Results of the Munster Masters Cross Country - Sun 29th Nov 2009

The Masters Cross Country Championships took place in Moyglass in Co.Tipperary this year on Sunday, the 29th of November.

The full results are now available.......


Masters Men and Masters Women

Races in Munster this weekend...Sat 28th-Sun 29th Dec 2009

There are a choice of 3 races this weekend......a cross country race in Tipperary and 2 road races in Kerry.

Sat 28th Dec...

Kerry......the 'Puck Warriors Jingle Run' 10km takes place in Killorglin to the west of Killarney. The run starts at 11am and registration opens at 9:30am. I think the entry fee is €20 and going on last year's reports, it is a hilly course. Addition info below...

Puck Warriors 10km Jingle Run Will be held at A Fit Body Fitness & Sports Therapy Centre on Saturday 28th November.
Race start 11am. Registration from 9am. Run in the amazing Kerry countryside, This is a challenge for all fitness levels, undulating course with outstanding views. Runners and Walkers of all abilities welcome.
Water stations dotted throughout the route. Join in on the fun, bring your Santa hat and get in the festive spirit!
Entry Fee €20

Sun 29th Dec...

Tipperary.......there is the Munster Masters Cross Country race in Moyglass, Co.Tipp. This is for club runers only and anyone interested should contact their club secretary.

Kerry........there is the RNLI 'Reindeer Run' in Killarney which starts at 11:30am. The route takes in the National Park and is supposed to be flat, fast and '100% floodproof'!

Waterford...Launch of the Dungarvan 10 race

The official launch of the 'Quantum Life' Dungarvan 10 mile road race took place last week. The numbers taking part in this race have grown substantially in recent years. Next year however, there will be one major change....anyone interested in doing it MUST pre-enter! They will NOT be taking entries on the day of the race.
The race will take place on Sunday, the 31st of January 2010 which is slighty earlier than the usual February date.

The text of the launch is shown below...

19 TH ANNUAL QUANTUM LIFE DUNGARVAN 10 LAUNCHED. At a press launch and photo shoot last Wednesday evening at Dungarvan Sports Centre, West Waterford Athletic Club announced details of their 19th Annual Dungarvan 10 Mile Road Race, sponsored again in 2010 by Quantum Life. In the presence of deputising Dungarvan Town Mayor, Cllr Ann Marie Rossiter, Mr Mel Shanley, of Quantum Life (sponsor) announced his continued support of the event and said he was delighted to be associated with such a well organised race.

West Waterford’s Club Secretary, Norma Wall, thanked our loyal sponsor and spoke of how the race has grown hugely in recent years with a large increase in the numbers participating year on year. Adding to the popularity of the race is the fact that it is race number two in the popular Michael Roche Carpets Spring Series and also race number two in the John Buckley Sports Munster Classics. Norma said the event has now become a must run race on the Irish road running circuit and is attracting participants form all four corners of the country and beyond. The club’s road racing coordinator Gerry Cantwell announced some very important details about this year’s race. The Quantum Life Dungarvan 10 will take place on Sunday 31st January 2010, starting at 1.00pm. Gerry went on to say that with the increase in numbers participating the organising committee have decided that the race will be a pre-entry event only with an entry cut off date of Monday January 18th 2010. No entries will be taken after this date and no entries will be accepted on race day.

The race headquarters will again this year be at the Dungarvan Sports Centre located at Quanns in the town centre. Tom Keith, Centre Manager, who was also in attendance at the launch, spoke of his delight at being involved in such a successful event. The town’s sports centre is the hub on the day for this popular event. Along with the key sponsors of the race Quantum Life, West Waterford Athletic Club are delighted with the local support from the towns governing bodies Dungarvan Town Council and Waterford County Council. Deputising Town Mayor Cllr Ann Marie Rossiter spoke of how the local authorities are delighted to be involved with the race.

