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Writer's pictureBarra Oconnell

Eagle AC Cheetah Run at Fota Wildlife Park

Thursday May 18th 2023

Paul Cotter Eagle A.C. Vice Chairman, Ruairi Egan Race Director, Hannah Steeds Winning Lady, Joe Murphy Eagle AC, Karen Bevan Race Director. Photo by Liz O Donnell

The Eagle AC Cheetah Run at Fota Wildlife Park on Thursday May 18th 2023 was an unforgettable evening. There was a buzz of excitement around the wildlife park that only the Cheetah Run can bring. This was a very special evening for the club, marking the the first presentation of the 'Anne Lucey Murphy Memorial Cup' to the winning lady on the night. The 1st lady home was Hannah Steeds of Leevale AC, a talented runner finishing in a time of 17:33. Annes husband Joe Murphy presented the cup to Hannah, and her name will now be first engraved on a list of many talented female runners in the coming years. A fitting tribute to a valued clubmate, a much loved runner & photographer in Cork. Michelle Kenny also of Leevale AC took 2nd place in 17:51 and Kealey Tideswell of Clonmel A.C. was 3rd in 17:57. Brilliant running by the ladies.

Our winner on the night was Ray Hynes of Donroe AC, making the trip down from Dublin to be a part of this amazing evening. It was a tight race up to 4K when Ray made a break for home in a blistering time on this course of 15:25. Second place was won by Tipp resident Sergiu Ciobanu, Clonliffe Harriers A.C. in 15:37 and a Cork man Denis Hegarty Watergrasshill A.C. took 3rd place in 15:47. We were delighted to welcome such a high quality field to our 2023 Cheetah Race.

We had 723 finishers in our 5 Km and 79 finishers in our 1 mile event. A total of 802 finishers in a 1000 place sold out event, is an achievement that we are very proud of. A total of 46 running clubs and 15 counties were represented and in celebrating our ladies this year it was fitting that our ladies outnumbered our men.

We appreciate each & every runner/ walker that was a part of this magic evening in Fota Wildlife Park, thank you for your support.

Results & Prizes.



Top 5 Males

1 Ray HYNES 00:15:25 00:15:26 622 M M40 Donore Harriers A.C.

2 Sergiu CIOBANU 00:15:37 00:15:38 475 M MS Clonliffe Harriers A.C.

3 Denis HEGARTY 00:15:47 00:15:49 608 M MS Watergrasshill A.C.

4 Donnchadh MAC AODHA 00:15:56 00:15:57 678 M MS North East Runners A.C.

5 Barry TWOHIG 00:15:57 00:15:58 395 M M40 St. Finbarrs A.C.

Denis Hegarty WGH A.C. Ray Hynes Donore A.C. Sergiu Ciobanu Clonliffe Harriers A.C. Ruairi Egan Race Director.


Top 5 Females

1 Hannah STEEDS 00:17:33 00:17:35 908 F FS Leevale A.C.

2 Michelle KENNY 00:17:51 00:17:53 652 F F40  Leevale A.C.

3 Kealey TIDESWELL 00:17:57 00:17:57 920 F F35 Clonmel A.C.

4 Carol FINN 00:18:05 00:18:05 93 F FS Leevale A.C.

5 Aoibhin FLATLEY 00:19:08 00:19:09 98 F FS Swinford A.C.

Kealey Tideswell Clonmel A.C. Hannah Steeds Leevale A.C. Michelle Kenny Leevale A.C. Ruairi Egan Race Director.



Junior Winners:

Male: David MAHER 00:17:07 00:17:08 844 M MJ Carraig-Na-Bhfear A.C.

Female: Rachael WALSH 00:20:30 00:20:32 939 F FJ Grange/Fermoy A.C.

The 1 Mile Results

Start Line of the 1 Mile Race



Top 3 Boys

1 Finn YORE 00:05:02 M14 West Muskerry A.C.

2 Eoghan LOONEY 00:05:24 M11 Blarney/Inniscara A.C.

3 Daithi O'DONOVAN 00:05:27 M13 Cork City A.C.


Top 3 Girls

1 Chloe MCCARTHY 00:05:45 F11 Midleton A.C.

2 Rachel LEDWITH 00:05:53 F13

3 Jenny KENNEALLY 00:05:56 F13 Carrigaline A.C.

Category Prize Winners

5k Start Line



Male Category Prize Winners:

