Masters Athlete Hugh McSweeney launches the Eagle Athletic Club 2023 Cheetah Run

Acclaimed Masters Athlete Hugh McSweeney launches the Eagle Athletic Club 2023 Cheetah Run at Fota Wildlife Park

**Juvenile run sold out** LIMITED AVAILABILITY FOR THE ADULT 5K RUN**

Today at Fota Wildlife Park, Hugh McSweeney of Eagle Athletic Club, who is one of Ireland’s most successful Masters athletes launched the annual 5km Cheetah Run which will take place in the 100-acre grounds in Fota Wildlife Park on Thursday 18^th May.

Organised by Eagle Athletic Club (AC), the Cheetah Run is sponsored by John Buckley Sports and Brooks Running and registration opens for entry  Friday 7^th April at Fota Cheetah Run 2023 – Buy Tickets (eventmaster.ie). The race which attracts nearly 1000 participants is always a sell out and is a very family friendly race.

As part of the Cheetah Run, a juvenile 1-mile race for 11 to 15 year olds will also take place and Hugh McSweeney was joined at the launch by brothers Conor and Eoghan Looney from Blarney-Inniscarra AC who finished first and second in the 2022 Cheetah Run 1 mile race.

Fota Wildlife Park hosts the annual event in conjunction with Eagle AC and each year the funds raised are used to support the Wildlife Park’s research and conservation projects.

Hugh McSweeney said

“I am delighted to be in Fota Wildlife Park to launch the 2023 Cheetah Run, one of the most popular races in the Cork running calendar.

There is something very special about running past giraffes, lions, tigers and cheetahs as the race route takes runners through the grounds of Fota Wildlife Park and neighbouring Fota House and Gardens”.

Sean McKeown, director of Fota Wildlife Park said of the race, “We are delighted to host the annual Cheetah Run in Fota Wildlife Park. As a non-profit organisation, the race is a valuable source of funding for the conservation work we do. Funds raised from the race will be used to support conservation projects such as the Natterjack Toad Head Starter Programme, the Madagascan Pochard and in Vietnam, the Tonkin Snub-nosed monkey.”

Ruairi Egan and Karen Bevan, Race directors, Eagle AC said

“Following the sell-out return to Fota Wildlife Park in 2022, we are looking forward to welcoming everyone again to our exciting and unique race. We are grateful to the OPW and to Fota house for their continued support in allowing us to use their property. It is a pleasure to work with everyone at the Wildlife Park and we are delighted to again support their wonderful conservation and research projects.”

Hugh McSweeney started his running career in 1982 and is a long-standing member of Eagle AC. Over the last 40 years he has won 30 National Gold Medals, 15 National Silver Medals, 2 National Bronze Medals, 2 World Indoor Games (1991) 2 World Masters Outdoors Championships Medals (2022), and 2 European Indoor Championships Medals (2022). Hugh has held 10 National Records over 60 meters, 200 meters and the long jump. In 2022 at the age of 77, Hugh won 3 National, 2 European & 2 World Championship Medals.

Registration opens online at Fota Cheetah Run 2023 – Buy Tickets (eventmaster.ie) this Friday 7^th April. The Cheetah Run adult race commences at 8pm and the juvenile race starts at 7.15pm on Thursday 18th of May. Each runner can bring a maximum of four visitors along with them free of charge to watch the race.