The annual Buttevant four-mile road race attracts over 280 runners

Sat, 07 Jun, 2025 - 17:22

John Walshe

Reverting back to a Sunday instead of a Friday evening saw an increase in numbers for the annual Buttevant four-mile road race with over 280 taking part.

Two impressive victories by Declan Moore and Aoife Cooke saw both just failing to beat the course records on what was a showery and blustery morning.

Moore, from the Bilboa club, crossed the line in a time of 19:53, four seconds off of Sean Doyle’s course best from 2019.

Over a minute behind in 21:17 was Tadhg O’Sullivan of Bweeng Trail Blazers, fresh from his 2:30:33 marathon in London the previous month.

The 2023 Buttevant winner James Doran, now with the Killarney Valley club after transferring from Riocht, finished third in 21:23 with Karl Lenihan (West Limerick) repeating his fourth place from the year before.

Aoife Cooke, first in the women's race at Buttevant, receiving her prize from Brendan Flanagan, Chairman of Buttevant AC. Picture: John Walshe

Aoife Cooke from Eagle had won over five miles at Ardmore two nights before but showed no after-effects as she came a clear winner in a time of 23:46, not too far off of five-time winner Carol Finn’s record of 23:22.

Second went to unattached runner Breda McGinn in 24:58 with Clotilde Fitzgibbon from Grange-Fermoy having a fine run to take third in 26:22.

The race was once again an outstanding success and excellent value for money, with an extensive prize list, a goody bag for each finisher, and plenty of post-race refreshments in the local GAA hall.

Buttevant was also the fourth and final race in the Rebel Diamond League.

This was made up up of four North Cork events, consisting of the Banteer five-mile, Dromohane 5km, Bweeng 5km and Buttevant four-mile.

Overall winners of the league were Fergus Murphy (Donoughmore) and Breda McGinn with those completing all four races receiving a commemorative mug.

Declan Moore, winner of the Butevant four-mile road race, receiving his prize from Brendan Flanagan, Chairman of Buttevant AC. Picture: John Walshe

Results:

Men:

1 D Moore (Bilboa) 19:53; 2 T O’Sullivan (Bweeng TB) 21:17; 3 J Doran (Killarney Valley, M40) 21:23; 4 K Lenihan (West Limerick, M40) 21:30; 5 C Merritt (unatt, M50) 21:44; 6 M Quirke (Mallow, M40) 22:24.

M40: 4 P O’Brien (Mount Hillary) 23:35.

M50: 2 I O’Leary (Leevale) 23:20; 3 M Clancy (Mallow) 24:06.

M60: 1 P Sheahan (Millstreet) 25:23; 2 K Twomey (unatt) 26:41; 3 S O’Meara (unatt) 27:50.

M70: 1 R Piotrowski (Eagle) 32:15; 2 J Walshe (RRC) 36:58.

MJ: 1 T Kiely (North Cork) 22:41; 2 L O’Shea (Riocht) 23:34; 3 M Dunlea (unatt) 27:34.

Women:

1 A Cooke (Eagle) 23:46; 2 B McGinn (unatt, F40) 24:58; 3 C Fitzgibbon (Grange-Fermoy, F50) 26:22; 4 J O’Connor (unatt) 27:50; 5 M Buckley (Donoughmore, F60) 28:08; 6 K Murray (West Limerick, F40) 28:35.

F40: 3 M Gayer (Mount Hillary) 28:39.

F50: G Walsh (Donoughmore) 29:40; 3 C O’Sullivan (Mount Hillary) 29:56.

F60: 2 M Murphy (Shandrum) 31:45; 3 K Cronin (Mallow) 32:27.

FJ: 1 C Kiely (North Cork) 30:04; 2 S Collins (North Cork) 33:17; 3 E Gavin (unatt) 34:27.