Ever-popular race in Tipperary will celebrate its 40th anniversary

Above: William Maunsell of Clonmel Athletic Club (left) and John Moore of the host club Dundrum, promoting the upcoming 40th annual Coillte 10k Road Race in Dundrum on Wednesday, July 2. Irish international athlete William was a convincing winner of last year’s race in a super time of 30 minutes 14 seconds. He is holding the Tim Crowe trophy, awarded to the first Tipperary athlete to finish the race

On Wednesday, July 2 at 8pm the Coillte 10k Road Race in Dundrum will be run for the 40th consecutive year by the local Dundrum Athletics Club.

The race, which started as part of a local weekend festival which was so popular back in the 80s, is still going strong 40 years later. The club is delighted to have Coillte once again as its main sponsor.

Dundrum is surrounded by trees and forest trails developed by Coillte over the years for running and walking.

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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.

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The race, which also incorporates a 5k for juniors (aged between 13 years old on the day of race and 19 years or under on December 31 2025) is based around 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 Masters categories at the standard five-year intervals from Over 40 years plus.

There will be the usual specially-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 the Tim Crowe Memorial trophy (kindly donated by Dominic Moore) for the first Tipperary athlete to finish the 10k.The present holder is Clonmel’s Irish international athlete William Maunsell, who won the overall race for the first time last year in a cracking time of 30 minutes and 14 seconds for the 10,000 metres (6.2 miles) distance.

This year the club has once again linked up with Niall O’Sullivan’s Premier Timing Systems for entries and result data to manage the ever-increasing numbers of runners every year.
Entries are online via the link https://eventmaster.ie/event/67A1sEpT5G.

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 great help for Niall 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 one hundred metres.

For an excellent guided tour of the course road by road, Google the Running in Munster Ireland website.

Michael Hassett, St Catherine’s AC has the highest number of men’s victories with six wins. In the women’s race, Siobhan O’Doherty from Borrisokane is in a class of her own with twelve wins.

And so, the stage is set for another great event next month.