10/09/2026
Nike/Ballycotton ‘10’- March 8th
Ballycotton, Sunday March 8th 1987
Note: As author John Walshe notes, there were 14 Sub-50 performances. 9 of these were Irish. Compare that with John's Irish 10 Mile Rankings from 2025, when only seven (7) Irish men broke the 50 minute 10 Mile barrier, in the whole of 2025.... even with the benefit of gels and 'Magic Shoes'
John Walshe's 2025 10 Mile Listings: https://www.corkathletics.org/news/3629-irish-men-s-and-women-s-10-mile-road-race-performances-year-2025.html
Full 1987 Ballycotton 10 Mile Results: https://www.corkathletics.org/latest-results/1987/344-march/2062-10th-ballycotton-10-mile-road-race-results-march-1987.html
Report, by John Walshe, from Marathon Magazine, Vol 25, No 2, P52
Course record holder Jerry Kiernan made a return trip to Ballycotton to win the ‘tenth ten’ in difficult, windy conditions on March 8th. Although his time of 48:06 was over a minute outside his 1983 record, Kiernan was pleased to win what was undoubtedly the highest standard race in the event’s history.
Of the 714 finishers, which was the second biggest field ever, 166 completed the course under the hour with the first 14 under 5O minute barrier. This made the race as classy as any ten miler in these islands — indeed the standard was just as high as the English A.A.A. ten mile championship from Bradford — Leeds last August.
With the wind in their favour, the large field got off to a fast start and Kiernan and the 1986 winner, Robert Costello, were out in front after three miles. Shortly after, Kiernan broke away and as they turned to face the wind it looked as if Costello might get back on terms but Kiernan held on to his advantage to come home a convincing winner. Costello finished just 12 seconds in arrears, quite a good run considering he had only recently returned from injury. Liam O’Brien kept up his amazing sequence of neverfinishing outside the top five in the ten year history of the race by winning the battle for third from English visitors Rob Williams, Roger Brewster and Tony Blackwell. John Lenihan came through well to take seventh with 1984 winner, Tony O’Leary, just edging out Dick Hooper.
Denis Shannon of Tinryland, in his first visit to the race, won the veterans award from the Walsh brothers, Fred and George, of Youghal. Mick Neville was the o/45 winner from Derry O’Driscoll. Flor O’Leary, in a time 17 seconds faster than he ran in 1978, won the o/50 prize.
There was a surprise for National CC champions Clonliffe Harriers in the team race when they had to settle for second behind Exeter Harriers, who finished their three scorers in the first twelve. St. Finbarr’s and last year’s winners East Cork tied for third with the ’Barrs getting the decision.
Former Dublin City Marathon winner Ailish Smyth led all the way in the women’s race to record the second fastest time of 57:07 for the course. It was more like a D.C.H. championship race as the first four were from the Dublin club. Mary Brayley, who does most of her running in England, took second with record holder Emily Dowling in third and 1986 winner Louise McGrillen next, all under 60 minutes. Eileen Prunty had her best ever Ballycotton run in fifth with the 1979 inaugural ladies’ winner, Mary Sweeney, sixth.
Although the race is probably the cheapest of its kind in the country at just £2.00, a small few athletes chose to run without numbers. This causes problems when the results are being compiled as did the runner who ran with a false number, detected on the race video. In the interest of everyone, it is hoped that this trend will not continue.
Finally, any finisher who has not received a certificate and result booklet can have same by writing to Ballycotton Running Promotions, Ballycotton, Co. Cork.
