Star Athletes Ryan Creech and Freya and Nellie Bateman launch the 2024 Cheetah Run

Star runner, Ryan Creech of Leevale Athletic Club (AC) and juvenile athletes Freya and Nellie Bateman of Belgooly AC launch the hugely popular Eagle AC Cheetah Run at Fota Wildlife Park, with online registration for the annual mid-May race opening on  Sunday 7th of April at  https://eventmaster.ie/event/566McQvsEz.

The Cheetah Run road race, held on the 16^th of May, is a very important fundraiser for Fota Wildlife Park, which is a conservation charity. Last year the entries raised €5,500, which Fota Wildlife Park donated to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation.

Karen Bevan, one of the Eagle AC race directors alongside Ruairi Egan, said “We’re delighted to announce the annual Cheetah Run at Fota. The Cheetah Run is always a fast-selling event, which offers a truly unique experience to run a 5K race (adults and those aged 16 and above) or a 1-mile race for those aged 11-15 years, within Fota Wildlife Park. The Giraffes, Ostriches and Zebras always take a particular interest on the start line, but you will also run past the Cheetahs, Monkey Islands, the Asian Sanctuary and so much more. It truly is a race like no other, and one to be experienced.

“This year we are delighted to be joined by three fantastic athletes to launch both our 5K and the juvenile 1-mile event. Ryan Creech is an inspirational Leevale AC athlete and is one of Ireland’s top distance runners. With his sights set on a place in the Paris Olympics 2024 we are incredibly grateful to Ryan for taking the time out of his busy schedule to promote our Cheetah Run 5K event.”

Freya and Nellie Bateman are sisters who are rising stars in athletics, and we are thrilled that they have agreed to promote our Cheetah 1-mile event for those aged 11-15 years old.”

We are very grateful to John Buckley Sports and Brooks Running for their ongoing support of this event and to the OPW and Fota House for their continued support in allowing us to use their property.”

Sean McKeown, Director of Fota Wildlife Park said “Through the yearly Cheetah Run, Eagle AC makes an invaluable contribution supporting the essential conservation efforts at Fota Wildlife Park and we are delighted to host it. This year the teas, coffees and prize giving ceremony will take place in the brand-new Education Conservation and  Research Centre. This is an exciting opportunity to see the most recent and extremely impressive developments here at Fota Wildlife Park.”

Registration for the Cheetah Run 2024 goes on sale on Sunday 7th of April at 9am, from https://eventmaster.ie/event/566McQvsEz. The event will take place on the 16^th of May 2024 at Fota Wildlife Park at 7.15pm for the juvenile 1-mile race and 8 pm for the adult 5k race.

The entry fee for the 5k event will be €16 (plus processing fee), entry fee for the 1-mile junior race will be €9 (plus processing fee), the Athletics Ireland levy is also applicable to those runners who are not currently members of an AAI club. Each runner can bring a maximum of four visitors along with them free of charge to watch the race, this is a part of race entry. Access will be controlled on the night and gates open at 6:30pm at Fota Wildlife Park.

Image credits: Darragh Kane