News

East Cork Athletics Division Launches New Website - March 2022

New Look for East Cork Division Website

Recent changes in East Cork Athletics Division Board coincide with a welcome new website

East Cork Athletics Division Website

Outgoing Chairman Martin Drake, Youghal AC, who held the position for the past decade, since 2012, has been succeeded by John Hennessy, Midleton AC, while Tim Twomey, East Cork AC, also stood down after sixteen years as Secretary, from 2006 to 2022, and he was succeeded by Mike Dorney, Midleton AC

Martin Drake and Tim Twomey bid farewell to the East Cork Athletics Division Board

The new East Cork Divison website paid tribute to both men:

"A huge thank you is extended to Martin Drake (Chairman) and Tim Twomey (Hon. Sec) for the many, many years of service each have given to Each Cork Athletics. Tim held the position of Hon. Secretary since 2006 while Martin was first elected Chairman in 2012. Both men were hugely committed and influential in maintaining a strong and active divisional athletics scene. Words of appreciation were extended from all the divisional clubs for their many years of hard work and service.  Their experience and knowledge will be hugely missed but we know both men are only a phone call away"

Entry Listings - County Road Championships 2022

Entry Listings for County Road Championships 2022

Castlelyons

11am Friday March 18th 2022

Start of Men's County Road Championship 2018

Please Check Your Details!

Entrants are asked to please check that their details are correct

In particular that Masters are in their correct category, and are on the
correct team declaration

F45+ and M50+ may move down in age to the appropriate F/M35+  team, if they wish, but this must be declared before the race, to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Entry Listing at 8pm Tuesday March 15th 2022

Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month of January 2022 - Conor Callinan

Conor Callinan is Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month for January 2022

River Lee Hotel

Monday March 14th 2022

Conor Callinan, Leevale AC, is Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month for January 2022

Conor Callinan with his mother Olive and sister Shona


The award was presented to Conor at a function at the River Lee hotel, on Monday March 14th 2022

Conor Callinan with Cork City Sports representatives and sponsors

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

Cork City Sports Homepage

Cork City Sports - Awards Archive

Cork Athletics Homepage

Cork Athletics Facebook Page

The Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month for January 2022 is Conor Callinan, Leevale AC

Conor Callinan receiving his award from Donal Murnane, Cork City Sports

Cork City Sports Athletics Person of the Month - January 2022 - Award Citation

At the National Indoor Arena track meeting in Dublin, Conor set a new Irish Junior Indoor Pole Vault record of 4.75m. This was also both a Cork County Senior & Junior Record for the event

Conor Callinan, Leevale AC is the January recipient of the Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month award

 


Related Articles

Cork City Sports Athletics Person of the Month of October 2020 - Conor Callinan

Watch Cork Athletics Videos on Vimeo

County Senior Junior and Masters Track and Field Championships 2022

County Senior, Junior & Masters T&F Championships & Graded Leagues 2022

Action from Cork Athletics Graded leagues Round 4 2019


The County Senior, Junior and Masters T&F Championships will be held in conjunction with the Graded Leagues this year

A sub-committee has been formed to manage the series, which are planned for April through to June.  MTU Track is scheduled for relaying once Cork City Sports are over, in early July.  Should the relaying be delayed or postponed, it is hoped that one or two more meets can be held


The format of the Leagues has still to be decided, however it is hoped that the inclusion of the Championships will raise both the quality of the events and numbers participating. Each meet will be open to guest athletes from other counties

European Masters Championships - Braga 2022

Cork Masters in Pole Position at European Masters Indoor T&F Championships 2022

Braga, Portugal

February 20th - 27th 2022

Some of the Irish Masters Contingent, Braga 2022

The European Masters Athletics Championships took place in Braga Portugal, from February 20th - 27th, with over 2000 athletes from 43 countries competing. A total of 87 Irish athletes took part in what turned out to be the most successful Masters Championships by an Irish Masters Team, finishing in 7th place in the overall medal table. The Irish squad collected a superb 59 Medals in total; 24 gold, 18 silver and 17 bronze making this the largest medal collection by the Irish masters team

Photos: Patrick Cross has a fine collection of photos on his Flickr account

Annette Quaid, Leevale AC, was, along with Anne Gilsinan, leading medal winner among the Irish women, securing three medals each