John Walshe
Results
Men
1. J. Kiernan, Clonliffe Harriers 48.06
2. R. Costello, Limerick A.C 48.18
3. L. O’Brien, East Cork A.C 48.46
4. R. Williams, Exeter Harriers 48.49;
5. R. Brewster, Clayton-le-Moors 48.52;
6. T. Blackwell, Wrexham A.C. 48.55;
7. J. Lenihan, Riocht A.C. 48.00;
8. T. O’Leary, Leevale A.C. 49.22;
9. D. Hooper, Raheny Shamrock 49.25;
10. S. Coleman, Exeter Harriers 49.34;
11. E. Tierney, Clonliffe Harriers 49.38;
12. G. Seward, Exeter Harriers 49.43;
13. R. Burke, St. Finbarr’s A.C. 49.45;
14. J. Scanlon, West Limerick A.C. 49.51;
15. J. Griffin. St. John’s A.C. 50.24;
16. P. Heffernan, Thurles Crokes A.C. 50.25;
17. P. Duffy, Limerick A.C. 50.26;
18. S. Murphy, Kilkenny City Hrs. 50.34;
19. M. Kelly, Team Puma 50.59.
20. S. Harte, St Finbarr’s A.C. 50.59;
21. A. Schofield, Clayton-le-Moors 51.05;
22. P. Keane, Clonliffe Harriers 51.10;
23. T. Brouder, West Limerick A.C. 51.25;
24. T. O’Halloran, Leevale A.C. 51.31;
25. B. Meade, East Cork A.C. 51.37;
26. B. Horgan, Clonliffe Harriers 51.44;
27. E. McEvoy, St Finbarr’s A.C. 51.48;
28. G. Mullane, Reenavanna Harriers 51.49;
29. J. O’Halloran, Tipp Town A.C. 51.51;
30. D O’Riordan, Leevale A.C. 52.18;
31. E. Crockett, St. Finabarr’s A.C. 52.22;
32. J. Wallace, East Cork A.C. 52.35;
33. D. Jordan, Slaneyside A.C. 52.45;
34. T. Ryan, Dungarvan A.C. 53.46;
35. C. Wilsdon, Exeter Harriers 52.50;
36. V. Edwards, Wrexham A.C. 52.53;
37. T. Owens, St. Nicholas A.C. 52.55;
38. D. Shannon (o/40), Tinryland A.C. 53.03;
39. B. McKenna, Clayton-le-Moors 53.08.
40. J. Chawke, West Limerick A.C. 53.09;
41. W. Hayes, Reenavanna Harriers 53.15;
42. S. Hartnett, East Cork A.C. 53.21;
43. M. Neville (o/40) Tullamore Harriers 53.44;
44. G. Blackwell, Wrexham A.C. 53.54;
45. M. McDonnell, West Limerick 53.54;
46. P. Kerrigan, Mallow A.C. 53.56;
47. J. O’Brien, Midleton A.C. 54.00;
48. L. Cotter, St Finbarr’s A.C. 54.02;
49. M. Roche, Dungarvan A.C. 54.07;
50. F. Walsh (o/40), Youghal A.C. 54.08;
51. S. Brennan, Mallow A.C. 54.09;
52. P. Halley, Waterford City A.C. 54.11;
53. J. O’Callaghan (u/19), Leevale A.C. 54.12;
54. P. Walsh, Deise A.C. 54.22;
55. D. McCarthy, East Cork A.C. 54.23;
56. M. Griffin, St. Nicholas C.C. 54.23;
57. G. Doyle, Sportsworld 54.24;
58. P. Murray, Leevale A.C. 54.31;
59. L Griffin, St. John’s A.C. 54.34.
60. M. Carey, Leevale A.C. 54.36;
61. P. Ryan. St. Finbarr’s A.C. 54.38;
62. S. Crawley, West Limerick A.C. 54.38;
63. J. Condon, West Limerick A.C. 54.40;
64. E. Reck. Slaneyside A.C. 54.4
65. J. Veale, Dungarvan A.C. 54.42;
66. P. Mulholland, East Cork A.C. 54.44;
67. D. O’Driscoll, (0/45), St. Finbarrs 54.47;
68. J. Murphy, Leevale A.C. 55.05;
69. K. Roberts, Exeter Harriers 55.06;
70. C. Deasy, Northbrook A.C. 55.08;
71. G. Cantwell, Dungarvan A.C. 55.11;
72. P. Weathers, Fermoy & District 55.16;
73. T. Lane, Reenavanna Harriers 55.17;
74. D. Grant, Deise A.C. 55.18;
75. G. Walsh (o/40), Youghal A.C. 55.19;
76. G. Daly, Bandon A.C. 55.24;
77. R. Collins (u/19), East Cork A.C. 55.28;
78. D. Shine, Fermoy & District Hrs. 55.30;
