by Athletics ireland RDO, Lilly-Ann O'Hora.

Those attending enjoyed the course immensely and, apparently, are now eager to do the Level 1 Coaching course.

The driving force behind this course was the emergence of a new club (details yet to be announced) on the Beara penninsula.  The resurgence in athletics in the Beara region is most welcome. The interest in Athletics is evidenced both by the number of road races in the area, in Eyries, Allihies and Castletownbere, and participation in them, and also the local Parkruns, on Bere Island and in Glengarrif.

Possibility of More Coaching Courses in Rural Regions?

Clubs in some rural and/or towns/areas remote form Cork may be finding it difficult to get people to travel to Cork for Coaching courses. This has, until now, probably held back Coach development for many.  The innovation (if it can be called that) of holding a course outside Cork is a welcome development and the success - 24 new coaches! - shows that it can be done. 

Assistant Coach courses can be held anywhere - you just need a hall ...and Athletics Ireland will arrange that - with local help, of course.  Arranging Level 1 courses is more difficult, as Track and other facilities are required, however Cork Athletics, with Athletics Ireland, will see if the requirements can be satisfied in other ways, to enable holding local Level 1 courses, if numbers demand.  

If you would like to hold a Coach Education Course in YOUR local area

1. Contact other clubs in the wider general region, and 'drum up' interest
2. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Athletics Ireland RDO, 0858060440

SPAR Fitlive Cork Airport Runway Run 2017 - Essential Information

Runway Run - Information for Participants

SPAR Fitlive Cork Airport Runway Run

Midnight Friday November 17th 2017

 Car Pooling

There will be 2,500 participants, along with some 150 race stewards and other race personnel, at tomorrow night's event, consequently the hill be a very heavy demand for parking.  There is ample parking in Cork Airport, however, it would help enormously if everyone could Car-Pool as far as possible.

Free parking will be available in the Holiday Blue carpark, adjacent to the Airport Terminal. Please allow up to fifteen (15) minutes to walk to the terminal
 
Please Car-Pool if at all possible

Items Prohibited Air Side

Due to potential damage to aircraft from items left or dropped on the runway, no loose items may be brought air-side from the terminal building, including: bottles, spare clothing, litter, mobiles phones, MP3 players, cameras, etc. In short, any loose, or potentially loose, item that may be dropped on the runway.

Immediately after the event, a 'sweep' of the runway will commence, to ensure that nobody has dropped anything on the runway.  This 'sweep' is detailed, like a forensics search. It will be dark, making the sweep/search a lot harder...and longer. Please co-operate and leave loose items behind.  Enjoy the unique location.

Check-In

Check-In will take place inside the Terminal building, at the normal Airline Check-in Desks. Check-in will open at 9pm (21:00) and will close at 11pm (23:00), one hour before the event starts.  This is to allow runners to be guided through the security barriers, and to check that prohibited material is not being inadvertently brought air-side.

Patricipant Booklet

Please take time to read through the Participant Booklet, before the event.

Event Preview

Cork Athletics' Event preview, including route information, and results, photos and videos from previous Cork Airport Runway Runs

Notice of Cork Athletics AGM 2018

Cork Athletics Annual General Meeting 2018

11am Saturday January 27th 2018

Venue: River Lee Hotel, Western Road, Cork

Some of the delegates at the 2016 AGM of Cork Athletics, held at the River Lee Hotel, Cork

The Annual General Meeting of Cork Athletics will take place on Saturday January 27th 2018.  Clubs and divisions are asked to submit their Motions and Nominations to County Secretary, Anne Murray, by Wednesday November 30th

Motions and nominations may be submitted by post to Anne Murray, Hon Secretary Cork Athletics, Dromina, Co. Cork, or by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., on or before 12 Noon on Thursday November 30th

Nominations: Each position is open for nomination, and current officers may be re-nominated, however current Chairman, Bill Allen, has indicated that he is not seeking re-election to that position. A list of officer positions can be found on the Officers and Officials page under About Us from the Main Menu

Athletics Ireland Congress 2018

As next year is a congress year for Athletics Ireland (Congress is held every two years), all motions going forward for congress, or which will require ratification by Congress, must also to be in by 30th November. 

Please Note that Cork Athletics requires that the proposer(s), or their representative(s), of motions for Congress are required to attend and speak, at Congress, on the motion(s).

