River Lee Hotel
Wednesday August 5th 2020
Paddy Buckley, St Finbarrs AC and Cork County Board, is Cork City Sports Athletics Person of the Month for April 2020
The award was presented at a function at the River Lee hotel, on Wednesday August 5th 2020
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 - Awards Archive
St Finbarr's AC Website
St Finbarr's AC Facebook Page
The Cork City Sports Athletics Person for the Month of April 2020 is Paddy Buckley, St Finbarrs AC and Cork County Board
Paddy Buckley, St Finbarrs AC and Cork County Board, is recognised for his lifetime contribution to athletics. Paddy is the Cork City Sports athletic person for the month of April.
Initially as an athlete and coach at St Finbarrs AC and subsequently as a very active member of the Cork County Athletics Board Paddy's involvement in the sport spans a period of over 60 years. He is the current chairman of the Cork County Board - this is is second term at the helm of the Board.
Paddy Buckley with Cork City Sports Committe Members and Sponsors
John Walshe writes:
After a break of over six months, the Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month Awards resumed with the recipients for February, March and April receiving their presentations at The River Lee hotel.
Liam O’Brien, Technical Director of the Cork City Sports and one of the selectors, said it was under very unusual circumstances due to the little activity that had taken place since March that it was possible to honour the people present. He praised Cork City Sports Chairman, Tony O’Connell, saying he was very keen in continuing the monthly awards which have now been on the go for over a dozen years.
A man who has over 60 years involvement in athletics was the surprise recipient of the April award. Paddy Buckley of St Finbarr’s AC and current chairman of the Cork Athletics Board was recognised for his lifetime contribution to the sport.
Initially as an athlete – along with his well-known brothers John and Denis – and later as coach at St Finbarrs, Paddy’s mammoth contribution over the decades is richly deserved. “To be honest, I didn’t expect this honour at this stage of my life,” he admitted. “I suppose I was never very exciting as an athlete, it was mostly in administration that I was involved in. I must say that the Cork City Sports are doing great work for athletics, especially with these monthly awards.”
Three awards were presented at the August function
Paddy Buckley (April), Avril Millerick (March) and Charlie O'Donovan (February)
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Athletes wishing to transfer clubs are reminded that the deadline for the return of fully completed transfer forms is Monday August 24th. Forms received after that date will NOT be accepted.
Transfer forms may be downloaded from the Athletics Ireland website.
The Sequence and Procedure on the form MUST be followed.
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, Belgooley, Co. Cork.
Closing date is Monday August 24th
Completed Transfer Forms may be submitted at any stage, but will not be reviewed by Cork Athletics County Board until after August 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
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.
Next Transfer Window, following August 24th 2020, will close on March 24th 2021
Fionnuala McCormack running in the 2016 Rio Olympic Marathon
Qualification had been suspended until the start of December, however athletes can, from September, qualify “in pre-identified, advertised and authorised races being staged on World Athletics certified courses, with in-competition drug testing on site”.
The reason for the change has been given as being “due to concerns over the lack of qualifying opportunities that may be available for road athletes before the qualification period finishes on 31 May 2021”.
The resumption does not affect the accrual of points for world rankings and/or automatic qualification through Gold label marathons /Platinum Label marathons, as these qualification routes remain suspended until after 30 November 2020.
World Athletics president Seb Coe said that it was apparent that marathon and race walk athletes would have very limited opportunities to make their Olympic qualifying times in 2021, due to the uncertainty around mass participation events, which rely heavily on cities around the world agreeing to stage them.
He said “Most of the major marathons have already been cancelled or postponed for the remainder of this year and the evolution of the pandemic makes it difficult to predict if those scheduled for the first half of next year will be able to go ahead”
The reason for the change has been given as being “due to concerns over the lack of qualifying opportunities that may be available for road athletes before the qualification period finishes on 31 May 2021”.
“That situation, combined with the fact that endurance athletes in the marathon and race walks can only produce a very limited number of high-quality performances a year, would really narrow their qualifying window without this adjustment.
“We have also been assured by the Athletics Integrity Unit that the anti-doping system is capable of protecting the integrity of road races during this period and will put in place strict testing criteria for all athletes.”
One of the first events up is the London Marathon, on Sunday October 4th, however the London organisers announced, yesterday, that a final decision on whether to go ahead with this years event will be made by August 10th. With Chicago, New York, Berlin and Boston marathons all cancelled, London is the sole remaining Abbott World Marathon Majors race on the 2020 calendar.
In a separate development, World Athletics also announced today, interim changes to rules on Track Shoes - Road Shoe Rules remain unchanged. These rules remain in place until after the Tokyo Olympics, and "until a newly formed Working Group on Athletic Shoes, which includes representatives from shoe manufacturers and the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI), have had the opportunity to set the parameters for achieving the right balance between innovation, competitive advantage and universality and availability."
| Maximum thickness of the sole (As per rule 5.5, notes (i), (ii), (iii) and figures (a) & (b) to rule 5.5, and rule 5.13.3). | Further rule requirement | |
|---|---|---|
| Field events (except triple jump) | 20mm | Applies to all throwing events, and vertical and horizontal jumping events except the triple jump. For all field events, the sole at the centre of the athlete's forefoot must not be higher than the sole at centre of the athlete's heel. |
| Triple jump | 25mm | The sole at the centre of the athlete's forefoot must not be higher than the sole at centre of the athlete's heel. |
| Track events (including hurdle events) up to but not including 800m | 20mm | For relays the rule applies to the distance of the leg being run by each athlete. |
| Track events from 800m and above (including steeplechase events) | 25mm | For relays the rule applies to the distance of the leg being run by each athlete. For race walking events the maximum thickness of the sole is the same as that for road events. |
| Cross country | 25mm | |
| Road events (running and race walking events) | 40mm | |
| Events under rule 57 of the technical rules | Any thickness |
World athletics Ceo, Jon Ridgeon said “In developing these rules we have been mindful of the principles of fair play and universality, maintaining the health and safety of athletes, reflecting the existing shoe market in these challenging economic times, and achieving a broad consensus with the shoe manufacturers who are major investors in our sport.
