Ballycotton 2010

Its March and to many runners in Ireland that can only mean the Ballycotton 10, even if it was a couple of weeks later this year due to a clash of dates with other races. A much smaller contingent than usual from Sportsworld made its way down this year, apparently due to a lot of people been caught out by the closing entry date. Margaret in the Bayview Hotel was asking about your whereabouts Tony, Ruth, Trevor and Judith - I promised her you would be back next year !

This race seems to just get better and better. Indeed it was included in a list of the Top 10 races in the world by the Daily Telegraph a couple of weeks ago. Its hard to say what it is that attracts so many people but I suspect it has a lot to do with its unique race day atmosphere as people stroll up and down to the race HQ at the bottom of the village looking over at the spectacular bayside view that extends out from this beautiful village. Along the way one can stop and talk to people that you recognise from previous races - this becomes even more interesting if one is accompanied as I was on my journey to and from the race tent by Lucy Darcy who seems to know and be known by everybody !

The weather was perfect this year, if a little humid. Be warned if you are planning on doing this race that ,while it is a superbly organised race with tremendous local support, that the last 2 miles can be only described as 'savage'. There are few races I have done that have such a tough finish but of course this only adds to the challenge. There were surprise winners in both the mens and ladies races with Greg Robers from City of Derry winning the mens in 50 mins 17 seconds and Barbara Sanchez winning the womens race in 58 mins 45 seconds.

There were some excellent performances from Sportsworld, headed by Lucy who finished 5th in a magnificent time of 62:08 (also winning her age category with ease). Next up was Stephanie Bergin who broke the seventy minute barrier when she finished in a fine 69:08. Not far behind was Edel Madigan in 71:54. The ever consistent Ann Higgins finished in a commendable 73:18 and Ger Carragher finished in 76:49. As for myself I ran 77;42 - significantly slower than last year but faster than each of the two previous years (I think I missed tailing off the back of the brother as I have done here the last few years - Killian was another victim of the missed last entry date malaise that seemed to sweep the club !).

Make sure you all get in before the closing entry date next year - it really is a fine race.

Race Report by
Enda McMorrow

Ballycotton 10 Registration Open

As some people have been querying, it’s now possible to download entry forms for the 2010 Ballycotton 10 Road Race here. The first 2500 postal entries opened will be automatically accepted. These spots go like the proverbial hot cakes. AAI registered runners will be accepted by post up to and including Tuesday December 15th. Click here for full entry procedures.

It will be 33rd edition of this classic race and Sportsworld has been well represented at it throughout the years. School books of Irish folklore have been updated with the epic battle of a certain husband and wife back in 1984. Way back then, when Miami Vice first beamed into our lives on the small screen, John Treacy picked up silver in the marathon at the LA Olympics and Star Trek III – The search for Spock hit the silver screen, this competitive duo left Dublin and hiked to east cork and lined up with the good and great of Irish athletics. They stood side by side (playing elbows) on the start line. The wife was feeling confident as she hummed Cyndi Lauper’s new No.1 “Girls just wanna have fun”. But it was the husband who first stormed up through the fishing village, over the crest of the hill to the finish line in 56.13 followed by his better half in 57:42. After not talking the whole way home the poor lady had to endure months of gloating across the kitchen table - pass the salt….ahh to slow! So in 1985, Emily Dowling lined up again and ran a stunning 56:00, knocking 13 seconds off Mick’s time to get a classic Dowling time!

Frank Duffy 10 mile - Phoenix Park

Frank Duffy 10 mile 2009

Well, looking out the window at 8 o'clock saturday morning I was not envious of my red army brothers and sisters setting out on their 10 mile challenge. As they lined up however on the start line to do battle the clouds parted biblically (work with me) and the sun came out to warm the backs of the 6000 hearty souls taking to task on the day. A strong sportsworld mens team had clear intentions to take a medal in the Dublin Championship. Some of the girl's finest were also present.

Kildare's finest export since Jack L, Paul O' Connell lead the way for Sportsworld continuing his rich vein of form. With only 2 Irishmen ahead of him, Paul powered his way to fifth in a superb 53.38, leaving guys he peviously was packing with in his wake. He is closing in on the elite men week by week. Next in was westmeath's finest export since Joe Dolan. Paul 'Duff Man Duffy', another man in a rich vein of from continued his successful summer with a brilliant 57.05, finishing in 21st. Paul again is going shoulder to shoulder with guys, previously minutes ahead of him.

Next in was the ever green Trevor 'silver tongue' Sweeney. The veteran was well up in the over 35's coming in just a shade behind Paul in 57.28, 24th place. He may have even pipped Paul had he not stopped to chat to a blond bysander in the last mile. Gareth Murran was fouth man in, breaking the hour comfortably in 59.33. Having displayed huge potential on the track during the summer, this will have served as a good base for him to build up his stamina for the remaining distance races and cross country season. Gareth has a big year ahead ahead of him and will undoubtedly continue his steady improvements. Michael 'Con Houlihan' Cunningham was next man in, finishing in 1.01.06. This didn't really do him justice as his training and recent races have shown a return to form. Michael is building up nicely for the national half and should really kick into gear for the cross country season, where he has probably displayed his best performances.

