News

Outstanding Singlets from National Juvenile Championships 2021

Have You Returned Your Juvenile Singlet after the National Juvenile Cross-Country Championships?

Santry, Dublin (Sun Nov 21st) & Gowran, Kilkenny (Sun Dec 5th)

Photo: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Many of the Singlets given to Juvenile athletes for the National Juvenile Cross-Country Championships in Santry (November 21st) and Gowran (December 5th) have been returned - Thank you to all the clubs and individuals who did so

However a significant number have yet to be returned to Cork Athletics Competition Secretary This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 0868591522

If your club still has outstanding singlets, please let Ina know their status - perhaps they have been collected but are awaiting an opportune time to pass them back to Ina

Ina will be available at the forthcoming National Intermediate, Masters & Juvenile B Cross-Country Championships, in Castlelyons, on Sunday February 13th, to take any remaining singlets, however, after this date, clubs will be charged €20 each for any outstanding singlets.   ...so please gather them up!

Good Weekend for Cork Athletes - January 23rd 2022

Cork Athletes To The Fore in Belfast, Glasgow and Manchester

Weekend January 23rd 2022

Cork athletes produced strong performance at the Northern Ireland International-Cross Country, in Dundonald, Belfast, with five athletes in action for Ireland, along with athletes in the open races. Across the water, in Glasgow, Belgooly AC's Hannah Falvey was competing in the Scottish U17 Championships, at the Emirates Arena, in Glasgow, while Louise Shanahan, Leevale AC competed in the World Athletics Indoor Tour, in Manchester

Celtic International Meet Video
 

Celtic International Cross-Country Results

Senior Women

Under 20 Women

 Ireland's Under 20 Women's team of  Emma McEvoy - 3rd, Jane Buckley (Leevale AC - 6th), Avril Millerick (Youghal AC -14th) and Muireann Duffy - 16th took home the Silver medals in the Celtic International, with Emma also taking individual Bronze

Muireann Duffy, Avril Millerick (Youghal AC), Emma McEvoy, and Jane Buckley (Leevale AC)

 Under 17 Girls

Caoimhe Flannery, Skibbereen AC

Caoimhe Flannery, Skibbereen AC came 19th, in 16:11

 
Senior Men

Ryan Creech, Leevale AC

Leevale AC's Ryan Creech, in 6th place, was first Irishman home, leading Ireland to Gold in the Celtic International

Under 20 & Under 17 Boys

Eoghan O'Connor, Belgooly AC

Eoghan O'Connor, Belgooly AC, ran 20:33, in 16th place and Ireland took Silver in the Celtic International

Under 15 Boys Open

Darragh O'Connor, Belgooly AC

Scottish Senior & Under 17 Indoor Championships

Hannah Falvey, Belgooly AC

It was a busy day for Hannah Falvey, Belgooly AC, with several heats, semis and finals, at the Scottish Under 17 Indoor Championships, at the Emirates Arena, in Glasgow. Hannah, with 7.97 seconds, came second to Abgel Mehityabelle (7.79) in the 60m Final, and won the 200m, in a time of 25.50 sec, with Katie Doherty, Rathoath AC, second in 25.77 sec

Scottish Senior & Under 17 Indoor Championship Results

 
Under 17 60m Girls

Under 17 200m

World Athletics Indoor Tour - Manchester

Louise Shanahan, Leevale AC


Louise Shanaham, Leevale AC, ran 2:05.29, for fourth place, in the Women's 800m at the World Athletics Indoor Tour in Manchester, on Saturday

World Athletics Indoor Tour - Manchester - Results

Planning Permission Granted for Carrigaline Track

New Carrigaline Track Given Green Light

January 22nd 2022

Plan of the Carrigaline Sports facility at Kilnagleary

The Carrigdhoun newspaper reported today that a welcome track development in Carrigaline has been given the Go-Ahead

The development of a new multi-purpose sports facility, by Carrigaline AC and Carrigaline RFC, at Kilnagleary, Carrigaline, has been granted Planning permission by Cork County Council

The development is on a 6.3-hectare green field site. When complete, the facility will consist of a 400m synthetic athletic track, along with three floodlit standard grass playing pitches, and a 707m² clubhouse the site will have substantial vehicle parking, and an access road

Carrigaline AC Chairperson, Richard O’Brien, said "“This is great news for our Club which will finally us a presence in our community where we can develop and build the club.  There’s a lot of work ahead but securing planning permission is a major milestone for us.”

Other Developments

News of the Carrigaline development comes after similar news last year of the granting of Planning Permission for a track in Mallow, and work having already started on Bandon AC's Track, with further developments in Bweeng, while West Muskerry AC continue their plans at Ummera Macroom.  With all these developments, and with several other clubs working away quietly on their own facilities, we look forward to major strides in athletics in Cork the next few years.