 Annette Quaid and Donie Walsh

Michael Kiely, Rising Sun AC, completed a full deck of medals, with Gold, Silver and Bronze

 Hugh McSweeney & Michael Kiely

The 4x200m Men’s relay team of Hugh McSweeney, Eagle AC, Mick Priest, Fr. Murphy AC, Michael Kiely, Rising Sun AC, and Matt Slattery, Clonliffe Harriers AC, secured a gold medal, also set a new Irish Masters record time of 2:08.76

 Irish M70 4x200 Winning Team

 M70 4x200m Results

Team Ireland also took gold across the relays with the women securing four sets of team medals and one silver, complemented by the men securing both a gold and a bronze medal. Included in the women's tally, was the F40 Women who took Gold in 1:45.43; Avril Dillon, Kathryn McDevitt, Annette Quaid, Leevale AC and Sinead O'Regan, Riverstick Kinsale AC

  Irish F40 4x200m Winning Team

 F40 4x200m Results

Ukraine Support

Team Ireland Masters athletes organised a collection of €2,000 and clothing for the Ukrainian Masters Team. The collection was an impromptu representation of the generosity of the athletes

Team Ukraine’s athletes remain in Portugal, safe from the war currently facing their country

Full European Masters Indoor T&F Championship Results 2022

Team Ireland Medalists:

