Conna village looking east with Conna Castle in the background

The County Novice, U23 & Masters Cross Country Championships of 2011 take place on Sunday 9th of October in the picturesque village of Conna in northeast Cork. Entries for this event are now closed. The BARRS will field Novice Men’s and Ladies Teams as well as teams in the M40, M50, F40 and F50 categories. As this is a Championship race, you’ll need to wear a club top. And whatever else you do, don’t forget to bring your spikes. The men’s race is up first followed by the Ladies.

Club members needing or offering transport should assemble at the UCC Farm in Curraheen no later than 10:15am on Sunday morning. Non-participating members and friends are encouraged to come along and support the club. First timers beware that this is not a BHAA race. Instead of prizes in all the usual categories, there’ll be muck in all the usual places and of course the odd hill or two in the wrong place at the wrong time. As with most Cross Country events, the venue will have been made available to the AAI by some kind landowner. Please don’t leave any rubbish or food waste lying around on-site. Cows really don’t like banana skins and plastic bottles give them indigestion.

Conna Map - click here

To get to Conna, you make your way to the Dunkettle roundabout via the Tunnel or the Lower Glanmire Road and head north for Dublin. Exit the motorway at Watergrasshill before you reach the Toll Plaza. Go through the village and head north for Rathcormac on the old Dublin (N8/R639) Road. About 1km before Rathcormac, you turn right onto the R628 heading east for Tallow. Conna is about 12.5km down the road or 20km from Watergrasshill. Keep an eye out for signposts to the venue.

Conna village (Castle top right) - click here

As far as I can gather, Conna derives from the Irish cónaithe (residence, or residential). It is situated on the river Bride, a tributary of the Blackwater, in northeast Cork just inside the Cork-Waterford border and three to four miles west of Tallow. The fishing there is said to be excellent. Not surprisingly, the village contains several pubs, a shop, a post office, a Roman Catholic Church, and a Church Of Ireland Chapel. It is dominated by Conna Castle, a five-story tower house situated on a limestone outcrop near the river.

Conna Castle - Click here

Built by the Fitzgeralds over a ten year period from 1554, Conna Castle was seized by the English and passed into the hands of Walter Raleigh, one of the main landowners in Munster including the towns of Youghal and Lismore. It was the scene of fighting with the Earl of Essex in 1599 and was captured by Lord Castlehaven in 1645. In 1650 our old friend and cross country plunderer Oliver Cromwell couldn’t resist a few passing salvos at the castle before moving on to Carrigadrohid. The castle was burned in 1653, killing three daughters of the occupant and later passed to the Duke of Devonshire’s family. The castle continued to move from owner to owner until Rev A. G. K. L’Estrange willed it into the care of the state upon his death in 1915.

The cross country season kicks off on Sunday with the Cork County Novice and Masters event in Conna. Transport will be leaving the UCC farm at 10.15 on Sunday morning. Will all participants please ensure that you wear a club singlet as this is mandatory for all runners. Long spikes are advisable for all who are running. The mens is the first race and is off at 12.00. The ladies event is at 12.30. Make sure you are there in good time for your event so that you have adequate time to warm up. This applies to everyone, not just Gerry! 🙂 Best of luck to all who are participating!

There are other cross country events pencilled in with a Novice B event planned for the 30th October and the County Intermediate cross country on the 4th December. There will be more on these nearer to the actual event.

The BHAA ‘Sports Supplies’ Cork to Cobh 15M Road Race takes place on Sunday 2nd of October 2011 at 9:30am. On-the-day entries at €20 and changing facilities are available from 7:30am at the Montenotte Hotel. You can also deposit your gear bag for transfer to Cobh. The usual house rules apply and there’ll be prizes in all the usual categories as well as numerous spot prizes. All finishers will receive a Goodie Bag and a Sports Supplies T-Shirt. Post race refreshments and prize giving will be held in the Cobh (Great Island) Community Centre. Late entries can pick up the T-Shirt in the Hall.

The BHAA’s annual Cork to Cobh is a bumper activity day, a stretched Half Marathon with pre- and post-race hiking thrown in for good measure. The day starts early with a hike up Summerhill North to deposit the gear bag at the Montenotte Hotel. On return to base camp there’s a rousing speech by the Bishop and we’re off down the Lower Glanmire Road heading for Cobh. With the race over, time to tuck into the goodie bag and get ready for some more hiking. By the time you get up to the Community Centre overlooking that magnificent Cathedral, you’ll have earned that hot cup of tea, the sandwich and anything else that’s on offer.

Cork to Cobh 15M - Cobh Community Centre

Place names like West Beach, East Beach and The Promenade evoke thoughts of Southern California. However, with no bikini clad girls, no beach boys and the Sun permanently on power save, your destination is the quaint coastal town of Cobh, maritime gateway to the nation’s second city and crown jewel of the world’s second largest natural harbour. Race H.Q. at the finish is the Cobh Community Centre on Orelia Terrace. From the finish line at Casement Square, you go under the archway and head uphill on West View past the iconic deck of cards houses. You turn right at the top of the hill and then left at the crossroads and up Midleton Street. The Cappuccino coloured Community Centre is further on up the road on your left.