 
Related Articles

Massive Boost for Athletics in North Cork as Mallow Track Planning Application Approved

Bandon AC Driving Ahead with New Track and Indoor Facilities

National Intermediate and Masters Cross-Country Chps 2022 - Changes to County Team Entry

 National Intermediate & Masters Cross-Country Championships 2022

Castlelyons, Co. Cork

Sunday February 13th 2022

Athletics Ireland is implementing changes to Entries for the National Intermediate & Masters Cross-Country Championships, as passed bt the 2014 Congress. As a result, Counties will no longer need to formally enter teams, as the first (applicable number of) scorers for the event/team across the finish line will constitute the relevant Club or County team

Motion 41 2014 Congress

41. THAT: the race day management for some National Cross Country Championship events (and other events, if applicable) is simplified by abolishing the need to declare specific teams on the day, and adopting a policy whereby the first given number of athletes over the line are the scoring athletes for their club and/or county teams

Entries

What this means is that all entries will be made by individuals, or their club, and county teams will comprise of the combined club entries, and counties will not, as previously, be declaring teams

Entry Link

NB: You will be unable to complete the entry process unless you are Registered for 2022

Cork Athletes Registered with Non-Cork Clubs

Any athlete registered with a club in another county, who intends running, should text or email Cork Athletics Competition Secretary Ina Killeen 0868591522 [Please Text ONLY], so that we can ensure that they appear on the Cork declarations

National Intermediate Cross-Country Championships

The Intermediate Championships are open to all athletes aged at least 20 years on 31st December 2022, as per the following:

From AAI Competition Booklet (2016 - 2017) (PDF File)

1. Intermediate athletes must be 20 years of age or over on the 31st December in the year of competition

2. An athlete who has never been an individual medal winner or a scoring member of the winning club or county team at National Intermediate Championships

3. An athlete who has never been an individual medal winner or a scoring member of the winning club or county team at National Senior Grade A Championships

4. An athlete who has never been an individual medal winner or a scoring member of the winning club at National Senior 4000m Cross Country Championship (2016 onwards)

5. An athlete who has never been an individual medal winner at National level in any senior track indoor or outdoor at 1500m and upwards

6. An athlete who has never been an individual medal winner at National level in road event at 1500m and upwards, or a scoring member of the winning club or county team at National Senior Grade A Championships

7. An athlete who has never been on a representative team at Senior International Level

8. Status of an athlete will not be altered during a cross country season (September to April) other than in the case of an individual win

So, If you are ineligible for County or Munster Intermediate, you may still be eligible to take part at National level

Scoring Teams and Distances comprise the following

Masters categories depend on the individual's age on the date of the event, i.e. on February 13th 2022

Ballycotton 5 30th Anniversary Publication 2006

BALLYCOTTON ‘5’ - 1977-2006 - 30th Anniversary

August 11th 1977... where it all began

Ireland's Original Road Racing Series

This 4 page A5 leaflet was published for the Ballycotton 5 in August 2006, to mark the thirtieth anniversary of the very first Ballycotton race, with first edition of the Ballycotton 10 afew months earlier, in March 1977

The Shanagarry 5 was added the following year, in 1978, with the Churchtown South 5 added in 1980, and the four race series was completed in 1982, with the addition of the Ballyandreen 5. The series, along with the famous and iconic Ballycotton 10, continued, and grew massively, until the organisers, Ballycotton Running Promotions, decided that the time had come, after 40 years running the event, and with, essentially, the same crew behind the events, that the time had come to 'pass on the mantle' to other, perhaps, younger people

To simply say that Ballycotton Running Promotions were race organisers, would be a massive understatement. Their races, and the series, were both groundbreaking and inspirational, and led the way for race organisers throughout the country.The running community owes Ballycotton Running Promotions a huge debt of gratitude

 
Results of All Ballycotton 5 Series Races - 1977 - 2017

 

Results of All Ballycotton 10 Races - 1977 - 2017

THE BEGINNING...