79. J. Haire, Raheny Shamrock A.C. 55.31.
80. T. Goulding, Leevale A.C. 55.32;
81. D. Hegarty. St. Finbarrs A.C. 55.35;
82. T. O’Connell, Clonmel 55.39;
83. T. Ryan. Eagle T.C. 55.45;
84. E. Noonan, Eagle T.C. 55.46;
85. B. Mitchell, Ballybrack 55.48;
86. G. Fitzgibbon, West Limerick 55.52;
87. A. Neenan, Mallow A.C. 55.59;
88. J. Moran, Mallow A.C. 56.04;
89. J. O’Driscoll, Bandon-Bridge A.C. 56.06;
90. B.Foley, East Cork A.C. 56.09;
91. L. Dwyer, Dungarvan A.C. 56.15;
92. T. Morrissey, Leevale A.C. 56.17;
93. J. O’Leary (o/45), Leevale A.C. 56.18;
94. P. O'Neill, Leevale A.C. 56.19;
95. S. O'Neill, Leevale A.C. 56:24
96. B. Lyons, St. John’s A.C. 56.26;
97. A. Buckley, Leevale A.C. 56.33;
98. D. Leahy, West Limerick A.C. 56.36;
99. F. Cashman, East Cork A.C. 56.46;
100. T. J. O’Connell, Loughrea A.C. 56.46.
Teams
TEAMS:
1. Exeter Harriers 26; 2. Clonliffe Harriers 34; 3. St. Finbarrs A.C. 60; 4. East Cork A.C. 60; 5. Leevale A.C. 62; 6. Clayton-le-Moors Harriers 65; 7. West Limerick A.C. 77; 8. Wrexham A.C. 86; 9. St. Finabarr’s A.C. (B) 140; 10. Reenavanna Harriers 142; 11. Dungarvan A.C. 148; 12. East Cork A.C. (B) 163.
1. A. Smyth, Dublin City Hrs 57.07
2. M. Brayley, Dublin City Hrs 57.43
3. E. Dowling, Dublin City Hrs 58.51
4. L. McGrillen, Dublin City Hrs. 59.47;
5. E. Prunty, East Cork A.C. 60.04;
6. M. Sweeney, Youghal A.C. 60.25;
7. C. Smith, Sportsworld 61.44;
8. K. Looney (o/40), Blarney A.C. 62.49;
9. J. Hough, St Finbarrs A.C. 63.40;
10. M. B. Ryan, Team Puma 63.59;
11. R. Crockett, St Finbarrs A.C. 64.34;
12. B. Mclnerney, Team Puma 65.46;
13. A. Hegarty, Sportsworld 66.19;
14. M. Morley (o/40) St Finbarrs 66.23;
15. K. Connors (o/35), Dungarvan 66.47;
16. A. Wagner, St Finbarrs A.C. 67.42;
17. M. Roach, Team Puma 68.40;
18. K. Dempsey (o/40), Sportsworld 69.00;
19. P. Delaney-Smyth, Grange 69.04;
20. C. Healy, Carrigaline Striders 69.16;
21. J. Motherway, Leevale A.C. 69.53;
22. M. Lee (0/35) Cork 70.02;
23. A. O’Sullivan, Cork 70.29;
24. M. Mcgrath, Sportsworld 70.44;
25. M. O’Connor, Belgrave Sq., Rnrs. 70.51;
26. B. Murphy, Leevale A.C. 71.20;
27. M. Burns, Belgrave Sq. B. 71.24;
28. A. McDonnell (o/35), Sportworld 71.40;
29. J. O’Callaghan, Watergrasshill 72.41;
30. M. Drinan, Cork 72.55;
31. J. Hayden, Dublin 72.58; 3
2. F. Kingston, Leevale A.C. 73.10;
33. M. Coleman, East Cork A.C. 73.41;
34. R. O’Sullivan, Metro Harriers 74.02;
35. B. Glavin, Cork 74.45;
36. I. Walsh, Belgrave Sq. Runners 75.24;
37. H. Carroll, Ballincollig 77.55;
38. B. Higgins, St. Finbarrs A.C. 78.09;
39. T. Healy, Youghal A.C. 78.20;
40. T. O’Keeffe, Charleville 78.37;
41. E. O’Callaghan (0/35), Leevale 78.44;
42. R. McGann, Sportsworld 79.29;
43. C. Logan, Sportsworld 79.29;
44. P. Kelly, Grange- Fermoy A.C. 81.42;
45. J. Keating, Mahon A.C. 82.15;
46. B. Conroy (o/35), Bandon 82.36;
47. M. O’Shea, Glanmire 82.42;
48. D. Hanley, Knockraha 83.11;
49. S. O’Callaghan, Leevale A.C. 83.22;
50. N. Cantrell, Midleton 83.41.
TEAMS:
1. Dublin City Harriers 6;
2. St Finbarrs A.C. 34;
3. Sportsworld 38.