60m Hurdles Women

M40 (Silver) Avril Dillon 8.90                

F55 (Bronze) Geraldine Finnegan 10.55

60m Men

M50 (Silver) John Corr, Leevale AC, 07.40

M55 (Gold) David Hayde 07.61

60m Women

F40 (Bronze) Avril Dillon 07.88

F55 (Bronze) Moira Groome 08.82

200m Men

M50 (Bronze) John Corr, Leevale AC, 24:25

M55 (Bronze) David Hayde 24:77  

200m Women

F55 (Bronze) Carol Kearney 29.04

400m Men

M70 (Silver) Matthew Slattery 67.31
M70 (5th) Ken Higgs, Eagle AC 69.04

Ken Higgs & Hugh McSweeney

M75 (Silver) Hugh McSweeney, Eagle AC 72.99

400m Women

F40 (Gold) Annette Quaid, Leevale AC, 58.39

F55 (Silver) Carol Kearney 64.89

800m Men

M65 (Bronze) Joe Gough 02:22.22

M70 (Bronze) Michael Priest 02:37.58

M75 (Silver) Michael Kiely, Rising Sun AC 02:57.36

800m Women

F35 (Gold) Mary Horgan 02:14.19

F40 (Gold) Annette Quaid, Leevale AC, 02:17.51

F55 (Gold) Anne Gilshinan 02:21.18

1500m Men

M65 (Gold) Joe Gough 04:50.84

M75 (Bronze) Michael Kiely, Rising Sun AC 06:02.82

1500m Women

F40 (Gold) Denise Toner 04:42.70

F40 (Silver) Annette Quaid, Leevale AC, 04:39.24

Annette Quaid leads the field

F45 (Silver) Catriona Devine 04:55.72

F55 (Gold) Anne Gilshinan 04:46.94

3000m Men

M35 (Gold) Eoin Everard 08:35.33

3000m Walk Men

M75 (Gold) John McMullin 18:31.88

3000m Walk Women

F50 (Bronze) Sinead McConnell 16.05.81

3000m Women

F40 (Gold) Denise Toner 09:55.99

F55 (Gold) Anne Gilshinan 11:26.37  

F60 (Silver) Irene Clements 11:49.99

F75 (Silver) Evelyn McNeils 16:34.08

5KM Walk Men

M75 (Gold) John McMullin 31.30

5KM Walk Women

F50 (Bronze) Sinead McConnell 27.30

8KM Cross-Country Women

F40 (Gold) Michelle Kenny, Leevale AC, 00:32.49

 Michelle Kenny tracking

F40 (Bronze) Aoife Parrella 00:33.59

6.4km Cross-Country Women

F60 (Silver) Irene Clements 00:29:23

F65 (Silver) Noreen Bonner 00:31:15

F70 (Gold) Eileen Kenny 00:33:41

F75 (Silver) Evelyn McNelis 00:41:06  

Long Jump Women

F35 (Gold) Ciara Kearns 05.39m

High Jump Men

M70 (Bronze) Michael Priest 01.35m 

Hammer Throw Men

M35 (Gold) John Dwyer 51.78m

Discuss Throw Men

M35 (Silver) John Dwyer 41.08m

Discuss Throw Women

F60 (Bronze) Mary Barrett 23.63m

Pole Vault Women

F55 (Silver) Geraldine Finegan 02.50m

Weight Throw Women

F35 (Silver) Emma Conway 8.34m

Weight Throw Men

M35 (Gold) John Dwyer 16.11m

Javelin Women

F55 (Silver) Geraldine Finnegan 26.33m

Pentathlon Women

F55 (Bronze) Geraldine Finnegan 4041 points

Team:    4x200m Relay Women

F40 Women Gold 1:45.43 - Avril Dillon, Kathryn McDevitt, Annette Quaid, Leevale AC, Sinead O'Regan

F40 4x200m Results 

F45 Women Gold 1:57.13 - Maggie O'Connor, Annette Durkan, Leanne Wellings, Mary Scanlon

F50 Women Gold 1:58.26 - Moira Groome, Dara Carr, Carol Kearney, Linda Nally

 Irish M70 4x200m Team

Team:  4x200m Relay Men

M45 Men Bronze 1:41.37 John Corr, Leevale AC, Martin O'Donnell, David Hayde, Stephen Byrne

M70 Men Gold 2:08.76 - Hugh McSweeney, Mick Priest, Michael Kiely, Matt Slattery

Team:    Cross Country

 F40 Gold - Michelle Kenny, Leevale AC, Aoife Parella, Donna Evans

 F65 Gold - Eileen Kenny, Noreen Bonner, Evelyn McNelis

Team:    5KM Road Walk

 F50 Bronze – Sinead McConnell, Maggie Helen O'Connor, Anne Gormley

St Nicholas AC to Host Cork Athletics County Road Championships 2022

St Nicholas AC Will Host County Road Championships 2022

The County Road Championships will be hosted by St. Nicolas AC, at 11am, on Friday March 18th (Bank Holiday)

 Start of Womens Championship 2016

Full details are on the Cork Athletics Calendar Event Page

NB: Athletes are expected to enter themselves individually and pay their entry fee on the day, except only where prior arrangement has been made with Liam O'Brien (See Cork Athletics Calendar Event Page for details)

Cork County Road Championships Entry Form

Preparation for Juvenile Track and Field Championships - Officials Sought

Cork County AAI Juvenile Track & Field 2022 Championships - Preparations

MTU Track

Sunday May 1st - County Juvenile U12-19 T&F Championships - Day 1

Sunday May 8th - County Juvenile U12-19 T&F Championships - Day 2

Sunday May 15th - County Juvenile U9 - 11 & Relays T&F Championships - Day 3

Sunday May 22nd - County Juvenile B & Combined Events T&F Championships - Day 4


These Championships are scheduled to return during the first four Sundays in May, with the normal full complement of events

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, up to 1500 athletes were entered for some of these Championships

At the recent County Board AGM, it was decided to make a concerted effort to expand the number of people involved in the preparations and pre-planning of these Championships, ahead of the events. If successful, this should ensure more efficiently organised Championships, and also relieve the pressure on the very small number of officials with the onerous task of putting all the 'bits and pieces' in place during the pre-planning stage. As usual, all clubs with participants are asked to provide officials on each of these days at all the field event sites, and at the track

With this in mind, willing club officials are asked to commit to take on a relatively small manageable role, ahead of each championship

Typically these tasks will involve the following non-exhaustive list:

1    Entries taken – via an email entry form. In time, it is hoped to provide an online entry system.  This latter  option suit a person with basic IT skills

2    Create start lists for the field events, and possibly track events

3    Ensure the collection of entry fees is complete in a timely manner after the final championship day

4    Medals ordered, collected and manage the presentation of these on competition day

5    Order and collect bib numbers (and possibly safety pins)

6    Organise First Aid cover

7    Track officials coordination – Get the names of the track officials nominated by the relevant clubs that have been assigned to provide track officials

8    Jumps officials coordinator – Get the names of the jumps officials nominated by the relevant clubs that have been assigned to provide long, high and triple jump officials

9    Throws officials coordinator - Get the names of the throws officials nominated by the relevant clubs that have been assigned to provide shot put, discus, javelin and hammer throw officials

10    Equipment coordinator. Check beforehand that the equipment needed (particularly throwing implements and tapes) for all events is available on site

