Cheetah Run 2026: Wildlife, Atmosphere & Extraordinary Running

Top 5 Female & Male Winners of the 2026 Eagle AC Cheetah Run At Fota Wild Life Park. Results below.

An Unforgettable Evening at the 2026 Cheetah Run that included Sonia O’Sullivan & a three‑hour Ticket sell‑out, in magical Fota Wildlife Park.

The 2026 Cheetah Run delivered one of its most memorable editions yet, as Fota Wildlife Park came alive on Thursday, May 14th for a sold‑out evening of wildlife, and extraordinary running. All 1,000 available places were snapped up in just three hours highlighting the demand for & confirming the event’s status as one of the most beloved fixtures on the Cork running calendar.

The weather was cool dry & bright, the atmosphere was electric, and the performances across both the 1 Mile and 5K races were nothing short of superb. In total, 837 runners crossed the finish line, with a remarkable spread of ages, abilities, and clubs represented.

A Star‑Studded Line‑Up — Sonia O’Sullivan Runs Her First Cheetah Run

This year’s event had an extra spark of excitement as Irish athletics legend Sonia O’Sullivan took part in her first ever Cheetah Run. Her reaction captured the magic of the evening:

“I couldn’t believe it — in the first few hundred metres a cheetah was running alongside us. The zebras came for a look too. It was crazy, great fun. I was surprised how much of the wildlife park we covered and how many animals came to check us out.”

Her words echoed what so many runners say year after year: the wildlife encounters are surreal, unforgettable, and unlike anything you’ll experience in any other race.

A Race for Everyone — From First‑Timers to Fast Finishers

The Cheetah Run continues to attract a wonderfully diverse field. This year:

• 53.6% of 1 Mile finishers were female, with 46.4% male

• 65.2% of 5K finishers were female, with 34.8% male

• The event had huge appeal for younger runners, with 35.2% senior female participants and 51.2% senior male participants making up the 5k field.

• 652 runners were non‑club participants, joining simply for the fun, friendship, and atmosphere

It’s this blend — competitive athletes, families, first‑timers, and returning regulars — that gives the event its uniquely warm and inclusive feel.

As one runner put it:

“The competitiveness goes out of it — you just want to enjoy the run.”

Another added:

“It feels like a family occasion — everyone cheering everyone on.”

New Runner Safety Zone Trialled

This year also saw the introduction of a new Runner Safety Zone at the finish line — a protected 50‑yard space allowing finishers space to slow down, recover, and move safely toward photographers and supporters.

The zone was designed to give front‑runners a clear area to gather themselves after fast finishes and to reduce congestion at the line. The trial was a major success and will now be used at the Cork City Marathon.

Community, Camaraderie, and Cheetah Print

The social side of the event was stronger than ever. Groups of colleagues, families, and clubs arrived in coordinated cheetah‑print gear, adding colour and fun to the evening.

“We work together, so it’s a nice Thursday out — we even planned our cheetah print gear in advance.”

“Great to be back in Fota running the Cheetah Run.”

And for some, the night even sparked future challenges — including our famous Running Fire Man Alex O Shea planning to take on the Cork City Marathon in full fire gear next year to raise funds for Irish Guide Dogs.

Huge thanks to Fota Wildlife Park, the volunteers, the supporters, and every runner who made the night such a success. The countdown to 2027 has already begun — and if this year is anything to go by, it will sell out even faster.

Top Finishers — 2026 Cheetah Run

1st Lady Orla Drum receives the Anne Lucey Cup & Reigning Campion Mark Walsh congratulated on another great win!

Overall Men — Top 5

1. Mark Walsh (Leevale A.C.) — 15:35

2. Andrew Hyland — 15:45

3. Eric Murphy (Carrigaline A.C.) — 16:50

4. Pete Howie (Ballymore Cobh A.C.) — 17:14

5. Aaron Kelly — 18:04

Overall Women — Top 5

1. Orla Drumm — 17:43 Winner of the Anne Lucey Murphy Perpetual Trophy.

2. Kealey Tideswell (Clonmel A.C.) — 17:59

3. Carol Finn (Leevale A.C.) — 18:10

4. Michelle Kenny (Leevale A.C.) — 18:41

5. Olive McCarthy (St. Nicholas A.C.) — 19:05

1 MILE RESULTS

These three young athletes delivered outstanding performances, showcasing the strength and enthusiasm of the next generation of runners taking part in the Cheetah Run.

