The Cork City Marathon Route 2013

I’ve always regarded the CCM as a tough gig. The course is physically and psychologically tough, especially in the second half.  Then there’s the time of year – a mid-summer Marathon with the strong likelihood of high temperatures and worst of all the high humidity that’s characteristic of this part of the island. Not to mention the fact that it’s a wrong way around Marathon. Yes, after a mile circuit of the city centre, the course changes direction from anti-clockwise to clockwise. Anyone who’s run Dublin will appreciate the difference.  I’m not sure I wouldn’t prefer a trip out to the Ballincollig roundabout and a full traversal of the Straight Road to running around Mahon in circles and going nowhere fast. And don’t mention that seafront section and the subterranean railway line. Perhaps a few decades of the Rosary might suffice until one makes it back to the Marina and civilisation. Anyway, I imagine if it were not for traffic considerations and time constraints on the Lee Tunnel, we’d all be turning left and not right at the North Gate Bridge. What I never considered was the possibility that the course might incorporate some bonus mileage as appears to be the case. No matter how hard I tried – and I did try hard – I couldn’t squeeze this Marathon Route into the standard 26.2 miles.

Cork City Marathon 2013 – Route Map

Just a few short weeks ago, we were all running around in multiple layers of clothing, battling wind, rain and biting cold. We waited for the easterly wind to abate, but it just swung around to the northwest and every long run throughout April and May was real test of endurance. I waited for better weather to head out to the Farm, but favourable conditions never materialised and I didn’t see any point in going head to head with the wind. And so, for the first time ever, I eschewed the Farm completely. Time will tell whether this was a wise policy or not.

For hundreds, if not thousands of runners this will be a week of high anxiety as the training winds down. The anxiety will reach fever pitch on Sunday, when they have to take the day off. People will be sitting at home berating themselves like Oskar Schindler, “I could’ve done more, I should’ve done more, a mile here, a mile there”, all to no avail of course. They’ll all have done their best and when Monday comes around they’ll be on line to reap the rewards of their efforts.

As for me, I’m tempted to grab a bicycle and measure that course for myself. The only thing is – I don’t want to end up a banner headline on the Evening Echo; “BARRS man arrested cycling through Lee Tunnel – in a contra flow direction”. Not to worry, when I explain my motives, I’m sure the Gardaí will exercise discretion in my favour. I’d be shattered if they didn’t!

The annual John Buckley Sports 5K Road Race takes place on Tuesday, May 28^th at 8pm. This is a flat, fast course around the Marina and usually attracts a huge field of entries. The race is run under BHAA rules. As per usual, registration and post race refreshments will be in the Lee Rowing club.  Entries will be taken on the night up to 7.30pm – €5.00 for BHAA Registered members (€8.00 for Non-Registered).

This year’s race will feature Chip Timing and all finishers will receive a 20% discount voucher for the John Buckley Sports shop. If you want to avoid queuing on the night, you can pre-register online at,

http://precisiontiming.primo-solutions.co.uk/ps/event/JohnBuckleySports5k

If any club members are available to help out, please contact John Buckley Sports at 021-4508830.

The Munster Senior & Masters T&F Championships 2013 take place on Sunday, June 2^nd at the CIT Track from 9.30am. Unfortunately, that’s the day before the Cork City Marathon. For those not involved in the Marathon, here’s a perfect opportunity to engage in T&F competition on home turf. For those running in the Marathon relays, especially the Seniors, a double day at the races should present no difficulty at all. Indeed, a good workout on the Sunday would be ideal preparation for the Relays.

Programme of Events

This is a AAI event, so participants will be required to wear the club singlet. No entries or changes of entries on the day of competition. Participating athletes must be AAI registered club members for 2013. Please text or email your entries to 0860226895 or compsec@stfinbarrsac.com no later than Friday, May 24^th.

