Huge crowd expected for Ballinamore AC Festival Road Races next Sunday
Sunday's programme will take place at 1 pm with the official opening of the Ballinamore Family Festival
A large crowd of athletes of all categories, including fun runners, is expected to descend on Ballinamore next Sunday when, as has been the case for the past few years, the Open Roadraces under AAI Rules kicks off the weeklong Family Festival.
Sunday's programme will take place at 1 pm with the official opening of the Ballinamore Family Festival taking place on the Platform at 4 pm, preceded by musical entertainment.
Ballinamore Family Festival first began in August 1967 with a limited number of activities and built around the annual Agricultural Show. The following year, Ballinamore Athletic Club became involved by organising local road races and the involvement has continued since with a variety of athletics activities which included the 1970 National Marathon and the 1971 Connacht v Ulster O Duffy Cup match.
In 2008 to mark Colin Griffin's selection for the Beijing Olympics an Open 5K road race was held and this was repeated the following year. In 2010, an Open 10K was added and the event replaced the previously held Childrens Races as part of the Festival programme.
A few years ago it was moved from a week evening to Sunday morning so as to be more convenient for those travelling. Last year the Race Headquarters were moved to the Island Theatre which is quite close to both start and finish of the races with a new concise out and back course on the Aughnasheelin road.
This year's programme is sponsored for the fourth successive year by Solar Compare and the usual cash prizes will be presented to Open 10K and 5K first three as well as three categories of Masters with plaques and medals for the younger age groups.
Registration will commence in the Island Theatre at 11.30 on Sunday and each 5K and 10K participant must complete the Registration Form provided before a number is given.
The Open 10K also incorporates a Leitrim County Championship with three county medals awarded in each category. The Open 5K includes an U20 (Junior) and U16 section for which prizes are award.
U14 and younger runners who are not permitted to run in the Open 5K will have a 1500m race with U14, U12 and U10 Sections for which prizes will be awarded. Entries will be taken at the Island Theatre up to 12.30 pm with an entry fee of €5. These are ideal races for those who might have in mind to represent their schools in the Leitrim Primary Schools Cross Country Championships at the end of next month.
Most prizes will be presented at the finish of the race and the remainder shortly afterwards in he Island Theatre where refreshments will be provided.
Entries will be accepted through Eventmaster until Saturday afternoon and late entries can be made at Registration on Sunday up to 12.30 pm.
Course records for the Ballinamore Festival Road Races, with defending champions times in brackets) are as follows:
5Km: Men: Michael Morgan Sligo 15.20 2021; Women: Breege Connolly City of Derry 17.16 2021– (Men: Sean Flynn Ballinamore 18.32; Women: Aoife Donaghy DCH 22.25)
10Km: Conan McCaughey North Belfast 30.54 2022; Women: Isobel Oakes Ballinamore 38.53 2016 – (Men: Colin Griffin Ballinamore 33.11; Women: Deirdre Martin Carrick AC 41.06)