3 COUNTIES CHALLENGE TAKES TO THE ROADS FOR ITS FIFTH YEAR!
The details of this year’s Outfield Sports 3 Counties Challenge were released
at a launch night outside the Ormond Castle last week. The Road Race
Series ,now in its fifth year ,is again organised by Carrick on Suir A.C. –
Roadrunners and as before, will see four races take place over Counties
Tipperary, Waterford and Kilkenny ,with distances varying from 5Km to 10km .
Last year’s series proved very successful with over 900 runners taking part in
the overall series and the club are hopeful that they can increase the number
of competitors again this year. The success of the series can be gauged by
the fact that, despite the current economic downturn, all of last year’s race
sponsors are back on board this year. Club Chairman, James Fox, thanked
Morris Oil, The Carraig Hotel, Mr. Binman and Autopower for their continued
support of the individual races. He also thanked international Running Brand
Asics and local Running Store Outfield Sports for their continued Overall Series
Sponsorship, which is now dating back to 2007. Mr.Fox also thanked all the
stewards and volunteers who helped organise last year’s races, and he made
an appeal for anyone interested to volunteer to help with this year’s series, as
each race can require in excess of 25 stewards.
Outlining the race dates, Mr. Fox confirmed that al race routes would be the
same as last year, so the emphasis on Scenic, runner friendly routes continues.
As well a large number of fun runners, the series has been graced with some
of the best amateur runners in the country over the last few years. Clonliffe
Harriers, and current Irish Marathon champion Sergiu Cebanu, has won the
series twice, and last year Carricks Brian Murphy won the overall series with
four great runs. With sub 5 minute miles being run, the times posted for the
races are up there with the best in the country, so anyone taking Brian’s
crown this year will have to be in top form.
An added attraction to encourage runners to complete the full 4 race series
this year will be a €25 Asics Voucher which can be used at series sponsor
Outfield Sports. There will also be a series souvenir for all runners completing
in 3 out of 4 races.
As in the previous 2 years, an online entry system is provided by
www.runireland.com .This simple system allows all runners to register prior to
the race night, and a new addition this year allows entrants to register for the
whole series at a reduced cost of €35.00 (as opposed to the regular race price
of €10.00). The full list of races is as follows:-
RACE 1: The Carraig Hotel - DEADMAN’S 5 Friday 10th June
RACE 2: The Champion Kiely BALLYNEALE 5K Sponsored by: Mr. Binman Friday 1st July
RACE 3: MorrisOil.ie - PILTOWN 10K Friday 15th July
RACE 4: Autopower - RATHGORMACK 5 Friday 5th August
All races will have a 7:30 start, and will be well marshalled and will have
the local Red Cross in attendance. There will be changing facilities at
all races and the clubs usual after race refreshments and friendly wind
down will take place at each venue.
(Launch photo - http://www.carrickroadrunners.ie/gallery/?level=picture&id=4888)