The second John Buckley Sports Graded T&F Meeting of 2013 is on Monday, May 20^th at 7.30pm at the CIT track. The graded league will also incorporate the Cork County Junior & Senior T&F Championships 2013 with county medals on offer. This evening’s menu includes a 3000m (7½ laps of the track) test for middle distance runners, while the relay should see quartets of runners post some very impressive mile times. These are graded meetings open to people of all levels of ability from any club. Entry is €5.00 covering all events.

Just to remind everyone that the 6pm training session on Wednesday May 15^th is replaced by the first of the John Buckley Sports Graded T&F Meetings of 2013, starting at 7.30pm. These meetings are the brain child of club coach Fergus O’Donovan, who came up with the original idea in 2010. Since then the graded meetings have grown in popularity year on year no doubt helped by generous sponsorship from John Buckley Sports. Club members are encouraged to attend the graded meeting as a substitute for the regular training session.

A series of eight meetings is planned for Athletes male and female over 17 years on the day of the competition; the Shot, Discus, Hammer and 56lb Weights are limited to athletes over 18. Track events will, if necessary, be divided into separate races on the basis of performance, which could involve mixed races. The graded league will also incorporate the Cork County Junior & Senior T&F Championships 2013 with county medals on offer. These meetings are open to athletes of all levels of ability. Feel free to enter as many events as you like. Each graded meeting features a middle distance race of some description or another, so there’s sure to be something of interest for everyone. What about the relays? They always make for great fun and excitement.

Can’t find a babysitter? Bring the kids along too. There’s lots of available seating in the stand offering a great view of the track. Entry is normally  €5.00 per meeting. However, as these meetings also incorporate Cork County T&F Championship events, entry is free for club members on the opening night.

“Inevitably one wonders: just how would they fare in international competition and contribute fully to Irish athletics? But because of the unfortunate split in Irish athletics — surely no country can afford this, least of all one of our size — such competition is denied them. And not until this ridiculous situation has ended can we get an answer”.

In a previous post, “Nostalgia: A Famed Cork Athletic Club (Examiner 1960)”, reference is made to the split in Irish Athletics, a situation which denied many athletes an opportunity to compete at international level. While the club’s old guard will no doubt be very familiar with the subject, some background history may be of interest to our younger (and newer) members.

The split in Irish Athletics

The International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) was founded after the 1912 Stockholm Olympics. The National Athletic & Cycling Association of Ireland (NACAI) was set up in 1923 with full membership of the IAAF. Consequently, Ireland sent a separate team to the 1924 Paris Olympics. The same year, a number of Northern Ireland clubs resigned from the NACAI and formed the Northern Ireland Amateur Athletic, Cycling & Cross Country Association (NIAAA).

At its 1933 Congress in Stockholm, the IAAF amended its constitution to define members by political boundaries. The 32 county NACAI decided not to accept the Ruling and was suspended from the IAAF in 1935. Consequently, (some might say fortunately) Ireland did not compete at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

In 1937, a number of clubs around the Dublin area split from the NACAI and set up the Amateur Athletic Union of Eire (AAUE) recognising the IAAF boundary ruling. Thus, the AAUE was granted full membership of the IAAF and the NACAI suspension made permanent. The breakaway AAUE represented Ireland at the 1948 London and 1952 Helsinki Olympics.

However, the vast majority of 26 county clubs stuck with the NACAI. Attempts at a resolution of the dispute, now involving three separate entities, proved unsuccessful. This befuddled state of affairs persisted until 1967 when the NACAI and AAUE dissolved to form Bord Luthchleas na hÉireann (BLE). However, a section of the NACAI refused to dissolve. In 1987, BLE signed an agreement with the rump NACAI. With improved North-South relations, all athletes wishing to represent Ireland at International level could now do so. As of 1999, the BLE and NACAI dissolved completely to form Athletics Ireland (AI) with provision for Northern Ireland representation on the Council. St Finbarr’s A.C. is an affiliated member of Athletics Ireland and paid-up members are registered with AI on an annual basis. Le voilà!

You will all no doubt be aware of the dreadful turn of events which overtook the Boston Marathon of 2013. What should have been a joyous and memorable occasion for athletes of many colours and creeds was marred by the heinous acts of as yet unknown perpetrators who visited their worst on those in pursuit of their best.

