Slieve Bearnagh
Forum Messages
| Author | Date | Message |
|---|---|---|
| Mo Foley | Jun 10 2008, 9:06am | Clare and Munster Mountain Running Championship - report thanks to race organiser, Mike Quinlivan The Annual Clare mountain race championship was held at Ballycuggeran, Killaloe on Sunday 8th June and runners from all over Munster and beyond tackled the steep slopes of Feenleagh and Moylussa ? the highest point in Co. Clare at 590m (nearly 2000 feet). This race doubled as the Clare County Championship and a round of the Munster series. Even in the fine weather this was not a jaunt for the faint-hearted ? but the view from top of the mountain on a day like Sunday was superb ? Lough Derg in all its splendour visible to Portumna, and the recent improvements to the car-parks, benches, roads and tracks by Coillte make this woodland area a valuable and attractive resource. The race went off at a quick pace, led by the winner of the recent Burren marathon, James McIntyre (Tulla AC). Mike Cunningham (Bilboa) kept in touch until the 2nd peak of Feenleagh, but McIntyre stretched his lead on the final downhill mile to finish over a minute ahead of Cunningham with Tom Blackburn in 3rd. Tomas Walsh was next and took the Masters over-40, and James Kenny was first over-50. Clare Morrisey from Galway now running for Donore Harriers just edged out Maria Carey (Ennis) in a thrilling finish for the ladies title. Maureen Foley (Bilboa) was 3rd with Loretta Duggan (St. Mary?s) 4th. Thomas Blackburn (Bilboa) was first Junior man. Any race like this cannot happen without a lot of effort and work. Gerry Cosgrove kindly arranged access to the lands from Coillte. The local volunteers who laid out the course wish to thank Dermot Moran, James Kenny, Tom Byrnes, Michael Minogue and the McIntyres for their help. The able stewards on the day were Jim Gallagher, Joe Chawke, Michael Minogue, David Hand, Glennis and Saidhbh Quinlivan. Prizes were awarded afterwards in Molly?s in Killaloe, who provided refreshments and food on the roof terrace at their splendid waterside establishment. The main results were as follows (full results available on www.imra.ie): Senior Men: 1. James McIntyre Tulla AC 53:02 2. Mike Cunningham Bilboa 54:13 3. Tom Blackburn Bilboa 55:32 4. Adrian Lenihan Dualla 58:10 5. Kenneth Rodgers St. Cronans 58:18 6. John Lynch St. Finbarrs 58:34 7. James Liddane Tulla 59:50 8. Kieran Collins Cork 62:28 Ladies: 1. Clare Morrisey Donore 69:44 2. Maria Carey Ennis Track 69:45 3. Maureen Foley Bilboa 70:41 4. Loretta Duggan St.Marys 71:58 Junior Men 1. Thomas Blackburn Bilboa 72:42 Masters O-40 1. Tomas Walsh Tulla 55:41 2. Keith Ryan Limerick 56:05 3. Franhser Neupauer Slovakia 62:56 Masters O-50 1. James Kenny Kilmurray Ibrickane 60:14 2. Joe Aherne Bilboa 64.15 3. Jamie Dore Kilmallock 70:23 Master O-60 1. Mick Carroll Tulla 82:56 2. Joe Laffan Limerick 86:28 3. Jerry O?Connell Country Club 92:38 Masters O-70 1. Charlie O\'Connell Sportsworld 100:12 Ladies O-40 1. Tina Reid Riocht 80:08 2. Deirdre Finn Nenagh 80:52 Ladies O-50 1. Kathleen Ahern Bilboa 87:30 Clare championships were awarded as follows: Senior Men: James McIntyre Tulla Ladies: Maria Carey Ennis Track |
