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
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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