Ciara Mageean Runs 1:59.69 in Bern, Switzerland
Citius Champs - Bern Switzerland
July 24th 2020
Ciara Mageean
Citius Games, Bern, Switzerland, Friday July 24th 2020
This afternoon, 28 year old Ciara Mageean, from Protaferry, Co Down, and running with UCD AC, became, on what should have been the day of the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, the first Irish woman to go sub 2 minutes. Running 1:59.69, to break Rose Anne Galligan's 7 year-old record, she won the womens 800m at today's Citius Champs, taking almost a second off the record, but most importantly, goung sub 2 minutes.
The historic first ever sub 2 minute 800m by an Irish woman @ciaramageean tonight.... pic.twitter.com/xNJpjTndbg
— Pierce O'Callaghan (@Pierceathletics) July 24, 2020
Womens 800m Results
Ciara's run places her on top of the Irish Women's 800m All-Time Standings, bring her up from 4th place, and slicing 1.10 seconds off her own lifetime best
Scott Wins Harp Lager Mile
Mardyke, Cork
Wednesday July 13th 1983
Steve Scott leading Ray Flynn and David Taylor
Irish Runner Magazine - August 1983, Vol 3, No 5, P56
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Irish Runner Magazine - August 1983, Vol 3, No 5, P56
THE Cork City Sports is now acknowledged as one of the really major fixtures on the Irish Athletics calendar and the Harp Lager Mile has come to be the highlight event of the meeting.
However, Derek O’Connor (Dundrum A.C.) came close to upstaging the stars of the classic mile distance when he got this year’s meet off to a flying start by breaking the Irish 100m record for both junior and senior.
O’Connor, who has this season emerged as the new star of Irish sprinting, clocked 10.61 for the new record and then went on to take the 200m in 21.17. In both races he was chased home by A. Gough of Annadale.
For two laps of the Harp Lager Mile pacemaker Paul Forbes raced clear from Frank O’Mara and Scott, With Limerick’s Dave Taylor, Ray Flynn and John Walker next. Flynn took it up with 600m to run but Scott was ahead at the bell.
Walker raced from 5th to challenge Scott over the last 200 m. but having closed to within 10 yards turning into the straight, he could do no more and Scott coasted home in 3:50.99 with Walker 2nd in 3:51.59 and O’Mara delighting the local crowd by staying on in 3rd in 3:52.50. Dave Taylor was 4th in 3:54.48; Ray Flynn 5th in 3:54.61; Marcus O’Sullivan 6th 3:56.65, while Tommy Moloney (Thurles) who was 7th, 3:57.70, joined O’Mara, Taylor aand O’Sullivan recording personal bests for the distance.
Despite a great effort by David Lewis, the European championThomas Wessinghage (West Germany) emerged a comfortable winner in the 5000m. in 13:28.02. Tim Hutchings, 2nd in the event at the Donore meeting, finished 3rd with Ronnie Carroll best of the Irish in 5th and Liam O’Brien beating 14 minutes for the distance for the first time ever in finishing 9th.
Annsley Bennett of Birchfield Harriers, who is almost the local hero with the Cork crowd by now, ran a meet best of 47.31 in 400m. while in a blanket finish to the 800m. the early leader Roddy Gaynor was overwhelmed late by the flying finish of Brian Jennings on the outside who just held off Ian Marron who challenged on the inside.
The ladies’ events provided plenty of excitement albeit the National Aluminium 3000m proved something of a disaster for the Irish girls.
Monica Joyce leads Womens 3000m
After Louise McGrillen had showed with them early on, national record holder Monica Joyce led through 800m, from Chris Benning, Jane Furness and Paula Fudge of England. From there, the three English girls had it between them. Furness sprinted clear of Benning with 300m to run, but could not hold her compatriot in the straight. Fudge was 3rd, Joyce 4th, Locke of Wales 5th and Margaret Kelly emerged best of the home-based challengers in 6th.
800m - 1st Aideen Morrisson, 2nd Aishling Molloy, 3rd Siobhan Treacy
In the ladies’ 800m Aideen Morrisson outsprinted Aishling Molloy in the straight, while in a thrilling finish to the ladies’ 400m. Caroline O’Shea, having mastered early leader Michelle Walsh, just held the flying late burst of Mary Parr.
Olive Burke reached the European Junior qualifying standard when taking the 100m.
Those who came early saw a most exciting men’s Junior 1500m. in which Bernard O’Sullivan sacrificed himself as pacemaker, with the result that winner Enda Fitzpatrick, runner-up Eugene Curran and Gerry O’Reilly, 3rd, all reached the European qualifying standard.
All told, it was a memorable night’s sport and run with great efficiency and greatly helped by Joe Holden’s invigorating commentary
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Carraig na bhFear, CIT Track and Fermoy
July 2020
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In very welcome developments, several events are going ahead over the next few weeks, though each will be held under both restricted and tightly controlled conditions, and in line with current HSE and AAI Covid-19 Guidelines.
Grange Fermoy AC will hold their INVITATION ONLY Bob Burke 4 Mile on Sunday July 26th. Numbers have been restricted to some 60 to 70 invited athletes.
Leevale AC Summer Evening T&F Meets, take place in CIT Track, on Tuesday July 28th, at 6:30pm, and Thursday July 30th, also at 6:30pm. Entries close on Sunday next, Sunday July 19th. To date have been very strong, so entries may need to be culled, with a cap on the number of athletes per event. Athletes competing in National Junior & Senior Championships will receive preference.
