Unknown

28 November, 2009

2001 Leinster League
Bray Head
Report by Joe Lalor
Simon Fairmaner?s evening looked assured , the dreaded rain was holding off and there was no sign of Hugh. Suddenly consternation, Francis Cosgrave arrived at the start in a tracksuit and running shoes but he was only out , for a light run and some spectating. He was not the only spectator, there were others who had "sore shins" or "raced last night" and Henny who openly admitted that he was saving himself for Kerry.
Shortly before eight 99 pilgrims headed up the way of the cross. There were fallers on the way. Several new members joined Tommy the Tumbler?s troupe, but none can manage the spectacular fall as well as the master. Blood was not the only body fluid left on the tracks. At least one partly digested late lunch fertilised the slopes of Bray Head and there were other who looked and sounded like they would have felt better had they parted company with their last supper. All this liquid was quickly replaced in the Strand Hotel afterwards by a larger that usual crowd that stay on.
Oh the race by the way went off well with Simon and Beth taking first for the third and fourth time in the league. With the non appearance of Mike Burton, Maurice Mullins and Henny minding himself the M40, M50 and M60 categories returned to the status quo. Dessie Shorten and Jane Watt had a quiet night after their tremendous runs in the National Marathon in Dungarvan over the weekend. A point of notice was the large number of new members, 20 in all within which there was a high sprinkling of juniors. A special welcome to all the new runners from Lucent AC, was Joaquin responsible for marshalling the troops? We would like to wish Kieran Crowley well on his travels.
The tour moves to Munster for the weekend with Carrauntoohil on Sunday and Doon on Monday. The number of runners expected for the Carruantoohil race is the largest yet, hoping to see the great John Lenihan win this race for the14th time in a row or be present when the history making changing of the guard takes place. We are back to the seaside on Wednesday at Portmarmock on a great route devised by Mike Gomm, with trail, sand, dunes and turf but very few metres. The prize giving will be in Sands Hotel, hosted by Eddie Harrison ( ultra and hillrunner) the sponsor of this race.