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28 November, 2009

April showers are one thing but what was happening 30 minutes to race time last night was more akin to a monsoon. When runners and paperwork were thoroughly drenched it eased off for the race. The race being the annual pre-season run in aid of the Third World charity GOAL, now four years in its new home of Dollymount a change brought by the foot and mouth restrictions of 2001.
The flat course run on sand and pavement always throws a sideway skew on normal hill running form as the track runners with talent are to the fore. With none of the big hitters on the starting line there was always going to be a new name in the winning frame, but whose? It is true that few would have predicted Noel Conway (Setanta & Tralee Harriers) whose previous best finish was 15th in Ballinastoe. He left many who had previously beaten him behind, was this secret winter training or the flat course --- the next few weeks will tell.
Was it the weather or the trip to the Northside that put off the ladies? In a very small field veteran chairwomen Jane Porter made a break, some thought too early, for the line but managed to hold off her Crusader club mate Maura Ni Chearbhaill. She must be happy with a first lady position in a race of 72 runners
Several old friends were back, Robert C. direct from the airport with his bags in hand, while his fellow countryman Jimmy Stewart gave the competitive M50s a start by reappearing unannounced only to say he will be off again after next race.
<P> For the record there was over 400 Euro collected for GOAL, thanks to everybody who contributed.