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28 November, 2009

2001 Leinster League
Three Rock Dash
Report by Eva Mulleady
The mist and relentless rain did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the large crowd gathered for the third Leinster League race, which was also our first "real" hill race following the easing of the Foot and Mouth restrictions.
After a narrow start up through the woods, the field soon strung out led by former international Paul Nolan, closely tracked by Hugh McLindon, Peter O?Farrell and Eoin Keith. On reaching the turnaround at Fairy Castle, Nolan eased back and Hugh McLindon showed the form that won him the overall Leinster title last year. His rapid descending skills - with t-shirt in hand! - were the envy of the less sure footed runners many of whom found themselves in somewhat closer contact to the rocks and mud than they would have chosen.
Eoin Keith and Peter O?Farrell enjoyed each others company on the downhill until they turned into the forest: there Peter met his nemesis which allowed Eoin (who did shout "are you alright?" over his shoulder!) to surge ahead for a third placing. Aongus O?Cleirigh had his first hill run of the season and took the male vet title in a highly competitive category with Henny Brandsma first super vet. Aaron Shorten was first junior and Fionan O?Muircheartaigh first U15. There were fine runs also by the junior ladies from St. Columbas College Katie Moore and Amanda Pierpoint.
The women?s race was another clear victory for keen mountain-biker Beth McCluskey who confided afterwards that wearing contact lenses was the secret to her successful passage past some of her spectacle-wearing male competitors: visibility was particularly poor through the forest. Una May was second to the summit closely tracked by Emma Sokell and Joan Flanagan. Joan?s excellent descent enabled her to reel in Emma (who had the misfortune of taking a nasty fall shortly afterwards) and finally Una to take 2nd lady and first female vet. Jane Watt has clearly suffered no ill-effects from her Marathon De Sables exploits and enjoyed a good run to take first Super Vet.