East Cork Division will hold their T&F Championships, Day 1 & Day 2, in Carraig na bhFear, on Thursday August 6th, at 6:30pm, and on Thursday August 13th, again at 6:30pm. These Championships are restricted to members of clubs affiliated to East Cork Athletics Division. Covid-19 Protocols are being drafted and these will be circulated to the Divisional clubs, following a Divisional committee meeting on Monday week.
This editorial does not necessarily reflect the views of Cork Athletics County Board
Clearly we must tread very carefully in re-opening athletics, and these events are being ahead under protocols that each organiser has developed, and in line with HSE and AAI Guidelines.
In each case, the organisers are to be commended for stepping up to the plate and, in the difficult circumstances arising from Covid-19, and it's ramifications, are proceeding with the necessary precautions and protocols in place. It was always hard enough to host events such as these. Covid-19 has added a hefty layer of difficulty, and a host of other responsibilities too.
While each of these events are likely to be significantly smaller than that which the respective organisers would hope to host under normal circumstances, they are small, but vital, steps in the reopening of athletics.
No doubt mistakes and/or lapses will be made, but we must all learn from these events - what went wrong, what went right, what they would do differently next time, and, maybe, what they wouldn't do at all.
Covid-19 is going to be with us for quite some time to come, so we must get used to restrictions imposed on us. It only after successfully running the smaller scale events that we can even contemplate the bigger ones. Cork Athletics County Cross-Country Championships are scheduled to go ahead, in the Board's Riverstick Grounds, over the Autumn months - The successess, Covid-wise, of these events is likely to have a significant impact on how the cross-country championships are run.
Covid-19 presents a clear and present danger to us all. We must do everything in our power to ensure that it is dampened down, to protest each other, those we care for, and to ensure that the hospital system is not swamped. That means that we need to put protocols in place to minimise the risks posed by the virus, and we must abide by the guidelines set by HSE, AAI and each event organiser. Yes they may be a load of hassle, and, ordinarily, we wouldn't do some of them. BUT...These are NOT ordinary times, so we MUST abide by all the guidelines laid down for us.
The first rule of any event, and the highest priority, is that everyone, from participant, to organising and support personnel, to spectator and the public, goes home safely.
Rule 2: If you disagree, see Rule 1
Unfortunately, over the past few weeks, we have seen, in many places around the country, but disappointingly so, in Cork, Athletics Ireland members organising and advertising unregistered, and uninsured, events, many with little, if any adherence to HSE and AAI guidelines.
Last night, Athletics Ireland held its AGM via Zoom, during the session, George Maybury, AAI's Chair of Risk & Finance, outlined the major risks faced by Athletics Ireland. High on the list was the risk posed by a Covid-19 outbreak related to an AAI event. As Joanne O'Riordan said in her Irish Times column last Thursday:
"The fact of the matter is one single outbreak may cause few individuals to make a decision that not only disrupts players and athletes’ lives but has a financial impact that may see sporting organisations lose an insane amount of money."
Listening to the radio this morning, I was struck by an interviewee who seemed to be talking a lot of sense about reopening business. One particular comment impacted with me "Most of us are sensible whe it comes to Covid-19". I thought " Sure, but what about the idiot!?"
In the past week or so, we have seen how a small number of clubs in other sports have had to shut down again, due to lapses in protocol, where in some cases, the lads went off to a house party weekend in Killarney, only to find that one of the guys revealed, on the Sunday, that he had tested positive before he came. All it takes is one idiot!
Imagine a superspreader coming to YOUR event and mingling with everyone. If you are organising an unregistered, uninsured event, with little or no protocols in place, then your backside is, literally, hanging out the window...and you have the potential to seriously damage the sport that we all love ......so please stop, before any lasting damage is caused.
It is particularly sad to see a small number of high profile athletes involved on organising some of these unregistered races. As the chairman of a Cork club said to me this evening "**** is giving the two fingers to Athletics Ireland with this"
Each Cork club, and collectively, its members are bound by Cork Athletics Bye-Laws, including Unregistered Events - Cork Athletics Bye-Laws
Under these:
• Clubs shall not advertise or promote non-permitted events.
• Clubs shall not organise, or help organise, non-permitted events.
• Clubs shall not permit or allow their club’s name to be used in association with non-permitted events.
• Advertising includes the use of posters or flyers, club media and/or social media, such as Facebook, Twitter , etc and club website(s)
Many were expecting the 200 person limit for outdoor events to be extended to 500, form July 20th, as per the Roadmap to Recovery. The Roadmap always carried the caveat that it could be stalled or go backwards. Nevertheless some, mainly non-club events went 'gung ho' for the 500. One event, coming up in the next few weeks, advertised for 500 participants, only to cut back to 470, when they were informed that the 500 included all persons at the event, including support personnel.
When it was announced, during the week, that the 200 limit was not being extended, they weren't deterred. The 470 numbers are being broken up into three waves of, presumably 157 each...or some other combination. I really wonder at the logic of such thinking. With such loose ideas....Would YOU want to go there?
Enough Said!
This course is aimed at volunteers who would like to start officiating track events at local level competitions, and for current officials who want to refresh their knowledge
Date: Saturday August 8th 2020
Time: 11am–2pm
Location:Zoom
Description: This course is aimed at volunteers within Athletics Ireland who wish to start officiating Track Events, including Race Walking, at local and county level competitions. It is also ideal for current officials at this level who wish to refresh their knowledge of Track and Race-Walking events.
Duration: approx 3 hours
Experience required: A basic knowledge of Athletics but experience in officiating is not required.
Qualification: Introductory Level Official-Track Events to include Race Walking. Qualified to officiate at track events at local and county competitions.
Course content: The technical rules of Track Events and Race Walking are covered on the course.
