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Midleton AC County Novice Cross-Country Team 1971 - Guest Article by John Walshe

MIDLETON NOVICE CROSS-COUNTRY TEAM OF FIFTY YEARS AGO

(Back row): Brother O’Keeffe, Tom Houlihan, Albert de Cogan, Michael Healy, John Walshe, Willie O’Brien.

(Front row): Paul Mulholland, Richard Quirke, Fr Liam Kelleher, John Fenton, Freddie O’Lomasney (R.I.P.), Liam O’Brien

This picture of the Midleton AC novice cross-country team was taken exactly 50 years ago this Sunday – on October 24th, 1971 - at the Cork County Leagues which took place at Castlemartyr

It includes a future Olympian and many-times Irish champion (Liam O'Brien); a future captain of a Cork All-Ireland winning hurling team (John Fenton); two future athletics promoters (Fr. Liam Kelleher and John Walshe); along with a few other individuals who have given (and continue to give) a life-long commitment to the sport of athletics

The Midleton team competed in Novice section of all three of the 1971 Cross-Country Leagues. The first event was in Castlemartyr, won by the Midleton AC team above. The second event was the following week, in Ballyhooly, while the final event was in Skibbereen, early in December 1971. Midleton AC finished in second place overall

Cork Athletics Facebook Page

Results of Athletics Ireland Registered Events - April 2014 - May 2016 (on Old Cork Athletics website)

Results of Athletics Ireland Registered Events - May 2016 to date

Race Calendar / Fixtures List - Athletics Ireland Registered Events

Cork Athletics Race Calendar

Official Calendar of Registered Athletics Ireland events in Cork

Other Guest Articles by John Walshe

Donie Walsh - 1971 European Championships 10,000m Recalled - Guest Article by John Walshe

Willie O'Mahony has clocked the miles building East Cork Athletics - Guest Article by John Walshe

Memorable Youghal Road Race Took Place at Midnight on New Year's Eve - Guest Article by John Walshe

Midleton AC Virtual Club Challenge - Guest Article by John Walshe

Cork Cross-Country of 1980 - Guest Article by John Walshe

Cork Marathon Magic in 1986 as Marion Lyons Wins - Guest Article by John Walshe

The 1985 Cork 800 Marathon - Guest Article by John Walshe

Tullamore Man Won First Cork Marathon - Guest Article by John Walshe

Pioneering Women of Cross-Country - Guest Article by John Walshe

Grange International Cross-Country of 1980 Recalled 40 Years On - Guest Article by John Walshe

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

Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month of September 2021 - Ella Scott

Ella Scott is Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month for September 2021

River Lee Hotel

Thursday October 21st 2021

Ella Scott, Leevale AC, is Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month for September 2021 - Photo: Tony O'Connell Photography

The award was presented to Ella at a function at the River Lee hotel, on Thursday October 21st 2021

Ella Scott with Cork City Sports representatives and sponsors - Photo: Tony O'Connell Photography

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

 Ella Scott with her parents - Photo: Tony O'Connell Photography

The Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month for September 2021 is Ella Scott, Leevale AC - Photo: Tony O'Connell Photography

Cork City Sports Athletics Person of the Month - September 2021 - Award Citation

 Ella Scott (Bruce College and Leevale AC) is the Cork City Sports athlete for the month of September. At the beginning of the month Ella recorded a very impressive 100m sprint/80m hurdles double at the Irish Schools Interprovincial Games in Dublin. These performances earned Ella a place on the Irish schools team to compete against England, Scotland and Wales at the Moorways Stadium Derby two weeks later. Here she secured a bronze medal against top class opposition in the 80m hurdles

Ella Scott, Leevale AC is the September recipient of the Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month award

Watch Cork Athletics Videos on Vimeo

2021 Covid Resilience Fund Applications

2021 Covid Resilience Fund Update

Athletics Ireland Release
October 15th 2021

Sport Ireland has secured additional funding from Government for 2021 to support Sporting Organisations with the impact of COVID 19.

