Countdown is on to ever-popular Coillte 10k in Tipperary
Race will be held in Dundrum on Wednesday July 1
The ever-popular Coillte 10k Road Race enters its fifth decade with the 41st consecutive running of the race on Wednesday, July 1 at 8pm in Dundrum, organised by the local Dundrum Athletic Club. The race, which started as part of a local weekend festival which was so popular back in the 1980s, is still going strong 41 years later.
This year’s official race starter is Michael Guinan. Michael has been involved in athletics all his life and managed many Irish teams over the years on the international scene. He was also involved in setting up the very successful St. Catherine’s club in Killenaule and during that time he brought National Senior Cross Country and Road Races to Tipperary.
He is still going strong, keeping us all informed of the local and international athletics news on his weekly athletics slot every Saturday morning on Tipperary Mid-West Radio.
The club is delighted to have Coillte once again as its main sponsor. Dundrum is surrounded by trees and forest trails for running and walking developed by Coillte over the years. It is appropriate that Coillte are involved with the club in the healthy sport of running.
The company’s managed forest trails around Dundrum and around the country are a haven for people to get out for some fresh air and exercise. The semi-state company has been involved in this race every year since it was set up in 1988, which is appreciated by the Dundrum club.
The race also incorporates a 5k for juniors (aged between 13 years old on the day of the race and 19 years or under on December 31 2026), which is one-lap run with the 10k two-lap race. The headquarters for the race is the Dundrum Community Hall Centre Complex, E34 EY28, in the village where the club has its athletics facilities.
The race has prizes in every category from Senior to over 70 years for both men and women, with the Master categories at the standard five-year intervals from Over 40 years plus. There will be the special embroidered souvenir hand towel for all online entrants, to be collected with the race number from 6pm on the evening of the race.
For Tipperary athletes there is the added incentive of Tim Crowe Memorial Trophy (kindly donated by Dominic Moore) for the first Tipperary athlete to finish the 10k.The present holder is Brendan Neary, Moycarkey Coolcroo Athletic Club.
This year the club has linked up with Ronan Wogan’s My Run Results for entries and results data to manage the ever-increasing number of runners every year. Entries can be made online via the link https://eventmaster.ie/event/m5VdsyVFM8.
The club would appreciate it if participants could enter at least a week or two before the race date. Early entry gives the organisers an idea of the number of embroidered dated towels required, plus the food requirements for the big spread afterwards. Also, it is a big help to Ronan for him to get to work on his system early.
The layout of the two-lap course makes it ideal for spectators to see the race and encourage the athletes as the race progresses. One section of the course in the village allows viewing of the race at four different stages by moving about 100 metres.
For an excellent guided tour of the course road by road, Google the Running in Munster Ireland website.
Michael Hassett, St Catherine’s, has the mostst number of men’s victories with six wins. In the women’s race Siobhan O’Doherty, Borrisokane, is in a class of her own with twelve wins.