Location..... Ballintotis is just off the main N25 Cork to Waterford road. It is located just a few kms west of Castlemartyr. If you are coming from Cork City then look for the turn off right about 5 kms after Midleton. There is a green signpost showing that the turn off is coming up. If you are coming from the easterly side then drive through Castlemartyr and take the first left after Lough Aderra which you can't miss.
The map below shows the course which is just west of Castlemartyr.
Course.....
Basically, it is a loop course with the start and finish area overlapping by about 200 metres. The start line is very close to the church and right next to the lake...
The start is on the approach road to Ballintotis from the main road to the north. As you pass the church, the road opens up...
and then you turn right at the next junction. This is where the only real hill of the race starts...
Coming so early in the race, it's a pretty minor affair. Around the half-mile mark, you pass the 16th century Ballintotis Castle...
and then you are onto the quiet country roads in the area. The photo below shows what you can expect....
At around 3.5 miles, you come back onto the hard shoulder of the M25 road as you pass Lough Aderra....
Then it's next left, back onto the narrow road again and on to finish just outside the church.
Overall.....a 4 mile road race on a relatively flat circuit on nice quite country roads. No real hills to speak of so you can expect to get a fast time. The only issue might be that the start is narrow but it's no worse than say the likes of Ballyandreen. This race is only a 15 minute drive from the Jack Lynch Tunnel in Cork City so it always attract a large crowd.
