The Local Race With The Big Reputation!

Dunboyne AC will host their 51st Dunboyne Road Race on Sunday 27th March 2022 at 12 noon.

This local club race with a big race reputation has long been a landmark event on the Irish road racing calendar and that reputation originally looked sure to be retained in 2020, but alas with days to go the pandemic arrived and our world was shut down.

In 2019 for the 50th edition of the race there was a successful revamp of the route and distance. The race route had several variations over the years, the 4 mile was altered by the development of motorways and by-passes and in 2019 after a decade or so in its previous configuration, the event emerged with a new 10Km distance on an exciting new route. This proved very successful with participants of all abilities.

The circuit remains the same for 2022 and takes participants on a relatively flat left handed route through the ‘Moor Of Meath’ starting and finishing in the village of Dunboyne thus offering both spectator filled town streets as well as quiet country lanes. The route provides great potential for athletes to target a fast time while also being an ideal event for anyone new to fitness, walking or running.

The emphasis is, as always, on a fun day out in a friendly and safe environment. The new course and distance proved to be just as enjoyable as before while retaining Dunboyne AC reputation for organising great events and attracting top athletes.

The 2019 race with over 900 participants included plenty of depth at the front of both the men and women’s races and saw 7 athletes crossing the line in less than 31 minutes.

The men’s race saw Dundrum South Dublin’s Hiko Tonosa take first place in a time of 30:06 followed closely in second and third by Eoin Everard and Brian Maher, both of Kilkenny City Harriers with only a second between them (30:13 * 30:14 respectively). Cillian O’Leary Raheny Shamrocks 4th (30:22), Robert Corbally, Dundrum South Dublin 5th (30:45), Sean Hehir, Rathfarnham WSAF 6th (30:52).

The women’s race saw Barbara Cleary of Donore Harriers cross the line in 35:35 with club mate and 2018 winner of the 4 mile at Dunboyne Ide Nic Dhomhnaill crossing the line 2 nd in 36:00. Niamh Devlin of Dundrum South Dublin taking third place in 37:37.

The wheelchair race was won by Jack Agnew in 26:50 with Cillian Dunne (27:49) in second and Sean McCullagh (29:46) in third.

Raheny Shamrock A.C. took home the men’s team prize and Mullingar Harriers won the women’s. Host club Dunboyne A.C. were 2nd placed team in both the men’s and women’s categories. Raheny Shamrock AC took third women’s team with Drogheda & District AC taking third men’s team.

The Eirgrid Dunboyne 10k prides itself for the race experience it provides to all runners and whilst the big guns played it out for honours at the front, there were another 850 athletes crossing the finish line on the day from top club standard right through to those C25K athletes that only ten weeks previously set their sights on completing the daunting challenge of their first road race over any distance. Each one ran with distinction on the day. Every athlete received deafening cheers as they passed though the village at the start and once again at the finish and were then treated to the ever famous Dunboyne post-race entertainment and refreshments afterwards whilst the presentation of prizes took place.

Prizes

• Cash prize fund of over €4000
• Prizes for both Male & Female in the following categories –
  • First 6 Seniors;
  • First 3 O/40, O/45, O/50, O/55, O/60;
  • First 2 O/65, O/70;
  • First 3 Juniors U19;
  • First 4 AAI Club Teams (4 to score).

Pacers

Do you want to challenge yourself to a goal pace this year? Dunboyne AC have made this easy for you by providing Race Pacers for 40, 45, 50, 60 & 70 minutes’ targets. Look out for the friendly gang with the colourful balloons at Start-line.

To Enter…

Online entry is now open at https://www.myrunresults.com/events/eirgrid_dunboyne_10k/4319/details

Online entry is €20 including Number Postage (+ €1.40 transaction fee) and entry on the day is €25 per adult. Entry includes chip timing and a great newly designed technical t-shirt, exclusive to Dunboyne 10k entrants. Any profits from the event will go to Dunboyne Athletic Club.

Thank You

Dunboyne AC would like to thank Eirgrid for being our title sponsor again this year. We would also like to thank in advance the great support we always get from our local business community, which is crucial to the success of the event. The smooth organisation of the race is dependent on a huge level of commitment and support from the local Civil Defence, An Garda Síochána; the race organising committee; the fantastic staff of Dunboyne Community Centre, who provide us with this facility every year; and the members and friends of Dunboyne AC who volunteer a huge amount of time to prepare and steward the course, take race entries, complete results, record the race and provide refreshments, not to mention clean up after most of us have gone home. It is a real community event!