Cork to Cobh 15M - Start, Lower Glanmire Road

After the Cork Half Marathon, Cork to Cobh is the next logical step in your preparation for the Dublin Marathon. You’ll have four weeks to recover for Dublin, more than enough time should you decide to run at Marathon pace or try for a P.B. on the day. The race itself starts on Lower Glanmire Road outside St.Patrick’s church and takes in the scenic coastal route to Cobh Harbour passing Fota Wildlife Park and finishing in Cobh town centre. You’ll need to allow plenty of time to bring your gear bag up to the Montenotte. It’s a 1.5km round trip from the start area. Last year, I was fortunate enough to get a lift back down in the very same van taking my gear bag to Cobh. On the way down we picked up other late arrivals red faced and panting.

The roads will be open to traffic during the race. Runners should stay close to the left margin and exercise due care and caution. Despite the obvious dangers and requests to the contrary, some runners continue to wear headphones during races. If you listen to music with your back to oncoming traffic, you trust your life to the actions of drivers while knowing nothing about their disposition or state of mind. Cats may have nine lives, but you alas have only the one. Don’t gamble with it! Switch off the music and switch on to your surroundings.

Cork to Cobh 15M Route - Click here

The first 3.5M follow the route of the Cork City Marathon to the Dunkettle roundabout. At the roundabout however, you go straight ahead; don’t sleepwalk into the tunnel. Just beyond the roundabout, you take a left off the N25 and onto the R623. This is the old Youghal road running parallel to the railway line past Glounthaune.

This road is slowly falling into disrepair and is quite rough at the margins. Those old cat’s eyes can also be a bit of a hazard. At 7.5M you’ll cross over the railway bridge and on towards the Carrigtwohill roundabout. Just after 8M you’ll cross over the N25 (pity we can’t run on it) and onto Fota Island skirting the eastern perimeter of Fota Estate. At the 10M mark you’ll cross over from Fota Island onto the Great Island with some spectacular views of the inner harbour. At 11.5M you’ll meet up once again with the railway line and run parallel for the last few miles into Cobh.

There are only two significant climbs on the route. Unfortunately, both of the 10m twin peaks come very late in the race at 11.5M and 13.5M. Remember this is a 15M race not a Half Marathon. Newcomers to the event often time their run-in after the first peak and run out of steam on the second. Keep a bit in reserve and you’ll really enjoy the applause on that fantastic downhill onto Westbourne Road.

Cork to Cobh 15M - Finish, Westbourne Road

FORCAST

Sun 02-Oct-2011, 09:00hrs – Light drizzle 14°C (57°F) Wind SW 3mph (5kph)

Lady luck smiled on the 30th Evening Echo Women’s Mini Marathon as an early morning downpour subsided just in time for the 1pm start. An estimated 10,000 runners put their best foot forward to raise much needed money for their nominated charities. Let’s hope that many of those who participated will be inspired to take up running on a more regular basis.

Clair Gibbons-McCarthy in good form

At the business end of the field, the race was won by Lizzie Lee (Leevale) in a time of 21:58 just six seconds ahead the BARRS’ own Clair Gibbons-McCarthy, back on top form after the birth of her third child. Orla Drumm (UCC) took the third spot in 22:26.

Martina Kiely is left holding the baby

Up-coming BARRS starlet Martina Kiely turned in another great performance to finish 5^th in 22:58. Like good wine, club stalwarts Ann Donnelly and Mary Sweeney continue to improve with age. The BARRS golden girls finished 10th and 12th in times of 25:02 and 25:19 respectively.

Another good day at the office for Mary Sweeney and Ann Donnelly

The Saturday, October 1st edition of the Evening Echo will carry a full supplement on the Mini Marathon. Finally, the club would like to thank all those members who took the time to help out with the organizing and stewarding. Such behind the scenes efforts contribute in no small part to the success of the event.

Marian Andrews-Heffernan and Orla Drumm well pleased

All for One and One (Gender) for All

The 30th Evening Echo WOMEN’S MINI MARATHON takes place on Sunday 25th of September 2011 at 1pm. An estimated 11,000 “Ladies” are expected to participate in what has become the biggest Ladies event outside of Dublin. Charities from all over Ireland use the annual event as a fundraiser for some very worthy causes.

Women's Mini Marathon Route - Click here

Head for Center Park Road and look for hordes of Ladies and Laddies who, on any other Sunday afternoon, might raise more than an eyebrow or two. The race (event) itself starts at 1pm from the City end of Centre Park Road covering a four-mile course, which takes in The Marina, Blackrock Village, Ballintemple, Monahan Road and finishes in Kennedy Park. Whether you’re an elite athlete, a runner, jogger, walker, fancy dresser, cross dresser or just a Sunday stroller, have a FUN day out and don’t forget to pick up your goodie bag.

Day Tripper

She got a good reason, for taking the easy way out
She was a Day Tripper, one way ticket, Yeah
It took her so long to get round, but she got round
Baby’s trying to please her, he took her half the way there
She was a Day Tripper, Sunday driver, Yeah
It took Baby so long to find out, but he found out

The BHAA ‘Sports Supplies’ Cork to Cobh 15M Road Race takes place on Sunday 2nd of October 2011 at 9:30am. A pre-entry fee of €10 applies until the 23rd of September. On-the-day entries at €20 and changing facilities will be available in the Montenotte Hotel from 7:30am.

All finishers will receive a Goodie Bag and a T-Shirt. The race starts on the city end of the Lower Glanmire Road and takes in the scenic coastal route to Cobh Harbour passing Fota Wildlife Park and finishing in Cobh town centre. Gear bags will be transferred to Cobh for collection at the finish.

Note that on-the-day entries cannot be guaranteed a T-Shirt.

Click here for entry (Word)

Click here for entry (PDF)