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28 November, 2009

2001 Connaught Championship
Nephin - Preliminary report by Douglas Barry
John Lenihan won the Nephin race setting a veteran's record time of 42 minutes and 30 seconds. John's win on this magnificent western peak gave him the Connaught Championship.
Where is Nephin? Nephin Mountain lies north west of Clew Bay and south of Ballina. Rising 806 meters, this isolated quartzite lump can be viewed from as far north as County Donegal and as far south as Galway city. This impressive rock is weathered clear of vegetation on its peaks, creating knife-edge ridges which make for interesting terrain for the mountain runner.
Although the summit does not appear to have been covered by ice glaciation, the lowlands have carved out valleys with glacial lake terraces. Nephin mountain and its neighbouring peaks rise out of the largest area of blanket bog in Ireland. It is possibly the most desolate region in the country, with fewer roads per hectare than any other part of Ireland. This treeless moorland covers schists and gneisses of the Pre-Cambrian origin, which are among the oldest rocks in Britain and Ireland.
Well, let's face it, we don't want Benidorm!!
Anyway, back to the race. Simon Fairmaner finished second in a time of 44 minutes 3 seconds over seven minutes ahead of new senior international Ross Alexander who had travelled back to Ireland from Slovenia a few days earlier where he represented Ireland in the European Uphill Mountain Running championship. Ross's time of 51 minutes 49 seconds reflected his busy schedule which included the previous day's Croagh Patrick race. Jane Watt overturned her previous day's position with Roisin McDonnell to take the women's race and the Connaught Championship with John Lenihan's wife Mary adding 3rd place in the women's race to the family honours.