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28 November, 2009

Powerscourt Ridge race - Report by Douglas Barry
World Masters Champion Robin Bryson cleared off into the distance to win an altered Powerscourt Ridge race - the last round of the 2002 Irish Championships. He eased back in the latter stages and still won by a hefty 2 minute 40 second margin over former international Paul Nolan who had an even heftier margin on third placed Eoin Keith. So well done to Robin our new Irish Champion who clinched the title with this win adding to his wins on Carrauntoohil and Lugnaquilla. All in all, it was a good year for the Fermanagh based fireman who also had good runs in the European Championships in Madeira and the Worlds in Austria before his emphatic win in the World Masters.
Gerry Brady made the trip up from Cork for a rare foray into the hills and took second place in the over 40 category ahead of Wicklow men John O'Reilly and Jimmy Synnott. Joe Feeney was best Supervet ahead of the irrepressible Ercus Stewart and outgoing IMRA treasurer Diarmuid O'Colmain. There's a vacancy for treasurer by the way!! Sean Lambe held off Maurice Mullins to win the over 60 category.
Irish international and F40 vet Roisin McDonnell edged out Elaine Mullan in a close fought race for the women's division over the long course. The long course was significantly longer than usual and is likely to remain so, as erosion from the popularity explosion in hill walking and mountain biking has taken its toll. 22 years ago, the route up Djouce was a narrow one person line up the mountain and invisible from a distance. Now it's an ugly scar as the thousands of boots and mountain bike ruts have ripped the heart out of the mountain. Hence the need to lengthen the route to avoid adding to the erosion. Nicky Cinnamond didn't mind the detour as she took third in the women's race. Jane Watt won the womens' supervets race.
On the short course over Maulin, Coolquill's Tadgh Vaughan took the honours ahaed of Alan Dillon and Adrian Watson with Deirdre Hopkins taking an impressive 4th overall and the Junior Women's category in her final year as a junior. Deirdre was first woman naturally and was followed home by Maura Ni Chearbhaill and another junior Jane Hingerty. Our only over 70 runner Mike Gomm duly won his class on the course with another steady run.