Report on the 2014 Ballyhoura Limerick Series

The 6th and final race of the 2014 Ballyhoura Limerick Race Series was held last Friday evening in Bruff, Co.Limerick. Overall the series was success again this year with large numbers attending most of the races.

1) Galbally 5 mile...16th May
2) Kilmallock 5 mile...23rd May
3) Raheen 6 km...6th June
4) Bilboa 10k...13th June
5) Kilfinnane 5 mile...20th June
6) Bruff 5 mile...4th July

The overall series co-ordinator is Tom Blackburn of Mooreabbey Miler AC. This is his report...

Last Friday night was the last run in the Limerick side of the Ballyhoura Active Series while we still have three races left in the Cork series.

The Limerick races started of in Galbally with the First event been run by Mooreabbey Milers AC. It was a great success on the night with a beautiful sunny evening, a fine crowd and loads of tea and home baking afterwards.

Kilmallock was up next as a newly revitalised Kilmallock AC and a new flat course which resulted in some very good times. Great numbers took part in the event and the great Jim Hogan was on hand on the night to start the race.

Raheen 6km was next up which also a new race. Run by Dooneen AC, this was also on a very flat fast course.The numbers were small on the night as there was a weather warning earlier in the day but the evening cleared up and the race went off without a hitch. This is a race I think will draw huge numbers in the future as its location is in Limerick City but with none of the traffic problems to go with it.

Bilboa and the Ger Mulane memorial 10km road race was our next outing. This was back in the series in 2014 after a year out. Despite all the promotion, the numbers were down on last years race which was disappointing but we are confident that the numbers will be on the up next year. The tea and sandwiches and hospitality alone will be enough to bring runners back next year.

Kilfinane AC were also back in the series after a year out also had good numbers. The fine evening

made for a great event which was very well run and managed from start to finish. It was organised by a great committee who will hope to build on this event for next year.

Last but not least was the Bruff 5 mile road race ran by An Bru AC. This was another well run event and another flat and fast course. It was another sunny evening with plenty of people and plenty of tea on the night.

Overall, this years Ballyhoura Limerick Series has been a great success. We had loads of changes this year with new clubs and new races. I suppose the biggest change for us this year was the fact that all of the races was organised by athletic clubs this year. The sight of club vests and the buzz at races was evident all through the series. Last year, the committees who organised the races were very good but a lot of these them were not based in running. They would mostly be involved up until their own event was finished. With the running clubs, they took ownership of the series and were at every race in numbers. I believe this will serve as a solid base for next year for the series rather than just being a collection of clubs running random races. I also this series will grow substantially next year with the introduction of these new flat fast courses. This will attract more runners looking for personal bests (PB).

I would like to thank all the race organisers for all their hard work and commitment and a special thanks to all those who wore a hi-viz vest on the night, those who made sandwiches or handed out water, took times or entries. Thank you very much and thanks to you the runners. Without you, we couldn’t run these events.

See you on the reminder of the Cork races and don’t forget the series T- shirts.

Tom Blackburn

Ballyhoura Race Series Co-Ordinatior