M40

3 James GRUFFERTY 00:17:22 00:17:23 111 M M40 Leevale A.C.

4 Martin WHITE 00:17:53 00:17:56 943 M M40 Clonakilty Road Runners

5 Cian MCPARLAND 00:17:58 00:17:58 720 M M40 St. Finbarrs A.C.

M45

1 Kieran MCKEOWN 00:16:36 00:16:38 716 M M45 Grange/Fermoy A.C.

2 Con MARSHALL 00:17:49 00:17:51 685 M M45 St. Finbarrs A.C.

3 Ken CROWLEY 00:18:35 00:18:37 507 M M45

M50

1 Garrett CASEY 00:19:17 00:19:18 471 M M50 St. Finbarrs A.C.

2 Edmond BYRNE 00:19:15 00:19:19 463 M M50 Togher A.C.

3 David MULLINS 00:20:03 00:20:06 742 M M50 Carraig-Na-Bhfear A.C.

M55

1 Pat O'CONNOR 00:19:35 00:19:36 249 M M55 Eagle A.C.

2 Richard HAWKINS 00:19:39 00:19:41 597 M M55 Carraig-Na-Bhfear A.C.

3 David O'RIORDAN 00:21:02 00:21:05 843 M M55 Carraig-Na-Bhfear A.C.

M60

1 Dermot O'SULLIVAN 00:23:23 00:23:34 856 M M60 Fota Island Running A.C.

2 Norman ALLEN 00:23:45 00:23:57 419 M M60

3 Richard GLEESON 00:25:18 00:25:18 575 M M60

M65

1 Andrew GEANEY 00:24:36 00:24:53 105 M M65

2 Patrick MURPHY 00:25:30 00:25:39 757 M M65

3 Michael VAN DER POEL 00:33:17 00:33:54 931 M M65

M70

1 Jimmy MURRAY 00:31:01 00:31:31 223 M M70

2 Billy CABALL 00:39:32 00:40:18 28 M M70 St. Finbarrs A.C.


Female Category Prize Winners:

F 35

2 Natalia GUERRAS 00:20:23 00:20:28 584 F F35

3 Annmarie BURNS 00:20:44 00:20:49 459 F F35

4 Orla HAYES 00:20:47 00:20:54 600 F F35 Leevale A.C.

F40

2 Sheila BUCKLEY 00:21:51 00:22:01 447 F F40 Midleton A.C.

3 Jennifer COSTA 00:22:16 00:22:23 490 F F40 Ballymore Cobh A.C.

4 Ailíse MCNULTY 00:22:19 00:22:30 719 F F40 St. Finbarrs A.C.

F45

1 Linda KELLY 00:19:19 00:19:22 639 F F45 Carrigaline A.C.

2 Niamh CRONIN 00:19:22 00:19:26 500 F F45 St. Finbarrs A.C.

3 Fiona MCCARTHY 00:19:51 00:19:57 690 F F45 Leevale A.C.F45

F50

1 Helen LEONARD 00:22:42 00:22:50 668 F F50

2 Ann OFLYNN 00:25:58 00:26:24 257 F F50

3 Liz O'BRIEN MENIHANE 00:26:12 00:26:35 236 F F50

F55

1 Annamarie FEGAN 00:23:47 00:24:05 88 F F55

2 Breda MCELHINNEY 00:23:55 00:24:06 706 F F55 Bantry A.C.

3 Margaret MURPHY 00:27:00 00:27:35 745 F F55 Togher A.C.

F60

1 Mary SWEENEY 00:21:48 00:21:49 912 F F60 St. Finbarrs A.C.

2 Catherine LORDAN 00:27:39 00:28:13 672 F F60

3 Mary MULCAHY 00:28:48 00:29:16 741 F F60 St. Finbarrs A.C.

F65

1 Margaret KELLIHER 00:26:43 00:27:00 143 F F65

2 Dympna GIBBONS 00:27:44 00:28:10 108 F F65

3 Carmel GEANEY 00:28:16 00:28:41 106 F F65

F70

1 Cathy CURLEY 00:31:28 00:31:51 69 F F70

2 Helen O'DONOGHUE 00:41:35 00:42:09 798 F F70

Full results are available here:

Thank You.

Thank you all for coming out to support the Eagle AC Cheetah Race, for some very exciting running, some amazing supporting and loads of fun. We are proud to host an event where generations of runners, from all over the country, gather to enjoy a fantastic evening of racing, in the amazing setting of Fota Wildlife Park, and in association with the OPW.

Very warm thanks to all of the Eagle AC members who gave their time to volunteer in the various areas, and to the many family and friends you brought along to lend extra pairs of hands. The Eagle AC Cheetah Run 2023 was a night to be proud of our club once again.

Last, but certainly not least, we would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors John Buckley sports and Brooks running for their continued support and very generous sponsorship of this event. Thank you all for your support.

We look forward to seeing you all again next year!





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