11    Catering – Arrange refreshments for officials on the day

Already, there is a lot of goodwill and willingness to get involved, by regular club officials and coaches, who see the need for, and value of, this type of streamlining of the Juvenile Championships

So far Seven officials have already committed to this project. We need a minimum of ten, and ideally even more, so that the workload can be reduced even further on what will be a de facto Juvenile T&F workgroup

Liam O’Brien has agreed to coordinate this group for current year

If you would like to play a part in pre competition arrangements as outlined above, or in any other way, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. before Friday next, March 25th

Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month of February 2022 - Michael Healy

Michael Healy is Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month for February 2022

River Lee Hotel

Monday March 14th 2022

Michael Healy, Youghal AC, is Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month for February 2022

Michael Healy, with Kate O'Callaghan


The award was presented to Michael at a function at the River Lee hotel, on Monday March 14th 2022

Michael Healy with Cork City Sports representatives and sponsors

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

Cork City Sports Homepage

Cork City Sports - Awards Archive

Cork Athletics Homepage

Cork Athletics Facebook Page

The Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month for February 2022 is Michael Healy, Youghal AC

Cork City Sports Athletics Person of the Month - February 2022 - Award Citation

Competing at the National Indoor Senior Championships, held at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena, Michael recorded a very deserved victory in the Men's 56lb for distance event. His Gold Medal throw was 8.21m

Michael Healy receiving his award from Liam O'Brien, Cork City Sports

Michael Healy, Youghal AC is the February recipient of the Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month award

Watch Cork Athletics Videos on Vimeo

Cork Athletes Set Four Records at National Junior and Under 23 Indoor Championships 2022

Cork Athletes Set Four Records at National Junior & Under 23 Indoor Championships

Athlone

Sunday March 13th 2022

Cork athletes set four new National records at today's National Junior and Under 23 Indoor Championships, on their way to collecting a total of eleven (11) Gold, seven (7) Silver and six (6) Bronze medals


Cork  Medalists
(with apologies to anyone overlooked)

Junior Women 60m Sprint
1 Lucy-May SLEEMAN, Leevale AC, 7.41      
3 Ella SCOTT, Leevale AC, 7.79

Junior Women's 60m

U23 Women 1500m
1 Shona O’BRIEN, Cork Track Club, 4:46.37

U23 Women's 1500m

U23 Men 1500m
3 Ben SMITH, Leevale AC, 4:04.06

U23 Men 400m
3 Eoin REDMOND, Riverstick/Kinsale AC, 51.03

Junior Women 800m
1 Maeve O’NEILL, Doheny AC, 2:11.89

Junior Women's 800m

Junior Women 200m Sprint
1 Fatima AMUSA, Leevale AC, 25.16
2 Hannah FALVEY, Junior Women, Belgooly AC, 25.17

Junior Womens 200m

Junior Women 60m Hurdles (0.838m)
1 Lucy-May SLEEMAN, Leevale AC, 8.68
3 Okwu BACKARI, Leevale AC, 8.88

Junior Women's 60m Hurdles - Podium

Junior Men 60m Hurdles (0.991m)
2 Sean CARMODY, Leevale AC, 8.32

U23 Men 60m Hurdles (1.067m)
2 Jack MCGRATH, Leevale AC, 8.52

Junior Women 4x200m Relay
1 Leevale AC, Leevale AC, 1:40.79
    1: Okwu BACKARI
    2: Fatima AMUSA
    3: Ella SCOTT
    4: Lucy-May SLEEMAN
    5: Ciara O'MAHONY

U23 Men Shot Put (7.26kg)
3 Ryan DUGGAN, Leevale AC, 12.48

U23 Men Triple Jump
2 Dylan ROBERTS, Bandon AC, 12.28

Junior Men Pole Vault
1 Conor CALLINAN, Leevale AC, 4.65
2 Joshua FITZGERALD, Leevale AC, 4.00

Conor CALLINAN, Leevale AC

Junior Men Pole Vault

Junior Women High Jump
2 Aoife O'SULLIVAN, Liscarroll AC, 1.73m

Junior Women Pole Vault
1 Una BRICE, Leevale AC, 3.60m

Una Brice, Leevale AC

U23 Women Pole Vault
1  Clodagh WALSH, Abbey Striders AC, 3.35m

Clodagh WALSH, Abbey Striders AC

Junior Women Long Jump
2 Katie O'REGAN, Riverstick/Kinsale AC, 5.42m

U23 Men Long Jump
1 Adam TURNER, Belgooly AC, 6.73m

Junior Women 60m Sprint
1 Lucy-May SLEEMAN, Leevale AC,7.41 sec
3 Ella SCOTT, Leevale AC, 7.79 sec

