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28 November, 2009

2001 Winter League
Tibraddan 25 Feb. 2001
Report by Joe Lalor
On clear but very cold day the last of this seasons winter league races took place. For the fifth race in succession we had a different winner.
Unlike last year the numbers competing in the winter league were maintained throughout the series with 57 runners starting from Pine Forest Car Park shortly after 12 noon and all trying to fit into a one person pass ( this will be changed for next year). The rough stoney path leading up to Tibraddan Mountain soon had them well strung out. Beyond Tibraddan the well sodden paths were well peppered with spectators and walkers who encouraged the runners up the slow drag up Fairy Castle.
The first three to summit were Declan Doyle, John Brennan and Paul Mahon. Here the real racing began with the quick,mainly downhill 4.5 km charge to the finish. Declan Doyle kept his position to record his first win after many a second and third place. The ever improving John Brennan hung on to his second place but just about. The real action was happening behind, Dessie Shorten, fifth to turn, winner of the veteran class was anxious to prove that his winning of this class was not as result of number of races completed and to do that he had to beat Simon Walters. He saw his chance on the waterlogged path leading to Tibraddan when runners move onto the turf to avoid the quagmire but not for Dessie straight through the water and once he had his nose ahead nobody was going to catch him. Paul Mahon third to turn was out for his first hill run of the season after recovering from surgery but lost a place when he fell (or was he pushed nobody would comment to this reporter after the race) on the rutted tracks on the approach to Tibraddan.
The race was notable for the large number of ladies competing. However none were able to trouble the veteran Majella Disken who won her class with ease. Other notable runs were by a back to form Henny Brandsma winning the M50 class and Mick Kellet in the M60 class. Brendan Murphy had the MJ class all to himself and would probably have liked a little opposition.