A day in the life of a BHAA volunteer

Web Master • May 4, 2011

A day in the life of a BHAA volunteer:  Saturday 30 th April 2011

Through a long and tenuous series of connections, I was asked if I had a few hours to spare on a Saturday morning to help out at the BHAA RTE 5 mile race.

 

Having been a runner for a couple of years, entering races or all sorts (commercial, charity, club and, of course, BHAA). I have always seen the organisation of races from the view point of someone pinning a number to their chest.  I felt I had an opportunity to see the other half of the equation and to “give something back” as it were.

 

I am sure you are aware, the BHAA are seen as the best value races in town.  For €10 for members and €15 non members, you are guaranteed a well organised race and a good spread of tea and cake afterwards.  That’s quite a reputation to be entrusted with, so it was with a touch of apprehension I found myself parked in on the RTE campus in Donnybrook.  

 

After finding my way into the Sports and Social building, I was introduced to Jimmy and Paul and given a brief run-through of the process for registering arriving members (with surnames M through Z).  No sooner had we got settled down when our first ‘customer’ arrived.  “That went well”, I thought to myself, “nothing too this”.  Within half an hour the place was jammed full of eager runners looking to get their number, pins, and free pair of socks (???).  Someone brought coffee round, I put a sugar in but I forgot to stir it.  School boy error…

 

Click on read more for the rest of this story

 Before we knew what hit us, 90 minutes of my Saturday morning had passed in a blur of surnames.  (Apologies if I had to ask you twice, being a Scotsman, I am not up to speed with the spelling of Irish surnames).  With around 15 minutes to the start of the race, the job was done, and we started taking bets on when the last person would show up.  Duly, at two minutes to 11, the last person was registered (in the A-L section, so not on my watch).

 

So, downstairs to the race.  The leaders were just completing their first lap by the time we got to the finishing area (after a quick briefing upstairs).  The lads were flying.  Pleased to see Paul up there, and to see that eventual winner Vinny Mulvey was in my registration section (don’t know why, but I was pleased with that!).

 

My next task for the day was to help runners remove the barcode tag from their race number so that the effervescent Mary could keep them in order.  This system was a back up to the finishers’ sheets being filled in further up the chute.  I was pre-warned that this was not a pleasant task; sweat, spit and drool were a spoken of in disgusted tones.  In reality, I think it was scaremongering.  Everyone coming through was in great form despite being completely wrecked.  So many people were completing their first race today, and the joy and energy coming off them was a real buzz.

 

And so, whilst there is always a winner, someone also has to come last…  In the end, we did not have to wait long.  A determined effort saw the last runner cross the line to round of what appeared to be another great success in the BHAA story.  I could rest easy in the knowledge that I had not messed up the reputation of this fine series.

For me, this was a great way to get involved on race day.  Would I have rather had my gear on running? Yes, of course, but the schedule did not allow that.  However, I can say for sure that at future BHAA races, if I am not pinning a race number to my chest, I will be behind the desk handing them out to the guys who are, surnames M-Z.

 

Alan Thomas

DCC 6k Road Race, St. Anne's Park, Raheny

By Gerry Flaherty • April 15, 2026
St. Anne’s Park provided the perfect setting for the BHAA Dublin City Council 6km on a cool, bright, and breezy morning. The race followed a meandering route around the lower end of the park, offering a mostly flat course with a few gentle hills to test participants’ fitness. Over 130 runners took part, with many participating as part of the Lord Mayor’s 5 Alive Challenge. The race was officially started by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Ray McAdam. A big thank you to everyone who supported the event, and well done to all the Dublin City Council volunteers who turned out to help on the day.  The men’s race came down to a thrilling sprint finish, with Patrick Joseph MacGabhann narrowly edging out Sean Doran by just one second, finishing in 19:32. Edel McCreery was the first female home, crossing the line in an impressive 22:42. Gerry Flaherty

Third time lucky for Central Bank Cross-Country Race

By Sinead Lyons • March 15, 2026
At the third attempt, Robbie Beggs and his tenacious crew from Central Bank of Ireland staged their Cross-Country race in Jobstown Park, Tallaght on Saturday 14 th March. A cool breeze from the mountains kept temperatures down, but aside from that, running conditions were almost perfect. The course route was as interesting as the park could be made, with a nice incline included for good measure. The winner was Paul Fleming who lead the race from very early on. The first lady home, in 4 th position overall was Laura McDonnell. There were great performances throughout the field, with all runners across the line within 40 minutes. Well done to everyone. When all participants had crossed the line, it was back to the Tallaght Leisure Centre for refreshments and prizes. The male and female winners were presented with commemorative coins as an extra memento of the race. Well done to all of the stewards and volunteers from BHAA and from Central Bank and fair play to Robbie and the team for not giving up and for keeping this race on the BHAA calendar for another year. Photos and footage from the race and the prize-giving can be found on facebook and on Instagram. 

