Cork Athletics Competition Bye-Laws
Competition Bye-Laws of Cork Athletics County Board
Updated September 25th 2024
Track and Field
At juvenile, junior and senior level the Cork county board promotes cmhampionships in all track and field events as outlined in the Athletics Ireland competition rule handbook
There is no provision for novice track and field. Athletes traditionally in this grade are now catered for in the series of graded leagues promoted throughout the summer
Cross-Country
Distances for Cork County Championships
| Cross-Country Distances & Age Criteria | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Female | Male | Age (2024) |
| Under 9 | 750 | 750 | Born 2016 |
| Under 10 | 1000 | 1000 | Born 2015 |
| Under 11 | 1500 | 1500 | Born 2014 |
| Under 12 | 2000 | 2000 | Born 2013 |
| Under 13 | 2500 | 2500 | Born 2012 |
| Under 14 | 3000 | 3000 | Born 2011 |
| Under 15 | 3500 | 3500 | Born 2010 |
| Under 16 | 4000 | 4000 | Born 2009 |
| Juvenile Relays (U10, 12, 14 & 16) | 4 x 500 | 4 x 500 | |
| Under 17 | 4500 | 4500 | Born 2008 |
| 'B' U9 | 750 | 750 | As above |
| 'B' U11 | 1000 | 1000 | As above |
| 'B' U13 | 1500 | 1500 | As above |
| 'B' U15 | 2500 | 2500 | As above |
| 'B' U17 | 3000 | 3000 | As above |
| Under 18 | 4000 | 6000 | Born 2007 |
| Under 19 | 4500 | 4500 | Born 2006 |
| Under 23 | 7500 | 7500 | Must be at least 20 and under 23 on December 31st in year of competition |
| Junior | 4500 | 4500 | Must be at least 16 and under 20 on December 31st in year of competition |
| Novice 'B' | 4000 | 6000 | Must be 19 years of age or over on December 31st in year of competition |
| Novice | 4000 | 6000 | Must be 19 years of age or over on December 31st in year of competition |
| Masters | 4000 | 7000 | Masters age is determined by their age on Date of Competition |
| Masters M65 | - | 4000 | Masters age is determined by their age on Date of Competition |
| Intermediate | 5000 | 8000 | Athletes must be at least 20 on December 31st in year of competition |
| Senior | 7500 | 7500 | Athletes must be at least 18 on December 31st in year of competition |
The distances for both the county juvenile and adult cross country championships are as set out in the Athletics Ireland competition rule handbook. The county junior men and women and the county senior men's championships are run at the National Inter-counties distance
The county senior women's championship distance is 6000m
Team Competitions
Teams of any number from the same club can enter the team contest with the first 4 counting towards the team's result (3 to count in masters over 50 teams). In adult ladies and at juvenile B competition if there are less than 3 teams with 4 finishers then the remaining team Medal positions will be decided in the usual manner by including any remaining teams with 3 finishers
Adult Grades
An athlete who is not eligible to compete in novice or intermediate at provincial or National level is automatically not eligible to compete at that grade at Cork county level.
The status of an athlete at Cork county will not be affected by any performance, at a provincial or national championship, that does not rule the athlete out of the grade at provincial or national level
Mens County Novice A Championship
The athlete must not have won an individual medal in the county novice cross country previously, or an individual medal at the county intermediate or senior cross-country championships
Womens County Novice A Championship
The athlete must not have won the county novice cross country previously or an individual medal at the county intermediate or senior cross-country championship
Mens County Intermediate Championship
The athlete must not have previously won an individual medal in either the county intermediate or senior championships
Womens County Intermediate Championship
The athlete must not have won the county intermediate cross country previously or an individual medal at the county senior cross-country championships
Men and Womens Novice B Championship
The athlete must be eligible for the county novice A and must not have won a medal in any cross country championship event in the current season at any level. Previous individual novice B medal winners are also excluded
Re-Grading
The only existing rule regarding re-grading at county level is that an athlete can only be re-graded one grade down at a time, decided on the merits of the case put before the September county board meeting
Recommendation
If an athlete wishes to be re-graded he/she should start at the highest status from which they have been eliminated and work down one step at a time i.e. an athlete not eligible for Munster novice should not be re-graded to back to novice status at Cork before being re-graded at Munster
Road Championships
Novice Men
The athlete must not have won an individual medal at any road race championship greater than 1500m at any level (including county novice). The athlete must not have previously been a scoring member on a club team that won a county road championship twice
Novice Women
The athlete must not have won an individual medal at any road race championship greater than 1500m at any level (including county novice).
The distance for novice and masters, men and women road championships, is 4 miles
Team results are calculated on the basis of 4 to score
There are no road championships for Intermediate grade
For seniors, the County Board strives to facilitate county championships within existing open road races at 10 miles, half-marathon and marathon distances
Team Results
Team results are calculated on the basis of 3 to score
Only where entry on the day is allowed, Double entry fee will apply to athletes entering on the day of competition for non-juvenile championship competitions (track and field, cross country and road)
