Race is an outstandig success

James McCarthy and Niamh Roe, overall winners receive their prizes
- mountain bikes kindly sponsored by Trabolgan Holiday Centre
from Mr. Donal Kelleher, Chairperson, Ballintotis Area Community Council.
Also pictured is MC, Mr. John Cashman.

The Ballintotis '4' mile race was run on Wed. 20/4/11.

A record field of 559 runners crossed the start line on a beautiful evening in the picturesque location.

19minutes and 34 seconds later, last year's winner, James McCarthy from East Cork AC, crossed the finish line to retain his title. The women's title went to Niamh Roe (Eagle) in 23m 27s.

Earlier in the evening, nearly 100 walkers also covered the circuit.

Ballintotis Area Community Council wish to thank all those who organised and assisted in any way in making
the event the great success it was. Thanks also to the many sponsors, especially our main sponsor, Trabolgan Holiday Centre.
And of course many thanks to everyone who turned up to walk or run.

Be sure to check out the photos, video and results.

BALLINTOTIS ROAD RACE (John Walshe - Evening Echo April 21 2011)

Two commanding performances by James McCarthy and Niamh Roe, along with
another mammoth turnout, marked the first of the evening spring and summer
races at picturesque Ballintotis last night.

On a glorious evening for running, the massive local involvement and superb
organisation attracted almost 600 runners to the second annual event which
acts a fund-raiser for the building of a local community centre for the
area.

McCarthy, of the promoting East Cork club, had won the inaugural race in
19:54 but with the stiff competition offered by Sandis Bralitis had to run
20 seconds faster for the win.

Bralitis, after a record-breaking run in Cobh last Sunday, equalled the
previous best and is certainly in good shape as he bids for the Limerick
Marathon title on Sunday week.

“No, I didn’t think I’d run that fast,” admitted McCarthy as he savoured
victory. “But I suppose with the competition you’ll always run quicker. The
first two miles were fast but on the third mile the pace dropped and I got
away after that.”

Just outside his best for 3000m on the track last Saturday, the 26-year-old
will now concentrate on that discipline for the summer will the 1500m and
maybe the 5000m his main aim.

Chris Harrington, one of the most improved athletes in the county, recorded
another personal best in taking third spot in 20:47 and also led his Leevale
team to the narrowest of victories over East Cork.

Niamh Roe is another with track aspirations and the Eagle athlete was well
in control in the women’s race as she moved away from her clubmate and
defending champion, Rhona Lynch.

Crossing the line in 23:27, Roe knocked 21 seconds off of Lynch’s time from
last year and she too is well pleased with her form. “I got away from Rhona
after around a mile so I’m happy to win. I might do a few more road races
but will then concentrate on the track,” she said.