Presenters: Declan Curtin, Ronan O’Hart and Pierce O’Callaghan
Roller Coaster - Snakes & Ladders
Editorial - The contents of this editorial do not necessarily reflect the views of Cork Athletics County Board
It's only been 5 weeks since HSE & AAI Covid-19 Guidelines were extended on June 29th, allowing events of up to 50 persons indoors and 200 outdoors. CIT Track reopened early in July, with the Mardyke Track following suit from July 13th.
Several clubs have held Athletics Summer Camps and, in the past 10 days or so, several Track and Field meets (Leevale AC's two Summer Evening Meets, and West Cork's Juvenile meet), and a road race (Grange-Fermoy AC's 60th Anniversary Bob Burke Fermoy 4 Mile) have been held, all under controlled conditions, in Cork and elsewhere around the country. Further T&F Meets are to be held in Cork, in the coming weeks, with East Cork Division's confined T&F meets this Thursday, and again on Thursday week, and CIT AC's 'Track Night on Monday August 17th.
Its been a learning experience for everyone, with additional layers of work required to comply with HSE and AAI Guidelines. Organising an event was daunting enough before, Covid requirements not only add to the work, but also mean that more people and procedures have become necessary.
As in the image above, it's been a rollercoaster ride since March, but, while it might not satisfy some, we have come a long way. Nevertheless we must proceed cautiously, or we may hit one of those snakes and slide a small bit back.....or maybe a long way.
We have seen, in other sports, both here in Ireland, and abroad, where events have been called off and teams and leagues suspended after individuals, and groups, have tested positive for Covid-19. Sooner or later, this very likely to happen in athletics here. Maybe someone will be asymptomatic...or maybe someone will just keep their mouth shut (or perhaps not!)...hoping to 'Run It Off'.
Taking it as a given that we must protect each other, we must also protect our sport, by doing our utmost to ensure that we don't take short-cuts in reopening, by neglecting aspects of the Covid Guidelines. If we protect our sport, we also protect each other!
Reports, photos and videos from the registered events in Cork are, by and large, positive, with the organising clubs complying with HSE and AAI Guidelines. There were some teething troubles, but something was to be expected .... This has been, and will continue to be, a learning curve - and a sharp one at that - for us all.
Reports, including videos and photos, from events outside Cork show wide differences in Covid Guideline compliance around the country, with some meets doing excellently, while others were abysmal, with little social distance among spectators and organisers, and hugs, handshakes and even spitting - yes! actually caught on camera!
One Unregistered road race (claiming, without foundation, to have European Athletics Running4All 5 Star status) ran in waves, with, apparently no effort to assign people based on finish times, resulting in random finishes, defeating any reason for the wave start. The same event saw a token effort at social distancing athletes for the start, but had those waiting for the next wave bunched together, and with nil social distancing among the organisers.
It is sad to see, on one hand, Athletics Ireland clubs cancelling their events due to their valid Health and Safety concerns, and being 'given grief' from a minority for doing so, and on the other hand, organisers who have no long term commitment to the sport, paying lip service to HSE and AAI Covid-19 Guidelines.
Organiser A: Strives to put on a quality event AND meet HSE and AAI Guideline standards
Organiser B: Thinks putting on an event means just Starting a Race, taking race results, and, maybe, putting a bit of an effort into the HSE guidelines.....
Any idiot can put 'a race' on, but it takes an organisation to ensure, even pre-Covid-19, that sufficient safety measures are in place.
Last weekend, Grange-Fermoy AC held the first AAI registered road race in Cork since mid March. Their 60th Anniversary Bob Burke Fermoy 4 Mile was a strictly invitation only event, with a strong 68 athlete field taking part. The event went very well, with the high calibre field running an 'honest race' - normally, with a wide choice, and frequent races available, a common belief is that top athletes 'cherry pick' and avoid each other. Being the first Registered race in over 4 months, the elite field produced both men's and women's course records. A forgotten lesson for everyone - People Excel with Competition!
After the event, Cork Athletics asked Grange Fermoy AC to consider a short report, as an aid to other AAI Event Organisers: What went right...what went wrong...what wasn't done that you'd do next time...what you wouldn't , etc.
Social distancing was paramount to ensuring the safety of all involved. The following measures were put in place:
1) Limited numbers
2) No chip timing - gun time only.
3) No refreshments
4) A co-ordinated finish line, to ensure athletes dispersed post race.
5) Social distancing markers at the start line, communicated to athletes via email.
6) Limited parking with athletes encouraged to park a couple of miles from the start line, and use the distance as a warm up/cooldown. This avoided congregation at the start line and encouraged dispersal post race.
7) No messing at the start line. Athletes were called to take their socially distant place markings. Following a brief course description, athletes were asked to move forward, and the gun was fired.
Sanitisation was an important factor:
1) PPE. including face masks, were worn by race personnel at the check-in desk.
2) Hand sanitiser was available at key locations.
Screening:
1) As per AAI guidelines, All athletes were required to complete the Covid-19 questionnaire, which ensured that they self-declared fit and healthy, and had followed the guidelines in the weeks leading up to the race.
Grange Fermoy AC feel that the following factors were key:
1) The evening before the race, a trial run over the course, involving approx 30 Grange Fermoy athletes, took place, under the control measures in force for the race proper. This ensured that any kinks were ironed out, and volunteers were familiar with the measures.
2) A small field of athletes was key: The field of 68 athletes was deemed optimum, ensuring a very competitive male and female race, and was also manageable from a control measure perspective.
What would Grange Fermoy do differently next time?
1) Possibly temperature screening
2) Possibly mask wearing by all volunteers and spectators, however it may be difficult to ensure compliance
Northern Ireland
Events have restarted, mainly track meets, and races largely held in enclosed areas, e.g. race tracks, forest parks etc. Northern Ireland is blessed with an abundance of off-public road venues, which helps enormously, particularly in limiting public/spectator access.
Scotland
Races cancelled for foreseeable future
Wales
Road Races cancelled for foreseeable future
England
Some races going ahead....even in areas bordering the Greater Manchester Major incident!
