Unknown

28 November, 2009

Christmas Flash race - Report by Douglas Barry
Paul Nolan scampered clear of a thin field to win his third Christmas Flash in a row and wrap up the 2002 IMRA season. The DSD runner was 24 seconds ahead of the soon to be veteran Francis Cosgrave, winner of this race in 1999. Francis turns vet in time for the Mount Kinabalu race in Malaysia in September 2003 and has ambitions to beat off all the other international veterans for that title. As Francis and family are moving to the Phillipines, Kinabalu will nearly be his local race!
However on this day, Aonghus O'Cleirigh finished third overall and took the veterans race to the clear delight of his children who shouted to each other, "Look! Look! Daddy's third, Daddy's third!!" Aonghus was well clear of 4th placer Peter O'Farrell who in turn had a comfortable margin on a tight chasing pack consisting of 2nd vet Justin May, Kevin Grogan, and Gerry Lalor.
The Kerry maid herself - Mary O'Connell - took a fine victory in the women's category as well as finishing first woman vet to boot. The slippery conditions on the steep course didn't bother her as she swooped down the greasy descent from the summit cross to finish some 90 seconds ahead of winter visitor Fiona O'Sullivan who had escaped home from the mountainless confines of London's Holloway area. Fiona was only six seconds clear of DSD's Jane Cahill.
Jane Watt won the F50 class while Maurice O'Hara won the M50. Only 36 hardy souls turned out on the startline which was disappointing for the organisers. The hundreds who turn out for summer events clearly were waylaid by too much Christamas pud. Come folks, you have to support this event! Oh yes, there were 36 hardy souls, but only one of them - Frank Murphy - was really hardy: he braved the icy sea afterwards while the rest of us flocked into the Strand Hotel!!