Ciobanu bids for fourth Ballycotton win in a row

Sergiu Ciobanu, the Moldovan native who runs with Clonliffe Harriers, will start favourite to win tomorrow’s annual Ballycotton 10 mile road race in East Cork — the 37th edition of this classic event.

Ciobanu, who has applied for Irish citizenship, will be hoping to deliver his fourth victory in a row in the picturesque race and he should do so if he can come close to posting his 2013 winning time of 49:18.

The Clonliffe runner finished third in Sunday’s National inter clubs cross country championships in Dundalk and will be hard to contain on the Ballycotton course which has proved lucky for him.

Local favourite, James McCarthy (East Cork AC), who finished fourth last year, has also been showing good form and he can be relied on to be right up there with the early pacesetters.

McCarthy won bronze in the 5000m at last year’s national track and field championships and in January set a personal best time of 50:23 in the John Treacy 10 Mile event in Dungarvan. Other Ballycotton 10 contenders include Garry Crossan (Letterkenny AC), Tim O’Donoghue (East Cork AC) and Alan O’Shea, (Bantry AC).

Maria McCambridge of Dundrum South Dublin AC holds the women’s course record of 54:48 which she set two years ago. McCambridge finished third in the women’s senior race at Sunday’s nationals in Dundalk and looks set for another top drawer performance in Ballycotton. Siobhan O’Doherty (Borrisokane AC), who finished second last year, will also be hoping for a big performance and Angela McCann (Clonmel AC) is another athlete who will also be in contention for a high placing.

Over 3,500 entries were received for this year’s Ballycotton 10. Included in the field are John Quigley (Eagle AC) and Donie O’Connell (Midleton AC) who are both running their 30th consecutive Ballycotton 10. Also entered are father and son pair- the Twomeys- Tadgh senior and junior. Tadgh Twomey — a native of Mallow and now running for Metropolitan/St Brigid’s AC in Dublin, last year won the men’s over 75 age category- posting 89 minutes for the distance.

The inaugural Ballycotton 10 mile road race of 1978 has just 31 participants. The East Cork road classic has earned a great reputation for top class organisation and atmosphere and entries for the event are now sold out in just a couple of days.

Gary Staines of Belgrave Harriers set the course record of 47:00 in 1995 while Jerry Kiernan (Clonliffe Harriers), who finished 9th in the 1984 Olympic Marathon is still the fastest Irish runner in Ballycotton. The Clonliffe runner posted 47:04 in the event back in 1983.