The Ballinamore festival road races will take place on Sunday August 13th at 1pm.
The festival taking place on Sunday for the first time in over half a century.
The Ballinamore family festival dates back to 1967 when a local group established a weeklong series of indoor and outdoor activities. While, coinciding with the Agricultural Show, the activities were aimed mainly at visitors.
While, then just two-years-old; Balllinamore Athletic Club where not involved in the first limited festival programme. In 1968 the Club organised short road races around the bottom of the town on the final Saturday evening.
The winners of the inaugural races were local Connacht Champion Noel Maxwell (Under-14). The late Claire Walsh of Clonliffe Harriers (ladies) and Eddie Leddy (Men).
Both Claire Walsh and Eddie Leddy represented Ireland in the 1972 Olympic Games.
In 1970, festival committee sponsored the Irish national marathon, won by Danny McDaid of Cranford. McDaid went onto represent Ireland in the Munich Olympics.
That race took place on the closing Sunday. As was the 1971 event when the then annual O’Duffy Cup track & field match between Connacht and Ulster was held in Sean O’Heslin GAA Park.
From 1972 the club involvement in the festival consisted of a number of short road races and later included race walking at the bottom of the town and mainly on the lower end of the golf course road.
Strong history of athletics
Many top runners took part along with numerous juveniles who were mainly local or visitors to the festival. Olympians Colin Griffin and Laura Reynolds were among the participants over the years. Along with local Irish Internationals Patricia Griffin, Gregory Smyth, Ronan Griffin and Pat Joe Leddy.
In July 2008 the Ballinamore AC inaugurated a 5K open road race to mark the selection of Colin Griffin for the Beijing Olympics.
2008, saw the last underage races on the golf course road. 2009 saw both underage races were merged. With the inclusion of an Open 10K and 5K road race, becoming part of the family festival programme. Indeed, the races use an Athletics Ireland approved Course.
Entries are available here and close on Saturday August 12th at 1pm.
Entries for the 1500m race for Under-14, Under-12 and Under-10 competitors can be made on Sunday morning from 11:30am onwards.
There will be numerous prizes in all events with the added attraction of Leitrim county 10K Medals for the first three male and female finishers and masters as well as a 5K fun run.
Race Headquarters and numbers available from 11:30am at Sean O’Heslin GAA Park.
