We are delighted to confirm that the Club 5 will be taking place on Sunday 24th April at 10am in Blackrock Park, following on from our fantastic Club 5 races in previous years. This is a free-of-charge 5k race for current (2022) Blackrock A.C. members only, either adult or juvenile born 2008 or older, with awards for the winners. Numbers are limited so please register as soon as you can via the athlete registration form linked below if you’d like to run.
We are also on the lookout for a team of volunteers to help us on the day – if you or a family member can help, please fill out the volunteer form below or email Rob Asher at bac.mens@gmail.com
Registration form for Athletes
Registration form for Volunteers
History of the Blackrock A.C. Club 5
Founded in 1944, Blackrock Athletic Club first held a Club 5 Mile road race in 1954. The original route of the race started in Blackrock village at the stone cross, then along the coast road, up Merrion Ave and to Stillorgan Village, along the old Stillorgan Road (there was no N11 back then), down Newtownpark Avenue and back along the lower road to Blackrock Village. In 2017 we re-instated this club event moving the race to Blackrock Park as a Club 5km and repeated it in the following years. The Club 5 brings together all sections of the Blackrock Athletic Club for this annual event.
The Councillor Byrne Trophy
A local Councillor and supporter of the club, Cllr. Paddy Byrne donated a trophy which is believed to have originally led to the race being started. Before the race was re-established in 2017, the last inscription on the Councillor Byrne Trophy was 1974 although it is understood that the race ran up to 1992. The re-furbished Councillor Byrne Trophy will go to the overall winner of the BAC Club 5.
The Rory Byrne Memorial Trophy
Rory joined the club in 1982 at the age of 8. Until he sadly passed away in 2009 he was totally committed to long distance running, successfully competing at national level. His best friends all came from the club and his life revolved around the attitude he and his contemporaries at the club had for the sport. The Rory Byrne Memorial Trophy recognizes all that is great about running and Blackrock Athletic Club and will be awarded to the juvenile winner of the Club 5 (or to the second place Juvenile should the overall Club 5 winner be a Juvenile competitor).
The Paddy Craddock Memorial Plaque
Paddy joined Blackrock AC in 1955 when he was 20. Among his achievements were 46 marathons, including all of the first 30 Dublin Marathons. Paddy, who passed away in 2016, co-founded the club’s female juvenile section in 1969 and coached Blackrock’s ladies team for many years, so it is very fitting that this plaque goes to the first female finisher of the Club 5.