 

Full Meet Video

Full Meet Results

Championship Records Galore at the Irish Life National Junior & U23 Championships

TUS International Arena played host to the Irish Life Health National Junior and U23 Indoor Championships on Sunday. The 2022 indoor season has been a rollercoaster in Irish Athletics, as athletes break records across the board both at home and abroad. The emerging talents competing kept up the record-breaking action in the midlands venue

Ahead of the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade later this week, Israel Olatunde (UCD AC) took the Irish Life Health National Indoor U23 Championship title with an impressive time of 6.63, setting a new Championship Record and closing in on his own 6.62 National 60m Record

Olympian Robert McDonnell (Galway City Harriers AC) also put in a powerful performance ahead of the World Indoor Championships, taking silver in the 60m after Olatunde

Rachel McCann (North Down AC) took the U23 National Womens 400m Title in 55.56, just shy of the Championship record of 55.33

Lucy Sleeman (Leevale AC) put on a star performance in the 60m setting a new PB at 7.41m and taking the National Junior Championship title. The 17-year-old was a strong feature at the National Senior Championships last month and has had an incredible indoor season. Following her over the line was DSD AC’s Jennifer Hanrahan and Ella Scott (Leevale AC)

Jed Walshe (Ratoath AC) took the Irish Life Health National Junior 400m Championship title ahead of David Mannion (South Galway AC) who was followed by Ronan Long (Tallaght AC)

Callum Hurley (Ferrybank AC) secured the Junior 800m Championship title and set the new record at 1:51.86 after an incredible line finish. Colin P Smith (Mullingar Harriers AC) and Aron Shorten (St L O'Toole AC) followed the Ferrybank man over the line repectively

Andrew Glennon (Mullingar Harriers AC) was first across the line in the Junior 3KM Walk followed by Moy Valley AC Jake O'Brien with and Matthew Glennon (Mullingar Harriers AC) took bronze in the category. Back on the track Ryan Roberts (Sligo AC) took the Men’s U23 3KM Walk National Championship title

In the field event there was a flurry of Championships records such as in the Pole Vault. Clodagh Walsh (Abbey Striders AC) and Una Brice (Leevale AC) set new Championships Records for the U23 at 3.35m and Junior at 3.60m, respectively. Walsh beat her own Championship record set in 2020

In the Men's Pole Vault Conor Callinan (Leevale AC) and Matthew Callinan Keenan (St L O’Toole AC) set their respective category’s National Championship Titles at 4.65m

Deana Kelly (St Abbans AC) done one better than the 2014 U23 High Jump Championship Record coming over the bar at 1.76m

Ciaran Connolly (Le Cheile AC) also took on the High Jump Championship Record clearing 2.10m to beat the 2013 previous record of 2m

Claire Kennedy (Birr AC) set a Junior Womens Weight for Distance Championship Record at 6.08m

The U23 Weight for Distance Championship record was broken in both the men and women's categories as Robert Higgins (Na Fianna AC) set 9.18m and Zoe Mahon (Cushinstown AC) beat her own 2020 record with 6.63m

Leevale AC seen more records being set by their club as Lucy Sleeman, Ella Scott, Okwu Backri and Fatima Amusa set a new Junior National Club Record and Championship Record at 1:40.79. The Cork Club previously set the record earlier this year

Championship Records:  

Israel Olatunde UCD AC U23 60m Championship Record 6.63

Callum Hurley Ferrybank AC Junior 800m Championship Record 1:51.86

Ciaran Connolly Le Cheile AC U23 High Jump Championship Record 2.10m  

Conor Callinan Leevale AC Junior Pole Vault Championship Record 4.65m  

Matthew Callinan Keenan St L O’Toole AC U23 Pole Vault Championship Record of 4.65m  

