The Sugar Bowl
Authors
Unknown
28 November, 2009
The association had made a decision earlier in the year not to race to the summits of Djouce and Maulin in recognition of the great erosion on both and the efforts being made to repair them. During the summer we managed to alter routes to avoid both summits but it was always going to be difficult to “fix” the Powerscourt Ridge route since it visited both summits.</p>
So the race was moved to the Sugarloaf to be near our new AGM venue of the Glencormac Inn. We use two routes already on the Sugarloaf and the critics said we would not find another suitable route on the Sugarloaf. But I think all will agree that Brian Bell did a fine job combining pieces of the two summer routes and a circumnavigation of what is becoming known as Glenroe Mountain. Chairman Vivian O’Gorman had final say and took executive decision on a few of the rougher sections being considered. This explains the fact that route was near but not exactly as on website, but it knocked off some of the rougher spots.
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After the runners were dragged back down the hill the race started just off the Roundwood Road. This achieved the desired effect to string the runners out before reaching the single file track beyond the GAA club. There was no sizable climb before the runners arrived at the opposite side of the mountain but both marshalls commented that all the runners looked very tired before they tackled the final steep climb to the summit. The rocky summit took its toll with many cuts, bruises and sprains. Once down off the summit it was fairly easy running to the finish with the one steep section very familiar to anyone who does the BBQ race. However a few were surprised (and caught) by the final little leg, which brought them away from the summer finish. All those maps stuck on the registration car were there for a purpose!!!
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The race was won by Eoin Keith who is back running surprisingly quickly after breaking his arm mountain biking. He was followed home by Bernard Fortune, who has acquired a new nick name “Moose” after his trip with the Irish Team to Alaska, the origin of this name is a well guarded secret it appears it is one of those “you had to be there scenarios”. First lady was Beth McCluskey followed by Lady Vet. Roisin McDonnell
The most competitive category was the M50s who had the wind put up them with the arrival of a carload of Norwegians. The race down hill put finish to the Norwegian challenge and the category was won from the back, way back, by Jimmy Stewart who was piped off the mountain by bagpipes.