Reminder of Synopsis of AAI Guidelines - Posted June 24th
Firstly, Read the Fecking Manuals!! ....Everyone!!
Road Race Event Organiser Guidelines
Road Race Volunteer, Staff and Marshalls Guidelines
Road Race Participant Guidelines
NB This is only an extract of Key Points!!
Every Event should appoint a COVID-19 Officer, who should have NO Other Responsibility
This person should ensure that all COVID plans are in place, that all race personnel are familiar with and compliant with HSE & AAI guidelines, and that all necessary contact details and waivers have been received from all participants, race personnel, support entities and, literally, everyone present.
On the day
You will need additional signage and operate routes to and from key locations, in such a way as to minimise crowding and contact.
You need efficient and effective communications, via radio or mobile phone
Plenty of hand sanitiser
Ideally no baggage drop.....people should leave all personal belongings in their cars.
All race personnel should be wearing appropriate PPE
Any desks. e.g. Help desk, should have Plexi-Glass screens and NO sharing of pens/biros, or other material.
Toilets
Try to go before you leave home....both race personnel and participants
Minimise contact with surfaces and wash your hands/use sanitiser
Start Area
Only essential race personnel should be in the start area, along with participants.
Where possible, use waves and time zones.
NO PACERS!
Participants ...NO Spitting!! If you need to clear your throat, swallow it! If you need to snort/blow your nose, use a tissue and put it in YOUR pocket, or bin it!
No chopping/jumping in and out and around other runners, and no shoving, pushing etc
Water stations.....Do you really need to take on water? If you're properly hydrated, you probably don't.
Finish Line
Once you've finished, go home, or wait for your colleagues at your car. Do NOT hang around the finish area.
Timing
Hand timing should only be done for very small, and widely spaced finishers. There should be absolutely NO queueing at the finish. Chip timing is recommended, both for timing and also for contact tracing.
Sterile Area
The finish line and immediate surrounds should be a sterile area....in other words, there shouldn't be anyone in the zone who is not essential. In addition, a separate area will be required for anyone in distress, where medical personnel can tend to them.
Spectators
NO spectators should be Present
Marshalls/Stewards
You will need an awful lot more marshalls/stewards/helpers under Covid-19, and these will eat into your overall total numbers. All officials should be readily identifiable
HSE Covid-19 Booklet (PDF File)
AAI Guidelines
Road Race Event Organiser Guidelines
Road Race Volunteer, Staff and Marshalls Guidelines
Road Race Participant Guidelines
Guidelines for Small to Large Running Events (PDF File) U.S.A.
Looking Forward - Guidelines for Races (RRCA)
PRINCIPLES FOR STAGING ROAD AND MT RUNNING EVENTS DURING COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS (UK Athletics)
UK HSE Covid-19 Risk Assessment
And for the amateur sleuths *** .... better off, as the ancient Romans did ...read the chicken entrails
Irish Runner Annual, December 2002
Cover of Irish Runner Annual, December 2002
Mark Carroll breaking new ground in New York
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| Irish Runner Annual 2003 - Vol 22, No 6, P 36 | Irish Runner Annual 2003 - Vol 22, No 6, P 37 |
Irish Runner Annual 2003 - Vol 22, No 6, P 36 - 37
Download/View (PDF file)
After a sensational Marathon debut in New York, Mark Carroll is understandably excited about his next effort at the classic distance
Just minutes after crossing the New York finish line in sixth place in 2:10:54, marathon first-timer Mark Carroll was already confidently talking about breaking 2:08 for the distance in spring 2003.
“I know that my New York City time is worth at least a few minutes on a flat European course and if David Bedford is generous to me, I would like to attempt a really fast time in London next April,” Carroll said.
Clearly delighted with his first outing over the classic distance — and looking everv inch the shaven-headed warrior — Carroll was quick to point out that he is not about to abandon the track and become a marathon specialist.
“I have still some unfinished business to attend to on the track, but my days of running fast 1500m and mile races across Europe are probably at an end,” he admitted.
“Nevertheless, I still have goals to achieve at both 5,000m and 10,000m and it’s important to keep that track speed because you do need it for today’s marathon challenges.”
At 30, Carroll seems to have perfectly timed his transition from world-class track runner to marathoner and looks certain to
command attention from promoters of big events like London, Boston, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Berlin and Chicago — and to add substantially to the $18,000 he won in New York ($10,000 for finishing sixth and $8,000 for breaking 2:11).
And yet earlier this year he was in the doldrums as a knee injury threatened his career.
"We need to look at the whole socio-economic situation and take some steps to encourage kids back to our sport. We need to dress the sport up and make it attractive to young people.
“Once I had arthroscopic surgery on my knee last January, things started to come together and I was always confident I could make the successful transition from the track to the marathon — although I do realise a number of people thought otherwise.”
The major change to training made by Carroll and coach Jimmy Harvey in the build-up to New York was the weekly long run.
“For the most part I ran a 20-mile run with the first ten in around 55 minutes — 5:30 pace — and the second ten miles in 50 minutes. These long runs were over hilly terrain — nothing crazy, just rolling hills similar to what New York was going to throw at us in the second half of the race.
“All my marathon training was done in nine-day blocks. I trained for nine days straight — averaging about 115 miles — then took 48 hours complete rest to help my body absorb the workload.
“Other sessions were 6 x 2 kilometres and 4 x 3 kilometres — the 6 x 2ks in about 5:30 and the 4 x 3ks averaging 8:45.
“I would also do some 5k repeats in 14:25. The recovery would be short — 45 seconds to a minute’s rest for a session ot 12 x 1k.
“Also in every block there was a session of 20 x 400m in about 62 seconds, just to keep the pace in my legs.
“In every block there was the long run which doubled as a tempo run, one Iona session like I have described, and a hare track workout. The training was very specific and every session was well planned in advance.”