All funding support awarded for athletics will be granted through Athletics Ireland and, due to the time pressures of the application, Athletics Ireland will administer the Club Resilience Fund

Further details of the Club Resilience Fund application will be available in the coming weeks once the value of the Athletics Club scheme has been determined

All Clubs wishing to apply for this scheme are asked to start preparing their submission now and full details of the submission requirements will be circulated to Club Secretaries in the coming days

CORE OBJECTIVES AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES

•     The stated objective of the COVID 19 scheme is to protect the sports sector from permanent financial and strategic harm arising from the public health crisis

•     The primary purpose of the scheme is to prevent any viable sports organisation from becoming insolvent

•     The secondary purpose of the scheme is to ensure that the sports sector has the capacity to make a significant medium and long-term contribution to the public health of the nation

•     The distribution of funds will be consistent with the aims and values of the National Sports Policy 2018 - 2027

•     This investment is new and is in addition to funding provided previously to Sport Ireland in 2021

•     Funding allocations to NGBs, LSPs and clubs under the new scheme will be determined following a robust grant application and assessment process conducted by Sport Ireland

•     Sport Ireland will distribute primarily to and through recognised National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and the national network of Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs)

•     Sport Ireland must be fully satisfied that the grant is absolutely required

•     The funding is targeted at issues arising from COVID 19

•     Non COVID related losses and pre-existing debts or deficits will not be covered

•     There must be evidence of a sports organisation working to a business recovery plan

•     Principles of fairness will apply

•     No upper or lower limits are in place

    This can only be determined when the extent of the demand of the schemes is known

Fearghal Curtin 21st in FSU Pre-Nationals Cross-Country - October 2021

Fearghal Curtin, Youghal AC and Charleston Southern University, Runs 23:25 in FSU Pre-Nats 8k

Tallahassee, Florida, USA
October 15th 2021

Results

Fearghal Curtin, Youghal AC and Charleston Southern University led his team home earlier today, at the Florida State University (FSU) Pre-National 8k Cross-Country Championships, Apalachee Regional Park, Tallahassee, Florida, USA. Fearghal finished in 21st place, in 23:25.2, from 243 finishers

CSU Sports Report

Curtin sets pace as Buccaneers run at Pre-Nationals

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Fearghal Curtin continued his team-leading pace for the Charleston Southern men's cross country program, clocking in a 21st-place time on his way to earning key points for the Buccaneers Friday at the FSU Invitational/Pre-Nationals meet at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida.

CURTIN IS FIRST BUC FOR SECOND STRAIGHT

The Sept. 22 Big South Runner of the Week was the first Buccaneer runner across the finish line for the second-straight meet as he earned a 21st-place time of 23:25.2 Friday during the 8K event. He was the runner-up at the Chanticleer Challenge in Conway, South Carolina, at the beginning of the month.

Related Articles

Fearghal Curtin Named Big South Runner of the Week - Sept 22nd 2021

Second Place Finish for Fearghal Curtin in Arizona Cross-Country - February 2021

Massive 8-02 3000m for Fearghal Curtin in Arkansas - February 2021

1-54 800m for Fearghal Curtin in Texas - January 2021

4-04-15 Mile PB for Fearghal Curtin in Columbia USA - December 2020

13-57 5k for Fearghal Curtin in LA - December 2020

Youghal Double with Stirling Silver for Emma Landers and 800m win for Fearghal Curtin

Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month June 2019 Fearghal Curtin

3:42 1500m PB for Fearghal Curtin at Portland Games 2019

13:53 5000m for Fearghal Curtin at Bryan Clay Invitational 2019

Sub-14 for Fearghal Curtin at Iowa State Classic 2019

Fearghal Curtin First Collegiate Athlete at UW Invitational 2019

Fearghal Curtin has Massive 5000m PB at Florida Relays

Big 3000m PB for Fearghal Curtin

Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month November and December 2017 - Leevale Womens Team and Fearghal Curtin, Youghal AC

