The Ballycotton 10 Race Report - 2009
The Ballycotton 10 took place again this year on March 8th 2009 with over 3000 entrants.
The race attracts runners and joggers from all over the world, ready to pit themselves against the race clock and 10 mile course. www.ballycottonrunning.com has done a splendid job in promoting and running this very popular run. So popular in fact it has to disappoint many applicants most years. There are also a series of five mile runs whoch are run in association with the Ballycotton 10 and running these races ensures entry to the Balltcotton 10.
The seaside town and fishing village comes alive every March when thousands of runners come to improve their times and enjoy the craic that is Ballycotton. Families come in their droves to support the runners. They can be seen and heard at all the vantage points throughout the race.
This year’s race (the 32nd edition), started with a cold wind, showers of rain and hail, but also glimpses of the sun which rarely makes an appearance on this annual occasion. Once the huge field got underway, conditions improved and with the wind at their backs on the homeward journey many runners were surprised at their fast times!
It was very much a Dublin affair at the head of the field as Vinny Mulvey made it three wins in four years, although his winning margin of seven seconds over Sean Connolly was his closest to date. With Mark Kirwan in third and Mick Clohisey finishing fourth, Raheny had the easiest of team victories.
Pauline Curley repeated her 2006 and 2006 wins, her 59:03 giving her over a minute advantage over Donna Mahon but, for the first time in seven years, only the winner broke the hour. Just one category record was set, Joan Coyle taking the bouquet as she improved her F60 time by ten seconds to 75:04.
A performance worth mentioning was Stephen Griffin's 55:54 in the M50 category. Not only was this almost a minute faster than he ran in 2008 but it came 27 years after he combined with broth-ers John and Liam to win the team title for St John's back in 1982.
The race was honored with the appearance of former European and Boston Marathon champion Ron Hill, who finished second in the M70 age-group. The legendary figure (who hasn't missed a day's running since December 1964) made a huge impression on all who met with him over the weekend. The final figure of 2,402 finishers was the second biggest number in the race history
This year the Champion Chip ensured quicker and more accurate results .
There has been a huge upsurge in the popularity of road running and the Ballycotton 10 shows no sign of waning, if this years race was anything to go by!
Tradition plays an important part in this race and the ten mille route remains the same since the inaugural event. It offers the same challenge as it did to those 31 pioneering runners in March of 1997.
The race organisation, now a much larger operation, remains a truly voluntary effort. It still provides the same value-for money service-.a well organised race on an accurate course with full results for all.
Author: Pat Meany
Endurance: The ability or strength to continue or last, despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions; stamina