West Waterford Athletic Club have not alone put the club name to the fore in the athletics world, but also the club have done good for the town and local businesses, hotels, B&B’s, etc, all benefiting from such an event. Indeed Cllr Rossiter went on to speak of the many races that the local club hold over the year all bringing a huge influx of people to our beautiful town. Mel Shanley finished by saying that the event brought together the ideal race combination of fun runners, joggers, club athletes and top class internationals who compete over a fast flat 10 mile course around the historic town of Dungarvan and as sponsors we look forward to an even bigger and better event on January 31st next. RACE DETAILS.There will be a total prize fund of €3000. The first man and woman will receive €400 each with an additional €250 bonus for breaking the course record. Cash will be on offer to all category winners and everyone who takes part in the event receives a dry fit running shirt and a substantial goodie bag. Last year’s event attracted a top class field and was won by Sandis Bralitis West Waterford AC who finished the race in 51.36 . Rose Mary Ryan of Bilboa AC collected a hansome cash bonus recording a new course record 57.27 when taking the Ladies title. The entry fee to this prestigious race is €20. Entry forms can be obtained from the West Waterford club website by logging onto www.westwaterfordathletics.org or alternatively you can register online via the same website. Participants are asked this year to note that the event is a pre registration race only with the closing date for online and postal entries Monday January 18th. All race numbers will be posted out the week prior to the event, and there will be strightly no race entries on the day. Teas, sandwiches, showers and changing facilities plus the presentation of prizes will all take place at Dungarvan Sports Centre. The course for this year race will remain the same starting at the Youghal Road, The course is a very flat fast course and is noted for the personal best times recorded by many. With the recent surge of interest in running for health, fun and fitness in the country presently, a big turn-out on the day is guaranteed. With the success of West Waterford’s 'Fit4Life' running leagues and groups along with the country’s longest running winter league which aims to introduce newcomers to the sport and to the fun of running, the race organisers are particularly keen to see as many of these Fit4Life group members as possible take part in the race on Sunday January 31st .

Along with all the above and the elite field expected, it should be a really great day for athletics in our town and there will definitely be a place in this race for everyone.We're really looking forward to seeing runners of all standards and our promise is that everyone will be made welcome. Remember get your entry in before January 18th . For further information please contact James 086-8184762 or info@westwaterfordathletics.org

Races this weekend in Munster....Sun 22nd Nov 2009

There are 2 road races this weekend, both of them on Sunday the 22nd of November.

Cork.......the Cork BHAA are holding a 4 mile road race near Inniscarra in the countryside to the west of Cork city. More details on the Running in Cork website. This race starts at 11:30am.
Please note that this race in Cork has been cancelled until a later date due to local flooding.

Kerry......the 3rd race in the 5km 'Feet First' series takes place in Killarney at 11am. There was a very respectable turnout of 174 for the 1st race in October and the results can be seen in this earlier post. The weather played havoc with the recording equipment for the 2nd race so there were no results for this one.

Details.......Entries on the day only cost €5 at the Kerry Parents and Friends Centre near the catheral on the western side of the town. If you are coming from the Cork direction, take the bypass as if you were heading towards Killorglin and take the left back into the town at the 2nd roundabout...(after the roundabout with the turnoff for Tralee).

You can find a flyer for the series on the right hand side of this page.

Update Sunday 12:30pm......In an earlier e-mail from the organisers on Saturday evening, everything looked ok for this race and they said it was going ahead.
However due to continuous overnight rain, todays 5km race in Killarney has been cancelled due to flooding.

Kerry...Results of the 'Run the Gaulntlet' Half Marathon - Sun 15th Nov 2009

A total of 136 turned out for the 1st running of this half-marathon through the Gap of Dunloe in Kerry. From what I hear, there were some showers but the race took place in mostly dry conditions with some great scenery. Anyone breaking 2 hours is suppose to get a specially designed running top while the 50 or so outside the 2 hour mark get nothing despite the fact they paid the same expensive entry fee of €50...........hardly seems fair, does it?

Photos........there are a series of photos here from the Gneeveguilla AC website

Results.......the full results can be found HERE.

