Cork BHAA Stryker 4 Mile Race

Competing under their employer’s banner as registered BHAA runners, or indeed as non-registered individuals, many of our members took part in the recent BHAA 4 mile race in Carrigtwohill hosted by Stryker under a blue sky that was checked by a rather brisk temperature.

A reasonably flat first mile was followed by several testing hills for miles 2 and 3, (supplemented by a headwind and an ill-timed rain shower), with a welcome downhill and flat run in over mile 4 to take the competitors home.

All put in a smashing effort and thoroughly enjoyed the evening’s race.

Plentiful post-race refreshments were supplied at the prize giving ceremony, including, we kid you not, prawn sandwiches. Shhh! Don’t tell Roy Keane.

Some observations by our members on the race:

•”It was my 1st 4 mile race, (definitely not the last either); a PB for me.”
Kate Kennedy (Hedgeserv)

•”Great to be able to get out and run in the Stryker 4 miler. The all too rare good weather, and the lovely east Cork countyside, made it very enjoyable.
Ted O’Riordan (Dell-EMC) kept me company for some of the last mile, before taking off like a mad man for the last couple of hundred metres!
He also made sure the photographer didn’t miss us!”
Ruth Phelan (Keen On Sport)

•”We really enjoyed the race. The weather was great and the few hills weren’t too challenging. The food at the end was lovely and it was a fundraiser for CUH Children’s Ward which is a place that many of us as parents have been to, so that’s always a bonus.
I ran my fastest time of 38:13, which is very good for me.
Mark [the oh so handsome husband] stuck with me all the way although he could of finished it a lot quicker.
In all, a nice race for all levels of runners.”
Erica Johnson

•” I’m very happy with my time as I knocked nearly 3 minutes off last year’s time.
Great turn out.
Great night.
Great company.”
Alex Eaton (SR Technics)

•”Birthday boy, 48 years young.
My first time doing that route.
A lovely run.”
Stephen Ryan (Keen On Sport)

•”A gentle evening trot and a catch up.
A nice run with no pressure.
Lovely evening for it!”
Carol Leahy

•”My time was 27:10 on my debut 4 miler.
As far as far as I’m aware that was 2nd over 55. I wasn’t in the prizes as I only registered on the night.”
Danny Crowley

•”It’s the first race under 15 miles I actually enjoyed.
As Deirdre Meyler (De Puis)and myself found ourselves at the back of the bus, so to speak, at the start line, it was hard to get going with the crowds.
That stood to me as I took off up the hill then and felt great throughout.
My first BHAA race since breaking my toe last July, so I’m happy out with my first place catogry placing👍🏼”
Lynne Doherty (Keen On Sport)

•”The Cooke report: Both Ann Cooke (Stryker) and myself were delighted to run in our company race 🏁 Go Stryker – and handy we were on a split shift.
A testing course with everything in it.
Had a few reconnaissance runs on it so I knew when the pain was coming.
Delighted with our progress.”
John O’Brien (Navy)

•”I enjoyed this race. Was beneficial knowing the course, as you could plan when to hold back and when to kick on.
I did so in the second half of the race and felt it went well for me, knocking about 40 seconds off last year’s effort.”
Shane Meyler (Navy)

Thank you to those who took the time to send us in their race photos/comments.

Full results with times: http://www.corkbhaa.com/2018/04/25/stryker-4-mile-results-2018/

Member’s results:
(619 finishers)

18 John O’Brien (Navy) (1st O/45 & 2nd place B team category)
27 Shane Meyler (Navy) (2nd place B team category)
39 Tom O Riordan (Keen On Sport)
51 Alex Eaton (SR Technics)
86 Danny Crowley
92 Fergal Quinlan (Keen On Sport)
105 Stephen Ryan (Keen On Sport)
138 Lynne Doherty (Keen On Sport)
168 Peter Howie
238 Angela McCall (Dept of Ed)
249 Maria Coffey (Dept of Ed)
275 Deirdre Meyler (De Puis)
282 Jessica Burke-Walsh
306 Kate Kennedy (Hedgeserv)
480 Ted O’Riordan (Dell-EMC)
487 Ruth Phelan (Keen On Sport)
508 Erica Johnson
509 Mark Johnson
536 Ann Cooke
596 Carol Leahy
597 Eucharia Gould
611 Karen O’Neill