16 Apr 2025
Cork
Countdown to race day!
In 2010, the first staging of the race took place and attracted 425 runners, a figure which at that time well exceeded the organisers' expectations. Our 10th anniversary race in 2019 saw a record breaking 1240 finishers.
The event formerly took place in Castlemartyr, but East Cork AC moved the race to Ballintotis, which has proved a hugely popular location, with the venue boasting in excess of 1,000 participants on a number of occasions. The scenic 4 mile loop includes a lap of road bordering Loughaderra Lake in the closing stages.
Again this year's race offers great value for money with a very attractive prize structure overall and a full list of category prizes in all age groups (1st 2nd and 3rd) as well as team prizes. As always all participants will receive the famous Ballintotis running Buff.
Registration is open on line from February 1st and is limited to participants over 15 years of age.
This year's race will again incorporate the Cork County Road Championships.
Registration costs 15 euro including service charge, with the option of availing of your race number being posted out for an additional cost.
In the inaugural race 15 years ago James McCarthy took top spot with a time of 19:54. McCarthy went onto win the race a remarkable eight times in a row, his best time being 19:23 set in 2016. Then in 2018 ... a new man was on the podium as another East Cork A.C competitor Michael Harty won in style and in the process set a new course record of 19:15, with the previous record also being broken by Sergiu Ciobanu who was runner up. Our 2019 race saw a new name on the roll of honour - as yet another East Cork Man - Kevin O'Brien broke the tape in a time of 20.13.
The entry was a remarkable 1,170 runners in 2015. Irish Olympian Sonia O Sullivan was among those taking part that year following up on her previous visit in 2013.
Fellow Olympian Lizzy Lee from Leevale is the ladies course record holder (21:22), with her Irish International colleague Claire McCarthy posting the second fastest time around the course. Fiona Santry of East Cork A.C made it back to wins in the ladies race in 2019 to complete a fine double..
2023 was a truly memorable one for both Michael Harty and Lizzy Lee who were crowned race winners again in Ballintotis after their respective superb performances. Twelve months ago Sean Doyle, of Cork City AC, who posted the fastest ten mile time of any Cork athlete in 2024, produced a great run on his first vist ot Ballintotis to take the honours, whilst Hannah Steeds of Leevale won the ladies race, also for the first time. In total, another massive gathering of 1,166 crossed the finish line.
**Further information on this year's race can be had by emailing [email protected] or call 086 8778182. .
***As per previous years, updated race info will be issued nearer the event.
Looking for more information?
If you're looking for more information on this race, please fill out the form below or email us at [email protected].