Results & Photos of the Clonmel 4-mile road race - Tues 26th Dec 2023

Start of the 2023 MSD Clonmel 4-mile road race

There was a big turnout for this year's MSD Clonmel 4 Mile Road Race on St Stephen's Day with a total of 424 runners crossing the finish line, up a whopping 47% on last year. 

Sean Owens of sponsors MSD presenting the winners prize to Sean Tobin

In the men's race, Sean Tobin of Clonmel AC missed out on the course record of 17:45 he set in 2019 by just one second, recording a time of 17:46. Peter Lynch (KCH), last year's winner, was 38 seconds faster on this occasion when finishing second 17:59. Paul Hartnett (East Cork) was third in 18:51.

In the women's race, Shona Heaslip (Riocht) and Ann-Marie McGlynn (Letterkenny) both bettered the course record when both finished in a time of 20:46, well inside the previous best of 21:32 set by Lizzie Lee in 2017. Lee, in third place, was also inside her old record with her time of of 21:25.

Top 5 men & women...

Place Athletes Name Club Division Gun Chip Bib  
1 Sean Tobin Clonmel AC MS     17:46 246
2 Peter Lynch Kilkenny City Harriers MS  17:59 376
3 Paul Hartnett East Cork AC MS 18:51 86
4 David Williams St Senans AC MJ  19:24 264
5 John Eves Hoddesdon M40 19:38 57
19 Shona Heaslip An Riocht AC FS 20:46 88 Course Record
21 Annmarie McGlynn Letterkenny AC FS 20:46 330
28 Lizzie Lee Leevale AC FS 21:25 118
36 Niamh Moore Leevale AC FS 21:57 155
37 Dympna Ryan Dundrum AC F40 22:03 380

Full results HERE

First place finish and a new course record for Shona Heaslip from Kerry

Photos...
1) John D Kelly has some race day photos HERE and HERE

2) Gearóid Ó Laoi has four galleries... Album 1 ... Album 2 ... Album 3 ... Album 4 ...

3) Perri Williams Photography has a gallery HERE

With thanks to John Walshe for the photos and report

Results of the Paddy-Joe Curran Memorial Turkey Trot five-mile race Dungarvan - Sun 10th Dec 2023

Aidan Noone of Leevale, winner of the Paddy-Joe Curran Memorial Turkey Trot five-mile race at the Marine Bar, Dungarvan, receiving his prize and cup from Ger Duhig of sponsors Cleanzone Technology Ltd.

The annual Paddy-Joe Curran Memorial Turkey Trot five-mile race at the Marine Bar near Dungarvan was held on Sun 10th Dec 2023. The first man home was Cork runner Aidan Noone of Leevale AC.

Top 3 men & women...
 1 NOONE, Aidan Leevale A.C. Male Senior 0:26:49 05:21.7
2 CONNICK, Andrew Ferrybank A.C. Male Senior 0:27:38 05:31.5
3 ZAKIS, Raivis West Waterford A.C. Male 40 0:28:31 05:42.1
7 TIDESWELL, Kealy Clonmel A.C. Female 40 0:29:56 05:59.1
12 MORGAN, Louise Ferrybank A.C. Female 40 0:32:52 06:34.3
26 NI REACHTAGAIN, Tara West Waterford A.C. Female Senior 0:35:23 07:04.4

Full results HERE

Notice: Dungarvan 10-mile road race - Sun 4th Feb 2024

The biggest 10-miler in Munster is the  hugely popular John Treacy Dungarvan 10-mile road race which is organised by West Waterford AC and it's coming up on Sunday 4th February 2024. 

Dates & Entries...

1) Entries opened on the 1st of Dec 2023 for Athletics Ireland club members

2) Entres for everyone including non-club runners opens on Fri 8th Dec 2023.

The entry link is https://eventmaster.ie/event/bLoBh9AHjr

Info... Note that there are 3,750 spaces for this race which is a huge amount. They expanded the entry number by 25% last year to cater for the demand.

Remember that most runners are not members of an athletics club. Entries may have opened on the 1st of December for club runners but the main entry is on the 8th of February.