Every morning on rising Carroll took a hot bath to get the circulation flowing
This would be followed by 30 or 40 minutes of stretching before running.
Then there was the real ordeal — several times a week after really hard sessions Carroll immersed himself for 15 to 20 minures in a bath of ice.
“Mick Ahern of Patrick’s Pub in Providence kept me supplied with ice and I think these ice baths have been great for keeping injuries at bay,” he says.
He also did regular gym work to develop and maintain core strength and topped up religiously with iron supplements.
“I would eat a lot of complex carbohydrates as well as protein supplements and electrolyte concentrate drinks,” he reveals.
Carroll was assisted in much of his training — especially the interval sessions — by Providence-based Keith Kelly and the visiting Gareth Turnbull.
“They were both of great help to me in the build-up,” Carroll said. “They were so enthusiastic — they kept me feeling young.”
In New York on what he deemed a windy day, the Leevale man ran aggressively from the start.
“I felt brilliant up to 16 miles and it was at that point the Kenyans went a bit crazy,” he recalls.
“I just made a conscious decision not to chase them. I just needed to maintain my form to the finish and stay strong.
“I hadn’t set any time targets as I hadn’t come to New York chasing a very fast time — I just wanted to be competitive and to be in the lead pack from the start.
“I did everything that I said I was going to do right to the point where I said that I would not reacton 1st Avenue if things got crazy.
And I’m glad that I stuck to my plan because I saw guys in the last two or three miles who were almost walking.
“It was a great feeling to finish so strong and to recover so quickly.”
Since he won the European Junior 5000m title back in 1991, Carroll has developed into a distance runner of world stature and in the process put up new Irish numbers for the 3000m (7:30.36), 5000m (13:03.93) and 10,000m (27:46.82).
And he still harbours ambitions to be the first Irishman to break 13 minutes for 5000m and go sub-27:10 for 10,000m.
For now though he is looking at another intensive block of training geared toward a spring marathon.
“I would like to complete another 12- week block of training similar to what I did for New York, some of it at altitude,” he says.
“I really do not know where I’ll run in the spring. It could be London or Boston — or somewhere else. My manager, Ray Flynn, will negotiate that for me.
Carroll still has track ambitions
“I have always aimed high — that is just the way I am — and I do not say that to be cocky or boastful.
“When Jim Harvey started to coach me, he asked me what I thought I could run for 5000m and I told him I believed I could break 13 minutes. That was not an arrogant statement — it was the only way forward and I had to think like that if I was to
succeed. There are Kenyans and Ethiopians and Moroccans running fast all over the place and if you don’t think like that you have no place at the top of this game.
“I believe now that based on my track performances a 2:07 marathon is definitely possible.”
Carroll is mindful that in New York he revived a great Irish marathon tradition that — at least among the men — had been flagging over the past decade.
“It is good to be able to put Irish marathon running back on the map again,” he acknowledges.
“For the past five or six years I have done my best at every distance I have competed at and I’ve tried to better the Irish records for 3000m, 5,000m and 10,000m and take them into the turn of the century.
“Nowadays guys are running so fast at every distance across the board and I just ask why cannot an Irish guy be in there too.
“The last five years I feel I have done my part. I have taken three Irish records to world standard and I’d like to do the same in the marathon by the time I’m done — hopefully, by then some other kid will be coming through looking to better my records.”
Clearly, Carroll is conscious of the general decline in Irish distance standards.
“Maybe it’s time that the AAI, the Irish Sports Council and the Olympic Council of Ireland had a conference to examine why there has been such a big drop in standards,” he muses.
“I believe the talent is there — but the drop-off seems to be in interest. It’s the same in Britain — the depth is just not there.
“We need to look at the whole socio-economic situation and take some steps to encourage kids back to our sport. We need to dress the sport up and make it attractive to young people.
“That’s something I would like to help with and I’m sure Sonia O’Sullivan feels the same.
“I’ve always wanted to give something back to the sport — though living 3,000 miles away doesn’t make that easy. Still, over the next few years I would be prepared to sit down with people and help in any way I can to progress the sport in Ireland.”
Meanwhile Mark Carroll goes chasing 2:07 in the spring — and suddenly John Treacy’s Irish record of 2:09:18 looks in severe danger.
These past few weeks have been easy going for the Leevale man as he visited his parents in Cork City. But he will soon ease back into training, starting with 30 miles a week, quickly progressing to 50 or 60, then adding 10 a week until he passes the magic 100 — the watershed for all successful marathoners.
“I’ve had my break and enjoyed myself on a few nights out but it will soon be time to get serious again,” he says.
“You would never feel spring coming around.”
World Athletics - Mark Carroll Honours Listing
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Mardyke, Cork
Saturday 9th & Sunday July 10th 1983
Irish Runner Magazine - August 1983, Vol 3, No 5, P26 - 27
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| Irish Runner Magazine - August 1983, Vol 3, No 5, P26 | Irish Runner Magazine - August 1983, Vol 3, No 5, P27 |
The 1983 adidas sponsored All-Ireland Track and Field Championships of the N.A.C.A.I. were staged on Saturday and Sunday, 9th and 10th July, in near perfect weather conditions in the Mardyke, Cork. A stiff breeze measuring 3.5 m per secs was blowing against the sprinters on the first day of the Championships.
The programme consisted of 70 track events and 34 field events for four categories of athletes (a) Senior Men, (b) Senior Women, (c) Veterans over 35, 40, 45 for men and over 30 and 40 for women and (d) youths - under 18 male. The heavily congested programme was run off very efficiently by a hard-working and well- organised committee.
