Busy weekend of feet on the beat
BALLYHOURA FESTIVAL WEEKEND
A festival of trail and hill running took place in the Ballyhouras over the weekend under the guidance of race directors Robbie Williams and Paul Carroll. The routes weaved their way through the narrow country roads and up forest trails as they loop through the countryside of the Ballyhouras.
Six races over three days saw the first event take off at 7.30pm on Friday night a 4k uphill race to the top of Seefin with an event difficulty of an extreme 9.
Saturday saw three races beinging from 7am with and Ultra, this was followed 2 hours later with a marathon and the final race on Saturday was a half marathon. Out on Saturday in the half we had Tom Blackburn who finished 3rd overall Marie O’Shea, Mary Hinchy, Jo Drea, Michelle Carey, Patricia Ryan and Mary O'Connell.
Sunday bought the running festival to a close with two races the Seefin Classic short over 6.8k and the Seefin Long Mountain Loop over 13k with both races also having an event difficulty of an event difficulty of 9.
A troop of volunteers from IMRA Munster including Willie O'Donoghue, Lynda Hynes, Patricia Ryan, Patricia Blackburn, Robert Cunningham kept the runners fed and watered both in the hall after the events and at the aid stations throughout the races, they registered them, took their finishing places and times, encouraged them, answered queries, and cleaned up after them.
TOMIES PURPLE MOUNTAIN (IMRA MUNSTER)
12.5k over purple mountain was the race in store for Kevin Lenihan last Sunday morning in his home county of Kerry.
Kevins race began along a twisting gravel and muddy road which led through the old golf course. The gradient immediately steepened as Kevin exited the golf course through a cross roads of muddy farm tracks. With the deer fence on his right Kevin took to a narrow, twisting single uphill track to the lower slopes of Tomies. Continuing along this muddy single track, once Kevin finished the long run of the deer fence, he hit the open mountain.
A steep embankment could be seen to the right, falling down to the River Loe. Straight ahead of Kevin then lay the hulking dome of the first Tomies Top with its conical shaped Twin out behind. The gradient steepened sharply again for a lung bursting climb on grass and heather to the top of Tomies at a height of 568m.
After reaching this point Kevin gradually descended along the path into the saddle for approximately 400m before picking up on the well defined rocky path climbing steeply up Tomies Mountain. Once on Tomies Mountain Kevin chose his preferred route to the summit on Purple Mountain. This signified the race halfway point. The final section was to simply follow back the way he came for a leg burning descent to the finish line. Kevin finished 7th overall.
THE GREAT LIMERICK RUN
We had one man take on the great Limerick run marathon challenge last Sunday morning 26.2 miles through Limerick's thoroughfare including Limerick’s city centre, University of Limerick, picturesque countryside and riverside locations. The marathon for Francis Morrisson started at the People’s Park. The course then headed via Childers Road, Rosbrien Road, Punches Close, O’Connell Avenue, Glentworth Street and Henry Street.
The route then sweeps onto Clare Street taking in the historic Canal Bank, the University and Castletroy area was next on the sites to be visited, taking in the superb University Campus and the Living Bridge. The marathon course then returned to the city centre along the newly upgraded Plassey Bank where the halfway point was finally reached on Parnell Street. The route then continued to Raheen, passing Old Crescent Rugby club on the Rosbrien road. The route travelled through Churchfield Meadow’s and Mulcair Road in Dooradoyle before returning to the city centre via Rosbrien Road.
The route then crossed to the west side of the River Shannon crossing Sarsfield bridge before turning onto O’Callaghan Strand. The route circles the North Circular Road where it then re-joined the Ennis Road. From union cross on the Ennis Road the route travelled outbound to the Gaelic Grounds, into Brookville and then exited again at the Gaelic Grounds. Leaving from here was setting you on the final route back along the Ennis Road once again crossing Sarsfield bridge before finishing on O’Connell Street outside the Augustinian Church.
The half marathon 13.1 miles through a mixture of Limerick’s city centre, riverside, suburb and countryside was where Noelle O'Brien (1hr 57), Anthony Ryan (1hr 58), Davena Flynn (2hrs 24), Padraigin Riggs (2hrs 37) and Marianne Blackwell (2hrs 39) were last Sunday morning for the great Limericks run half marathon. Starting at Pery Square heading to Raheen, passing Old Crescent Rugby club on the Rosbrien road.
The route travelled through Churchfield Meadow’s and Mulcair Road in Dooradoyle before returning to the city centre via Rosbrien Road. The route then crossed
to the west side of the River Shannon crossing Sarsfield bridge before turning onto O’Callaghan Strand. They then circled the North Circular Road. Then from union cross on the Ennis Road the route travelled outbound to the Gaelic Grounds, into Brookville and then exited again at the Gaelic Grounds. Leaving from here was setting them on the final route back along the Ennis Road once again crossing Sarsfield bridge before finishing on O’Connell Street outside the Augustinian Church.
Finally we had 3 runners run in the 6 mile event who also took in a host of historical, cultural and sporting sites along the way Caroline Bourke (1hr 11), Julianne Dillon (1hr 12) and Sandra Withero Kenny (1 hr 12) also starting at Pery Square where the route then crossed to the west side of the River Shannon crossing Sarsfield bridge before turning onto O’Callaghan Strand. The route circles the North Circular Road where it then re-joined the Ennis Road.
From union cross on the Ennis Road the route travelled outbound to the Gaelic Grounds, into Brookville and then exited again at the Gaelic Grounds. Leaving from here was setting them on the final route back along the Ennis Road once again crossing Sarsfield bridge before finishing on O’Connell Street outside the Augustinian Church.
BEGINNERS TAKE ON THE 6 MILE
Also taking part in the great Limerick run and on their way to graduating was a group of eight ladies from Patricias beginners and advanced couch to 5k group taking on the 6 mile and Edel Kiely through sweat and tears took on her 1st half.
BARTLEMY SCHOOL 6K
After an absence of two years the Bartlemy School 6k was back on the calendar this year and it went ahead on Sunday week last the 23rd of April at 12 noon. All proceeds are going to the national school. Supporting
this one was Francis Morrisson finishing 9th overall.
TEMPLEMORE THROWS FESTIVAL
One week on from his gold master's throws success in Templemore Larry O'Grady was back in Templemore throwing and jumping in the Templemore throws festival. It will be a few days before results are available for pentathlon, but Larry was 1st in 35 pound weight for distance with 2 PBs one at 7 meters 73cm and then another at 7 meters 93 cm.
Larry also PBd in senior 56 pound with a mighty throw of 5 meter 37cm.
MICHAEL CURLEY CUNNINGHAM 4 MILE
Online registration €15 - On the night €20. AAI permitted event on Friday the 12th of May, 7.30pm start. AAI online registration adult €15 and juvenile (16 to 18 years) €10. Registration linkhttps://eventmaster.ie/ event/y5ZLUP0SVy. Late registration available on the night dault €20 and juvenile €15.
Prizes for first 3 men and first 3 women, first male juvenile and first female juvenile and categories O40, O50, O60 and O70. Refreshments afterwards in the Community Centre.
CLUB REGISTRATION
Adults train on Tuesday and Thursday nights at 7pm in the community field in Galbally. Adults also do hill/mountain and trail training, become a registered member and get the added benefit of being included in the club's WhatsApp to keep up to date with training/ races and events and avoid having to purchase a one day licence for open races €40 per adult.
JUVENILES
Juvenile training takes place in the community field Galbally each Monday night at 7pm with qualified coaches. For insurance purposes juveniles have to be registered with the club. Registration from their 8th birthday. €25 per juvenile. Contact us online.