Limercik... Results of the Bilboa AC 10k & 5k - Fri 15th June 2018

It's always interesting to look at the numbers for a race like this which has been going for a number of years to see if there are any trends. This year, the 10k dropped to 96 finishers which is the lowest since at least 2007 (not sure what year the race started?). The 5k was also down with 34 finishers.

It seems to follow a trend of other races in Munster as the number are dropping gradually. It's hard to know what the exact reason is but there does seem to be a drop off in adults under the age of 35 coming into the sport.

10k...
449 32.14 1 Declan Moore Bilboa AC Men
404 34.24 2 John Kinsella Bilboa AC Men
490 34.58 3 Paul Fitzgerald Limerick AC Men
479 46.24 37 Brid Quirke Dundrum AC Women
433 47.27 44 Helen Meehan Bilboa AC Masters Women O40
467 49.07 49 Marie O'Mahony Unattached Masters Women O40

Photos

Results of the 10k and 5k below...

Limerick - Results of the Ger Mullane Memorial 10k in Bilboa - Fri 16th June 2017

The numbers for this years Ger Mullane Memorial race were up slightly. In the main 10k race, there was an extra 4 while there was an additional 10 in the 5k. Not a huge increase but at least it's going in the right direction.

10k...
1 Mike Carmody, An Brú AC 33:00
2 Niall Shanahan, 33:08
3 Declan Moore, Bilboa AC 33:50
28 Linda Grogan, Dundrum AC 41:27
49 Brigita Lukste, North Cork AC 44:27
50 Roisín Doran, Limerick Tri 44:40

Photos...
1) Bilboa AC has a gallery HERE


Full results below...

Limerick...Results of the Ger Mullane Memorial 5k & 10k, Bilboa - Fri 17th June 2016

The big change this year was the inclusion of a 5k race in additional to the traditional 10k one. It probably took a few runners from the 10k race but probably attracted a few more that wouldn't have done the 10k anyway.

The chart below shows the breakdown in numbers. There were 107 in the 10k, down from 117 last year. 34 turned out for the new 5k which helped to boost the overall total to 141.

As you can see, there was a big drop in numbers in 2013 and it has never really recovered. With a €15 entry fee for the 10k and €10 for the 5k, perhaps the price is putting off some runners?

Limerick...Results of the Bilboa 5k & 10k - Fri 17th June 2016

1 Declan Moore         Bilboa AC     32:36
2 Martin Doody         Limerick AC    32:47
3 Keith Lynch         BMOH AC    34:50
1 Laura Buckley         Dunboyne    40:03
2 Mairead Bradshaw    Bilboa AC    42:57
3 Ailbhe Healy        West Limerick AC    43:50

The full results can be seen HERE

Photos...
1) Bilboa AC have a gallery of photos HERE

Limerick...Results of the Bilboa AC 10k road race - Fri 13th June 2014

The Ger Mullane Memorial 10k road race attracted a field of 130 runners, up 12% on the numbers for 2013. This race organised by Bilboa AC was the 4th race of 6 in the ongoing Ballyhoura Limerick Series.

1 34:30    CESAR, Julio    Kilmurry/Ibricken A C    Men
2 34:39    MOORE, Declan    Bilboa A C    Men
3 35:27    CUNNINGHAM, Mike Curley    Mooreabbey Milers    Masters Men O40
19 41:49    WOODS, Sharon    Mallow AC    Masters Women O35
25 42:36    GEARY, Fiona    North Cork A C    Ladies
38 43:24    FARRELL, Caitriona    An Bru AC    Ladies

The full results can be seen HERE

Julio Cesar...winner of the 2014 Bilboa 10k

Limerick Notice...Ger Mullane Memorial 10k road race, Bilboa AC - Fri 13th June 2014

The Ger Mullane Memorial 10km road race is coming up in the village of Bilboa in East Limerick on Friday, the 13th of June at 8pm. This is the 4th race of 6 in the ongoing Ballyhoura Limerick Race Series.

Directions.......The easiest way to get there is to drive as far as  New Pallasgreen on the N24 Limerick to Tipperary road and turn off......(signposted for Cappamore and Doon at the Red Deer pub). The race organisers should have signs here as well.

Just keep going straight. Eventually you come to a crossroads on another main road (R505)....

Cappamore is to the left and Doon is to the right. You drive straight on.

Race details.....The entry fee for the race is €10. Post race, there are showers with refreshments provided afterwards before the prize giving.

Contact name and number in the race flyer above.

Course......The race course can essentially be broken up into two halves with the first section being flat and the second section having hills.

Preview......A full preview of the course with maps, directions, photos, etc can be seen HERE

Athletic Clubs in Limerick by size...Aug 2012

A few days ago, Athletics Ireland released their figures for club membership. What they show is that in the last 15 months since May 2011, the number of adults in athletic clubs in Limerick has increased from 287 to 393, a rise of 37%.

These are the athletic clubs in Limerick with more 10 or more adult members...

1) Dooneen AC are the largest club in the county with 105 members, an increase of 44% in the last 15 months.
2) Limerick AC now have 68 members, up 10% and stay in second spot.
3) West Limerick AC jump from from 41 to 64 adult members, an increase of 56% and move from 4th to 3rd largest club.
4) Limerick Country Club AC drop to 4th spot but still record a 25% increase in membership with 55 members.
5) The next three clubs all record an increase in membership......Bilboa AC at 39, Kilfinane AC at 19 and Kilmallock AC at 15.