Tomas Kent 10k Entries Re-Open with 250 More Places on Offer

250 More Entry Places Open for Thomas Kent 10k Road Race

Castlelyons

Sunday November 14th 2021

Enter Thomas Kent 10k 2021

Entry Link will Open at 6pm, Wednesday October 6th

There will be no transfers allowed and No waiting list

Event page on Cork Athletics Website

A second tranche of 250 entries for St Nicholas AC's popular Thomas Kent 10k go on sale at 6pm tonight. On Friday last, 350 places were snapped up in approx. 6 hours

Thomas Kent Memorial 10k Facebook page
 

St Nicholas AC Facebook Page

Cork Athletics Homepage

Cork Athletics Facebook Page

Reults of Previous Thomas Kent 10k's

Results of Thomas Kent Memorial 10k Race 2017

Results of Thomas Kent Memorial 10k Race 2018

Results of Thomas Kent Memorial 10k Race 2019

Green Shoots

While there have been road races already, since things started opening up again in August, this is the first event to sell out emphatically in a very short timescale, and with a higher initial offering of 350 places.   This is surely a sign of confidence among runners.

It is also testimony to the organisers, St. Nicholas AC, who have, since the event started in 2017, set a high bar for race organisation and attention to detail. In addition, selling out so quickly is also a reflection on the background work put in by St Nicholas AC in self-promoting the event - When people see that when a club puts on a good show AND are prepared to put the work into promoting the event themselves, the results surpass the majority of events, who 'outsource' promotion.

So... Well done St Nick's! .... Take a bow!!

Tomas Kent 10k Entries Sold Out Within Hours

Entry Places for Popular Thomas Kent 10k Snapped Up

Castlelyons

Sunday November 14th 2021

Event page on Cork Athletics Website

Entries for St Nicholas AC's popular Thomas Kent 10k went on sale at 6pm last night, with 350 places up for grabs.  Such was the demand that the entry portal was overloaded several times, but was quickly restored

By 9pm, after being open for just three hours, less than 100 places remained and, overnight, the last spots were filled

Thomas Kent Memorial 10k Facebook page

St Nicholas AC Facebook Page

Cork Athletics Homepage

Cork Athletics Facebook Page

Reults of Previous Thomas Kent 10k's

Results of Thomas Kent Memorial 10k Race 2017

Results of Thomas Kent Memorial 10k Race 2018

Results of Thomas Kent Memorial 10k Race 2019

Green Shoots

While there have been road races already, since things started opening up again in August, this is the first event to sell out emphatically in a very short timescale, and with a higher initial offering of 350 places.   This is surely a sign of confidence among runners.

It is also testimony to the organisers, St. Nicholas AC, who have, since the event started in 2017, set a high bar for race organisation and attention to detail. In addition, selling out so quickly is also a reflection on the background work put in by St Nicholas AC in self-promoting the event - When people see that when a club puts on a good show AND are prepared to put the work into promoting the event themselves, the results surpass the majority of events, who 'outsource' promotion.

So... Well done St Nick's! .... Take a bow!!

Fearghal Curtin Named Big South Runner of the Week - October 22nd 2021

Fearghal Curtin, Youghal AC and Charleston Southern University, is Big South Runner of the week

October 22nd 2021

Fearghal Curtin, Youghal AC and Charleston Southern University, has been named Big South Runner of the week, following his strong performance at last week's FSU Invitational/Pre-Nationals in Tallahassee, Florida, where he ran 23:25 for the 8k cross-country. Fearghal was also honoured with the award just last month, and shared it in October 2017

CSU Sports Report

Curtin earns second Big South Runner of the Week honor

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Charleston Southern's Fearghal Curtin was named the Oct. 21 Big South Runner of the Week, his second of the season, following his strong performance at last week's FSU Invitational/Pre-Nationals in Tallahassee, Florida

WEEKLY HONORS PILE UP
Curtin's plaudit is his third overall in his career, the most ever by a Buccaneers runner since the Big South started tracking winners in 2005. In addition to his Sept. 22 accolade this fall, he originally shared the honor Oct. 4, 2017

Andrew King and Jeryck Wilson also had won the award two times in their respective Bucs careers.

