Unknown

28 November, 2009

2000 Camaderry Race
Report by Douglas Barry
John Lenihan, bedridden with a virus for 5 days after the selection race for the Worlds, arose to find his ageing knee had reacted to a hard season and refused to work under him. The former World champion tested it a number of times to find it gave him excruciating pain when pushed. In addition, the Kerryman felt his body drained from the virus. His get up and go seemed to have got up and gone. A phone call and he had scratched from the Irish team for Germany. Was this the end of an international mountain running representation that had lasted 14 years?
Well no, apparently not, as the crowd of runners gathered for the new race up and down Camaderry - the final race of the 2000 Leinster Championships - at Glendalough, the Kerry runner pulled into the car park. Togged off and lined up, he admitted he was still a bit off colour, but said determinedly he just had to finish in the top six to retain his Leinster title. Of his closest rivals, Francis Cosgrave was in Borneo planning his wedding, and Brendan O'Brien had troubles of his own. Returning after five weeks of 47 degree celsius heat in Tunisia where his work had taken him, Brendan also admitted that training was a tad difficult for him too. I decided I wouldn't play poker with either of them.
Lenihan and O'Brien led the field away up the steep climb with John Brennan, Gerry Lalor, Bernie Pabon, and Adrian Hayes in hot pursuit towards the 698 metre summit of Camaderry. As they cleared the lower forested slope and emerged onto the steep open climb, they showed their hands. Lenihan had the aces. He eased away from Brendan and turned comfortably ahead at the summit. Now came the test of his injured knee. It held on the steep descent. He came home to win in the slow time of 54 minutes and 7 seconds - a record for the maiden race on the mountain. Brendan finished second, nearly two minutes ahead of John Brennan who had the edge on the rest of the chasing pack.
Ailis Brosnan showed she is developing strongly with an excellent win which left her a full eight minutes ahead of ultra marathoner Jane Watt in second place with John Lenihan's wife Mary Brosnan in third. Desie Shorten took the first male vet prize just ahead of Brian O'Reilly while Graham Porter took the supervet category and Mike Gomm won the over 60s category. Jane Watt also won the women's vet category while Caitlin Bent won the women's supervets. Brendan O'Reilly won the short course.