Race Report........by Fiona O'Riordan

I ran this race last Sunday and whilst it was a great course for those who like fantastic scenery and hills, it was a bit expensive. To set the scene it was a cold and windy November day when 136 runners lined up. There was water at the 3.5ish mile, 7ish and 9.5ish mile mark. We received a medal when we finished and unfortunately you had to buy your own cup of tea after the race in Kate Kearneys Cottage. People who finished in sub 2 hours received a t-shirt (well not yet it seems, it has to be posted), I wasn't one of them. It's a fantastic location, I would rival it with Connemara or Dingle, I did both this year and thought they were fantastic but I felt a bit ripped off after this race. I think I'll just run it as a training run another time and keep my €50.
-- Fiona O'Riordan

Waterford....Results of the Brickey 5 mile road race

Just under 80 runners turned out for this 5 mile race near Dungarvan in west Waterford. The full results can be found HERE.

Races in Munster this weekend...Sat 14th-Sun 15th Nov

There are quite a number of events this weekend, mostly on the Sunday.

Saturday...

Kerry....there is the 'Lapping of the Lakes' 10 km race. From what I have been told, the entry fee is €20 and entries are at St.Brendan's College on the west side of Killarney near the catheral. The route consists of 2 laps mostly inside the National park near Muckross.......(Note! This may be reduced to 8km due to flooding)

Sunday....

Cork....there is the County Intermediate & Masters Cross Country in Bandon at 1pm

Kerry...there is a half-marathon called 'Run the Gauntlet' through the Gap of Dunloe. The entry fee is pretty expensive at €50.

Waterford...they are having the County Masters Cross Country. If you are interested in taking part, contact Derek Grant on 087-2893485.

Waterford...in the west of the county near Dungarvan, there is the Brickey 3 and 5 mile road race.

Directions.....The event centre for this race is at the Brickey GAA grounds which is just to the West of Dungarvan. Directions to the GAA Grounds (Bushy Park) are as follows:

1: On entering Dungarvan from the Cork Side, you proceed on the N25 through the first roundabout. At the second roundabout "Spring Roundabout" you should take the 2nd exit (Aglish Road)(Follow Blue line on Map above) Proceed on that road for approx 3 miles and Bushy Park is on your right.

2: On entering Dungarvan from the Waterford side, proceed to the sixth roundabout "Spring Roundabout" Take the 4th exit (Aglish Road)(Follow Blue line on Map below) Proceed on that road for approx 3 miles and Bushy Park is on your right.

16th Annual McGrath Newsagents 3 and 5 mile road races,Entries at Brickey G.A.A. Centre. Showers and changing. Entry 8 euro. Special Mens weight catagories in 5 miler. Seperate prizes for 3 mile also.Refreshments after the race at centre and presentation of prizes.

Kerry...Results of the Feet First 5 km road race - Sat 7th Nov 2009

It looks as conditions were a bit on the damp side for this, the 2nd race of 4 in the 5 km series in Killarney, Co.Kerry.

Race Report by John Dunphy....

The 2nd race in the Feet First 5k road race series took place last Saturday in awful weather conditions. The majority of runners had made their way to the start line a good 10 to 15 minutes before the 11am start to be greeted with a massive downpour of rain which sent runner's flying for cover under trees at the side of the road. When we were called to the start line, we were all soaked to the skin while we had to wait for the race to begin which in fairness to the organiser's got off at 11am. First to go was Jerry Forde of Blarney AC and very soon afterwards the 200 or so runners were off. The organiser's had to change the course for this race due the original course being flooded which meant we would not see the very flat and fast course that a few of us managed some Pb's on last time out but what can you do! The new course was a nice course in my opinion and not long after the start, we took a left turn off the main road to head into the National park. The running to the first 1k was very flat and fast. Soon after the 1km mark, we took a sharp right out into the wide open park and it was here running along to the 2k mark is where we all took a battering from the wind and driving rain. It was extremley hard running against that type of weather but soon we were to head in the opposite direction which gave us a bit of relief with the wind and rain to our backs. But this was going to prove our toughest test with a long pull to the 3k mark. Soon after this, we were running downhill and what was going to prove the fatest 2k of the race. With a small pull to the finish line, I'm sure all were glad to see the end after that type of weather.

