Masters Athlete Billy Cabal Launches 16th Annual Cheetah Run at Fota Wildlife Park
The 16th year of the annual Eagle Athletic Club (AC) Cheetah Run was officially launched today by masters athlete Billy Cabal.
Aged 83, Billy has completed more Cheetah Runs than any other runner since its inception in 2008. Online registration opens on April 7th at Eventmaster.ie and the popular race is set to take place on Thursday, May 14th, 2026, at Fota Wildlife Park. The annual race continues to serve as a key fundraising event for Fota Wildlife Park, and funds raised during the event support the Park’s vital ongoing conservation work.
Also in attendance at the launch of this year’s event were emerging Cork athletes, Alison Brennan (Ballymore Cobh AC) and siblings Louise and Laura Twohig (Blarney Inniscarra AC).
Billy Cabal, a member of St. Finbarr’s AC, is a European Masters bronze medallist in weightlifting and continues to compete at master’s level in athletics. His recent appearances include the Cork Intermediate and Masters Cross Country Championships in January 2026 and the County Track and Field Championships in June 2025.
The annual Cheetah Run offers participants the rare opportunity to run through the grounds of Fota Wildlife Park, passing giraffes, zebras, ostriches, cheetahs, and other animals along the route.
The yearly event features a 5k route for adults (aged 16 years +) and a 1-Mile Race for junior runners (11-15 years) and is sponsored by John Buckley Sports and Brooks Running. Last year, the event raised €5,000 for the Red Panda Network, helping protect this endangered species. Funds raised annually support Fota Wildlife Park's conservation programmes, including endangered species protection and native wildlife initiatives.
Speaking at the launch, Billy Cabal said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be launching the 2026 Cheetah Run. With a lifelong participation in weightlifting, I only started running in my 60’s. I lift weights every morning at home, run several times a week, and enter as many races as possible. One certain event each year for me is the Cheetah Run. This is a unique event that Cork runners really look forward to, it brings people together to enjoy running, get active, spend time outdoors, and support an important charity at the heart of the community, Fota Wildlife Park”.
Karen Bevan, one of the Eagle AC race directors alongside Ruairi Egan, said: “We’re really delighted to have Billy Cabal launch the 2026 Cheetah Run. He’s our most regular runner in the event, and his consistency in returning year after year says a lot about what makes this race so special. Billy is an inspirational member of the Cork running community and perfectly captures what the Cheetah Run is all about, bringing people together to support the fantastic work done at Fota Wildlife Park. As always, we recommend you sign up early as this is a hugely popular event sell out every year!”
Aileen Tennant, Director of Fota Wildlife Park, added “To Eagle AC and every runner who has joined the race, a huge thank you from the team at Fota. The annual Cheetah Run raises awareness, helps to fund conservation, and connects people with nature. We are very grateful to you for showing up for wildlife.”
The event will take place on Thursday, May 14th, 2026, with gates opening at 6:30 pm.
- The 1-Mile Juvenile Race (ages 11–15) will begin at 7:15 pm (maximum 125 participants).
- The 5k Race (ages 16+) will start at 8:00 pm.
Online registration will open at 9:00am on Tuesday, April 7th, 2026, at Eventmaster.ie.
Entry fees are €20 (plus processing fee) for the 5k and €10 (plus processing fee) for the 1-Mile Race. An Athletics Ireland levy applies to non-members.
Don’t miss the chance to be part of one of Ireland’s most unique and inspiring running events and help support conservation programmes at Fota Wildlife Park.
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