Several of this club’s members were entrants in Boston and I’m glad to report that all are safe and well albeit certainly traumatised by the events of the day. There can be no ambiguity or equivocation on occasions such as these. The taking of innocent civilian life can never be justified under any circumstances. Such actions leave only a legacy of shattered dreams and broken lives. We at St. Finbarr’s A.C. offer our heartfelt condolences for the dead and injured, and for their grieving families and friends.

Eight-year-old Martin Richard killed in Boston bombings

And the King will answer and say to them,
 ‘Assuredly, I say to you,
inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren,
you did it to Me.

Please note that the Mardyke Track is unavailable for training on Friday 12-Apr-2013. For one week only, the regular 6pm Friday session will be held at the UCC Farm, a.k.a. Curraheen Park. Please click on the Training tag above for directions. In the event of adverse conditions at the Farm, there’s no shortage of concrete pathways to keep everybody on track.

Green acres is the place for me. Farm livin’ is the life for me. Land spreadin’ out so far and wide. Keep the Mardyke, just give me that countryside.

A Great War era Hollly Bough poster

Holly Bough 2009 Edition

The 2009 Holly Bough featured an article on the BARRS headed “58 years running: The story of St. Finbarr’s A.C.”, perhaps the 3rd greatest story ever told: Sorry folks, I must defer to “The Nativity” and “A Christmas Carol”. It opened with an extract from a 1960 Cork Examiner article headed, “A Famed Cork Athletic Club” penned by a young rookie reporter named “Will O’Herlihy”. Will, or Bill would later achieve superstar status with RTE Sports and Après Match. I’ve been lucky to get a copy of the 1960 Examiner article from Jack Lynch, Barrs member emeritus. Many thanks to Jack for that article and many thanks to yours truly for rummaging through the archives to dig up the original 1952 group photo.

A Famed Cork Athletic Club
By W. O’Herlihy

IT was a warm Sunday in the summer of 1951 and the four young men who gathered after Mass outside a Cork City church were wondering just how they would spend the afternoon to best advantage. The four, John O’Connell, Dick Day, Pat Bowe and Pat Hennessy, had a strong, active leaning to sport and when one of them learned that an athletic meeting was being held that afternoon by the Rising Sun Club he remarked: “Lets run there.” They did… and won two prizes. Thus, inauspiciously, came into being, the premier club in the South of Ireland — St. Finbarrs A.C. To-day, nine years after its foundation, the club has won every honour the N.A.C.A.I. has to offer, has a big, growing membership and some of its athletes have reached the highest pinnacle of the sport in Ireland. But perhaps the best tribute one can pay to St. Finbarrs is that the club truly embodies the Olympic motto:

 “The main thing in sport is not to win but to take part. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.”

Throughout the country the name of St. Finbarrs is synonymous with Irish athletics yet even among their legions of supporters and admirers little is known of its foundation. To many, the achievements of the club are facts, the beginnings mystery. No story of this now famous club can be complete without placing in its proper perspective the part played by St. Finbarrs Boys Club in its growth. For, in retrospect, it was here that really begun the dream that in such a short time blossomed forth into glorious reality. And each was closely associated with the other. The boys club was formed in 1941 by the members of the Legion of Mary under the direction of Very Rev. J. M. Cashman, now P.P. of Innishannon, Co. Cork, to cater for the youths of the city’s South Parish and the club competed annually against other similar clubs in football and athletics.

But such was the constitution of this club that when the boys reached the age of 18 years they ceased to be members and had to join outside sports clubs. Some of these lads later became famous — Frank O’Farrell of West Ham and Preston and Peter Desmond, of Middlesborough, the English League sides, both of whom played for Ireland in soccer, spring immediately to mind.

