OVER 2,000 RUNNERS, joggers and walkers from all walks of life will line up tomorrow afternoon on Letterkenny’s Pearse Road for the 2016 North-West 10k.
It will be the 20th running of an event that was first staged on May 10th 1997, coming a year after the demise of the Rockhill 10k was confirmed.
Seamus Power from Clare and Kay Byrne of Finn Valley AC won the respective races in May ’97.
Since then, the competitive edge has always been there at the front of a field that is largely about the fun and the participation.
Registration will be open again today from 3-6pm at the Letterkenny Community Centre. The first 2,000 to register will be given a free North-West 10k t-shirt.
As Neil Martin notes, the leading pack are always about the times and the places.
“The top athletes all come and run this,” the Finn Valley AC man said.
“It’s a good race around a challenging course.
It’s hard to believe that it comes around so quick. This is our 20th running of it and we’re up at over 2,000 people now every year. All the clubs are delighted to be involved in it.
“It’s not a club-orientated event and that’s what makes it.
“There is always good quality athletes at the head of the field, but it’s all about the mass participation. It’s a great local charity event and it’s a great feeling to be involved in the North-West 10k.”
In 1998, Noel Berkley from Dundrum, South Dublin, won the race in a time of 29 minutes and 14 seconds – a course record that still stands to this day and no-one has been within 30 seconds of it since.
The women’s course record is held by Maria McCambridge, whose 32:34 was clocked in 2005.
The likes of Declan Reid, Pauric McKinney, Charlie Gallagher and Ciaran Doherty in the men’s race and those of the ilk of Teresa McGloin, Kay Byrne, Catriona McGranaghan and McCambridge in the women’s event have led the way over the years.
Neil Martin said: “There has always been a leader out there. Some of the athletes we get would be top six in Ireland and we always have a top-class race. That part of it is there for around the first 160 people.
“We always have people lined out on the route, supporting the walkers and joggers. The feeling is always brilliant on that first Sunday in May.”
The charities to benefit from this year’s event are The Irish Pilgrimage Trust – Donegal Branch; and Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland, Donegal Branch.
To date, the event has raised nearly €710,000 for 31 charities.
Entry on the day will close at 1pm. Entry fees are €15 for the run and €10 for walkers. Under-18s are not permitted to enter as runners.
The group are simply asking for participants to sign up to donate their steps for free.
Listen to Neil Martin’s full interview below …
https://soundcloud.com/donegalsporthub-club-notes/neil-martin-talks-north-west-10k
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