Lucy looked close to her best, running hard all the way to a fantastic fourth overall and first in her age group (O 21's). Colm Kennedy followed her in with an impressive 1.04.35. Martin Keenan ran a fine 1.06.14 building up nicely for the marathon, just ahead of Joe Byrne. Joe shook of a recent knock to storm home in 1.06.28. Life in the old dog yet........

Stephanie was second girl home in 1.07, followed by Ciara in 1.12.47, representing the girls team with distinction. Dave 'El Nugget' Clarke continued his marathon preparations cruising home in 1.10.17, reaping the benefits of a good training bloc. Just ahead was the bowld Will Greensmyth, flown in for the weekend. Limerick's finest finished in 1.10.11. Eoiny 'Felony' got back on track for his assault on the 26.2 miles in October with a solid 1.14.10 and will be fighting fit for the half next month.

A great team performance all in all and we look forward to the rest of the autumn and pending winter with high hopes.

Here's a link to the photo album with a larger selection available at racepix365 and full results.

Is mise le meas,
Phil Kilgannon.

World Masters Athletics Championships

A big congratulations to Ed McEntee who came home in 6th place in the Marathon at the World Masters Athletics Championships in a stunning time of 2.43.41! For the past two weeks in Lahti, Finland the World Masters has been taking place with the event concluding with the marathon last Saturday. Continuing an excellent season for Sportsworld competitors, with Helen White representing Ireland in the World Mountain Championships and Aoife Brady taking home a Bronze medal from the National T&F in recent weeks, Ed ran a strong race on a warm morning in the surroundings of Lake Vesijärvi to come in behind Russia's Sergey Perminov who took the marathon win in 2.30.27.

Full results.

Also this weekend is the Adidas Frank Duffy 10 mile in the Phoenix Park. Online entry is still possible but from newspaper reports last week the event is a near sell out......6000 expected to line up! If you are not running come out and support the club as we'll be fielding strong men's and women's teams and the club usually has a high turn out of runners at this event. If you are entered wear your club singlet or if you need a singlet see Emily or Mick at training this week. Also if there is some interest we may look at organising going out for a bit of food & drink on Saturday night to replenish your bodies supplies after a hard mornings racing!

Ballycotton 10 2009 Results

131 D'ARCY, Lucy - 01:01:54 (5th Place!!!)
203 GREENSMYTH, William - 01:04:47
274 HORGAN, Kathleen - 01:06:41
282 O'BRIEN, Eoin - 01:06:47
457 WILLOUGHBY, Stephen - 01:10:03
499 MCMORROW, Patrick Killian - 01:10:41
625 McMORROW, Enda - 01:12:59
694 HIGGINS, Ann - 01:13:23
831 LLOYD, Trevor - 01:15:50
1043 MCGANN, Ruth - 01:18:34
1154 LLOYD, Judith - 01:20:10
1347 MELODY, Aileen - 01:23:19
1691 COSGRAVE, Derry - 01:28:24
1826 MCGANN, Tony - 01:30:33

Full Results: http://www.ballycottonrunning.com/FullResult20091.htm

Frank Duffy 10 Mile

Congratualations to all Sportsworld runners who competed in todays race. Lucky the rain held off until the end of the event. The ladies won the team race and are now 2008 dublin 10 mile champions. The men's team finished in 4th, but i'm still waiting for the complete results since i think it was very close for 3rd.

19 Paul O'Connell (No. 1273) MS 16 00:56:25 00:56:30
27 Edward Mcentee (No. 156) M40 3 00:56:59 00:57:03
47 Michael Cunningham (No. 3004) MS 26 00:59:04 00:59:09
77 Paul Duffy (No. 2435) MS 39 01:01:49 01:01:53
165 Jakub Splawski (No. 682) MS 84 01:05:26 01:05:39
291 Edel Madigan (No. 3386) FS 16 01:09:59 01:10:21
341 Orla Jordan (No. 127) FS 22 01:11:10 01:11:46
360 Sean Sweeney (No. 2189) M45 23 01:11:57 01:12:10
362 Colin Mccarthy (No. 2612) MS 173 01:12:01 01:12:14
363 Eoin O'Brien (No. 3223) MS 174 01:12:01 01:12:14
384 Keith Fortune (No. 415) MS 184 01:11:56 01:12:34
389 Stephen Willoughby (No. 943) M40 46 01:12:27 01:12:40
505 Catherine O' Neill (No. 1182) FS 41 01:14:28 01:14:45
829 Ray Carpenter (No. 1615) M50 21 01:19:46 01:20:00
877 Louise Bruton (No. 58) F35 21 01:20:10 01:20:46
1048 Aileen Melody (No. 2874) F45 12 01:22:45 01:23:21
2079 Laurence Delair (No. 2191) M35 322 01:38:07 01:39:24

Let me know if I missed any names from the list above. The full results are here.