AT PRE-NATS
Running against some of the top competitors nationally, and within the region, Curtin turned in a 21st-place time of 23:25.2 at Friday's meet at Apalachee Regional Park in the Sunshine State's capital

It was his second-straight race finishing as CSU's top runner after earning runner-up placement at the Chanticleer Challenge

UP NEXT
Curtin will join the rest of his Buccaneers teammates as they look to defend their Big South title at the conference meet, Oct. 29, in Kernersville, North Carolina. Charleston Southern won last year's meet, held in the spring, for its second league championship in program history and the first since the inaugural race in 1984

Related Articles

Fearghal Curtin 21st in FSU Pre-Nationals Cross-Country - October 2021

Fearghal Curtin Named Big South Runner of the Week - Sept 22nd 2021

Second Place Finish for Fearghal Curtin in Arizona Cross-Country - February 2021

Massive 8-02 3000m for Fearghal Curtin in Arkansas - February 2021

1-54 800m for Fearghal Curtin in Texas - January 2021

4-04-15 Mile PB for Fearghal Curtin in Columbia USA - December 2020

13-57 5k for Fearghal Curtin in LA - December 2020

Youghal Double with Stirling Silver for Emma Landers and 800m win for Fearghal Curtin

Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month June 2019 Fearghal Curtin

3:42 1500m PB for Fearghal Curtin at Portland Games 2019

13:53 5000m for Fearghal Curtin at Bryan Clay Invitational 2019

Sub-14 for Fearghal Curtin at Iowa State Classic 2019

Fearghal Curtin First Collegiate Athlete at UW Invitational 2019

Fearghal Curtin has Massive 5000m PB at Florida Relays

Big 3000m PB for Fearghal Curtin

Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month November and December 2017 - Leevale Womens Team and Fearghal Curtin, Youghal AC

Five Cork Athletes Selected for Cross-Country International 2021

Five Cork Athletes Selected for North-South International Masters Cross-Country

Belfast

Saturday November 13th 2021

Five Cork athletes have been selected to represent Ireland at next month's North / South Masters Cross-Country International, in Belfast, with three women and two men - From Bandon AC (Carmel Crowley), Leevale AC (Michelle Kenny), Mallow AC (Breda Gaffney), Midleton AC (John Hennessy) and Leevale AC (Donal Coakley)

The North / South International replaces the British & Irish Masters International, which was due to be held on the same date, but has been cancelled for 2021, due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Carmel Crowley, Bandon AC	Michelle Kenny, Leevale AC	Breda Gaffney, Mallow AC
John Hennessey, Midleton AC		Donal Coakley, Leevale AC

Irish Teams

Javelin Master Class - Oct 23-24 2021

Leevale AC Javelin Mastherclass with Anders Borgstrom

MTU Track & Leevale High Performance Centre

Saturday October 23rd & Sunday October 24th 2021

Anders Borgstrom

Leevale AC is holding anotherjavelin coaches Master Class weekend, on Saturday and Sunday next, October 23rd & 24th, with Swedish coach Anders Borgstrom

Anders was the Swedish National Javelin Coach from 1971-1998, and was leader of the biomechanics throwing events crew at the
World Championships in Goteborg in 1995.

He has been extensively involved in Nordic Sports development of new and improved javelin models from 1973 to the present day.