Teacher’s Cross-Country Race at Clonkeen College

By Diarmuid Doyle • February 23, 2026
The Spring is sprung,  The grass is riz I wonder where the BHAA is... After the disappointment of recent race cancellations, it was great to be back! We were warmly welcomed at Clonkeen College, Deangrange by an enthusiastic and efficient crew of volunteer muinteoiri and School staff. The mild, sunny weather on race-day was a welcome change after the wet conditions of recent weeks. Surprisingly, the underfoot conditions were fairly dry and the flat, zig-zag course, skirting the playing fields was well grassed with little or no mud and just a few thistles here and there. 81 runners toed the line for the 6k combined race. KPMG’s Conor Burke was an impressive winner in the men’s division, while Niall Sherlock in 2 nd place had the honour of being the 1 st teacher. Sheila Nolan was the 1 st woman home with Vanessa Sallier 2 nd . The facilities were excellent - It was great to get a hot shower after racing, and the sun shone throughout the presentation of prizes. Those of us who missed out on glory were consoled with tea coffee biscuits and copious slices of cake and brack. With luck, we’ll have this super venue for “Teacher’s race “ for many future years. Thanks to Darren Egan, Jim Lynch and all who organised, volunteered and supported. Thank you to Harry Teehan for the photos capturing a great race.

BHAA Race of the Year 2025

By Stephen Naughton • January 27, 2026
The Race of the Year 2025 was awarded to BCM Global for their 5k trail race in the Phoenix Park. As a first time race organiser, Sinead Lyons (race director) and her team from BCM Global put in a lot of work into the race and it has been duly rewarded. The trophy was presented to Sinead Lyons (BCM Global) by Stephen Naughton, BHAA Chairman.

2025 Summer League Presentation of Team Prizes

By Stephen Naughton • January 27, 2026
The prizes and trophies for the BHAA Summer League 2026 were presented at the AGM. There were 30 cash prizes totalling over €1600 for the individual winners of the various categories. The team winners in the leagues were presented with their much sought after trophies by BHAA President Jim Kelly - Men’s team winners were ESB (Mick Quirke accepting) and Women’s team winners were Bank of Ireland (Eamon O’Neill on behalf of Women’s team). 

BHAA AGM 2025

By Stephen Naughton • January 27, 2026
The BHAA held its 2025 AGM in Sportsco on Monday 26 January 2026. The date of the AGM was changed from December to January to facilitate easier meeting preparations and allow more time for the annual accounts to be completed. This was agreed through a motion at the 2024 AGM. The BHAA financial accounts for 2025 were presented at the meeting. The accounts were audited by the BHAA auditors and were deemed to be a fair and reasonable representation. The BHAA and Irish Life Dublin City Marathon team continue to work closely on common matters and Jim Aughney from DCM gave a very interesting review of the Dublin City Marathon & Half Marathon as well as the Summer Race Series in 2025 A new committee was elected for 2026, see below; - President; Jim Kelly - Chairperson; Stephen Naughton - Vice-Chairperson; Mary Rigney - Treasurer; Enda Currid - Registrar; Kathleen Horgan - Secretary; Sinead Lyons - Webmaster; Colm Murray - PRO; Charlie Cronin

AIB/NUI & 2 Mile & 4 Mile Cross Country Race

By Jim Kelly • October 30, 2025
Nice setting and weather for Maynooth cross country race

DCC BHAA Race Report 2025 Irishtown 5K

By Jim Kelly • July 23, 2025
Leafy balmy Dublin 4’s Sean Moore Park was the venue for a BHAA race that started in its original form in 2005 at Irishtown Stadium and Ringsend Park. So for twenty years except for the Covid hiatus, Dublin City Council runners continue to deliver two BHAA races annually. The 2025 version had a race course in Sean Moore Park and the Poolbeg peninsula with beautiful views of Dublin bay. Before the race, dark clouds threatened rain. However it t was pleasing to see 167 entrants line up and finish without a drop of rain.

BHAA BCMGlobal 5km Trail Race Report

By Sinead Lyons • July 7, 2025
On a warm Summer’s evening….

That Was The League That Was

By Sinead Lyons • April 26, 2025
From Terra “Feirme” to Terra Firma and everything in between. The Winter League prize presentation will be held at the Irish Life race on 27th May in Dunboyne. It is fitting that the prize-giving for the Winter League 2024-25 takes place in Meath, because that’s where the league began in November on Ledwith Farm in Batterstown. The townies were delighted with their day out down on the farm, complete with a real live bull and all the sights and sounds and smells of agriculture to accompany the race. Revenue pulled a race out of the bag in record time and presented us with a new race in a new venue on 1st December. Santa arrived a little early with plenty spot prizes and treats. BHAA Stalwarts Bank of Ireland were back in Tymon Park for the annual race that wakes us all up after Christmas. A little earlier than usual, the Garda Cross country race took place in Phoenix Park. As ever, a popular race on a tough cross country course. We were disappointed when the Eir race had to be cancelled. Teachers and Central Bank of Ireland hosted their races in two new locations. The Teachers, (back on the BHAA Calendar after a sabbatical) in St. Columba’s College and CBI in Jobstown Park. The Central Bank race has been nomadic for the last few years, but hopefully it has found a new home and will continue to host this very popular race for years to come. In a new venture, BHAA and AIB teamed up with the Women’s Meet & Train League to host the 2 and 4 mile races in Abbottstown in March. An unprecedented statistic from this race, there were more running the 2 mile women’s race than the men’s. Normally a no-no in BHAA races, Athletic club singlets abounded for the 2 mile race! We ended the league with another constant on the BHAA calendar. ALSAA hosted the 2 and 5 mile races on an unseasonably warm day. We thought warm weather training had started early! Kudos to all of the Race Promoters and to the BHAA volunteers who turn up week after week (and in February there were 4 races in as many weeks!); and Kudos to all of the athletes, without whom Business Houses Athletics would not happen. The BHAA committee continues to work away behind the scenes planning and arranging races. If your company would like to participate in our races, or would like to host a race, please email us at info@bhaa.ie. We have the knowledge and will help you, all you need is the enthusiasm.
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