THE date was Thursday August 11th, 1977, Less than three decades ago, but another age as far as road running is concerned. From January to August of that year only six events took place on the roads of Cork - the well-known Cork to Cobh 15' in April, two 4-milers in Ballymore (which had 26 runners) and Ballyhooly, a 5-mile race in Mallow, a 6-mile in Kildorrery (where 16 ran), and the popular St Patrick's Day relays organised by St Finbarr's around the Lough in Cork

August 11th was exactly a week after that Ballymore Festival event and commitments had been received there from most of the runners to come to Ballycotton, including winner Ray Treacy. The work in organising the race had started some weeks before when local shops and business people were approached for donations. One of the few firms in the area at the time contributed £5, as did three of the businesses. Two more gave £2 and £1 each, and even the 50p from another was much appreciated. The total came to £28.50

Trophies and plaques were purchased as prizes, costing £29.75. Entry fee was either 20p or 30p, and no race numbers were issued. Instead, as each runner finished he was handed a card with his finishing position on it, and he then gave his name to the recorder. We say ‘he’ deliberately, for at that time no women ran such a distance as five miles on the road

The race started at the old Post Office (Just above where the race now finishes), and the course was the same as is used at present, although the finish was outside the School Gate. As measuring techniques were not as advanced as nowadays, it was slightly short of five miles

Local interest was a mixture of curiosity and bemusement. Some people asked what a road race was - "is it a cycling race, or what?" When Phil McGrath and John Walshe went out to mark the road, one local person in the village told them that the Co Council would object, as they considered painting on the road graffitti!

First to enter was Michael Healy from Youghal, one of the top cross-country runners in Cork at the time. Tens of thousands of entries for a myriad of events have been received since, but Michael can take pride of place as the first runner to have ’No 1' alongside his name in a Ballycotton race. BLE Co Board Chairman, Paddy Hartnett, RIP, sent the 34 runners on their way. John Murray from Ballybraher, a spectator on that fine August evening, was asked to act as lead car, which he duly did. He was accompanied by reporter Joe Duggan from the ‘News and Star', who is now also sadly deceased

Michael Long of Leevale, along with his girlfriend Ellen, volunteered to time the runners. It is worth noting that virtually no race in those days did this, apart from maybe taking the winners' time. In fact, in his newspaper report Joe Duggan stated that “the time of all the competitors was taken, a rare feat in Cork in athletics." At the finish line the numbered cards were handed out by Seamus Hartnett, there to see the race with his parents and who would go on to be the area's top runner in the years to come

The other locals involved were John Walshe and Dan Donovan (who both ran the race), along with Phil McGrath, and his brother Fr Tom, home on holiday from England. At the prize- giving in the local Community Hall the various trophies for the individuals and teams were presented by Fr Bertie Troy, then CC in Ballycotton

THE RACE...

The race itself saw Ray Treacy, then based in Cork and running for Leevale, win easily in a time of 23:46, well ahead of Richie Crowley and Donie Walsh. As Joe Duggan's report put it, “at four miles he was close on 500 yards ahead of the bunch and in parts was travelling at 14 miles an hour, timed on the speedometer of Mr John Murray's car." In fact, both Richie and Donie could have been even further back as a herd of cows came out on the road (after Ray Treacy had passed) with over a mile to go and which almost brought them to a standstill

In fourth position and first novice was Noel Shannon, while Liam O'Brien could only manage fifth on the night. Murt Coleman of Liffey Valley, who had ran internationally for Ireland in the marathon, and Kevin Treacy from Loughrea, both working in the Cork area at the time, finished sixth and seventh respectively. In eight was another well-known marathon man, Jerry Murphy of Leevale

On the back of this little booklet we publish the names of the 34 runners. Some of them are still around and will be running here tonight. A few have gone on to foreign lands and bigger things, such as winner Ray Treacy who is now Head Track Coach at Providence College in the USA

THE YEARS THAT FOLLOWED...

The following year, the race date was moved to June. Only 24 ran on that occasion with victory going to Richie Crowley. Of course that was his second local victory in 1978, as in March he had won the inaugural Ballycotton '10'. Ray Treacy returned to win in 1979, and then the following year Liam O'Brien won the first of his fourteen Ballycotton '5' titles. 1981 saw Marcus O'Sullivan, later to become World Indoor Champion on three occasions, beat Joe Hartnett by seven seconds for first, with Pat Whyte from Castlemartyr third.
In 1985, Liam O'Brien established a course record of 23:41 which still stands to this day. But the previous year of '84 was also special. Just four days after qualifying for that year's LA Olympics when setting a new Irish 3000m steeplechase record, Liam showed his loyalty and commitment to the sport by turning out and winning yet another local race

At this stage the Ballycotton Summer Series, comprising of four races in the surrounding villages, was well established. Although the Ballycotton '5' had been held in June since 1978, in 1985 it was decided to swap the August date with Shanagarry, as it seemed more appropriate to finish off the yearly Series in the village that bears its name

Women ran for the first time in 1979, the third year of the race. Just two took part, Ellen Whelan of Leevale and the winner, one Mary Dempsey from Youghal. She may be better known nowadays as Mary Sweeney and is still winning races. Like Liam O'Brien, her enthusiasm and support of local events, as well as her love for the sport, is an example to all

Numbers taking part increased hugely over the years, reaching 124 in 1982 and topping the 200 mark the year after. The highest number of finishers recorded to date was 262 in 1993, when 92 finished under the 30-minute barrier. In 1987, the top six all broke 25 minutes, and it is a reflection on present day standard that only one has done so in the past ten years

TWENTY - NINE YEARS ON...

