100 Years of the Cork County Cross-Country Championship - Article by John Walshe
100 Years of Cork Cross-Country
Article by John Walshe
(This article appears in today's Echo, 28/09/2023)
Denis McCarthy, East Cork AC, with the Donal Barrett Perpetual Cup, awarded to the winning team at the Cork County Cross-Country, since 1927
Entries & Venue Details for Cork Athletics Cross-Country Championships Day 1 2023, Sunday October 1st - Carrigadrohid, Macroom - Eircode P12K300, West Muskerry AC Venue
Roll of Honour Senior Cork County Cross Country Championship Winners
100 Years of Cork Cross-Country
Article by John Walshe
(This article appears in today's Echo, 28/09/2023)
On Sunday next, the Cork County Senior cross-country championships for men and women take place at Carrigadrohid, near Macroom
But for the diligence and research carried out by two members of the East Cork club, a fact that may have escaped many of those taking part, is that this year marks the 100th anniversary of the staging of the original championship
It is appropriate that the two in question – Denis McCarthy and Liam O’Brien – should undertake this valuable piece of work as both have a close affinity with the annual cross-country decider
Ballynoe native McCarthy has the unique distinction of having run in 40 of those championships – including twice a scoring member of the winning team – while Olympian O’Brien won the individual title in 1989 and was also on the winning East Cork team on nine occasions
Both credit the book ‘Cork Champions Past & Present’, written by Liam Fleming from Ballinscarthy in 2013, as their main source of information. “I suppose I would be in and out of that book fairly regularly and so I became aware that the first championship took place in 1923,” explains Denis
That inaugural race was held at the Cork Showgrounds on April 29 and was won by J Corcoran of Owenabue Athletic Club. Unfortunately, his first name is not recorded. The team contest was a tie between Owenabue AC and Blarney AC. That fixture was organised by the newly-formed National Athletics and Cycling Association of Ireland (NACAI). Prior to that, the GAA organised Irish Athletics
“In 1927, a perpetual cup was donated by Donal Barrett, a subsequent County Board chairman and National NACAI president. and Collins AC were the first winners of the cup which is still contested today,” says Denis. Over the century, the championships didn’t take place on four occasions – 1939, 1941, 1942 (the latter due to foot-and-mouth) and in 2020 because of Covid
The Cork title has always been regards as one of the hardest to win, outside of the national championship. A brief look at some previous winners show that Helsinki 1952 Olympian marathoner Joe West, a native of Carrigaline, took the title in 1945, 1947 and 1953. Ted Geary from Ballymore went one better, winning in 1956, 1957, 1958 and 1961
Two other Olympians, Donie Walsh (Leevale) and John Hartnett (Grange), shared seven wins between then in the 1970s. The following decade, Tony O’Leary of Leevale dominated with seven titles while in the 1990s Donncha O’Mahony had five wins and was also a scoring member of his East Cork winning team on an incredible 15 occasions
“The race itself is not without its turbulence,” states McCarthy. “From 1923 until 1967 the NACAI were the organisers and then in 1967, in an effort to reunite the two bodies governing Irish athletics (AAU and NACAI), the new body BLE was formed
“This worked quite well until the two organisations split, so in Cork we then had two county senior championships from 1968 to 2000, before the present Athletics Association of Ireland came into being.”