The standard in the senior ladies’ events overshadowed that of the senior men. Caroline McCoy of the Bros. Pearse Club ran a powerful race to retain her 100 metres title, having earlier retained her 100 metres hurdles title. She showed excellent sprinting ability into a 3.5 m. per sec. wind to hit the tape in 12.2 secs, which was 0.3 outside her personal best. Second in the 100 metres was Deirdre McGrath who later took the 200 metres gold in 25.0 secs, and the long jump gold in 5.40 metres.
Rosie Lambe on her way to victory in the 3000 metres
Rita Malone winning the 1500 metres from Rosie Lambe
Rosy Lambe from Knockbridge ran an aggressive 3000 metres which she controlled from the gun to register a time of 9 mins. 3.74 secs. The previous day Lambe was outsprinted by Rita Malone from the St. John’s Club in Clare who won in a very creditable 4 mins. 37.4 secs. In fact, Rita Malone lined up on the second day of the Championships as favourite for the 800 metres but was beaten into second place by Mary Joe O’Mahony from Gneeveguilla in Kerry who recorded 2 mins. 18.0 secs, for the gold medal.
In the field events the very attractive Pauline Carolan was in a class of her own to win both the Shot and Discus with distances of 11.55 metres and 46.45 metres respectively, the latter being a new championship record. The Fr. Murphy’s Club athletes’ throwing ranks among the best in the country and with stronger competition Pauline could drastically improve her standard. Dublin’s Mairead Somers was also an easy winner in the javelin with a new championship record of 34.44 metres.
In the senior men’s events David Adams from Harolds Cross sprinted to victory in both the 100 and 200 metres events with times of 10.9 secs, and 22.1 secs. Paul Hetherington from Navan A.C., who was runner-up to David Adams in both these events, went on to take the gold in the 400 metres with a time of 50.6 secs.
Meath’s David Harrison from the South O’Hanlon club ran a class 1500 metres to win in 3 mins. 53.4 secs. Unfortunately, a family bereavement cut short his week-end and, in his absence, the 800 metres proved to be one of the most competitive events won by John Hogan from Bohermeen in a blanket finish in a time of 1 min. 57.5 secs.
Left to right - Deirdre Flatman, first in the high jump; second Paula Davis and third Ann Cussen
A feature of the veterans’ events was the running of Willie Neenan from Millstreet. Having won the over-40 1500 metres with a time of 4 mins. 24.4 secs., the North (Corkman ran) across to the start of the over-45 1500 metres which was the very next event. Willie outkicked the field to win his second gold in a time of 4 mins. 48.5 secs. The Cork evergreen athlete literally jogged next day the legendary Neenan won the silver medal in the over-45 400 metres.
Vincent Manley on his way to victory in the Youths 1500 metres
The N.A.C.A.I. coach, Dr. Z. Orywal from Poland, who was sixth in the 1958 European 1500 metres final, was critical of certain aspects of the Mardyke’s facilities. He could not reconcile the fact that such a modem stadium as the Mardyke could be without sufficient starting blocks and without any measuring tapes
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Delivered via Zoom
11am – 1pm, Saturday 25th July
This course is aimed at new officials, but is also a refresher course for those already qualified as Level 1 Technical Officials
This may be beneficial in expanding your club's base expertise, or opening up new opportunities, for both prospective and existing members
The Course will be delivered by Declan Curtin and Ronan O’Hart
REGISTER for Field Events Introductory Technical Officials Course
Closing date is 4pm Tuesday July 21st
This course is aimed at volunteers within the organisation, who wish to start officiating field events at local and county level competitions. It is also ideal for current officials of this level who wish to refresh their knowledge of field events
Duration: 2 hours - 11am – 1pm, Saturday 25th July
Delivery: Virtual, via Zoom
If you don't already have the Zoom App, you will need to install it before the course
Experience required: A basic knowledge of Athletics but experience in officiating is not required.
Qualification: Introductory Level Official-field events. Qualified to officiate at field events at Local and county competitions
The technical rules of Long Jump, Triple Jump, High Jump, Shot Put, Hammer, Pole Vault, Discus, Javelin are covered on the course
UCC is to begin opening its Outdoor Sports Facilities, including the Mardyke Track, on a phased basis, from Monday July 13th
UCC Announcement
UCC says it acknowledges that sports persons, clubs and groups want to get back training and using sports facilities, along Government guidelines, but that reopening of sports facilities, in a university setting, gives rise to greater complications due to the many of facilities, in several locations.
UCC Management has agreed the following reopening schedule for the external facilities, both at the Mardyke and Curraheen Sports Grounds:
From Monday 13th July 2020 – Limited reopening of the Mardyke athletics track, when students, staff and external track membership users can return to the track. In addition, external clubs who hire the track will begin a phased return.
| Mardyke & Farm Opening Hours | Individual User Guidelines | Group User Guidelines |
Mardyke Track Safe Use Measures
2020 Individual Track Membership Guidelines
2020 Group Bookings for Track Guidelines
From Monday 20th July 2020 – External group users may return to track, along with pre-booked users for the Curraheen Road Pitches
From 1st August 2020 – Pre-booked users of the synthetic pitch and grass pitches at the Mardyke may return.
New guidelines and regulations will be in operation for the athletics track, and all users are asked to comply with these, to ensure a safe environment for both staff and all users of the Mardyke.
The Mardyke & Curraheen Sports Grounds are NOT open for casual use – all uses of the facilities must be members and/or pre-booked
From 1st July any person who wants to use the athletics track must have valid track membership before they are allowed on the track.
All members, including public, clubs, groups, UCC staff and students must activate their membership via the online application system, and then log in, using their membership card, at the Kiosk in the Mardyke Pavilion. This is for contract tracing purposes, and for monitoring numbers on the track at any one time. All details about the new process will be available here.
External users may make an online application for UCC Sports Track Membership, or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The membership fee will waived until September 30th, but the usual fees will then apply, as normal, from 1st October.
From 13th July, NO unauthorised user will be permitted onto the UCC sports facilities without membership or group booking
A new system for use of the track will be in operation – with a one way in and one way out system in operation, to reduce close contacts.