It is safe to say that nobody involved in that first race could have imagined what lay ahead. The Dublin Marathon was still three years in the distance, with London following six months after that. Nowadays, the popularity of the Ballycotton '10' is only too apparent to anybody who tries to enter, and the numbers taking part in the Summer Series remain at a consistent high level. Indeed, the Ballycotton ’5' of last year had 235 finishers, the second biggest ever

A total of 140 five and ten mile races later, the statistics show in excess of 48,000 finishers and, with the participation of international stars and Olympic medallists, it can be safely assumed that the Ballycotton events have now reached a global audience

That month of August 1977 is aiso remembered for another entirely different reason. Five days after the Ballycotton race, the world was shocked to learn of the death of Elvis Presley. It was, one could say, the end of a legend, although of course his music still lives on

In its own small way, that Ballycotton race five days before was the catalyst of a movement which in the succeeding years has also gained a legendary status, albeit of a very different nature

Yes, the 'King' may be dead, but road running is certainly alive and well in this picturesque area of East Cork. However, it wouldn't have transpired but for 34 pioneering runners who turned up in Ballycotton village to run five miles on an August evening all of 29 years ago

Proposed Changes to County Board Structures

Draft Proposals - Changes to County Board Structure

December 2021

At the December 2021 Open County Board meeting, discussion took place with regard to introducing significant changes to the roles of Officers of Cork County Board, and to making several changes to improve structure of Athletics in Cork

Communication

Communication between clubs and county could be greatly improved. We do not have up to date contact for several clubs and communication between clubs is non-existent in very many cases

This needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency – we need to put an effective system in place

We have discussed this before, Mailchimp, or similar, should be suitable for our needs. Plans vary from Free to €60/month, based on the essential plan, with 5,000 contacts. We could start with the free plan and take it from there

The following table taken from the Clubs pages on the Cork Athletics Website (These pages receive some of the highest traffic, an indication of people seeking to join clubs) given an indication of how serious the communication is

Some clubs have no contact information at all listed (i.e. no contact name, contact number or contact e-mail address). While this relates to external communication, internal communication information is just as bad. Cork Athletics cannot grow if our communication remains in its current state

Board Structure

The structure of the Board needs to be changed if new blood is to be brought in.  We are operating with far too few people doing far too much work each. This is a major disincentive when filling any of the rare vacancies that do occur. Roles should be “Bite Sized”.

Other County Boards with far fewer clubs, Divisions and members operate with far more officials. One County Board has 38 roles filled by 26 individuals

Tenure of officials

A limit should be set on the tenure of any post. Currently most positions have been occupied for many years. It is great to have such experience on the Board, but it also means, that, when a vacancy occurs, we don’t have people ready to step into the role. We should have people who can easily take on vacant roles, even if it means individuals swapping roles

A further reason for limiting tenure is to ensure that “new blood” is constantly coming in. It would also ensure a wider diversity across the clubs

(Note: When we have officials in place for decades, it sends out several messages:

a)    The position is locked

b)     If a vacancy does occur, anyone taking on the role is ‘there for life’

How We Do Things

We are all volunteers, so our time is valuable. We need to examine much of what we do and see if there are simpler ways of doing them

Competition Secretary

Split into four separate positions, two Senior and 2 Junior:

Secretary

Assistant Secretary is urgently required to help with this position.

Webmaster

This relatively new position has expanded significantly in the last couple of years, and ,during the lockdown, has been absolutely vital to the Board

However, the position has become much too busy for one individual

The following changes are proposed: It is felt that there should be three roles involved in this position

Meetings

Pre-Covid, we frequently spent over an hour dealing with admin matters including reports and permits

Proposed:

• Circulate minutes before meetings, taken as read

• Circulate all reports (except financial details) before meetings, with all reports taken as read

• Circulate basic details of Permit applications in advance (AAI’s online permit system, is going live on Friday December 10th, and will likely influence this

• Circulate non-confidential correspondence in advance. Any confidential correspondence to be shared with Chairman, and/or Child Protection Officer(s) as appropriate

• Consider hosting reports on website

Medium and Long Term Planning

We need to develop medium to long term plans and strategies for the Board. If we cannot state where we would like to be in 5 or 10 years, then we are simply “Doing” not managing

Clubs are asked to submit their ideas about development of Athletics in Cork County so that a strategy document can be produced

Finance and Grounds

Finance:  We should develop financial plans, including an annual budget, along with medium and longer term financial plans

Grounds: We should develop plans/intentions for our current grounds, including MTU track, along with possible future grounds (if any)

Mini-Marathon Sub-Committee

Ideally a separate committee should run this event

Cork Athletics should take much greater control of the event and rebuild our own Brand identity – Currently, in reality, it is an Echo event, with most control resting with the Echo. This is highly undesirable and is not in our best interests long-term

Sub-Committees

With the enlarged Board, Sub-Committees should be formed, both by function and as required. Many/Most of these, particularly with small numbers, might meet via Zoom, again creating a better environment for new/more people to become involved

Juvenile Committee

Reform

Field Committee

Define functions/Duties

Track & Field and Cross-Country Committees to be re-established

Cross-country, Track & Field & Leagues

With more track facilities becoming available in the next few years, set criteria for selection of venues. (Unforeseen circumstances may lead to these criteria not being met, in particular weather related events affecting cross-country)

Board currently pays for Ambulances, P.A., Chip Timing, and toilets for all cross-country events and pay the host club to hold some events

At a minimum the host club should provide assistance to the Competition Secretary, and all finish line officials, along with a course marshal (who shall be available to liaise directly with Competition Secretary with regards to any venue issues)

Editorial Comment

Cork County Board very badly needs new blood. Maybe this will happen at our next AGM (whenever that may happen, given the ongoing Pandemic and the resulting restrictions on attendance numbers for indoor meetings). Several Officers have indicated that they intend standing down at the earliest opportunity, so vacancies WILL occur.

Will clubs and/or individuals put themselves forward?

If the past 8 to 10 years is anything to go by, the answer is probably No

......But the remaining Officers are already overloaded, so things cannot continue, doing more work with fewer Officers

Change will NOT occur, unless we, the registered individuals, and our respective clubs, have the will, and the drive, to implement change

I'm reminded of comments (paraphrased) to Board Officer by an Officer of a prominent club: "You're mad going on the Board! Look after your own club, like me!" ...and yet the same individual has been highly critical of the Board????

If we all took this stance, there would be no Board. It also perpetuates the status quo. Einstein defined madness as 'repeatedly doing the same thing, but expecting different results'  We simply cannot keep going unless we are prepared to change - it is already past time for it to happen!

Munster Athletics Seeking TY Youth Junior and U23 Volunteers for Technical and Administration

Technical Officials - TY, Youth, Junior & U23 Volunteers Sought by Munster Athletics

January 2022

Technical Officials

Munster Athletics would like to get more younger athletes involved in the Technical & Administration side of competitions at Munster level, with an opportunity to get involved at National level. Experience like this would greatly enhance their CV's and/or TY work experience, as well as giving them valuable life skills

If any Clubs have any willing TY students, athletes of Youth, Junior U23 age, or older, who would like to get involved, could they please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Munster Athletics are particularly looking for help with field tablets for live results, electronic timing, score boards, medal presentation etc

Munster Athletics are also looking for assistance in the social media area, if Clubs have any suitable volunteers

Fifty Years Ago - Richie Crowley Won the Famous Tullamore Road Race

FAMOUS WIN BY CORKMAN

This article, by John Walshe, appeared in the Echo, on January 22nd 2022

Richard Crowley from Blarney was one of the dominant Cork distance runners of the 1970s and 1980s. A member of the St Finbarr’s club, Richie – as he was best known – represented Ireland on a number of occasions on track, road and cross-country

Richie Crowley, St Finbarr's AC - Tullamore January 23rd 1972

As this month of January comes a close, it is therefore apt to look back 50 years ago and recall what was probably the most outstanding victory of his career which came about in the town of Tullamore on Sunday January 23, 1972

Races on the road during the 1970s were no way as prevalent as they are today. But there is no doubt that the most prestigious event in the calendar was the Quinlan Cup series of races around the Midlands town. Having started off as a cross-country promotion, because of the foot-and-mouth outbreak of 1967 it had to move to the road. Usually held a couple of weeks after Christmas, it soon became the unofficial national championship on that surface

Road races today may revolve around accurate courses and personal bests, but Tullamore was all about the competition. Part of the allure was the vast array of prizes. The senior men’s race, for example, boasted awards for the first 20 individuals, the first 10 teams in Grade ‘A’ and the first three teams in both Grade ‘B’ and ‘C’. With six to score, that meant a total of 116 prizes

