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28 November, 2009

Christmas Flash 2001
Report by Douglas Barry
Disappointingly for the organisers, a smaller crowd than usual turned up for the post Christmas run up Bray Head. Was it the earlier return to work, overindulgence, or the rash of plagues and agues that hit us over the week that kept the regulars away?
Anyway at the front of the race, Francis Cosgrave fought hard to keep the menacing Paul Nolan at bay. The pair reached the top together with Cosgrave holding on to the lead. Normally, spectators would anticipate that Francis would be impossible to catch on the descent. However, the Killiney runner admitted that he was not at his best and, with Paul Nolan, had one of the best descenders in Ireland behind him.
The pair rocketed down from the summit cross, flicking through the trees to burst out onto the concrete steps virtually side by side. However, the fitter Nolan was biding his time. As the path widened and the gradient eased, he pounced and, despite the best efforts of Cosgrave to catch him on the road, widened the gap to 24 seconds at the finish. Bob Lalor took third.
Joan Flanagan won the womens' race while Jane Watt won the over 50s category. A delighted Joe Lalor won the male veteran's class with Graham Porter taking the Over 50s and Mike Gomm the Over 60s. David Healy was first Junior man with Jonathan Barry edging out Brendan O'Reilly on the shorter course to win the M10 class.