Kerry: Results of the Farranfore 5k - 26th Dec 2021

This years Farrranfore 5k on St Stephen's Day attracted a field of 301 runners. While this is down 6% on the number for the last outing in December of 2019, it's still only a small drop and a good number of runners for a 5k race in Co Kerry.

First 3 men & women...
1 15:13 Oisin Spillane M Sen Tralee Harriers
2 15:58 Derek Griffin M Sen 
3 16:02 Aogán MacDomhnaill M Sen West Limerick AC
1 16:05 Michelle Finn F Sen Leevale AC
2 16:19 Sorcha Ní Dhomhnaill F Sen Donore Harriers
3 17:20 Niamh O'Mahony F Sen An Ríocht

Results HERE

First 3 women (L-R) 2nd Sorcha Ní Dhomhnaill, 1st Michelle Finn, 3rd Niamh O'Mahony

Kerry...Results of the Farranfore 5 km road race - Thurs 26th Dec 2013

1    Ed    Murphy    Gneeveguilla    m    16.03
2    Cian    Murphy    Iveragh    M    16.07
3    Arthur    Fitzgerld    FFMV    M    16.26
16    Maria    McCarthy    FFMV    F    17.41
31    Sorcha    Nic Dhomhnaill    Donore Harriers    F    18.25
32    Annamaria    Costelloe    Gneeveguilla    F    18.26

The full results can be seen HERE

Athletic Clubs in Kerry 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 Kerry has increased from 342 to 446, a rise of 30%.

These are the athletic clubs in Kerry with more 9 or more adult members...

Notes...
1) Gneeveguilla retains it's top spot with 134 members, a rise of 19% on the May 2011 figure of 113.
2) Star of the Laune AC jump from just 8 adult members to 125 thanks to an active Fit4Life programme.
3) Farranfore Maine Valley AC also recorded a rise in adult membership going from 29 to 39 members.
4) The remaining clubs have remained more or less the same, some up a bit, some down.

In terms of adult membership of athletic clubs and the size of the available population, Kerry is about average compared to the other counties. What is perhaps unusual is how the bulk of the races and club membership tends to be based in mid Kerry near Killarney rather than further north near Tralee. The town of Tralee has a population of 24,000 people compared to Killarney with 14,000 yet the smaller town is a lot more active in terms of road races and running. There is probably plenty of scope for growth for clubs in the north of the county.

Notice...some clubs have a large number of Fit4Life members, some are more into track and field, 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.

Munster athletes in action at the World Youth Championships in Barcelona...

Both Emma Prendiville (19) of Farranfore Maine Valley AC and Kate Veale (18) of West Waterford AC took part in the 10 km race walk in the World Youth Championships in Barcelona on Wednesday, the 11th of July 2012.

In the Olympic stadium with temperatures hitting 30 deg C, Emma finished 31st in a time of 52.41.51. The reigning World Youth Champion Kate Veale (West Waterford AC) finished 18th in a  time of 48.50.20. Kate has been carrying a quad muscle injury for the last six weeks and went into the race heavily strapped.

Photo courtesy of West Waterford AC...