Axa Raheny 5 insured to be another classic

Pictured at the launch of the race were Raheny Shamrock Athlete and Irish Cross Country Champion Mick Clohisey and Raheny Shamrock Athlete Siobhan Eviston.
Pic Iain White/Fennell Photography

The 32nd AXA Raheny 5 Mile Road Race one of the most eagerly awaited events on the athletics calendar will take place on Sunday 31st January 2016 at 3pm.
The event which is promoted by Raheny Shamrock Athletic Club is now rated as one of the country’s leading road races. It was founded in 1985 by former Olympian Pat Hooper. More than 30 years later Pat is still the driving force behind the event in his capacity as race director.

The course starts near the Raheny Garda Station and chip timing will be used to accurately measure the finishing time of all competitors.

The promoting club’s 3 time Irish Cross Country Champion Mick Clohisey was 2nd last year and is hoping to go one better this year as part of his preparations for the Seville marathon in February where he hopes to secure his Olympic spot.

The ladies course record now stands at 25:37 set by North Sligo’s Mary Cullen in 2014. It is the fastest 5 mile time ever run by an Irish girl and was also a World leading time in 2014.

Rio de Janeiro Olympics bound and a member of Ireland’s bronze medal winning team at the recent European Cross Country Championship Lizzie Lee won last year’s ladies race. Cullen is expected to return with a potential battle between Caroline Crowley (Crusaders) and Ciara Durkan (Skerries) in the offing.

Participants can enter the race online at www.rahenyshamrock.ie or drop your entry into the AXA Insurance Office, 4 Main Street, Raheny, Dublin 5. The AXA Office in Raheny will be open on Saturday 30th January between 10am and 4pm for number collection and late entries. No entries will be taken on the day.

There are also 3 kids’ races before the main event. There is also a special category for walkers, which will begin at 2.40pm while the wheelchair race begins at 2.58pm.

Once again this year’s nominated Charity is St Francis Hospice in Raheny. Over the years thousands of Euros have been raised for this very worthy charity. So get your trainers out and get ready for the AXA Raheny 5 and finish January with a bang.