While at first glance the growth in club membership in Limerick looks impressive, when you compare them to other counties then you begin to wonder why are they so small?

For example, the county of Limerick is in population terms the second highest in Munster after Cork. In terms of club membership, it is only ranked 5th out of the 6 counties. In fact, in terms of club size relative to the available population, you could double the membership of all of the clubs in Limerick and they would be roughly on a par with the clubs in Waterford.

Even looking through the race calendar, there are an obvious lack of races in Limerick relative to the other counties in Munster. There are obviously a lot of people running in Limerick as can be seen from events like the Great Limerick Run but for whatever reason, they don't see the need to join a club.

Looking forward, there is huge potential in Limerick for growth both in the number of races and in club membership. With Limerick County having a population of some 191,000, the clubs based near the city could certainly attract lots of new members if they wanted to.

Notice...Some clubs have a large number of Fit4Life members, some are more into track and field and some are more focused on other specific areas. The figures don't say or suggest which club is best, just which club happens to have the most adult members....although it is probably fair to say that if a club has a lot of members then it must be doing something right. 

Limerick...Results of the Bilboa 10k road race - Fri 15th June 2012

A total of 246 runners turned out for the Bilboa 10k road race on Friday, the 15th of June 2012. This was the second race in the ongoing Ballyhoura Active series.

The mens race was won by Michael Shannon of Kilnaboy AC in a time of 32:30. The first woman home was

Place Time Name Team Race Age Category 
1 0:32:30 SHANNON, Michael Kilnoboy AC Senior Men
2 0:33:33 CASTRO, Julio Cesar F Kilmurry Ibrickane North Clare Senior Men
3 0:35:08 LINEHAN, Adrian Dohallow AC Senior Men

1F 0:38:11 ROCHE, Tracey Dooneen AC Senior Women

2F 0:40:02 RYAN, Dymphna Dundrum Senior Women

3F 0:40:20 LENNON, Siobhan Ennis Track AC O40 Women

The full results can be seen HERE

The next race in the race series is the Eddie Murphy Memorial 5 mile in Knockane, Pallasgreen. Details HERE

Race notice...Bilboa 10k road race - Fri 15th June 2012

The Ger Mullane Memorial 10km road race is coming up in the village of Bilboa in East Limerick on Friday, the 15th of June at 8pm. This is the 2nd race of 11 in the Ballyhoura ACTIVE Race Series.

Directions.......The easiest way to get there is to drive as far as Pallasgreen on the N24 Limerick to Tipperary road and turn off......(signposted for Cappamore and Doon at the Red Deer pub). The race organisers should have signs here as well.

Just keep going straight. Eventually you come to a crossroads on another main road (R505)....

Cappamore is to the left and Doon is to the right. You drive straight on.

Eventually, you come to the Bilboa AC grounds...(note the finish line mark!)

Race details.....The entry fee for the race is €10. There are prizes for the top 3 men and women with prizes for the top two in each age category. The total prize fund is roughly €800. Post race, there are showers with refreshments provided afterwards before the prize giving.

The contact name and number for the race is John Berkery (086 206 4145) if you have any other queries.

Course......The race course can essentially be broken up into two halves with the first section being flat and the second section having hills.

 The start line is about 200 metres away from the sports grounds. The first 3.5 miles or so are very flat and should be very fast. There are a number of drags in the section between roughly 3.5 miles to roughly the 5.4 mile mark which is the highest point on the course. After that, it's downhill to the finish.

Bridge over Bilboa River with nice quiet country roads...

Crossroads near the 4 mile mark...

Overall........a reasonably fast course on nice quiet country roads. With it's ease of access and proximity to Limerick City, it should attract a good crowd.

Limerick...Results of the Womens mini-marathon - Sun 16th Oct 2011

Just over 1900 people took to the streets of Limerick for the 2011 Womens mini-marathon. The winner of the 8 km race was Rosmary Ryan of Bilboa AC in a time of 27:18 which was over a minute clear of the second woman home.

A small gallery of photos HERE

Update : In the results below, the 'Net Result' is the chip time. This is the time when the runners shoe with attached chip crosses the timing mat at the start of the race. The 'Gross Result' is the clock time...this is the time taken from when the race starts.
The top 20 finishers were.....
Place Name Category Bib no Net result Gross result
1. Rosemary Ryan Runner 2920 27:18 27:18
2. Annette Kealy Runner 3119 28:23 28:23
3. Orla Drumm Runner 1499 28:55 28:55
4. Eimear Obrien Runner 2102 29:41 29:41
5. Niamh Osullivan Runner 2244 29:53 29:53
6. Liz Hussey Runner 2636 30:00 30:00
7. Ã?na Britton Runner 1829 30:23 30:23
8. Margaret Danagher Runner 2649 30:32 30:32
9. Catherine Conway Runner 2141 30:38 30:38
10. Dymphna Ryan Runner 2662 31:16 31:16
11. Geoffrey De Courcy Drag 3063 31:29 31:33
12. Carol Finn Runner 3055 32:10 32:11
13. Brona Croke Runner 1767 32:47 32:47
14. Rita Kierce Runner 2886 33:14 33:15
15. Ide Nic Dhomhnaill Runner 3102 33:34 33:36
16. Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill Runner 3101 33:37 33:39
17. Mary O Connor Runner 3110 33:50 33:50
18. Andree Walkin Runner 3084 34:12 34:13
19. Laura Collins Runner 2201 34:42 34:42
20. Orla Power Runner 2563 35:00 35:00

The full results with all 1900+ entrants can be seen HERE