Temple Hill

17 April, 2015 - Jane Griffin

On a beautiful sunny Sunday morning 35 brave souls signed up for the Temple hill race. From the village of Angelsborough you could almost touch the top of the mountain which is usually shrouded in fog. For a race barely 6 km in length, but what it lacks in distance it makes up for in height. A very fast start with five in the lead group to the first style and a traffic jam at each one of the four as the lead changed hands several times. There was a break away group on the open mountain but as we reached the summit it was 5 runners in close succession. The decent came hard and fast as the steepness sapped the strength form everyone's legs. Leaving the open mountain for the forest trail jelly-legs was the diagnosis on every runners mind. The final sharp decent over the four stiles zapped the rest of our strength as the old Master Curley widened the gap to the finish well clear with a gaping hole in his knee,and win in 47.42. The first five home were over 50 or over 40 to prove that its the (old Dog for the rough road and the puppy for the puddle).Th lady's race was no easy task either with only 4 lady's the top two had an epic battle with (Mollie) Mary Louise Ryan taking the victory in the end but being chased all the way to the line. Thanks to all who helped out on the day Trish Ryan (Race Director) Ger Griffin (Summit Marshal) Jane Griffin (Photographer) Tricha Blackburn and the other Marshals and the First Aid crew who worked on Curley's leg.

Report by Tom Blackburn.