CHANGE THE RECORD

COOKE TAKES THE WIN AND BREAKS COURSE RECORD AT GRANGE FERMOY 4 MILER 

Yesterday, in a crackerjack race, Aoife Cooke won the Grange Fermoy Invitational 4 miler, while three other Stablemates (James Doran, Damian Kenneally, and Mark Smith) ran excellent races and dropped out PBs, with James Doran running a 15:28 5k PB on the way to his 4 mile PB. 

Fermoy AC (I think the Top Cat of the club is our very own David Greene) showed, that with a bit of imagination and can-do attitude, what can be done. They delivered a fantastic race, while ensuring, in these plague-ridden times, the safety of the runners. Well done to all at Grange Fermoy AC. 

Donal Coakley, famed for his ’10 things’ blog, captured the essence of the day: 

“I think that Grange Fermoy did an excellent job on the race. It was far more socially distanced than any GAA match you’d watch through a fence. The hall which is primary source of most pre and post race infections and diseases was exchanged for a beautiful white outdoor Gazebo. It was like a race in Spain, just with a bit of wind and a few threatening sprinkles of rain. Everyone lined up on excellently socially distanced blue Xs. Then we were called to the line just before the start and away we went like normal minus the pointless touching and jostling like penguins behind the line. Perfect. Almost better than before.” 

Grange Fermoy went old skool with the race: no prizes or medals, and kept it limited to 68 hard-core racers. 

Cooke, not known as a speed merchant over the shorter distances, got stuck into the race and took on some of the country’s top 5k racers. In a close finish, in windy conditions, and on an undulating course, Cooke snaffled the win in 21:52 (breaking the course record).

The Stable News can exclusively reveal, that in the afternoon and the evening after the race, Cooke was seen ‘on it’ – scoffing pizzas and quaffing pints. 

After the race, James Doran told The Stable News: “Delighted, a few eyebrows raised today. 15:28 for 5k also PB. I never dreamed of breaking 20 mins for 4 miles but it’s a def target that can be broken. I’m buzzing.” 

Mark Smith finished 100m or so behind James in 20:32 (7” PB), and he was followed in by Damian Kenneally (20:46 – also a 7” PB). 

Damian told The Stable News he was happy with his PB and that it was great to be racing again. He also mentioned how he was delighted to be beating people he wouldn’t have had a sniff at beating a few months back. 


Here are the results: 


Position Race Number Name Club Time Comment 
1 113 Eoin Everard Kilkenny Harriers A.C 19:05 CR 1st Male 
2 141 Brian Maher Kilkenny Harriers A.C 19:07 2nd Male 
3 127 Conor Duffy Glaslough Harriers 19:08 3rd Male 
4 139 Rory O’Connor North Cork A.C 19:23  
5 117 Ger Forde Slaney Olympic A.C 19:26  
6 142 Thomas Hayes Kilkenny Harriers A.C 19:36  
7 134 Sergiu Ciobanu Clonliffe Harriers A.C 19:39  
8 136 Pat Hennessy West Waterford A.C 19:42  
9 167 Alan O’Shea Bantry A.C 19:48  
10 125 Niall Shanahan An Bru A.C 19:50  
11 102 Emmet Dunleavy Sligo A.C 19:57  
12 110 conor mccauley Leevale A.C 20:03  
13 116 john shine Leevale A.C 20:05  
14 108 James Doran An Riocht A.C 20:07  
15 112 gavin o’rourke Leevale A.C 20:08  
16 147 Eoin Taggart Clonliffe Harriers A.C 20:09  
17 121 Conor O’Mahony An Riocht A.C 20:25  
18 114 Shane Collins Crusaders A.C 20:28  
19 106 Michael Helrihy North Cork A.C 20:31  
20 165 Mark Smith Eagle A.C 20:32  
21 111 Rory Chesser Ennis Track A.C 20:37  
22 166 Damien Kenneally Eagle A.C 20:46  
23 133 Jerimiah Sheehan North Cork A.C 20:48  
24 163 Barry Donovan Leevale A.C 20:48  
25 140 Vivian Foley Eagle A.C 20:53  
26 119 eric curran Leevale A.C 20:56  
27 124 Mark Walsh Leevale A.C 21:01  
28 131 Declan Guina West Limerick A.C 21:04  
29 150 John Meade St Finbarrs A.C 21:11  
30 109 Fionn Harrignton Bandon A.C 21:12  
31 148 Kieran McKeown Watergrasshill A.C 21:15  
32 155 donal coakley Leevale A.C 21:18  
33 120 Tom Lupton Portloaise A.C 21:36  
34 138 james hayes cork track club 21:40  
35 156 Paul Minogue Clonmel A.C 21:46  
36 132 Tony Harty Killarney Valley A.C 21:47  
37 130 John Neville Leevale A.C 21:50  
38 104 james grufferty Leevale A.C 21:52  
39 101 Aoife Cooke Eagle A.C 21:52 CR 1st Female 
40 123 Tommy O’Brien An Riocht A.C 21:53  
41 151 Stephen Crowley Watergrasshill A.C 21:55  
42 128 Grace Lynch Ivereagh A.C 22:04 2nd Female 
43 105 Jamie Kelly Ennis Track A.C 22:16  
44 115 Michael Kerrin Galway City Harriers 22:17  
45 149 Kris Liepins Watergrasshill A.C 22:19  
46 152 Trevor Cummins Ballymore Cobh A.C 22:21  
47 154 Kieran Sheehan Watergrasshill A.C 22:29  
48 122 bernard o’hanlon Leevale A.C 22:31  
49 168 Rory Sexton Ennis Track A.C 22:35  
50 107 Sinead O’Connor Leevale A.C 22:43 3rd Female 
51 135 Niamh Moore Leevale A.C 23:01  
52 146 Tadhg Naoise O’Flaithertaigh Bandon A.C 23:15  
53 103 Mary Mulhare Portloaise A.C 23:18  
54 164 Fiona Santry East Cork A.C 23:22  
55 157 Jessica Coyne Dooneen A.C 23:32  
56 159 Linda Grogan Dundrum A.C 23:36  
57 161 Grainne O’Donnell Unattached 24:08  
58 145 Linda O’Sullivan Watergrasshill A.C 24:09  
59 169 Angela McCann Clonmel A.C 24:15  
60 118 Ger O’Regan Midleton A.C 24:17  
61 162 Becky Coughlan Ennis Track A.C 24:42  
62 153 Jennifer Montague Leevale A.C 24:52  
63 126 Fiona Everard Bandon A.C 25:00  
64 158 Lorraine Bolster Mallow A.C 25:09  
65 137 sharon mrynne Kilmurry Ibrickane 25:15  
66 129 Grace Richardson Kilkenny City Harriers 25:16  
67 144 Laura Rooney Watergrasshill A.C 25:19  
68 143 Lisa Crowley Watergrasshill A.C 26:38s