Arthur Fitzgerald (Faranfore-Maine Valley AC) took the mens race with Maureen Harrington (An Riocht AC) winning the ladies race. One again quiet a few of the Cork runners took apart which is great to see well done to all on the day..........John Dunphy, Eagle AC.

Photos........there is a gallery of 80 photos HERE. Note that some of the shots are a bit on the 'blurry' side.........possibly due to the poor light conditions......or was it because the runners were moving so fast? ;o)

Results.......from what I understand, there was a problem with some recording equipment due to the rain. So it would seem as if there will be no results for this one.

Road Races in Munster this weekend...Sat 7th & Sun 8th Nov 2009

There are a choice of 2 road races in Munster this weekend...

1) Kerry.........the 2nd race in the Killarney 5 km series takes place on Saturday, the 7th of November and it starts at 11am. There was a very respectable turnout of 174 for the 1st race in October and the results can be seen in this earlier post.

Details.......Entries on the day only cost €5 at the Kerry Parents and Friends Centre near the catheral on the western side of the town. If you are coming from the Cork direction, take the bypass as if you were heading towards Killorglin and take the left back into the town at the 2nd roundabout...(after the roundabout with the turnoff for Tralee).

You can find a flyer for the series on the right hand side of this page.

2) Cork.........Lisgoold GAA club are hosting a 5 km road race in this village just to the North of Midleton in East Cork. More details can be found on the Running in Cork website.

Winter evening Leagues in Munster...

Now that the clocks have gone back and the evenings are dark, 2 Winter leagues are about to start...

1) Tipperary/Kilkenny........Carrick-on-Suir AC are organising a 5km race every Tuesday evening at 7pm in Kildalton College, Pilltown....just a few kms to the east of Carrick-on-Suir. The first race is on Tuesday, the 3rd of November and runs for 11 weeks until the 19th of January, 2010. More details can be found on this flyer.

2) Waterford City.......Waterford AC are starting their series of 2 and 4 mile runs on Thursday, the 5th of November. They start each evening at 7pm and run from Thurs the 5th of November until Thurs the 17th of December. They continue again in the new year starting on Thurs the 7th of January and finishes on Thurs the 4th of Feb. More information can be found on the Waterford AC website.

3) Dungarvan, West Waterford........meanwhile in Dungarvan in West Waterford, their Winter League has already started. They are on Wednesday evenings and start at 7:15pm. More details below....

"The 16th Annual All-rounder Sports winter league at 7.15 pm from Dungarvan Sports Centre. Quanns. All levels are catered for and all are welcome no matter what your background or what your sport may be. If you feel like keeping fit over the winter months The All-rounder Sports winter league is there for you. We have our usual two distances the 2.5 mile and the 5.6 mile runs, so a distance to suit all. We will have eight nights before Christmas and eight nights after Christmas.".............West Waterford AC website.

4) Midleton, East Cork.......This series of 3 km races started on Tuesday, the 20th of October and repeat every three weeks. Each race starts at 7:30 pm. These are the remaining dates...

DATES:
Tuesday November 10th 2009
Tuesday December 1st 2009
Tuesday December 22nd 2009
Tuesday January 12th 2010
Tuesday February 2nd 2010
Tuesday February 23rd 2010

5) University of Limerick campus..........the UL Rowing club are holding a series of runs on Thursday evenings at 7pm. Details below...

UL ROWING CLUB PRESENTS THEIR INAUGURAL WINTER RUN SERIES WITHIN UL CAMPUS on Thursday nights 7pm.
Participant registration at the boathouse 6.30pm (registration closes at 6.50pm)Race start time 7pm from UL boathouse around UL campus – see flyer
Distance: 5km on the first three Thursdays 5th, 12th & 19th in November,
Increase to 7km on next three Thursdays 26th Nov, 3rd Dec & 10th December
Resume in January with a 10km distance over three Thursdays 7th, 14th & 21st
Entry fee €5
Student entry fee €3
Prizes will be given for overall fastest male, female and most improved male & female after the final January race.
All runners of every ability are welcome. ALL PARTICPANTS MUST WEAR HIGH-VIS VESTS.