Una Brice Leevale AC Junior Pole Vault Championship Record 3.60m  

Clodagh Walsh Abbey Striders AC U23 Pole Vault Championship Record 3.35m  

Deana Kealy St Abban’s AC 1.76m U23 High Jump Championship Record  

Claire Kennedy Birr AC 6.08m Junior Weight for Distance Championship Record  

Robert Higgins Na Fianna AC 9.18m U23 Weight for Distance Championship Record  

Zoe Mahon Cushinstown AC 6.63m U23 Weight for Distance Championship Record  

Leevale AC Lucy May Sleeman, Ella Scott, Okwu Backri and Fatima Amusa Junior National Club Record and Championship Record 1:40.79

Dates set for Cork Track and Field Championships 2022

County Juvenile T&F Championships Set for May

10am Sunday May 1st, 8th, 16th & 22nd 2022

County Juvenile T&F Championships 2018


MTU Track has been booked for the first four Sundays in May, to host the 2022 Cork Athletics County Juvenile Track and Field Championships, which will be held on the first four Sundays in May

Meet schedules and details, along with entry forms, are currently being drafted and will be posted once available

Juvenile Under 12 to Under 19 T&F Championships

The Juvenile Under 12 to Under 19 Championships will be held over the first two Sundays in May, Sunday May 1st & Sunday May 8th

Juvenile Under 9 to Under 11 T&F and Juvenile Relay Championships

Sunday May 15th 2022

The Juvenile Under 9 to Under 11 Championships will be held in the morning session on Sunday May 15th, while the Juvenile relays will take place in the afternoon

Juvenile 'B' T&F and Juvenile Combined Events Championships

Sunday May 22nd 2022

The Juvenile Under 9 to Under 11 Championships will be held in the morning session on Sunday May 22nd

County Senior, Junior & Masters T&F Championships & Graded Leagues

Action from Cork Athletics Graded leagues Round 4 2019


The County Senior, Junior and Masters T&F Championships will be held in conjunction with the Graded Leagues this year

A sub-committee has been formed to manage the series, which are planned for April through to June.  MTU Track is scheduled for relaying once Cork City Sports are over, in early July.  Should the relaying be delayed or postponed, it is hoped that one or two more meets can be held


The format of the Leagues has still to be decided, however it is hoped that the inclusion of the Championships will raise both the quality of the events and numbers participating. Each meet will be open to guest athletes from other counties

Stephen Hennessy – A Youghal Sporting Legend - Report by John Walshe

STEPHEN HENNESSY – A YOUGHAL SPORTING LEGEND

This article by John Walshe appeared in the Youghal/Midleton & District News

Stephen Hennessy

His athletics career may have been all too brief, but in a short few years in the late 1960s Stephen Hennessy achieved more honours at national and local level than most pack into a lifetime.

On a recent Tuesday morning, over a coffee in the Boardwalk on the Mall, as Stephen flicked through his beautifully-kept scrapbook the memories came flooding back of races, venues travelled to, and of the people who enriched his life along the way

It all began for the man from Sarsfield Terrace at the end of 1963, when he first commenced running. The following year, he joined the then-fledging Youghal Athletic Club. “Some of the people there at that time would be Paddy Coleman, George Walsh, Freddie Walsh, Mick Buckley, Mick Harty, Jerry Russell, my brother Christy and Raymond Carr,” he recalls. “My first year running was a big surprise to me as I came second in the Munster Youths to Donie Walsh and also second to Donie in the All-Ireland.”

Walsh - then with the Hilltown club, and later Leevale - would go on to become one of Ireland’s greatest runners and proved to be something of a thorn in the Youghal man’s side when again defeating him in both the 1966 All-Ireland Youths and Cork Novice championships. There was some consolation in the latter race as Stephen, along with Freddie Walsh, Mick Buckley and Michael Harty, took the club award

But all that changed a year later, as he explained: “I won the County Youths, Munster Youths and All-Ireland Youths and captained the Cork team, but my big achievement that year of 1967 was to beat the NACA champion John Buckley, and the AAU champion PJ O’Sullivan, in the All-Army senior cross-country.”

                                                                All-Ireland Youths Cross-Country, Tullamore, 1968. Stephen Hennessy tops the podium, with Richie Crowley, Blarney AC second, and third PJ Leddy, Ballinamore AC         

This brought national attention to the 18-year-old from Youghal, as the following report by the knowledgeable John Comyn in the Sunday Independent relates: “One of the biggest shocks of the sporting year was the success of Cork’s latest prodigy, Stephen Hennessy, in the Army cross-country championships. Though still a youth, Stephen took on the top men in both associations and simply ran away from them over a very muddy course in the Phoenix Park. At 18 years of age, he must now rank as the top senior in the NACA and on form behind only Derek Graham and Tom O’Riordan in the whole country.”

