With less than two weeks to go to the forthcoming Bandon Half Marathon and 10K road races on May 12th, entries for both events are flowing in. You have until May 7th to register online. Half Marathon entry is €25 with the 10K being €15. There will be limited entry on the morning of the race at €5 extra per race. As an added incentive this year, the race committee is offering bonus prizes for the first person to break the course record in both events. Colin Merritt of Carrig na bhFear holds the men’s record for the half at 1.11.35. Bandon AC’s top female road runner, Carmel Crowley is the holder of the women’s record over the distance, 1.24.14. In the 10K, Chris Harrington from Leevale completed the 10k in a time of 34.08 with the women’s top time being 40.16 by Nollaig Hunter.

Registration and number collection will be available on Friday 11th May from 5pm to 9pm and on the morning of the race from 7am to 9pm. Full details including course routes etc and updates can be found on the race website www.bandonhalfmarathon.com. The town of Bandon is going to be in festival mode on the day in order to make your visit to the gateway to West Cork one to remember. Bandon Co Marketing group is working with many of the businesses in the area to ensure that the town becomes involved with the event. There will be a Health and Fitness promotion with schools taking part in an art and colouring competition. Entries will be displayed in shop windows throughout the town. Various exercise and fitness groups, Pilates, Tai Chi etc will have displays at the MUGA(Multi Use Games Area) venue on the Innishannon Road. There will also be demonstrations of how to use the exercise machines in the outdoor gym at the Muga for those who have not yet availed of this facility. It is also intended to have a kayaking/canoeing display on the river on the day.

The Track and Field season is about to get underway with the West Cork Track & Field Championships taking place over two Sundays in April, 22nd and 29th. Both competitions take place at the CIT Track with a 12 noon start. It is hoped that as many athletes as possible from the Club will compete. The Junior, Senior and Masters events are open again this year to any registered athlete. The Cork County Juvenile Track and Field Championships follow on May 6h also at CIT with the second round on Sunday May 13th. Both the West Cork and County events are always great family days out. The track at CIT is a top class facility and the addition of a covered stand in recent years ensures that excellent viewing as well as shelter from any inclement weather.
A number of athletes have already have had their first taste of track competition this year at the annual Leevale Juvenile, Junior and Senior Open Sports which took place on 14th and 15th April. There were silver medals all round for the following, Phil Healy in the Senor Women 100m, Max Hallahan in the U10 Ball Throw, Kate Bernard n the U14 100m, Emma Young, U16 High Jump and Joey Henchy U16 100m. Laura McSweeney won the Junior Women’s Hammer and won bronze in the Senior Women shot putt. Patrick McSweeney finished second in both the Junior Men’s Hammer and the Senior Men’s shot putt. Rachel Roche had a fourth place finish in Senior Javelin.

Róisín Howard and Rachel Roche were members of the University of Limerick team which had a second place finish in the Munster Universities Track and Field Championships on April 8th. Rachel finished second in Javelin and third in Discus with Róisín having second placings in both High and Long Jump. Shane Howard contested the Long Jump as a guest. Some notable successes on the road with George Waugh winning the recent Connemara Marathon in a excellent time of 2 house and 36 minutes. Camel Crowley won the UCC 10K in a time of 36.56.

Preparations are ongoing for the forthcoming Bandon Half Marathon and 10K road races which take place on Saturday 12th May. The event is a joint venture between the Athletic and Rugby Clubs. The Rugby Club was the venue for the recent Press Launch with the major sponsors and representatives of businesses in the area attending. Online entry is available on www.bandonhalfmarathon,com. The 10K is also the second event in the West Cork Race Series which also includes Dunmanway, Courtmacsherry and Ballinascarthy 10Ks.
Fit 4 Life continues every Tuesday meeting at Kelleher’s at the Bridge in Bandon. New runners and walkers welcome. Please ensure that you wear a high visibility top. The Club will again run its annual Summer Camp in July. Full details available on the Club website www.bandonac.org.