Team Coby at the start of the race
Massive turnout for running club’s 10th anniversary race
A MASSIVE turnout including runners from clubs across the country, ensured the tenth anniversary race of Cherry Orchard Running Club, was a resounding success.
On a sun kissed Saturday morning, the club held a 5/10K run in Cherry Orchard Park, and an earlier 2k run for children. Hundreds took part.
Kenneth O’Driscoll, community coach for the Cherry Orchard area, started the club in 2013 to help support mental health issues in the area, and it has been a big success story such is the engagement levels.
The club started with just three members but now counts over 300 members, at all age levels.
“It was super, a fantastic turnout,” said Ann Geraghty, PRO with Cherry Orchard Running Club.
“We even got a nice little shower in the middle of it to cool people down. You couldn’t have planned it better.
Runners set their watches for the start of the race
“The route took in Park West and the canal. We worked with management of Park West, Waterways Ireland and gardai, who closed a couple of roads for us. It was a great community event. There was loads of people from the country and up north, members of Inner City Running Club.”
Last year, for the first time, the club had over 60 members take part in the Dublin City Marathon and training has already started in the club for this year’s event.
At the 10-year anniversary event, there was a special presentation to Kenneth O’Driscoll for all his hard work over the years.
The club have sections for adults, teens, children’s groups, and recently launched COWS (Cherry Orchard Walking Society), aimed to offer a stepping stone to their ‘Couch to 5k’ groups, or if people are injured or taking a break from running.
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