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28 November, 2009

It's not often in Ireland that we are lucky enough to race in the hills in the sun. For it to happen twice in one weekend is exceptional. Maybe it was pay back for the aborted Donegal weekend earlier in the year.


Battles were the last thing in mind at the start of Round mountain the following day, but the trail, open mountain, trail nature of the race led to many ding dong scraps throughout the field as positions changed with the terrain. The baking sun was, depending on preferance, a welcome/unwelcome bonus for the 34 participants who charged off behind early pace setters Bob Lawlor & Gerard Heery. A kilometre up the track Paul Nolan finally got his legs moving and pushed through the lead group to briefly force the pace, but Heery who was pacing his effort perfectly made a strong move and was never to be headed again. Gaps opened and closed as terrain and gradient changed but postions were held till the finish line.

The last 600m of the race is straight and on road so sprints for the line are always a feature. Zeo Melling in winning the women's race from Kathleen Cheshire gave a demonstration of sprinting that certainly turned heads. Bob Lawlor & Roision McDonnell won the v40 classes, with the Porter camper van topping V50 and Danny Toye taking M60.
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After 2 hard races in two days, were does it hurt most? My sunburnt neck.
He comes summer.