Girls — Top 3

1. Allison Brennan — 5:39 (F14)

2. Nell Marshall — 6:07 (F14)

3. Louise Twohig — 6:08 (F11)

Boys — Top 3

1. Daniel Peare — 5:26 (M13)

2. Kyle McCarthy — 5:46 (M13)

3. Cathal Walsh — 5:55 (M12)

CATEGORY WINNERS

Junior (U18) Winners

• U18 Boy: Tiarnan O’Donoghue (Togher A.C.) — 18:23

• U18 Girl: Robyn Maher (Carraig‑Na‑BhFear A.C.) — 21:06

M40

1. Tom O’Neill — 19:34

2. Mark Kelly (St. Finbarrs A.C.) — 19:44

3. Jay Bateman (Ballintotis Fit4Life A.C.) — 19:49

M45

1. Martin White — 18:51

2. Trevor Moore (Togher A.C.) — 19:37

3. Edward O’Mahony (St. Finbarrs A.C.) — 20:04

M50

1. Alex O’Shea — 18:11

2. Con Marshall (St. Finbarrs A.C.) — 18:39

3. Terence Ryan (Leevale A.C.) — 20:37

M55

1. Stephen Ryan (Ballymore Cobh A.C.) — 22:46

2. John Kissane (St. Finbarrs A.C.) — 23:28

3. Paul Ryan — 24:22

M60

1. Anthony Power (Clonmel A.C.) — 21:00

2. Seán O’Brien — 23:01

3. George Lordan — 24:09

M65

1. Norman Allen — 25:46

2. David O’Reilly — 27:31

3. Eoin McGettigan — 32:05

M70

1. Tom Egan — 34:28

2. Billy Bevan (999 A.C.) — 38:38

3. Brian Dailey (FrontRunners Cork A.C.) — 45:17

M75

1. Billy Caball (St. Finbarrs A.C.) — 42:10

Women’s Masters Categories

F35

1. Marie Claire Healy — 19:46

2. Maura Fitzgerald — 22:54

3. Brigid Houlihan — 22:57

F40

1. Sandra Manning (Leevale A.C.) — 19:54

2. Caroline Kinsella (Grange/Fermoy A.C.) — 22:28

3. Erika Gatt Coleiro (Midleton A.C.) — 22:47

F45

1. Fiona McCarthy — 20:16

2. Valerie Neville (West Muskerry A.C.) — 22:02

3. Bernie Murray (Courcey A.C.) — 22:32

F50

1. Breda Gaffney (Mallow A.C.) — 19:28

2. Eilis Fox (Donoughmore A.C.) — 19:59

3. Niamh Cronin (St. Finbarrs A.C.) — 21:35

F55

1. Anna O’Neill (Doheny A.C.) — 22:06

2. Sandra Coughlan — 22:41

3. Sonia O’Sullivan (Ballymore Cobh A.C.) — 23:24

F60

1. Catherine Lordan — 27:40

2. Cartoons Lordan — 31:40

3. Dympna Murphy — 32:14

F65

1. Mary Sweeney (St. Finbarrs A.C.) — 24:29

2. Melanie Kelly (West Waterford A.C.) — 25:58

3. Una Webster (Aghada Running Club A.C.) — 29:17

F70

1. Eileen Kenny (St. Finbarrs A.C.) — 23:55

Thank You to Our Partners, Staff & Volunteers

An event of this scale is only possible through the support, generosity, and hard work of many people, and we are deeply grateful to all who made the 2026 Cheetah Run such a success.

A huge thank‑you to our event sponsors Brooks Running and John Buckley Sports, whose continued backing helps us deliver a top‑class experience for every participant.

We are also incredibly appreciative of the team at Fota Wildlife Park, especially Roisín Fitzgerald and Colin Davis, who worked closely with us for months in the lead‑up to the event. Their commitment and enthusiasm are central to what makes the Cheetah Run so special.

To our own club members — thank you. This event simply could not happen without the volunteers who give their time, energy, and expertise on the night. We are proud of every single person who stepped forward to help.

A special mention goes to:

• Elaine Guinane — Chief Steward

• Robyn Dransfield — 1 Mile Race Lead

• Martin Leahy — Car Park Management

• Daniel Luxton — Catering Management

• Grellan McGrath — Registration Management

• Denis Looney — Course Set‑Up

• Ed Fitzgerald — On‑the‑Night Operations & Support

• Joe Murphy, Mick Dooley, Derek Costello, Graham Meikle - Photographers

• Maressa Mills - PRO & Superb Social Media

• Andrew McDonald - Finance Manager

Your professionalism and calm leadership ensured everything ran smoothly from start to finish.

Finally, our timing partners myrunresults.com once again delivered exceptional service, providing accurate, reliable results and seamless support throughout the evening.

To everyone who played a part — sponsors, staff, volunteers, runners, supporters — thank you for helping create another unforgettable Cheetah Run. The magic of this event belongs to all of you.

Supporting Fota Wildlife Park

The Cheetah Run is, at its heart, a fundraising event for Fota Wildlife Park, and we are proud to continue supporting the incredible conservation and education work they do. Thanks to the record demand and the phenomenal turnout this year, we expect our 2026 donation to be the biggest yet. Once the final figures are confirmed, we will share an update across our social media channels.

From Your Eagle AC Race Directors for 2026 Ruairi Egan & Karen Bevan, thank you all for your ongoing support & enthusiasm for the Cheetah Run. See you 2027!