Sonia is the Darling of Ballintotis
as a Record Entry completes the
2013 Ballintotis '4' Mile Road Race

Sonia O'Sullivan chats with John Cashman prior to running the 2013 Ballintotis '4' Mile Race

The presence of Olympic Silver Medalist, Sonia O'Sullivan, was the icing on the cake at Ballintotis on Thursday 18/4/13 as 835 participants, including the Cobh woman, completed the fourth annual Ballintotis '4' Mile Road Race. Earlier in the evening, over 120 walkers completed the course.

The huge community effort to make this an event to remember was evident everywhere around the area. As the buzz increased in intensity throughout the evening, it was clear from the volume of people pouring in that the entry would be as good as last year's 737 if not better but the 835 entry surpassed all expectations.

For the fourth year in a row the men's winner was Ballincurrig's James McCarthy of East Cork AC who crossed the line in 19.43. Second was Tim O Donoghue, also of East Cork AC in 20.08. In third place was Gavin Sweeney (unattched) in 20:25.

The women's winner was Rhona Lynch of Eagle AC in 24:45, second was Michelle Kenny, Midleton AC in 24:58 and third was Helen Leonard, Leevale AC in 25:02.

The huge crowd were treated to refreshments in the newly completed Community Hall where the catering staff reported filling over 800 cups of tea and coffee!!

Sonia O'Sullivan presented the prizes, posed for hundreds of photos and chatted to all and sundry, seemingly having time for everyone. She praised the high standard of organisation that had gone into the race and declared her delight and enjoyment at taking part. Such was the impact she made in the short few hours she was in the area, it is fair to say that Sonia has now been well and truly adopted by the people of the Ballintotis Area and has an open invitation to return as often as she can.

Race Video

Cameras: Ursula Barry, James Cooney, Mark Dolphin, Josie Knowles, Olan O'Brien and Martin Preston.
Video Editing: Olan O'Brien

Click here for full Race Report
Click here for photos - Volume I by Tim Troy
Click here for photos - Volume II by Denis O'Flynn
Click here for all the Results.
Click here for Race report on corkrunning.blogspot.ie

 

Ballintotis 4 - 2010
Ballintotis 4 - 2011
Ballintotis 4 - 2012

 

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Fit4Life Launches The Ballintotis 4-Mile Road Race 2013

Ballintotis Fit4Life club launch The Ballintotis 4-Mile Road Race 2013

It’s all systems go for this year’s Ballintotis ‘4’ Mile Road Race after the newly formed Ballintotis Fit4Life Club officially launched the event at a function in the Community Centre recently.

The big race on Thursday April 18^th (8pm) is just 4 weeks away and excitement is already building in the area in advance of what promises to be a great social and sporting occasion. The usual top array of prizes are again on offer for the overall winners, with both the first man and first lady each receiving an extended weekend break at Trabolgan Holiday Centre. Castlemartyr Resort Hotel, Garryvoe Hotel and the Quality Hotel Clonakilty have also come on board this year to feature on the overall prize list. There will also be a huge array of category prizes and spot prizes up for grabs.

This year’s race was given a major boost when Ray and Susan Fitzgerald along with Tony Mulcahy and John Walshe of A.C.S Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Midleton were announced as joint t-shirt sponsors. This means that all participants will again leave Ballintotis with a souvenir t-shirt, thanks the generous sponsorship of the aforementioned.

Co-sponsors of this year's Ballintotis '4' t-shirts, John Walshe and Tony Mulcahy of A.C.S Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
and Susan and Ray Fitzgerald, make a presentation of this year's t-shirts to Seanie Murphy and John Cashman, Race Directors.

A huge word of thanks is also extended to the many other sponsors who have given their backing to what is recognised as one of the most popular road races in the county. Special words of appreciation are extended to Michael Kennedy Agricultural Contractor, Miah McGrath of McCarthy & McGrath Auctioneers, Tri ‘N’ Run Midleton, Pfizer Ireland, Eurocom Technologies, The Creamery Bar Mogeely and East Cork Oil Ltd.

Of course, the race is as always a joint promotion with East Cork A.C and with Ballycotton Running Promotions also kindly assisting, there is wide involvement by two very respected athletics groups.

It’s appropriate that the newly formed Fit4Life Club should have the honour of launching the race as during the past 6 months a group of runners under the banner of Ballintotis Runners & Joggers have met each Thursday night, contributing €1 each per night as a means of building up funds for this year’s race. The club has recently been formed as an official structure under A.A.I and last week’s function was also the confirmation of their new status.

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