Three weeks before that 1972 race, Crowley had finished fourth behind John Hartnett, John Buckley and Donie Walsh at the Cork senior championship at Fermoy (recently featured in these pages). The line-up at Tullamore that day for the main six-mile event included the previous year’s winner Fr Paddy Coyle (also the defending Irish C-C champion), along with 19-year-old Tony Staynings from Bristol who had Irish connections

As the 260-strong field (from 48 teams) made its way over the two bridges which led to the course proper of two laps, it was Staynings who was forcing the pace along with Crowley, Pat O’Riordan (Leevale) and Joe Scanlon (UCG). At the halfway stage, Crowley began to open a gap from Scanlon with Staynings struggling to stay in touch. Fr Coyle was well out of it at this stage as he led the chasing group some 50 yards behind

Heading back into the town, Crowley was well clear and although Staynings closed the gap somewhat the 23-year-old Corkman had enough in hand to cross the line with 13 seconds to spare in a time of 28:17. Staynings – who would go on to represent Britain in the steeplechase at both the 1976 and 1980 Olympics – recorded 28:30 with Scanlon third in 28:35, Coyle fourth in 28:52 and O’Riordan fifth in 28:57.

A number years ago Richie Crowley was the recipient of a Hall of Fame Award bestowed on him by his St Finbarr’s club. On that occasion he remembered his early days in the sport, growing up in Blarney. “A neighbour of mine, Tim Crowley, who was a good cyclist, asked me if I’d go to a local cross-country league on a Saturday. There were around 20 in the youths race and I came third behind George O’Riordan, who went on to play football for Cork, with Pat O’Connell in third.”

Of his many victories over all surfaces, that Quinlan Cup victory still stands out as his most memorable. Winners at Tullamore over the years include the likes of Eamonn Coghlan, John Treacy, Ray Treacy, John Hartnett and Donie Walsh, so Crowley’s name is certainly up there amongst some illustrious company

“The first year I went to Tullamore, I finished 56th,” he recalled. “I was 21st the following year, followed by a fifth in 1970, and then I won it. After that, I finished second, third and so on until I got out of the top half-dozen.”

Crowley never had a coach - “we learned as we went along” - and despite a busy working life as a commercial traveller he still managed to train 10 times a week. “We trained as a group but I feel we didn’t do enough of speed work. I had a lot of trouble with my Achilles tendon so it was a case of run lively and be happy with it or else do speed work and get injured.”

Having been there or thereabouts for many years at the Cork Count Senior C-C, Crowley finally won the title at Clonakilty in 1980. He had been runner-up on three occasions along with two third place finishes.

He can also claim another unique record as the only athlete to win three of the most iconic road races of that era - Tullamore, the Cork to Cobh 15-mile, and the Ballycotton ‘10’

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

Dick Hooper Speaks at St Finbarrs AC Function

Race Permits Approved this Month - January 2022

Permits for Six Events Passed at Virtual County Board Meeting

Wednesday January 19th 2022

Four Permit applications, involving a total of six races, were approved at the Cork Athletics County Board's January Virtual Meeting. Several of the events have been provisionally approved, with formal application, course measurement, and other technical & administration details to be finalised before these particular permit applications are fully approved

The Six Events are:

Cork City Marathon, Half-Marathon & Relay - Sunday June 5th

Conna 5k (St. Catherine's AC) - Friday July 29th

Rebel Run 5k & 10k (Cork Track Club) - Sunday October 23rd

Shandrum 5k (Shandrum AC) - Tuesday December 31st

 

Additions to the Cork Athletics Calendar

Events organised by other groups, e.g. BHAA and IMRA, along with AAI Registered races in the counties immediately adjacent to Cork, i.e. Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford, have been added to the Cork Athletics Calendar. Events that are not registered with any of he aforementioned bodies will not be included on our calendar

'Errros or Omisions'

If you notice an error/change for any event date, or detail, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or TEXT 0876261178

Using the Cork Athletics Calendar - Quick Tips

The Calendar always defaults to the current month, but you can toggle backwards or forwards one month at a time, using the adjacent panels

You can also make a Text search, but note that you must use at least 3 characters. '5k' won't work, but '5km' will, as will '10k', or, for example, 'Kinsale' or 'Marathon'

If you want to jump quickly to a particular month, use the following URL format: https://www.corkathletics.org/events/monthcalendar/2022/5/-.html

This particular URL will bring you to May 2022. To quickly jump to October 2022, substitute /2022/10/ in the appropriate location the searchbar