The NACAI produced its own array of stars, namely Willie Webb (Rising Sun) in the 1960s, Ger Murphy (Meelin and Millstreet) in the 1970s and John O’Driscoll (Bandon Bridge) in the 1980s
A women’s championship was introduced for the first time in 1966 when Catherine Barry of Emerald AC was the winner. Marie Buckley from Kinsale had three victories in the early 1970s while Valerie O’Mahony-Collins (Togher) was a five-time winner (1979, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989)
However, the greatest number of wins is held by Louth native Louise Cavanagh, a member of UCC AC, who took first on nine occasions. Leevale’s Lizzie Lee completed a five-in-a-row between 2009 and 2013 before returning to win her sixth race in 2021
In between those years, another Leevale athlete, Michelle Finn, notched up six wins and it’s interesting to note that Michelle’s mother, Mary, won the NACAI version of the race twice in the 1990s
Before underage categories were customary, Margaret Nagle (Millstreet/Donoughmore) was just 14 when she won the NACAI title in 1973 while the youngest men’s winner is St Finbarr’s stalwart John Buckley who was aged 19 in 1965
“Great credit is due to the men and women of the Cork County Board, past and present, for maintaining the great tradition of this race, so roll on the next century,” concludes Denis McCarthy, the main compiler of this important piece of athletics history
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
Roll of Honour Senior Cork County Cross Country Championship Winners 1923 - 2002
These Rolls of Honour are drawn from Liam Fleming's book 'Cork Champions Past and Present' ISBN 978-0-955 1253-1-7
Men | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Athlete | Club | Team Winner | Organisation |
1923 | J Corcoran | Owenabue | Owenabue Blarney tie | NACA |
1924 | Denis Healy | Blarney | Blarney | NACA |
1925 | Denis Healy | Blarney | Owenabue | NACA |
1926 | M Collins | Blarney | Owenabue | NACA |
1927 | William Corcoran | McCurtains | Collins | NACA |
1928 | Daniel Cooney | Owenabue | Owenabue | NACA |
1929 | Tony McNamara | Civil Service | Owenabue | NACA |
1930 | William Corcoran | Blarney | Blarney | NACA |
1931 | Peter Lehane | Blarney | Blarney | NACA |
1932 | Peter Lehane | Blarney | Collins | NACA |
1933 | Edward Rush | Collins | Collins | NACA |
1934 | J O'Connell | Blarney | Blarney | NACA |
1935 | J O'Callaghan | Blarney | Collins | NACA |
1936 | William Burke | Ballymurphy | Ballymurphy | NACA |
1937 | P Connolly | Collins | Collins | NACA |
1938 | Danny Murphy | Kildinan | Kildinan | NACA |
1939 | Not Held | NACA | ||
1940 | George Gubbins | Kildinan | Mosgrove/Crookstown Harriers | NACA |
1941 | Not Held | NACA | ||
1942 | Not Held | NACA | ||
1943 | George Gubbins | Kildinan | Kildinan | NACA |
1944 | Peter Quigley | Owenabue | Owenabue | NACA |
1945 | Joe West | Owenabue | Owenabue | NACA |
1946 | J Murphy | Cork Running Club | Kildinan | NACA |
1947 | Joe West | Owenabue | Kildinan | NACA |
1948 | Peter Quigley | Owenabue | Kildinan | NACA |
1949 | Vincent Murphy | Blarney | Kildinan | NACA |
1950 | John Harte | Carrigtwohill | Kildinan | NACA |
1951 | Moss Egan | Kildinan | Blarney | NACA |
1952 | John Harte | Carrigtwohill | Carrigtwohill | NACA |
1953 | DJ O'Connell | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACA |
1954 | Joe West | Rising Sun | Rising Sun | NACA |
1955 | Denis Collins | Rising Sun | Carrigtwohill | NACA |
1956 | Ted Geary | Ballymore | Rising Sun | NACA |
1957 | Ted Geary | Ballymore | Millstreet | NACA |
1958 | Ted Geary | Ballymore | Rising Sun | NACA |
1959 | Donie Lucey | St Finbarrs | St Finbarrs | NACA |
1960 | Con Brosnan | Meelin | Meelin | NACA |
1961 | Ted Geary | Ballymore | Meelin | NACA |