Clubs using the facilities will do so in line with their NGB (AAI in our case) Return To Play, and UCC Policies.
As per HSE guideleines, There will be no changing room facilities available for users. Users must arrive togged out, and then leave immediately after completion of their session
The UCC Department of Sport & Physical Activity is looking forward to reopening its facilities but requests users to comply with policy and regulation for the health & wellbeing of all – staff and users alike
All queries in relation to use of the UCC outdoor sports facilities should be maded directly to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Sports Office will remain closed until further notice with staff working remotely.
For further details on reopening, etc please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
These are the current Opening Times for UCC Sports Facilities (Mardyke Sports Grounds & The Farm, Curraheen). These times are subject to change, depending on weather conditions and maintenance schedules.
If uncertain, please contact the Sports Operative on duty (details below) or keep an eye on UCC Sports' social media channels on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook
| Day | UCC Mardyke Sports Grounds | UCC Farm, Curraheen |
|---|---|---|
| Sports Operative - 087-9132071 | Sports Operative - 087-9132084 | |
| Monday | 9am - 10pm | 9am - 4pm* |
| Tuesday | 9am - 10pm | 9am - 9pm |
| Wednesday | 9am - 10pm | 9am - 9pm |
| Thursday | 9am - 10pm | 9am - 9pm |
| Friday | 9am - 10pm | 9am - 3pm |
| Saturday | 10am - 5pm | 9am - 5pm |
| Sunday | 10am - 5pm | 9am - 5pm |
* May open Monday evenings, on request of UCC clubs, this is subject to approval from UCC Dept. of Sport & Physical Activity
In line with Government, HSE and University protocols, UCC Department of Sport & Physical Activity (DSPA) has put a number of measures in place to ensure the safe use of the Athletics Track for all its members, clubs and groups.
1. NO unauthorised users allowed - Only Track members and authorised group / club bookings are permitted on the track
2. Dressing Rooms & Toilets - Until further notice, dressing rooms will remain closed, however toilets will be accessible to users
3. No Parking- as always, there is NO parking available onsite for track users at the Mardyke Sports Grounds
4. Individual Track Membership. All individual users must ensure they have a valid and 'in date' Track Membership. Please note all membership fees are waived until 30th September 2020, after which usual fees apply as normal.
a. U18 member - Must have a parent/guardian onsite to supervise from track perimeter.
b. All Members must follow current UCC DSPA protocols - hand sanitisation, register their attendance, one way entry / exit
c. There is No Individual Member access to track during group / club booked sessions (This will be reviewed on an ongoing basis)
5. Log all attendance at the KIOSK
a. Upon arrival at the Mardyke Sports Grounds, individual members must register their attendance
b. The Kiosk is situated on the ground floor of the Pavilion (mounted on the wall facing you as you enter)
c. Please adhere to the one way system into and out of the building
d. Sanitise hands upon entry and departure
e. At the KIOSK, please select Athletics Track - enter member ID number, and submit
6. Use of Equipment
a. All equipment is stored away and not permitted for use by individual members
7. Entering & Exiting the Track (Please refer to Map)
a. Upon exiting the Pavilion at point A, proceed to enter the Track at the gates at point B
b. Upon exiting the Track, please use the gate at point C - close gate on your departure
c. All Groups meet at point D (Outside the track railing) prior to entering the track
Please note, opening hours are subject to change - updated on UCC Sports' social media channels on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook
In line with Government, HSE and University protocols, UCC Department of Sport & Physical Activity (DSPA) has put a number of measures in place to ensure the safe use of the Athletics Track for all its members, clubs and groups.
1. NO unauthorised users allowed - Only Track members and authorised group / club bookings are permitted on the track
2. All group / club bookings must be made in advance with the UCC DSPA
Each group / club booking will need to ensure that it complies with the following:
a. Access to the track is only for the duration of the time booked
b. Follow guidelines and recommendations of their National Governing Body
c. Provide contact details for club representative responsible for COVID Compliance
d. Provide up to date insurance cover including COVID
e. Arrive no earlier than 5 minutes before start time
f. Must follow UCC DSPA protocols in place
g. Hand sanitisation
h. Covid Compliance Supervisor must Register attendance at Kiosk in the Pavilion
i. Follow Entry and Exit points
j. Meeting point for groups - see details below
k. Do not enter until previous group has left
3. Dressing Rooms & Toilets - Until further notice, dressing rooms will remain closed, however toilets will be accessible tousers
4. No Parking- as always, there is NO parking available onsite for track users at the Mardyke Sports Grounds
5. Individual Track Membership.
Athletic clubs are to remind their members that they do NOT have permission to train on the track outside of club booking. If members want to train outside these times they must take out individual track membership or contact UCC DSPA via email
a. No Individual access to track during group / club booked sessions (This will be reviewed regularly)
6. Logging attendance at the KIOSK
a. Upon arrival at the Mardyke Sports Grounds, the Group/Club COVID Compliance Supervisor must register their clubs attendance
b. The Kiosk is situated on the ground floor of the Pavilion (mounted on the wall facing you as you enter)
c. Please adhere to the one way system into and out of the building
d. Sanitise hands upon entry and departure
e. At the KIOSK select Athletics Track - enter member ID number and submit
7. Use of Equipment
a. All equipment is stored away and not permitted for use by individual members
b. Club bookings may access equipment via the Sports Operative on duty - provided you sanitise before and after your session
8. Entering & Exiting the Track (refer to map)
a. Upon exiting the Pavilion at point A, proceed to enter the Track at the gates at point B
b. Upon exiting the Track, please use the gate at point C - close gate on your departure
c. All Groups meet at point D (outside the track railing) prior to entering the track - ensure adhere to social distancing guidelines
Please note, opening hours are subject to change - updated on UCC social media channels on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook
