The 10th annual Buncrana 5km Road Race and Fun Run takes place tomorrow, May 29th.
As ever, sponsored by Sean Furey Insurances of Buncrana and Carndonagh, the 2013 edition of the event promises to be as popular as ever with club runners and recreational athletes alike.
Over the last nine years, the race has become a highlight in the Northwest racing calendar due to the proven fast course and the excellent organisation.
This race is the poster event of the popular Furey Insurances 5k Series which this year comprises four races held between Derry and Inis Eoghain.
The series kicked off in April at the Bay Road in Derry, a race that incorporated the Northern Ireland 5k Championships and was won in fine style by City of Derry Spartans’ Declan Reed who just edged Foyle Valley’s Scott Rankin and led the Spartans to a comprehensive team victory, where the Spartans filled eight of the top ten placings.
The women’s race at the Bay Road was also won by Spartan’s Catherine Whoriskey with a new PB (Personal Best) of 18m 18s but the female Spartans lost their team crown to a very strong Omagh Harriers trio.
However, that was then and the Buncrana 5k has proven itself to be a much tougher animal in the past with levels of competition usually higher that any of the other Furey Series races. The male team race last year was won by a very strong Foyle Valley AC quartet who surprised everybody but themselves by lifting the Sean Furey Insurances perpetual shield for the first time.
Over the previous eight editions of the race, either City of Derry or Letterkenny AC had been dominant but in 2012 they were relegated to 2nd and 3rd respectively by the the purple vests. The Foyle Valley boys have been running very well so far in 2013 and will need to continue to do so if they are to retain their team title when they themselves are now the target!
Other NW clubs who could potentially feature include Inishowen AC, led by the evergreen and former three time winner Pauric McKinney, along with Omagh Harriers, Springwell AC, Tir Connall AC and Finn Valley AC.
The Spartan ladies had a comprehensive victory in last year’s team race with Foyle Valley and Inishowen AC in 2nd and 3rd. However, this year they will be without the 2012 individual winner Marina Campbell as she is on the injury list but have strength in depth and will be keen to seek revenge on the Omagh girls after the Bay Road. The race is by no means only between these two though, with potentially strong squads from Finn Valley, Springwell, Inishowen, Foyle valley and Letterkenny who, if they turn out, will all have something to say about the team title. As in the male event, clubs from further afield often seem to find the midweek journey too far but if some of the Belfast clubs like St Malachys, North Belfast Harriers or Annadale Striders make the trip then you are sure to see some fireworks.
The individual race has always been one of the highest quality in Ulster with a sub 15 min clocking often required to seal the win. St Malachy’s duo of Kevin Seaward (14.44 – 2007) and Joe McAllister (14.40 – 2010), along with Letterkenny’s Ciaran Doherty (14.59 – 2011) are members of that elite club and indeed McAllister’s record stands as the Irish Record for the course. In 2012 the Buncrana public were treated to a little demonstration of the East African dominance when Kenyan Runner Freddie Keron Sittuk- who was staying with former winner Greg Roberts- posted 14 mins 18 sec to win, some 48 seconds ahead of second placer Scott Rankin who was himself very close with 15.06. The organisers have deemed Freddie’s time to be an all-comers record for the course and continue to offer €100 bonus to anyone who can break either record. In addition they offer €200 to anyone who can break 14 mins! So far this year, local runners Rankin, Reed and City of Derry’s Richard Johnsto!
n have all been sub 15 on different courses so if the weather is decent they may repeat the feat in Buncrana and indeed could challenge McAllister’s record. Kenyan Freddie Sittuk is also in the country at the moment and has indicated that he’ll be back to have a crack at the all-comers record or indeed at the astounding 14 minute barrier which is worth noting would mean having to run each mile at 4 mins 30 sec pace! Others to watch out for include Foyle Valley’s Keith Shields who seems to be setting PBs every time he races recently, along with Spartan Connor Bradley who has run sub 15 minutes on many occasions.
The ladies course record is no less impressive. Letterkenny AC’s former Olympian Maria McCambridge broke the record in 2010 running an excellent 16 mins and 7 seconds. Indeed, in that race, three time winner and former record holder, Finn Valley’s Therese Mc Gloin was also inside her old record running 16.35 for second place. In addition to McCambridge and Mc Gloin, other likely contenders include Lifford AC’s AnnMarie McGlynn , Letterkenny’s Foinnula Diver and Spartan Catherine Whoriskey.
Despite all this talk of records and the fleet of foot, the main aim of this race and indeed of the series is to provide competition for all levels of runners and joggers. It doesn’t matter if you have just started jogging and have to take walk breaks every so often, you are more than welcome to Buncrana. The only thing that we ask is that you do attempt to run/jog the 5km. It doesn’t matter if you have to walk a bit in the middle but this is not a walking event. Also worth noting that due to Athletic Association of Ireland (AAI) rules, no athlete under 16 years of age will be allowed to compete.
In addition to being part of the Furey Insurances 5k series, the race is also race 11 of the Donegal Athletics Board’s Summer Grand Prix series which this year comprises a staggering 50 races. Due to the huge number of events happening this year, the organisers of the Furey Insurances Series have decided to reduce the number of races from six to four. Along with the aforementioned Bay Road and Buncrana 5ks, Lisnagelvin (June 26th) and Balliniska (July 17th) complete the 2013 Furey Insurances 5K Series with competitors needing to complete three out of four races to be eligible for the series prizes.
Event Details
Wednesday 29th May 2013. Registration from 5.30pm at Scoil Mhuire Secondary School, adjacent to Buncrana Leisure Centre. Entry fee €10/£9stg, Chip timing in operation. Race starts at 7.30 sharp. Refreshments provided after in Scoil Mhuire. Showers available in Buncrana Leisure Centre. Pre-race entries can be emailed to furey5kentry@gmail.com — simply state your name, gender, age on race day and club! These must be received by 6pm on Tuesday the 28th May. Your race number can be picked up on the night when payment is made. Due to the large numbers expected please help us and yourselves by pre-entering! Any of those who intend to register on the night please get there early as we will be closing registration at 7.10pm sharp and don’t want to have to disappoint you. Thanks
The Sean Furey Insurances Buncrana 5k is organised by City of Derry Spartans AC in association with Scoil Mhuire Buncrana, Buncrana Leisure Centre and the help of the local community.
This is an event for everyone regardless of what level of runner you think you are. No more excuses – too fast, too far, not far enough (?), I’ve no speed, I’ll be last! We have heard them all and refute them all. If you can cover three miles in training then you have a right to be there! If you have never tried a 5k or feel your PB is up for review then no better place to be.
We organise everything except the weather! How you run is up to you!