1962 | Willie Webb | Rising Sun | Meelin | NACA |
1963 | Mossie O'Donoghue | Millstreet | Rising Sun | NACA |
1964 | Matt Murphy | Rising Sun | Millstreet | NACA |
1965 | John Buckley | St Finbarrs | Grange | NACA |
1966 | John Buckley | St Finbarrs | Grange | NACA |
1967 | Matt Murphy | Rising Sun | Grange | NACA |
1968 | Matt Murphy | Rising Sun | Leevale | BLE |
Willie Webb | Rising Sun | Ballydaly | NACAI | |
1969 | John Buckley | St Finbarrs | Leevale | BLE |
Willie Webb | Rising Sun | Rising Sun | NACAI | |
1970 | Matt Murphy | Rising Sun | St Finbarrs | BLE |
Denis Guiney | Banteer | Rising Sun | NACAI | |
1971 | Donie Walsh | Leevale | Leevale | BLE |
Willie Webb | Rising Sun | Meelin | NACAI | |
1972 | John Hartnett | Grange | Leevale | BLE |
Donie Buckley | Meelin | Meelin | NACAI | |
1973 | Donie Walsh | Leevale | Leevale | BLE |
John O'Brien | Ballymore | Millstreet/Donoughmore | NACAI | |
1974 | Donie Walsh | Leevale | Leevale | BLE |
Denis Hickey | Millstreet/Donoghmore | Millstreet/Donoughmore | NACAI | |
1975 | John Hartnett | Grange/Fermoy | Leevale | BLE |
Jer Murphy | Meelin | Ballydaly | NACAI | |
1976 | Ray Treacy | Leevale | Leevale | BLE |
Jer Murphy | Millstreet/Donoghmore | Millstreet/Donoughmore | NACAI | |
1977 | Ray Treacy | Leevale | Leevale | BLE |
Jer Murphy | Millstreet/Donoghmore | Millstreet/Donoughmore | NACAI | |
1978 | Donie Walsh | Leevale | Leevale | BLE |
Donie Buckley | Meelin | Millstreet | NACAI | |
1979 | John Hartnett | Grange | Leevale | BLE |
Jer Murphy | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | |
1980 | Richie Crowley | St Finbarrs | Leevale | BLE |
Jer Murphy | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | |
1981 | Tony O'Leary | Leevale | Leevale | BLE |
Jer Murphy | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | |
1982 | Tony O'Leary | Leevale | Leevale | BLE |
Francie Dineen | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | |
1983 | Tony O'Leary | Leevale | St Finbarrs | BLE |
Breffni Carter | St Colmans | St Colmans | NACAI | |
1984 | Tony O'Leary | Leevale | Leevale | BLE |
Pat Histon | St Colmans | Millstreet | NACAI | |
1985 | Tony O'Leary | Leevale | East Cork | BLE |
Vincent Manley | St Colmans | Millstreet | NACAI | |
1986 | Tony O'Leary | Leevale | East Cork | BLE |
Dan Joe O'Callaghan | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | |
1987 | Richard O'Flynn | Bandon | Leevale | BLE |
Tadhg O'Regan | Glandore | Bandon Bridge | NACAI | |
1988 | Tony O'Leary | Leevale | East Cork | BLE |
Michael Coakley | Bandon Bridge | Bandon Bridge | NACAI | |
1989 | Liam O'Brien | East Cork | East Cork | BLE |
Michael Coakley | Bandon Bridge | Bandon Bridge | NACAI | |
1990 | Donncha O'Mahony | East Cork | East Cork | BLE |
P.J. Twomey | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | |
1991 | Donncha O'Mahony | East Cork | East Cork | BLE |
John O'Driscoll | Bandon Bridge | Millstreet | NACAI | |
1992 | Donncha O'Mahony | East Cork | East Cork | BLE |
John O'Driscoll | Bandon Bridge | Millstreet | NACAI | |
1993 | Richard O'Flynn | Bandon | Leevale | BLE |
John O'Driscoll | Bandon Bridge | Millstreet | NACAI | |
1994 | Donncha O'Mahony | East Cork | East Cork | BLE |
John O'Driscoll | Bandon Bridge | Millstreet | NACAI | |
1995 | Ken Nason | Leevale | Leevale | BLE |
Noel O'Connor | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | |
1996 | Ken Nason | Leevale | East Cork | BLE |
Desmond Casey | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | |
1997 | Garret Barry | East Cork | UCC | BLE |
Desmond Casey | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | |
1998 | Martin McCarthy | Leevale | Leevale | BLE |
Philip Withers | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | |
1999 | Martin McCarthy | Leevale | Leevale | BLE |
Desmond Casey | Millstreet | Rising Sun | NACAI | |
2000 | Fiachra Lombard | Leevale | Leevale | AAI |
Desmond Casey | Millstreet | Rising Sun | NACAI | |
2001 | Martin McCarthy | Leevale | Togher | AAI |
2002 | Rob Heffernan | Togher | Togher | AAI |
2003 | Donncha O'Mahony | East Cork | East Cork | AAI |
2004 | Brian McMahon | Carrignavar | East Cork | AAI |
2005 | Mark Hanrahan | Leevale | East Cork | AAI |
2006 | Brian McMahon | Carrignavar | East Cork | AAI |
2007 | Alan O'Shea | Bantry | East Cork | AAI |
2008 | Mark Hanrahan | Leevale | East Cork | AAI |
2009 | Mark Hanrahan | Leevale | East Cork | AAI |
2010 | Mark Hanrahan | Leevale | East Cork | AAI |
2011 | Barry Donovan | Leevale | East Cork | AAI |
2012 | Mark Hanrahan | Leevale | Leevale | AAI |
2013 | Ben Thistlewood | Leevale | East Cork | AAI |
2014 | Mark Hanrahan | Leevale | Leevale | AAI |
2015 | Ben Thistlewood | Leevale | Leevale | AAI |
2016 | Mark Hanrahan | Leevale | Leevale | AAI |
2017 | Mark Hanrahan | Leevale | East Cork | AAI |
2018 | Tim O'Donoghue | East Cork | Leevale | AAI |
2019 | Tim O'Donoghue | East Cork | North Cork | AAI |
2020 | Not Held | AAI | ||
2021 | Tim O'Donoghue | East Cork | Leevale | AAI |
2022 | Michael Harty | East Cork | East Cork | AAI |
Women
Year | Athlete | Club | Team Winner | Organisation | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1966 | Catherine Barry | Emerald Ladies | Emerald Ladies | NACA | 06/03/1966 |
1967 | Rita O'Sullivan | Emerald Ladies | Emerald Ladies | NACA | 30/01/1967 |
1968 | Eileen Kelly | Beara | Rising Sun | BLE | |
Imelda Rice | Tracton | No Team | NACAI | 10/03/1968 | |
1969 | Eileen Kelly | Beara | Beara | BLE | |
Not Held | No Team | NACAI | 16/02/1969 | ||
1970 | Eileen Kelly | Beara | Beara | BLE | |
Marie Buckley | Dunderrow | Clann Eireann | NACAI | 01/03/1970 | |
1971 | Joan Fleming | St Finbarrs | Grange | BLE | |
Catherine Bowles | Clann Eireann | Clann Eireann | NACAI | 14/03/1971 | |
1972 | Marie Buckley | Leevale | Leevale | BLE | |
Mary Jo Cronin | Millstreet/Donoughmore | Clann Eireann | NACAI | 13/02/1972 | |
1973 | Marie Buckley | Leevale | Leevale | BLE | |
Margaret Nagle | Millstreet/Donoughmore | Ballymore | NACAI | 04/02/1973 | |
1974 | Maura Mellerick | Grange | Leevale | BLE | |
Eileen Sheehan | Knocknagree | Knocknagree | NACAI | 17/02/1974 | |
1975 | Marie Buckley | Leevale | UCC | BLE | |
Mary O'Keeffe | Millstreet/Donoughmore | Millstreet/Donoughmore | NACAI | 16/02/1975 | |
1976 | Marion Staunton | St Finbarrs | Leevale | BLE | |
Joan Twomey | Millstreet/Donoughmore | Millstreet/Donoughmore | NACAI | 26/03/1976 | |
1977 | Marion Staunton | St Finbarrs | UCC | BLE | |
Joan Twomey | Millstreet/Donoughmore | Millstreet/Donoughmore | NACAI | 20/03/1977 | |
1978 | Marion Lyons | St Finbarrs | St Finbarrs | BLE | |
Joan Twomey | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | 19/03/1978 | |
1979 | Valerie O'Mahony | Togher | West Cork | BLE | |
Joan Twomey | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | 03/12/1978 | |
1980 | Fionnuala Morrish | Leevale | St Finbarrs | BLE | |
Shiela Daly | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | 23/12/1979 | |
1981 | Fionnuala Morrish | Leevale | Leevale | BLE | |
Shiela Daly | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | 03/01/1981 | |
1982 | Joan Hough | St Finbarrs | Bandon | BLE | |
Libby Histon | St Colmans | Millstreet | NACAI | 03/01/1982 | |
1983 | Valerie O'Mahony | Togher | Leevale | BLE | |
Libby Histon | St Colmans | St Colmans | NACAI | 02/01/1983 | |
1984 | Carmel Lyons | Leevale | Leevale | BLE | |
Mary O'Riordan | Rising Sun | No Team | NACAI | 01/01/1984 | |
1985 | Carmel McCarthy | Bandon | Leevale | BLE | |