Winning performance from Stephen Hennessy, at Frogmore Youghal, 1967

At the time, any member of the FCA – which Stephen joined at 16 - was eligible to run the Army championships. “It was Paddy ‘Waxer’ Daly who got me to join; I was a member of the C Company 23rd Battalion based in the Sluagh Hall, Midleton. In 1966, at 17, I won the All-Army mile at the Curragh in a time of 4:20, which was my fastest. I qualified to go to Switzerland to represent the Army but due to lack of funds they didn’t send a team.”

Another major achievement was to win the individual All-Ireland Army cross-country in 1967 and he was also on the All-Ireland winning team three years in a row. That was the year that the ‘split’ in Irish athletics was healed with the formation of BLE and Stephen created another bit of history the following season when he was a member of the Cork team to win the first BLE national cross-country title at Mallow.

His numerous victories while still a youth saw him named as the Evening Echo Sports Personality on a couple of occasions, the citation following one success reading: “Fair haired Stephen Hennessy of Youghal created a major sensation at Baldonnell, Co Dublin, on Sunday last when he won the All-Army Cross-Country Championship, beating the cream of the ‘over the country’ men in Ireland. This was undoubtedly the 18-years-old Youghal boy’s greatest achievement, for although he enjoyed great success since he first competed in this gruelling sport he was very little fancied in this particular race.”

To achieve such marvellous results at an age that would be unheard of today, was it natural ability or training that brought him to such a level? “I suppose I had the ability for running but I got the experience from the lads I trained with. When I started I was only doing three miles a day and then after a few months I went up to four miles and after that I was doing six miles a day. I used to train a lot on the strand which I found very good and I’d recommend it to anybody. I used to run in the soft sand for maybe a half-mile and then go down onto the hard sand for another half-mile and then back up to the soft sand. I found that gave me the strength and the power at the finish of a race to break away.”

Stephen also got great advice from the late Paddy Coleman who won Irish championships over 1500m and one mile, along with training partners George and Freddie Walsh. “We used to do between 10 and 15 miles a day and then every three or four months I’d run 26 miles to build up the stamina. I’d go off on my own on a Sunday morning from Jerry Russell’s garage almost to Talllow, and back home. I never used to look at the watch until I finished; I can’t understood today when I see people looking at their watch every few hundred yards.”

Although road races weren’t as prevalent as today, he notched up another significant victory on New Year’s Eve 1966 when coming first before his home crowd at the inaugural Youghal Round-the-Houses event which took place just before midnight. Another major fixture of the time was the Cork to Cobh 15-miler held in April. Here, Stephen Hennessy has another amazing tale to tell: “My disappointment there was one year I finished fourth. I had run 12 miles that morning in training when Jerry Russell said he was going up to Cork and would I run the race. He persuaded me to go and I maintained if I hadn’t run the 12 miles that morning I would have won it. I was third at one stage but was passed by Mick Molloy [1968 Olympian] before the finish.”

Towards the end of his running career, Stephen also played hurling and football with Youghal. On one occasion when Youghal were playing Cloyne in the semi-final of the U21 hurling at Castlemartyr, after the match he put on his running gear and ran the 10 miles home to Youghal!

Regrets - as the song says, ‘he’s had a few, but then again too few to mention’ – include not being offered an athletics scholarship like many of his contemporaries and also not to be given the opportunity to run overseas with the army due to lack of funds. “After I retired, I still ran for years but I could never show the interest that I had. I said what’s the point, I won what I won and I proved that I was able to run. I was happy that I had done something and I got a great sense of achievement out of it.”

The countless trophies and cups won by Stephen also served a purpose as he donated five or six boxes to his club-mate Willie O’Mahony from Gortroe who re-used them for some of the many under-age events he used to organise.

Youghal and Midleton News

After working in Seafield Fabrics for 14 years, Stephen spent over 30 years in the army which included eight trips to the Lebanon. Today, he still retains a great interest in the sport he enhanced with such distinction over 50 years ago. He plays golf on his local course a few times a week and on alternate days walks a brisk four miles to maintain fitness.

