Last weekend, a total of 4,624 men and women of all ages from juveniles to masters, took part in an athletics event.
A big city road race you may think, with a housegold name sponsor and huge marketing budget. But no; the race was the 125th edition of the English National Cross-Country Championships.
The women’s race alone attracted a record 650 finishers and 73 teams. Upfront, Gemma Steel and Steph Twell, two of the biggest names in British athletics at the moment, scrapped for victory alongside Sonia Samuels – a woman proud to be running her 20th “National”. The trio finished within five seconds of each other.
Leading home the 1,689 men from 125 teams was British international Keith Gerrard who beat defending champion Steve Vernon for a much-coveted first title.
So there was quantity and quality, not only in the senior races but in the eight other underage races.
Skip back to Santry on Sunday and it was a different story at the Woodie’s DIY National Interclubs. An event that in the past attracted every self-respecting club runner in the country has gone into sad decline.
Unlike in London, the top distance runners stayed away, with the honourable exception of DSD pair Linda Byrne and Eva Hutchinson. Not for them the excuses that they were “focusing on the track season” or “afraid they’d get injured”.
Among those opting out were previous winners Joe Sweeney and Mark Kenneally, as well as members of last year’s winning DSD team. With respect to Eddie McGinley, a brave and popular winner, it meant the men’s 12km race lacked depth.
Clonliffe regained the team title, led home by Sergiu Ciobanu, who was running his first cross-country race since the previous championships. He could have stayed on the sidelines, as could the consistent Gary O’Hanlon who was a fighting third.
Athletics Ireland president Liam Hennessy believes that the entire winter season needs an overhaul and that we should be open minded about what to do and not tied to sentiment.
He’s right. Still, the spirit of smaller clubs such as Ennis Track Club, all of them running barefoot, Sliabh Bhui Rovers, Ferrybank and Drogheda and District, who all ran their socks off, out warmed the heart last Sunday.
There’s life in this event yet.
* Martin McGann of East Cheshire (brother of Irish Olympian Des McGann) was running his 43rd consecutive senior “English National” race this year.
* Martin McGann of East Cheshire (brother of Irish Olympian Des McGann) was running his 43rd consecutive senior “English National” race this year.
Maria McCambridge and Sergiu Ciobanu lead the entry at Sunday’s
35th Ballycotton 10 – the race every road runner in the country aspires to race at least once. Because of the rural location, entry is restricted, and all 2,500 early entries were gone within two days last December. Club runners fill up the rest of the entry and a total of 3,600 have signed up for Sunday’s race.
Taking on McCambridge in the women’s race will be last year’s winner Lizzie Lee, along with 2008 winner Rosemary Ryan. In the men’s race, Ciobanu’s main rival could be Paddy Hamilton, with Alan O’Shea, and Mark Hoey the other contenders. Cillian O’Leary leads a strong Raheny team, while local celebrity Rachel Allen will also run.
PS: If you have a copy of the Ballycotton ’10’ race programme to hand, turn to page 31 and an excellent article by Pat Whyte, first published in 1986 and reproduced because of its continuing relevance.
The article asks: “Are Road Races Being Promoted for the Wrong Reason?” Pat feels that they are and that before handing out a permit, the following points should be considered:
* Should athletics be constantly used as a source of funds for other organisations?
* Should there be a limit on the amount charged in entry fees?
* Should provisions be made to ensure that soem of th emoney generated by road races goes back to the participants (in prizes, etc)?
* Should making money be the fundamental reason for running a road race?
On the proliferation of charity races, he suggests that a couple of big races be held annually, with the total proceeds divided among approrpriate charities.
This argument will run and run!
PS: If you have a copy of the Ballycotton ’10’ race programme to hand, turn to page 31 and an excellent article by Pat Whyte, first published in 1986 and reproduced because of its continuing relevance.
The article asks: “Are Road Races Being Promoted for the Wrong Reason?” Pat feels that they are and that before handing out a permit, the following points should be considered:
* Should athletics be constantly used as a source of funds for other organisations?
* Should there be a limit on the amount charged in entry fees?
* Should provisions be made to ensure that soem of th emoney generated by road races goes back to the participants (in prizes, etc)?
* Should making money be the fundamental reason for running a road race?
On the proliferation of charity races, he suggests that a couple of big races be held annually, with the total proceeds divided among approrpriate charities.
This argument will run and run!
Close to 1,000 runners are expected to run in Sunday’s Generali Pan Europe Meath Spring Half Marathon (12 noon), with online entries at €20 closing tomorrow (Thu). A t-shirt goes to the first 700 entries with cash prizes for the top six men and women. The race is an ideal warm-up for the spring marathon season and revives a long tradition in the area – Bohermeen hosted the first ever Meath Half Marathon in 1973 when Colm Rennicks was the winner. Info Stephen Ball 086-0792580 or www.bohermeenathleticclub.com.
Dunboyne Athletic Club host an early season hammer and discus competition to test their new hammer cage on Sunday. Home-based throwers Padraig White and James McCabe lead the entry for the men’s hammer. Cara Kennedy of Ferrybank, the current national junior record holder, leads the women’s entry.
Online entry is currently open for the Wicklow Hospice 5-Mile Trail race that takes place in the beautiful surroundings of Avondale, near Rathdrum on Saturday, March 10 (12 noon). Close to €1.9m of the €3m need has already been raised by a local volunteers, including the “Wicklow Hospice 100” running group, led by Bill Porter of local club Parnell. Entry fee is just €15 (feel free to give more!). See www.wicklow Hopsice or call Bill Porter at 087-2928660.
With the St Patrick’s weekend just around the corner, organisers of the St Patrick’s Festival 5km Fun Run in Dublin on Sunday March 18 (12 noon) are encouraging families to make a day of it. After taking part in the race in the early afteroon, they can head for the Big Day Out in nearby Merrion Square.
Helping create a festive atmosphere will be a live band, jugglers, clowns, face painters, balloon artists, stilt walkers, fire eaters and a parade of motorbikes.
Families (either two adults and two children or one adult and three children) can enter the fun run for just €30. Individual entry costs €20. See www.stpatricksfestival.ie.
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