What are the most competitive non championships in Ireland?

Myles Splitz · 03-02-2017 03:53PM #1

Even though there were record numbers in Raheny this week the thing that stood out to me most was the depth

8 sub 25 min
18 sub 26 min
44 sub 27 min
81 sub 28 min

It got me thinking which are the most competitive races on the calendar.

A few which come to mind

- Raheny 5 mile
- Armagh 5k
- Charleville Half Marathon
- Ballycotton 10 mile
- Seeley Cup

Any others I am missing or should be included? Which ones would be the most competitive in terms of depth (not just fast winning times)

Working class heroes · 03-02-2017 04:15PM

Bob Hefernan?

castleking1 · 03-02-2017 04:16PM

Buncrana 5k:
2016: 7 sub 15 minutes

dublin runner · 03-02-2017 04:21PM

Dunshaughlin 10km.

Not to forget Hell and Back.

dublin runner · 03-02-2017 04:27PM

2016

Dunshaughlin 10km: 31 under 35min
Seeley Cup 10km: 63 under 35min

I just picked an arbitrary number to indicate depth. Seeley Cup is the N.Ireland Champs though.

RacoonQueen · 03-02-2017 05:37PM

45 men under 35 in the national 10k champs down south in 2016 also
http://www.athleticsireland.ie/downloads/other/Men_Individual_Result_REVISED.pdf

edit: crap can't search the results for normal GIR runners...but would imagine you've got another huge chunk of sub 35's in there

tang1 · 03-02-2017 05:41PM

Seeley Cup is easily the most competitive 10k I've ran in or witnessed. Bob Heffernan 5k is an optical illusion like those roads where cars can roll backwards uphill. The road it's run on almost pulls you along to run a fast time.

BeepBeep67 · 03-02-2017 06:29PM

Dungarvan 10 is / used to be pretty competitive, on the old course you would need sub 60 or close to to make it into the top 100.

vanderlyle · 03-02-2017 06:38PM

I'd add the Rathfarnham 5k. In 2016:
8 sub 15
30 sub 16
68 sub 17

youngrun · 03-02-2017 06:39PM

Myles Splitz wrote: »

Even though there were record numbers in Raheny this week the thing that stood out to me most was the depth

8 sub 25 min
18 sub 26 min
44 sub 27 min
81 sub 28 min

It got me thinking which are the most competitive races on the calendar.

A few which come to mind

- Raheny 5 mile
- Armagh 5k
- Charleville Half Marathon
- Ballycotton 10 mile
- Seeley Cup

Any others I am missing or should be included? Which ones would be the most competitive in terms of depth (not just fast winning times)

Armagh 5k and 3k by far the best standard road race on the island . 100% of the field sub 17... https://www.armagh5k.com/assets/results/2016/2016-men-5k.pdf

HelenAnne · 06-02-2017 04:16PM

WHY!!!! WHY!!! Does Captcha keep deleting my posts! I wrote a long one with figures etc in it and have lost it and now cannot be bothered typing it all up again. :mad:

ariana` · 06-02-2017 05:26PM

HelenAnne wrote: »

WHY!!!! WHY!!! Does Captcha keep deleting my posts! I wrote a long one with figures etc in it and have lost it and now cannot be bothered typing it all up again. :mad:

I always do a select all + copy now before i post so i can paste it back in if it gets lost in cyber space, it's very frustrating :rolleyes:

happygoose · 06-02-2017 05:34PM

Myles Splitz wrote: »

Even though there were record numbers in Raheny this week the thing that stood out to me most was the depth

8 sub 25 min
18 sub 26 min
44 sub 27 min
81 sub 28 min

It got me thinking which are the most competitive races on the calendar.

A few which come to mind

- Raheny 5 mile
- Armagh 5k
- Charleville Half Marathon
- Ballycotton 10 mile
- Seeley Cup

Any others I am missing or should be included? Which ones would be the most competitive in terms of depth (not just fast winning times)

Similar in the Dunboyne 4 Mile last year...

11 sub 20
David McCarthy
Brandon Hargreaves
Mick Clohisey
Kevin Maunsell
Joe Sweeney
William Maunsell
Conor Dooney
Paddy Hamilton
Thomas Hayes
Barry Harron
Conor Duffy

Strong enough on the women's side too.

Overall the top 25 finished in less than 22 mins.

I think the Armagh 5k stands out on its own on that list because of the money it pumps into flying mainland UK athletes in for it. It has ridiculous depth as shown by the amount of sub 15's there every year.

In terms of credibility a lot of Clubs with established races are still offering a big pot to get that depth, in order with other offers which attract big numbers.

I think you've to strike a balance as a Club, whereas a purely private company hasn't little interest in what its race is won in, or by whom, which is why you see the likes of the races in Clontarf and such like won in Mickey Mouse times. Its about profit.

Established races offering a big money pot tend to attract depth.

Djoucer · 16-02-2017 09:45PM

https://mobile.twitter.com/NiRunning/status/832329637153873920

Armagh 5km has to be up there.

What are the most competitive non championships in Ireland?

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