This is still a relatively new race having been in existence for just 2-3 years. The location of the race is an acknowledgement to the former Dromkeen Sports which used to be held nearby. In it's heyday some 50 years ago, it was one of the biggest sports athletics fixtures in Munster.
Location..........The race does not take place in the village of Kilteely itself but a few kms away in the north west of the parish. For anyone living in Limerick City, it is only a 25 minute drive so it is very easy to get to. The race is just a few kms to the south-west of Dromkeen on the N24 Limerick to Tipperary road...
If you are coming from the Limerick City side into Dromkeen then turn right after the Maxol garage. Then just keep on this road. At the first junction, you will be joining the race route. Keep going......past Dromkeen Church.......and at the T-junction, turn right and the race headquarters is just there.
From North Cork/South Limerick, travel via Hospital/Herbertstown. From Herbertstown travel 3 miles to the third cross road and turn left and staying with this road will bring you to the registration point approx 2.5 miles.
Route will be signposted from both Dromkeen and Herbertstown.
Details to be confirmed....Race starts at 8pm........Entry fee €10........Prizes for the top 3 men and women.......Prizes for 1st in each of the usual categories......Athletics Ireland Licence.....Organised in association with Bilboa AC.......Accurate and certified 5 mile course measured by Jones Counter.......Spot Prizes.......Tea & Refreshments afterwards.
Race HQ is at An Teach Community Centre, Cloverfield. (Signposted from Dromkeen and Herbertstown)
There is also a 5 mile walk (entry €5) which starts at 7:30pm. There are separate spot prizes for walkers.
Course...The course is basically on narrow quiet country roads over a large 5 mile loop. There are a number of hills along the route so there is plenty of uphill and downhill running.
The start is just a few hundred metres up the road from the registration point. You run back towards the school, over the small bridge and then left at the junction. The first main hill comes around 0.8 miles. Nothing too serious but enough to slow the pace.
You pass Dromkeen Parish Church at ~1.3 miles, staying left on all road junctions. Around the 1.8 mile mark, you pass an old ruined church...
This picture shows the typical type of roads and hills out along the route. Nothing too serious but plenty of small little drags.
But of course, it's not all uphill! There are plenty of downhill stretches like this straight section starting at the 2 mile mark.
Shown above....The road junction at 2.8 miles.
The hardest section of the course is the 4th mile. Starting at the 3 mile mark, the road begins to climb...
After a long climb, the road flattens out and drops again. This will no doubt probably be the slowest mile of the whole race.
The start of the 5th mile is on a tough hill. It lasts for approx 400m until you turn the corner at a sharp bend. After that, it's mostly flat or downhill all the ways to the finish near the school....tough start, fast finish.
Overall....Possibly not the fastest of 5 mile courses but with it's proximity to Limerick City and the quiet country roads, it should attract a reasonable turnout.
