BY MICHAEL O’LEARY
The Stook 10 Mile Run that takes place this coming Sunday (March 3rd) has been a terrific success since it was first held in 2012.
Located in Dungarvan between Gowran and Thomastown, The Stook run is open to everyone and has a variety of distances suitable to a persons individual ability.
Since the Stook was first held 12 years ago, it has raised much needed funds for both Young Irelands GAA and Gowran Athletic Club, and it has always received great support not just locally but nationwide.
The event has always been held in mid-November, but due to a clash with The National Cross Country Championships, it was put back a few months to this Sunday.
The race has earned a reputation as a tough but enjoyable road race that offers a friendly and welcoming community atmosphere, and it attracts runners with a wide range of abilities. It has become a recognized event on The Irish Athletics Calendar, and over the years some of the top Irish Athletes have competed.
The Stook 10 Mile route is set over an challenging but enjoyable 10-mile route, with the route taking Athletes cross gentle valleys and up country roads before emerging at the top of Stook Hill.
On a clear day, there is amazing scenery with stunning views from the top of Stook Hill as you go downhill where you will experience Ireland’s fastest timed downhill mile – The Stook Flying Mile. With timing mats at either end everyone receives a personal split for that single mile, and it always attract great interest and is great fun.
Also on Sunday, the shorter Stook 5KM dash takes place. The 5K is more family orientated and is suitable for walkers and those with buggys, but the shorter route is still challenging for those competing.
At about the halfway mark, there is an uphill climb that joins with the route along the side of Stook hill before meeting back up with the Stook 10 mile course with approximately 1 mile to go.
Gary O’Hanlon from The Clonliffe Athletic Club is the most successful winner of the Mens race having won the race three times in 2012, 2014 and 2018, while in 2018 he set the course record of 51 minutes 16 seconds.
The most successful winner of the Ladies race was Angela McCann from the Clonmel Athletic Club who won the race four times in 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2022, while her fellow Clonmel compatriot Courtney McGuire broke the course record when winning the race in 2021 with a time of 59 minutes 45 seconds.
A noteworthy winner of The Ladies race was Lizzie Lee from Leevale Athletic Club from Cork in 2018. Lizzie was a Marathon Olympian runner at the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janiero, while she was part of The Ireland Team that won Gold at The European Cross Country Championships in 2012 as fellow Irish Athlete Fionnuala Britton defended her European Individual title that she won the previous year in 2011.
A very good turnout is expected on Sunday with The 10 Mile race starting at 11.30am.
For further details for anyone who wishes to run in either the 10 Mile race or 5KM, check out The Stook 10 website https://stook10.ie/
Meanwhile, a group of Athletes from Kilkenny City Harriers were on sunnier and warmer climates in Lisbon, Portugal last weekend as reward for winning Team Gold Medals at The National Cross Country Championships in Gowran in November.
Eoin Everard, Brian Maher, James Ledingham and Jamie Gahan were on The Mens Senior Team, while Clodagh O’Callaghan, Pia Langton and Isabella Burke are on The Ladies U-20 Team.
