Killeagh four-mile race attracts a record number of over 300 runners in ideal conditions
Tamzin Muldowney, first in the women's race, receiving her prize from Brian Barry, Chairman of Killeagh GAA. Also picture is Dave Barry, race organiser. Picture: John Walshe
The move from a February Sunday to a spring evening proved to be a good one for the organisers of the Killeagh four-mile race as a record number of over 300 runners turned out in ideal conditions.
Started back in 2016, the race is organised by the local GAA club’s Community Healthy Clubs Project in conjunction with Youghal AC and was sponsored by Niall Guerin Construction.
It had to be postponed from the original date due to weather conditions as part of the course is susceptible to flooding.
It was a good night for the East Cork club with both winners, Michael Harty and Tamzin Muldowney, wearing the maroon colours. Harty, who set the course record of 19:18 in 2023, easily got the better of last year’s winner Gavin Sweeney to cross the line in a time of 19:33.
Sweeney held on for second in 20:17 with Colin Merritt – now in the M50 category – finishing third in 21:15.
“It was a lovely evening for a run, it’s a nice course with only a small bit of climbing at the start but once you come off the main road you have good running on a nice surface,” said the winner who himself will move into the M45 category later this year.
“I got a good gap after the first mile which I think I went through in around 4:48.
"After that, it was a case of keep the head down and get a solid race in, so I was happy with that.”
For Muldowney, it has been a good few weeks as following her fourth place in Ballintotis over four miles she won the East Cork Divisional 3km championships and follwed that up with third at the Midleton five-miler.
“It’s been a good summer so far and I’m enjoying the racing,” said the 24-year-old, who recorded a time of 23:56.
“I just wanted to se how I was after the first mile so as I felt pretty good I said I’d take the risk and push on and it was great that I was able to pull it out.
“I feel like I enjoyed it, when the sun is out there’s a good buzz about the place, so it was great.”
Nadine Forde from Leevale, second last year, had to settle for the runner-up spot again just five seconds slower in a time of 24:11 with third place going to Sinead Flannery from Ballintotis Fit4Life in 24:26.
1 M Harty (East Cork, M40) 19:33; 2 G Sweeney (Togher, M40) 20:17; 3 C Merritt (unatt, M50) 21:15; 4 K Kelly (Youghal, M45) 21:32; 5 P Cashman (Watergrasshill, M45) 21:49; 6 A Goulding (Leevale) 22:16.
1 T Muldowney (East Cork) 23:56; 2 N Forde (Leevale, F40) 24:11; 3 S Flannery (Ballintotis F4L) 24:26; 4 J Lucey (unatt, F40) 24:46; 5 L O’Sullivan (Watergrasshill, F50) 24:56; 6 M Kenny (Leevale, F45) 25:06.
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