He is an expert commentator on athletics, appearing on Eurosport for 16 seasons (1999-2014), after acting in a similar role on SVT in 1998

Anders has lectured at coaching courses and seminars as an IAAF Lecturer at the lAAF's development centres in Jakarta and Cairo. In addition, at the invitation of the IAAF and National Federations, he has delivered guest lectures and clinics in the USA, England, Scotland, Belgium, Hungary, Nigeria, New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Germany and Norway. The lectures have usually focused on the throwing disciplines, javelin throwing in particular

In 2019 he was presented with a European Athletics Member Federation Award by Swedish Athletics. From 2016 to 2020, Anders has worked with the athletic federation in Chinese Taipei, where two of his athletes won Gold and Bronze javelin medals at the World University Games (Cheng Chao-tsun with an Asian record of 91.36m)

In 2021 he was a panellist at the first European Athletics Coaches Association’s Virtual Olympic Coaches Club

PROGRAM OUTLINE:

Saturday 23rd October
Morning - Throwing - MTU Track
Evening -  Leevale AC High Performance Centre
Athlete Throwing Analysis Q&A

Sunday 23rd October

Morning - Leevale AC High Performance Centre
How To Coach Javelin
Strength & Conditioning For Javelin

Javelin MasterClass Fees

•    €150 for athletes
•    €100 for coaches
Where an athlete accompanies a coach, the cost for both is €150

For further details, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or any Leevale AC member

There will be a dinner with Anders for coaches on Saturday evening - all welcome

Race Permits Approved this Month - October 2021

Permits for Seven Events Passed at Virtual County Board Meeting

Wednesday October 6th 2021

With the phased relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions, there is a growing return of Road Races, with three registered events in Cork during October, eight in November (counting the Rebel Run and Clonakilty races as 5 in all) and a further three in December

So far, perhaps with one or two exceptions, races have been slow to sell out, and a larger than expected number of 'No Shows' is evident, with many still reluctant to resume racing during the return to the 'New Normal'.  Similar conditions have been seen across the UK, Europe and the US. So it looks like it will be a (little, we hope) while before we see large crowds returning

Permits for seven races were approved at last Wednesday's Virtual County Board Meeting.  The first races to come up are the Rebel Run 5k and 10k, on Sunday November 7th. Following this comes The Great Glenville Run, on Sunday November 28th, with The Newmarket 5 Mile Classic on Sunday December 12th.   The New year sees Shandrum AC's 5k, on January 1st 2021, New Year's Day.  Eagle AC's Cheetah Run Juvenile 1 Mile and 5k, in Fota Wildlife Park, on May 12th complete the permits passed on Wednesday last

Last month, September, saw another 4 races approved, including Rosscarbery AC's 5k, on Saturday October 23rd, Buttevant AC's 4 Mile, on Sunday November 7th, Togher AC 5k, which moves to Monday December 27th and Grange Fermoy AC's 10k, which takes place on New Year's Eve, Friday December 31st.

Upcoming Road Races

Bere Island 5 Mile Road Race

Saturday October 16th 2021

Register for Bere Island 5 Mile Road Race

 

Rosscarbery 5k Road Race

Saturday October 30th 2021

Note: This event was postponed from Sat Oct 23rd, on H&S grounds, due to a Met Eireann Status Orange Weather Alert