It took 3-weeks to sell out last year so you don't need to panic. Just decide if you want to do this race and then enter reasonably soon.

The Trim 10-mile in Co Meath is on the same day and that got 1650 runners last February. That might dampen some of the demand for Dungarvan 10-mile entries from runners in Dublin.

From West Waterford AC... "West Waterford Athletic Club are delighted to announce details of the event which has established itself as a must run race on the Irish road running calendar with participants from all four corners of the country and beyond participating.

The 32nd  Annual John Treacy Dungarvan 10 which will be held on Sunday February 4th 2024 with a  start time of 11am. The entry fee for this year’s race is €35. 

The race has grown year on year and is a pre-entry race which will close when 3,750 entries is reached.

All race numbers will be posted out the week prior to the event, and there will be strictly no entry on the day. The prize fund for 2024 is €6,000

THE KEVIN BELL REPATRIATION TRUST

West Waterford athletic club are delighted to announce our race benefactors for the 2024 John Tracy Dungarvan 10 mile road race KBRT. Monies donated by the runners and the club will be donated to this very worthy national cause. The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust aims to alleviate the financial hardship of bereaved families repatriating the body (bodies) of loved one(s) who have died abroad in sudden or tragic circumstances back to Ireland. KBRT was founded out of a family tragedy when, in June 2013, Kevin Bell died suddenly in New York. Following an outpouring of support from Kevin’s friends, family and colleagues, a significant amount of funds were raised to repatriate his remains back to Ireland.

As a permanent legacy to Kevin, the Bell family decided to use the funds to establish a charity to help other families who find themselves in a similar situation. Help comes in the form of financial support as well as advice and guidance on getting the remains of loved ones home as soon as possible.KBRT is a volunteer organisation, led by Colin Bell and a team of volunteer Trustees. KBRT is regulated by the Charity Commission in Northern Ireland (NIC100314) and Irish Charity Regulator (20102937).Since 2013, KBRT has repatriated the remains of over 1600 people back home to their families (as at January 2021)When entering the race online you will have the opportunity to donate any sum of money you wish. Website... https://kbrtrust.com/

We ask you to be as generous as possible for this very worthy cause when entries open."

Website... https://www.westwaterfordathletics.org/dungarvan-10-mile/

Results of the Waterford Half-Marathon - Sat 2nd Dec 2023

The annual Waterford Half-Marathon was held on Saturday 2nd December 2023 with a total of 1,767 runners crossing the finish line. As half marathons in Munster go, this is a big one.

As can be seen from the chart above, the numbers were down 127 or about 7% on last year. It can be interesting to look at the numbers in big races as they might show some trends in how race numbers overall are going.

So why the drop??? ...This race was held on 2nd of December on what was a bitterly cold but dry day, nothing that would deter someone from running. I checked and the entries opened on the 2nd of October, about two months in advance.

I checked last year and it was held then on the 3rd of December but the entries opened on the 9th of September, about 3 months in advance. It's hard to be certain but the late opening date this year most likely accounted for the drop in numbers.

Even at 2-3 months out, people are beginning to sign up for alternative events without knowing if Waterford was going ahead.

Top 5 men & women... 

1 David MCGLYNN 1:05:26 2098 M MS Waterford A.C.
2 Sergiu CIOBANU 1:07:10 1958 M M40 Clonliffe Harriers A.C.
3 Mihail SPRINCEAN 1:07:23 2143 M MS Clonliffe Harriers A.C.
4 Tudor MIRCEA 1:07:33 1614 M MS Clonliffe Harriers A.C.
5 Matteo MARY 1:07:54 2169 M MS Waterford A.C.
1 Ciara WILSON 1:16:43 1219 F FS D.M.P. A.C.
2 Becky WOODS 1:17:42 1995 F F35
3 Nichola SHERIDAN 1:17:56 1793 F FS Bohermeen A.C.
4 Dee GRADY 1:19:56 1386 F F35 Ennis Track A.C.
5 Alison MERRIGAN 1:20:50 867 F M50

Full results HERE