Frances O'Regan | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | 06/01/1985 | |
1986 | Valerie O'Mahony Collins | Togher | Leevale | BLE | |
Majella Mullane | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | 29/12/1985 | |
1987 | Niamh O'Sullivan | Leevale | Leevale | BLE | |
Frances O'Regan | Glandore | Millstreet | NACAI | 21/12/1986 | |
1988 | Valerie O'Mahony Collins | Togher | Leevale | BLE | |
Shiela Daly | Millstreet | Old Abbey | NACAI | 03/01/1988 | |
1989 | Valerie Vaughan | Blarney/Inniscarra | Leevale | BLE | |
Mary O'Riordan | Rising Sun | Old Abbey | NACAI | 18/12/1988 | |
1990 | Susan Jenkins | Leevale | Leevale | BLE | |
Mary O'Riordan | Rising Sun | Rising Sun | NACAI | 03/12/1989 | |
1991 | Susan Jenkins | Leevale | Leevale | BLE | |
Mary O'Riordan | Rising Sun | No Team | NACAI | 02/12/1990 | |
1992 | Mary Sweeney | St Finbarrs | Leevale | BLE | |
Noreen Slattery | Millstreet | Rising Sun | NACAI | 01/12/1991 | |
1993 | Louise Cavanagh | UCC | St Finbarrs | BLE | |
Mary O'Riordan | Rising Sun | Rising Sun | NACAI | 22/11/1992 | |
1994 | Anna Collins | St Finbarrs | St Finbarrs | BLE | |
Blaithin Hannon | Millstreet | No Team | NACAI | 12/12/1993 | |
1995 | Louise Cavanagh | UCC | UCC | BLE | |
Blaithin Hannon | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | 08/01/1995 | |
1996 | Louise Cavanagh | UCC | St Finbarrs | BLE | |
Mary Finn | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | 14/01/1996 | |
1997 | Louise Cavanagh | UCC | UCC | BLE | |
Mary Finn | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | 09/02/1997 | |
1998 | Louise Cavanagh | UCC | St Finbarrs | BLE | |
Carol Slattery | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | 04/01/1998 | |
1999 | Margaret Meade | Leevale | St Finbarrs | BLE | |
Carol Slattery | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | 13/12/1998 | |
2000 | Louise Cavanagh | UCC | UCC | AAI | |
Carol Slattery | Millstreet | Donoughmore | NACAI | 19/12/1999 | |
2001 | Louise Cavanagh | UCC | St Finbarrs | AAI | |
2002 | Valerie Vaughan | Blarney/Inniscarra | Leevale | AAI | |
2003 | Freda Davoren | UCC | UCC | AAI | |
2004 | Louise Cavanagh | UCC | St Finbarrs | AAI | |
2005 | Louise Cavanagh | UCC | Leevale | AAI | |
2006 | Joanne Waters | UCC | UCC | AAI | |
2007 | Carmel Crowley | Bandon | St Finbarrs | AAI | |
2008 | Rhona Lynch | Eagle | Eagle | AAI | |
2009 | Lizzie Lee | Leevale | Eagle | AAI | |
2010 | Lizzie Lee | Leevale | Eagle | AAI | |
2011 | Lizzie Lee | Leevale | Leevale | AAI | |
2012 | Lizzie Lee | Leevale | Leevale | AAI | |
2013 | Lizzie Lee | Leevale | Leevale | AAI | |
2014 | Michelle Finn | Leevale | Leevale | AAI | |
2015 | Michelle Finn | Leevale | Leevale | AAI | |
2016 | Michelle Finn | Leevale | Leevale | AAI | |
2017 | Michelle Finn | Leevale | Leevale | AAI | |
2018 | Michelle Finn | Leevale | Leevale | AAI | |
2019 | Michelle Finn | Leevale | Leevale | AAI | |
2020 | Not Held | AAI | |||
2021 | Lizzie Lee | Leevale | Leevale | AAI | |
2022 | Sinead O'Connor | Leevale | Leevale | AAI |
Other Guest Articles by John Walshe
Brid Murphy - The Inspirational Story of a Three-Time National Champion - Article by John Walshe
Eight Decades on - Famous Cross-Country Victory Finally Honoured - Article by John Walshe
On The Road From Cork To Cobh - Fifty Years Ago - Article by John Walshe
FORTY YEARS AGO - WHEN ‘CMON AGHADA’ WAS HEARD ON HEARTBREAK HILL - Article by John Walshe
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A Brilliant Performance Sees East Cork AC Take National Silver
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Midleton AC County Novice Cross-Country Team 1971
Donie Walsh - 1971 European Championships 10,000m Recalled
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