Upcoming Road Races

Eagle AC Tommy Ryan Memorial Carrigaline 5

Sunday February 20th 2022

Register for Carrigaline 5 2022

Kinsale 10

Sunday February 27th 2022

Register for Kinsale 10 2022

North Cork AC Ellie Cusack Doneraile Park 5k

Sunday February 27th 2022


Killeagh 4 Mile Road Race

11am, Sunday March 13th


Bishopstown Lions Club 5k

Murphy's Farm, Bishopstown, 10am Sunday March 27th

Sonia O'Sullivan Cobh 10 Mile Road Race

10:30am, Sunday April 3rd 2022

Register for Sonia O'Sullivan Cobh 10 2022
 
Karen Fenton Memorial 5k

Ballinora, Waterfall - 12:30pm  Sunday April 10th

Liscarroll AC's Doneraile Park Easter 5k

11am Saturday April 16th

Ballintotis 4

8pm Thursday April 21st

Great Railway Run 25k

09:30am Sunday April 24th

 
Great Railway Run 10k

Monkstown - 11am Sunday April 24th

Midleton 5

8pm, Thursday May 5th 2022

Cheetah Run Juvenile 1 Mile

7:15pm, Thursday May 19th 2022

Cheetah Run 5k

8pm, Thursday May 19th 2022

 


Cork City Marathon, Half-Marathon & Relay

9am Sunday June 5th

Register for Cork City Marathon, Half-Marathon or Relay

Donoughmore 7

8pm, Thursday June 16th 2022

Courtmacsherry 10k

8pm, Friday June 24th 2022

Banteer Open Sports (North Cork AC)

2pm, Saturday June 25th 2022

Robbie Steele Memorial Corkbeg 4

8pm Thursday July 7th

Grange-Fermoy AC 'Bob Burke' 4 Mile

11am, Sunday July 24th 2022

Kinsale Regatta 5 Mile

7:30pm, Friday July 29th 2022

Conna 5k (St. Catherine's AC)

Friday July 29th


Liscarroll Open Sports

1pm, Sunday August 7th 2022

 
Tom Fitzpatrick 10k (Liscarroll AC)

7pm, Friday August 12th 2022

Echo Virtual Women's Mini-Marathon

Friday 16th - Tuesday September 27th 2022

 
Echo Women's Mini-Marathon

1pm, Sunday September 18th 2022

Charleville Half-Marathon

10am, Sunday September 25th 2022

Stone Mad Blarney Half-Marathon

09:30am, Sunday October 16th

Rebel Run 5k & 10k (Cork Track Club)

9:30am Sunday October 23rd

Shandrum 5k (Shandrum AC) 

Tuesday December 31st

Five Cork Athletes Selected for Northern Ireland International Cross Country 2022

Five Cork Athletes Selected for World Athletics Northern Ireland International Cross Country 2022

Billy Neil MBE Country Park, Dundonald, Belfast

Saturday January 22nd 2022

Ryan Creech, Leevale AC, Jane Buckley, Leevale AC, Avril Millerick, Youghal AC, Eoghan O'Connor, Belgooly AC and Caoimhe Flannery, Skibbereen AC have all been selected, across ten Irish teams, for Saturday's World Athletics Northern Ireland International Cross-Country

Ryan Creech, Leevale AC	Jane Buckley, Leevale AC	Avril Millerick, Youghal AC	Eoghan O'Connor, Belgooly AC	Caoimhe Flannery, Skibbereen AC

World Athletics Northern Ireland International Cross Country Livestream

Matt Lockett, National Endurance Coordinator:

"After such strong performances from all of the Irish teams in Decembers European Athletics Cross Country Championships, the focus switches quickly towards Turin and aiming to match the successes of 2019 and 2021. The fantastic support in Abbotstown shows the appetite and passion for Cross Country running in Ireland. Many of the athletes that go on to represent Ireland in major championships have used the Celtic Cross Country championships to build experience of running against strong opposition. We are delighted that Athletics Northern Ireland is hosting this event and athletes will be able to test themselves against athletes travelling from England, Scotland, Wales and further afield."

Provisional Programme/Timetable

Irish Team Selections

1983 Cork City Sports Preview by Brendan Mooney

Cork City Sports 1983 - Maree May Not Make Cork Mile

This article, by Brendan Mooney, appeared in the Cork Examiner on Tuesday July 5th 1983

Irish Examiner,Tuesday July 6th 1983, Page 15

Sydney Maree, who went to within 2.11 secs, of the world record when he won the event last year, could be a doubtful starter for the Harp Lager mile, the feature event at Cork City Sports tomorrow night week

Pretoria-born Maree, second fastest man in the world over the distance last year, has injured a hamstring and has declined an invitation to run against Seb Coe, the world record holder, Ireland’s Eamonn Coghlan and the fastest American, Steve Scott, in the Robinson’s Ready Drink Mile at the AAA championships at Crystal Palace on July 23.
He committed himself to Cork City Sports a long time ago and up to last night the organisers had no information that would indicate he will not be present. Obviously they will be checking it out today