Each affiliated club is entitled to send four (4) voting delegates. Voting and other matters can be found in the Cork Athletics Constitution (PDF file). Cork Athletics Bye-Laws (PDF file)

Outgoing Cork Athletics Officers and Officials

Ex-Officio Position

The Safety Advisor position is currently ex-officio and requires a change to the Cork Athletics Constitution for ratification as a full officer position.

Starters

Munster Delegates

Juvenile Committee Officers

Trustees - Riverstick Grounds

Development Liaison Committee

Winter-Coaching Series 2017 - Day 4 - High Jump Report

High Jump Report from Day 4 of Cork Athletics Winter Coaching Series 2017

By Martin O'Sullivan, High Jump Coach

CIT Track

Saturday November 11th 2017

Well done again to all who attended on Saturday, the fourth day of the Cork Athletics Winter Coaching Series. Jumping conditions were poor, so fair play to those who attended, and got some good jumping in.

Key points from Saturday's session:

- Mat exercises with landing drills & bar clearance.

• Focused more today on what to do at take off
• Where to plant, and how. Arching
• Where to have you hands. Where to look

- Running drills for proper curve and lean. (Lean is so, so important. !!)

•    Did Crcuits specific to high jump which can be done with out a mat.
•    Key drills to do at home to improve / maintain technique.

Saturday's weather was not good for the PB challenge, so we just focused on jumping with good technique, and getting some starting marks set down. See below for your athlete's marks. Please note that these marks are now your athletes starting marks, and they always start with these initially. As they get faster, stronger etc, the marks will need to be adjusted accordingly.

On Saturday, it was great to see the athletes gaining confidence with their jumping, and getting more consistent at jumping their training heights.

Please note that it is important to know what you athlete's training height is, as this is where the technique is worked on. This height cannot be too high, as they are more interested in clearing and the technique goes out the window. Having it too low will remove the need for the athlete to push themselves' and the focus on getting things just right to clear the bar.

The PB challenge is where we push up the bar higher and higher. This is a different session to that of jumping at training height.

Hopefully the weather will be kinder to us the next day so we can do another PB challenge.

Please see attached the PB challenge tracker.

Please note that this is open to all athletics on the day, so feel free to come on down and get a jump in. Looking forward to meeting you all again in two weeks time. Please spread the word to any more high jumpers out there, who may be interested.

Thanks also to all those parents who helped out. (Very much appreciated :-)

Regards Martin

Cork Team Selections for Athletics Ireland National Junior and Senior Cross-Country Championships 2017

Cork Athletics Squads Named for National Senior & Junior Cross-Country Championships

National Sports Campus, Abbottstown, Dublin

Sunday November 26th 2017

The following athletes have been selected for Cork Teams at Athletics Ireland National Junior & Senior Cross-Country Championships 2017

 All selected athletes MUST confirm their status with This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (085-1480725) asap, and by 5pm, Wednesday November 15th, at the very latest.

If you Cannot make it, please let Paddy Buckley know immediately. If you are doubtful, please let Paddy know - your place will be held, but replacements may be put on standby notice - Cork Athletics wants to field full squads in all events - please help us do that!

Anyone who has not been included in the listings, or who feels that they may have been inadvertently omitted, or who, having previously indicated that they did not wish to be considered, would like to be considered for selection, should contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (085-1480725) without delay

The County Board Bus has been cancelled, as a large number of those selected have made their own alternative travel arrangements.

Strong squads have been nominated for all four Championships, with some athletes already committed to travelling home from abroad to run on the Cork County team

Junior Womens Team

 Eight (8) to run, with four (4) to score

Junior Mens Team

Twelve (12) to run, with six (6) to score

Senior Womens Team

Eight (8) to run, with four (4) to score

Senior Mens Team

Twelve (12) to run, with six (6) to score

Registered Cork Athletics Road Races This Weekend Sun November 12th

Registered Athletics Ireland Road Races in Cork This Weekend Sunday November 12th 2017

This Weekend: Races in Eyeries and Castlelyons

 
Sunday's Thomas Kent Memorial, in Castlelyons, sold out several months ago, so why not head west, to Eyeries for their popular and scenic 5 Miler.

Saturday November 11th, 2:30pm, Eyeries, Beara - Eyeries 5 Mile Road Race

Sunday November 12th, 11am, Castlelyons - St Nicholas AC Thomas Kent Memorial 10k