Cash Prizes Up For Grabs in the Ardagh Challenge 2023

With the announcement of the 10^th annual Ardagh Challenge, Run Republic reached out to the organisers to learn more about the history of this event.

‘This year is the 10^th instalment of our annual 10-mile road race, which starts and finishes in the award-winning village of Ardagh. Attracting competitors from throughout the midlands region and beyond, the race has been referred to as “the best 10-miler in the country”’.

The village of Ardagh famously won three National Tidy Towns awards in the space of 10 years, picking up the prize in 1989, 1996, and 1998, as well as winning the British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow environment award for Europe in 1998. 

There have been more layers added to the event this year, making it even more attractive for people from around the country to close out the year in style on the track.

The run options for 2023 include the ‘famed’ 10-mile Ardagh Challenge, as well as the 5k Challenge and the GAA Club 5k, all of which are chip timed.

There are also non-chipped options for runners and families in the Ardagh 5k Challenge and the Primary School Mile fun run!

The village of Ardagh is located in the heart of the midlands and is accessible in under 90 minutes from Dublin, Galway, Sligo, Mayo, Wicklow, Kildare, Offaly, Meath, and Cavan, so why not make the trip before those New Year celebrations?

The organisers' pride in their wonderful village is unmissable as they described the race track: ‘The first mile of the course brings you around Ardagh village before you head out on a loop over Ardagh mountain, through rolling hills and along stretches of relatively even roadway. The last half mile has you once again running through the historic and award-winning village of Ardagh to finish at the village green.’

The current course records are held by Michelle McGee and Mick Fogarty. McGee achieved the female record time of 1:01:55 in 2013, while Fogarty earned the male record last year with a time of 53:01. This year there is a €100 bonus for the male and female that break the course record, so if you feel like you have that in you, get to Ardagh on the 30^th and give it a crack!

The prizes for this year’s event are as follows:

10-Mile:

Female: 1^st - €75, 2^nd - €50, 3^rd - €25 (Ardagh Challenge 2023 specially commissioned Medal for all competitors)

Male: 1^st - €75, 2^nd - €50, 3^rd - €25 (Ardagh Challenge 2023 specially commissioned Medal for all competitors)

O40 Female: 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd – Ardagh Challenge 2023 Trophy

O40 Male: 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd – Ardagh Challenge 2023 Trophy

O50 Female: 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd – Ardagh Challenge 2023 Trophy

O50 Male: 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd – Ardagh Challenge 2023 Trophy

5k:

Female: 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd – Ardagh Challenge 2023 Trophy

Male: 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd – Ardagh Challenge 2023 Trophy

O40 Female: 1^st - Ardagh Challenge 2023 Trophy

O40 Male: 1^st - Ardagh Challenge 2023 Trophy

O50 Female: 1^st - Ardagh Challenge 2023 Trophy

O50 Male: 1^st - Ardagh Challenge 2023 Trophy

U16 Female: 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd – Ardagh Challenge 2023 Trophy

U16 Male: 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd – Ardagh Challenge 2023 Trophy

*GAA Club Team Female: 1^st - €100 + trophy

*GAA Club Team Male: 1^st - €100 + trophy

* Winners are the fastest team of 4 for both male and female teams.

Primary School Mile Fun Run: AMG Community Games medals to all finishers.

This year’s event takes place on Saturday December 30^th at 1pm. You can find links to register for the event by accessing our Race Calendar here! https://runrepublic.com/find-a-race/ardagh-10-mile-5k-challenge