The City Sports organisers had brought off an enviable coup by bringing Maree and Steve Scott, the fastest man in the world last year, together for the event. Scott is a definite starter and has decided not to compete in the mile at the Donore Harriers meet on Monday night to conserve his energies for the world record bid in Cork

Today they will announce their decision on whether or not they will include John Walker, fourth last year, in the field. The 1976 Olympic 1,500 metre champion and former world mile record holder, contacted them over the weekend from Oslo seeking a place in the field but they could not give him any definite word

There are a couple of places open but obviously they will want to keep those in hand until nearer the meet. Jack Buckner’s coach, on seeing the quality of the field, has pulled the Loughborough man out while it is now virtually certain neither Steve Cram nor Graham Williamson, second and third last year, will be available. But it is still a field of rare quality. Apart from Scott, Ireland’s Ray Flynn will be in action and John Robson of Scotland also takes his chance. David Taylor has indicated he will be chasing 3 mins. 52 secs, at least, on the track where he first broke four minutes

It was announced yesterday that the newly crowned NCAA champion, Frank O’Mara (Limerick) will join the line-up. With Corkman, Marcus O’Sullivan, he brings the Irish representation to four

O’Mara, on scholarship at the University of Arkansas won the NCAA title in 3:40.51 in humid conditions in Houston, Texas, and he was named the outstanding athlete of the meet at the Penn Relays where his anchor leg duel with Villanova’s Marcus O’Sullivan in the medley relay was one of the highlights of the meet. This award puts him in alongside Noel Carroll, Frank Murphy, Eamonn Coghlan and Ron Delany. His best time for the mile is 3:58.13, run in Cork two years ago and he has a best of 3:39.50 for 1,500 metres

British international Tim Hutchings has been included in the field for the CMP 5,000 metres. He had a personal best of 13:25.08 for the distance last year, putting him 17th in the world and he finished sixth behind Thomas Wessinghage in the European championships

Wessinghage will compete in this event and will be joined by Nat Muir, second to Mike McLeod last yea,r and in 1980 and winner in 1981. Limerick man Robert Costelloe has also been added to the list that includes two other English internationals Kevin Forster and Dave Lewis. Both of those are running exceptionally well. Forster has been selected to compete in this week’s World Student Games but will be back home on Thursday.

Domingo Tibaduiza, the Pan American champion from Colombia is amongst their entries, as is the Welsh Champion David James. The 1981 winner Paula Fudge (England) will be in the 3,000 metres. The 1978 Commonwealth Games chammpion, she set a UK record, 11:48.7 in the event. She will be joined by Chris Henning, Jane Furness, Kim Lock and Ireland's Monica Joyce who lowered the Irish record to 8:53.4 In the corresponding event last year. This time she wants lo beat 8 mins. 50 secs

Derek O’Connor, who broke Fanahan McSweeney’s record with a 20.00 run at the national junior championships at Santry on Sunday, will be in the line-up for the 200 metres, along with Darence Worrell (Trinidad) who ran 21.8 at Banteer on Sunday week

John Treacy may not compete in either the Donore meet on Monday or Cork City Sports on Wednesday. He was ill last week with a throat infection and missed out on some training but he run a good 12 miles on Sunday and, as a result, may decide to run in the 10,000 metres in Oslo at the weekend

Eamonn Coghlan, who runs in the mile at Belfield, and the 3,000 metres at Crystal Palace the following Friday night, will be in the line-up for the mile at Oslo us will Ray Flynn

When Coe, Coghlan and Scott meet in the mile at Crystal Palace on July 23, it will be the first clash between the three since 1979 when Coe set a world record in the Golden Mile in Oslo. The race will not start until 10.15 p.m. to allow for live television coverange to the U.S., Japan and Europe

Related Article

Irish Runner Report - Cork City Sports - July 1983

Ashling Murphy - R.I.P.

Ashling Murphy - R.I.P.

Wednesday January 12th 2021 - Aged 23

The Officers and Officials of Cork Athletics County Board, along with the entire athletics community wish to extend our deepest sympathy and sincere condolences to the family and friends of Ashling Murphy, along with her pupils and colleagues

Ashling was tragically killed in an attack while she was on her daily run, on Fiona's Way, along the banks of the Grand Canal, in Tullamore, Co Offaly, yesterday

Our thoughts and prayers are with her extended family and friends, along with her pupils and colleagues, and all those whose lives she touched

May Ashling Rest in Peace