Register for Rosscarbery 5k Road Race

Stone Mad Blarney Half-Marathon

Sunday October 31st 2021

Register for Stone Mad Blarney Half-Marathon

Eyeries 5 Mile Road Race

Saturday November 6th 2021

Register for Eyeries 5 Mile Road Race

Rebel Run 5k and 10k Road Races

Sunday November 7th 2021

Register for Rebel Run 5k & 10k Road Races

Buttevant 5 Mile Road Race

Sunday November 7th 2021

Register for Buttevant 5 Mile Road Race

St Nicholas AC's Thomas Kent 10k Road Race

Sunday November 14th 2021

Register for Thomas Kent 10k Road Race

Clonakilty Waterfront Marathon, Half-Marathon & 10k

Saturday November 27th 2021

Register for Clonakilty Marathon, Half-Marathon & 10k

Watergrasshill AC's Great Glenville Run 4 Mile Road Race

Sunday November 28th 2021

Register for Great Glenville Run 2021

Duhallow AC's Newmarket Christmas Classic 5k Road Race 

Sunday December 19th 2021

Register for Newmarket Christmas Classic 5k Road Race

Note: There is No Belgooly 4 Mile this year

Togher AC 5k Road Race 

Monday December 27th 2021

Registration opening soon

Grange Fermoy AC 10k Road Race

Friday December 31st 2021

Registration open 7am Friday October 29th

Shandrum 5k Road Race 

Saturday January 1st 2022

Register for Shandrum 5k 2022

Sonia O'Sullivan Cobh 10 Mile Road Race

10:30am, Sunday April 3rd 2022

Register for Sonia O'Sullivan Cobh 10 2022

Celebrating Athletics in Cork Week

Cork Sports Partnership's Celebrating Athletics in Cork Week

Various locations

Friday October 21st - Sunday October 31st

Cork Sports Partnership has announced 'Celebrating Athletics in Cork' week, with several events each day, in diverse locations across County Cork,  from Monday October 25th to Sunday October 31st, with a few 'satellite' events the week before and culminating with the Rebel Run 10k, on Sunday November 7th

The initiative is being organised in conjunction with MTU and Athletics Ireland

Further Information: Craig Harrington

Cork Sports Partnership's Celebrating Athletics in Cork Week

All Events are FREE - But you must Register!

Forerunners - 2021- Expressions of Interest Sought

Female Athletic Leadership Programme 

Autumn 2021

Athletics Ireland are excited to launch the return of the Forerunners programme this October 2021!

Forerunners is Athletics Ireland’s pathway to supporting and encouraging our next generation of leading ladies in their athletic endeavours

Forerunners is recognised by Sport Ireland as a key programme to address current gaps and future opportunities for women in sport, and as a result provide a pathway for women aspiring to become leaders in their clubs, regions and on a national level

The programme has several aims:

•     Develop the individual personally and professionally
•     Provide opportunity and access for individuals to be involved
•     Provide individual and group support for the learners, moderators, and mentors
•     Create higher skilled individuals to strengthen local, regional, provincial, and national athletics
•     Help address the gender equity balance in Athletics Ireland
•     Provide the skills and expertise to empower more women to take on senior leadership roles locally, provincially, and nationally

The purpose of this programme is to assist those who support grassroot to podium development. Athletics Ireland aim to equip female club service officers and leaders in becoming more effective and efficient in their operations. The programme will address the importance of Female Leadership in athletics, its important role in promoting good governance whilst creating invaluable experiences for those involved in the programme

This programme is funded by Athletics Ireland and Sport Ireland which will allow participants to attend the seminars for free

All participants will have the opportunity to attend four full days of workshops and three short evening workshops with mentors. Participants will then focus on a specific strand of personal development and can choose between three options

You will gain expertise in the following:

Coaching
Club Development
Communication and Connectivity

There are 30 places available, with 10 spaces for each individual strand

The programme will be supported by experienced female mentors who will encourage and promote learning both on and off the programme

Athletics Ireland are launching a nationwide, action-orientated mentorship programme to support and encourage future female leaders in our sport to reach their potential

We are extremely committed to increasing women’s sustained involvement in athletics, at every level of our sport

Programme Benefits:

    Engage with like‐minded future leaders in athletics.
    Gain a deeper understanding of the skills, qualities and attributes needed to be a successful leader and coach.
    Hear from a diverse range of female experienced mentors, as well as inspirational leaders from outside of the athletics circle.
    Confidence in your own abilities through practical learning and application.

Programme Dates:

October 30th
November 20th
December 4th & 5th

All four seminars will take place in the Sport Ireland Campus, Snugborough Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15

 Applications are now open and you can register your expression of interest to complete the application form, by clicking on

Forerunners - Expression of Interest

Applications close October 20th. Participants must be female, 18+, able to attend all 4 sessions, and demonstrate an interest in progressing in their chosen field

For more information, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Lilly-Ann O'Hora
Athletics Ireland Women in Sport Officer