And no doubt after some of those walks as he sits by his kitchen table that bulky green scrapbook is once again taken down as he re-lives those glory days when he brought such honour and enjoyment to his native town

Other Guest Articles by John Walshe

1972 Fermoy Cross-Country Championship Recalled

Midleton AC County Novice Cross-Country Team 1971

Donie Walsh - 1971 European Championships 10,000m Recalled

Willie O'Mahony has clocked the miles building East Cork Athletics

Memorable Youghal Road Race Took Place at Midnight on New Year's Eve

Midleton AC Virtual Club Challenge

Cork Cross-Country of 1980

Cork Marathon Magic in 1986 as Marion Lyons Wins

The 1985 Cork 800 Marathon

Tullamore Man Won First Cork Marathon

Pioneering Women of Cross-Country

Grange International Cross-Country of 1980 Recalled 40 Years On

Youghal AC's London Emer Casey 10k Exploits

30 Years Ago - Liam O'Brien Wins Cork County Senior Cross-Country Championship

50 Years Ago - When John Buckley Beat The Olympic Champion

40 Years Ago - Jerry Murphy Wins Munster Marathon Championship

Aoife Cooke Runs 55:17 in Mallow 10 2019

Munster Cross-Country of 1989

Steeplechase Legends Meet at Antrim International

Aidan Hogan - Ultra-Athlete

RUNNING FOR BETTER

Cork to Cobh 40 Years Ago

Unique National Double for McGraths

Athlete Transfer Deadline - March 24th 2022

Deadline - March 24th 2022

Cork Athletics Facebook page

Athletes wishing to transfer clubs are reminded that the deadline for the return of fully completed transfer forms is Thursday March 24th.  Forms received after that date will NOT be accepted

Please do NOT use the online permit application system, as there are technical and admin issues with the process

Transfer forms may be downloaded from the Athletics Ireland website.  

The Sequence and Procedure on the form MUST be followed

Completed Transfer Forms

Completed forms should be given to Cork AAI County Board Registrar, John Copithorne, or posted to him at John Copithorne, Registrar Cork AAI County Board, Belgooly, Co. Cork

[Every transfer window, one of more forms are sent directly to Dublin, bypassing Cork County Board

This results in, at best, delayed transfers, whilst the transfer may be held over until the next Transfer Window. (e.g. for the current deadline, of March 24th, it is unlikely that Cork Athletics will receive incorrectly directed forms back from AAI HQ by it's April meeting, so it may be May or even June before the transfer is approved.)]

• Do NOT call to John Copithorne's house

• Do NOT send your form by Registered Post, Courier or other form of delivery, except the regular Post

• Do NOT send your completed form to Athletics Ireland HQ (Dublin), as this will severely affect delivery time, likely missing the deadline.

Closing date is Thursday March 24th

Completed Transfer Forms may be submitted at any stage, but will not be reviewed by Cork Athletics County Board until after March 24th. However early submission allows time for the return and resubmission of forms that are incomplete or contain an error of some form or other

The Transfer Form MUST be signed in the following order

By the:

•   Member (in the case of a minor, by their parent or guardian)

•   New Club

•   Outgoing Club

•   County Board (outgoing club)

•   Outgoing County Board (for out of county club transfer only)

•   Incoming County Board (for inter-county transfer only)

Incomplete, improperly, or incorrectly completed forms will be rejected

Notes:

• Athletes must be in good stead with the outgoing club, i.e. they must not owe any membership  fee, or other arrears, and all club property in their possession must have been returned

• Athletes whose membership of the outgoing club has lapsed by more than three years do NOT require a transfer, i.e. they are free to change clubs without going through the formal transfer process - they can be simply registered by the incoming club.  Note: Effectively this means that anyone transferring, who has been registered in ANY of the years 2019, 2020, or 2021, will need to fill out a Transfer Form
  

Next Transfer Window, following March 24th 2022, will close on August 24th 2022

 

Note: Cork Athletics County Board has asked Athletics Ireland to consider extending the transfer deadline until "One month after Athletics is allowed to resume". 

Please note that there is no guarantee that Athletics ireland will agree to this. If AAI agree with the request, an update will be posted on this website and on Cork Athletics social media. In the meantime, please ensure that completed forms are with John Copithorne, Cork Athletics County Board Registrar, by Wednesday March 24th 2021