Results
1 J McCarthy (East Cork) 19:34; 2 S Bralitis (West Waterford) 19:54; 3 C
Harrington (Leevale) 20:47; 4 J Shine (Leevale) 20:56; 5 R Fahy (East Cork)
21:14; 6 B Hegarty (Leevale) 21:25; 7 F Hayes (East Cork, M40) 21:34; 8 J
Grufferty (Leevale) 21:35; 9 C Lane (Leevale) 21:57; 10 C Tierney (East
Cork) 22:13.
M40: 2 T Laffan (Bandon) 22:16; 3 J Cosgrave (St Finbarrs) 22:19.
M45: 1 N Curtin (Youghal) 22:19; 2 E Meade (East Cork) 22:41; 3 D McCarthy
(East Cork) 23:52.
M50: 1 J Collins (Leevale) 23:54; 2 D Carroll (Eagle) 24:39; 3 J O’Sullivan
(Bandon) 25:07.
M55: 1 T Cody (Midleton) 24:59; 2 W O’Riordan (St Brendans) 25:24; 3 N
Aherne (Midleton) 26:32.
M60: 1 P Twomey (Eagle) 25:18; 2 P McGrath (East Cork) 26:52; 3 M Dunne (St
Finbarrs) 27:20.
M65: 1 J Cotter (unatt) 28:51; 2 J Motherway (unatt) 31:54; 3 P Daly (unatt)
33:45.
M70: 1 J O’Leary (Leevale) 29:59; 2 B Griffin (Midleton) 38:17; 3 S Guinane
(unatt) 43:30.
MJ: 1 J Griffin (Midleton) 24:02; 2 M Furlong (Midleton) 24:52; 3 F Curtin
(Youghal) 26:09.
Team: 1 Leevale 13; 2 East Cork 13; 3 St Finbarrs 44.
Women: 1 N Roe (Eagle) 23:27; 2 R Lynch (Eagle, F35) 23:58; 3 A-M Holland
(Eagle, F35) 24:18; 4 N Walsh (unatt) 25:29; 5 A Woulfe (Leevale) 25:36; 6 A
Murphy (Leevale) 26:40.
F35: 3 E Murphy (unatt) 27:36.
F40: 1 M Aherne (Midleton) 28:14; 2 M Histon-DeBarra (Rising Sun) 28:20; 3 E
Cashman (unatt) 29:32.
F45: 1 A Moore (Leevale) 27:04; 2 S Drennan (Midleton) 27:23; 3 M O’Keeffe
(Midleton) 29:00.
F50: 1 F O’Connor (Eagle) 30:38; 2 C Linehan (unatt) 32:16; 3 A Stavrou (St
Finbarrs) 33:33.
F55: 1 M Linehan (Togher) 37:47.
F60: 1 M Barry (Midleton) 35:06.
F65; 1 K O’Brien (East Cork) 30:33; 2 M Dunne (Carraig na bhFear) 35:40.
FJ: 1 E Hallahan (Leevale) 32:09; 2 K Nolan (Youghal) 38:04.
Team: 1 Eagle 6; 2 Leevale 20; 3 Midleton 32.
Wheelchair: 1 J Forde (Blarney/Inniscarra, M55) 35:57.

====================

RACE REACTION

Good morning John,

Well done to yourself and your co-workers on a brilliantly run event
yesterday evening.

Talk about an amazing buzz around a small village for a few hours. It was
great just to take time out from our hectic lives to sit under the stars,
have a cuppa and catch up with loads of people.

Roll on next year again.

Thanks again,
Denise Hickey

-----------------------------------

Hi John,

It was a fantastic night, absolutely great - a credit to you and all, we
thoroughly enjoyed it.
Well done on organising.

Kind Regards
Mags Twohig

----------------------------------
 I ran in the Ballintotis 4 last night and thoroughly enjoyed it! It was
extremely well run and the catering afterwards was fantastic!

Kind Regards,
Fiona Cashman
-----------------------------------

FROM   RUNNING IN CORK BLOG -

...
Ran the Ballintotis 4 last night for the second year. This race has got
bigger and better from last year. Well done to all concerned.
John

21/4/11 10:23 AM

 Anonymous said...
Great run last night, the entertainment was excellent and had people in
great form, very well organised well done to everyone involved and well done
to all who ran. Refreshments were excellent aswell and even though numbers
were up on last year there was plenty of food & tea for everyone. Bualadh
bos gach duine

21/4/11 11:38 AM

 Anonymous said...
Great start to the summer season. Weather had everyone in good mood for the
flattest and fastest 4 ml around. Well done to all concerned for catering
with such a large group. It was handled professionally but still with an
element of Community spirit and crack.

21/4/11 12:20 PM

 Cormac said...
It was a great race, way too packed at the back of the race. I dont know how
those times are ok, I finished 3 minutes faster than posted. It took about 3
mins to get over the finish line at the end. All made up for by the view
over the lake at the end, and the great atmosphere, food. Well done, and
hope this goes well for the community centre. Cors

21/4/11 12:37 PM

 Anonymous said...
Well done everyone, the organisation of this race was first class. However,
the huge turnout on what were narrow country roads meant that a PB was out
of the question as it was very congested for the first mile. The course was
great - very flat with great scenery.

21/4/11 1:47 PM

 Anonymous said...
Fabulous event. Ballintotis is a wonderful scenic area. The people living
there are fantastic in terms of welcoming and support both before, during
and after the trek. You couldn't have asked for a more better evening as
temperatures were ideal for running. Looking forward to next years battle
already.

21/4/11 1:56 PM

 Anonymous said...
A wonderful event but I was amazed to see so many people wearing headphones
on such a short race.I thoyght they were banned anyway.