Such was the position that applied in the case of the four youths who ran in that Rising Sun meeting and when Fr. Cashman saw the result of their efforts he suggested that a senior athletic club be formed. But with one big difference…  for as well as catering for outside members it was in a special way for the “graduates” of the boys clubs, providing a social as well as entertainment service to the city of Cork. In this regard at the inaugural meeting of the athletic club in the old Scout Hall in Friary Lane on October 24, 1951, a constitution was drawn up that gave to the Legion of Mary the right to nominate three members of the committee. With Fr. Cashman as President, the first officers of the club were: Chairman — John O’Connell; Vice-Chairman, Dick Day; Treasurer, Pat Bowe and Secretary Pat Hennessy. Success has come readily to St. Finbarrs A.C. and the achievements in a short ten seasons read like a fairy tale.

Champion Club

In the past eight years it has been Cork’s champion club on no fewer than six occasions and has had its name on every trophy in the county and on many a national one. In all its members have won National championships on six occasions, Munster titles 27 times and in open, novice and youth events have won 104 county titles. In fact the total number of prizes won by the club now far exceeds 1,000.

The Cork County decathlon championship trophy has rested in the club since the inception of the event in 1955, having been won by Sean Moore (thrice), Pat Naughton (twice) — these two were also the Irish champions — and Pat Hennessy (once). The Cade Cup for the champion club in the county has been won by the club five times. This year they again finished well on top of the table but were ineligible to win the trophy as a motion passed at the Convention declared that a club not holding a sports meeting could not be awarded the cup. More is the pity that such a motion should have been passed for the original intention of the donors was that it be awarded to the county’s top club — regardless of whether they do or do not hold a meeting.

Thus the list of their achievements in track, field and cross-country events grows and it can be said with truth that they have reached the topmost heights under N.A.C.A.I. Rules. The list is indeed an imposing one and the club numbers quite a few crack athletes in its membership. Inevitably one wonders: just how would they fare in international competition and contribute fully to Irish athletics? But because of the unfortunate split in Irish athletics — surely no country can afford this, least of all one of our size — such competition is denied them. And not until this ridiculous situation has ended can we get an answer.

So much in so short a time… That in brief is the story of St. Finbarrs A.C. Until the country is united in athletics, may they continue to keep the name of Cork to the forefront of Irish athletics? After that, well, who knows what the future may bring?

Barrs first club group, taken in 1952

Front row, the four founder members. Left to right: P. Hennessy (Hon. Sec.), R. K. Day (Vice-Chairman), Rev. Bro. J. V. Hutton (Vice President), Very Rev. J. M. Cashman (President), J. C. O’Connell (Chairman) and P. J. Bowe (Hon. Treasurer).

There are just over nine weeks to go to the start of the Cork City Marathon 2013. The current entry fees remain valid until the 31st of March. From the 1st of April you’ll have to cough up an extra €10 and an extra €20 from the 1st of May. So, don’t be an April fool. Unless you’ve got money to burn, log on and enter before Easter Monday. Athletics may be a minority sport, vying for column inches with Pigeon Racing and Darts, but for one glorious (I hope) Bank Holiday Monday in June, the tunnel is closed, traffic diverted and Athletes given free rein of the streets. The city doesn’t do that for Football, Hurling, Rugby, Soccer or any other sport that I can think of. This is indeed a privilege and one that perhaps shouldn’t be taken for granted. Whatever your plans for the day, Full Marathon, Half Marathon, Relay, Steward or Spectator, get out there and lend your support. Ah sure forget all about Cypress boy! Stay at home and prepare for a strong run on the Banks.

Cork City Marathon 2013 Entry Fees

The Cork City Marathon is also an ideal opportunity to raise much needed funds for local charities. For no other reason than it being first through the mail box, I’ll mention the Cork Simon Community. This organisation works tirelessly throughout the year giving assistance to homeless men and women. With the current extended cold spell, you’ll appreciate just how important it is to provide and a warm bed and sustenance to the city’s homeless population. If you’d like to help by taking part in a Run, Walk or Cycle, you can get a sponsorship card, t-shirt or running vest by contacting Nini on (021) 4929410 or nini@corksimon.ie

Cork Simon Community, St Nicholas House, Cove Street, Cork
Tel: (021) 4321051  Email: fundraising@corksimon.ie