Bray Head
Authors
Unknown
28 November, 2009
<B><center>Bray Head May 26th 2004-05-27</center></B>Forget the Archers, Coronation St. –all the drama was played out on Bray Head last night even before the race itself began! Once again IMRA aces were making decisions at a high level, in a race against time, Now it was the turn of Roisin McDonnell and Graham Porter to decide if smoke from smouldering gorse would clear quickly enough to allow adequate breathing to runners. Their roll of the dice proved correct; obviously two hunky Guards on mountain bike patrol were mucho impressed (well, with Roisin anyway) and engaged her in the longest of conversations. It was a night for fires and police-Jane Porter was also contacted on her way to the race and told her house alarm was going off, but she was steadfast and continued on to Bray.
The usual drama , battles, scraps for a single place went on the length of the mountainside: some quotable quotes on the night
Eoin Keith saying that his current good form had something to do with not being on a “Adrenaline Rush”-could this mean he’s not using that funny Balco stuff any more?
Peter O’Farrell obviously suffering a derangement from his third place, and actually offering to write a race report
Desie Shorten clearly unaware that the fine summer weather would herald the re-emergence after exams of the UCD runners to upset rankings - “where did all those little effers in yellow vests come from?”
Beth McCluskey winning the ladies race from Laura McGinley (“how will I ever catch up with that young one?”). Mountain biking is the answer, chirps Beth, and the dynamic duo (dua?) are off on a trial spin soon.
Comebacks all over the place
Henny Brandsma (sorry, Granma) through strong running and cunning route choices pushing Bruce Shenker to within seconds
Gary Moralee making a comeback from the tanning salon (some of my lady colleagues insist on it being an all-over job, Gary)
Hugh McLindon in the most heart-warming return of all after his severe climbing accident, duelling (perhaps with walking sticks at ten paces) with Mike Gomm
Paddy Lord slipping back into his late arrival mode (go get him, Claire) after coming to 3-Roc a stunning 25 minutes early
Caitlin Bent taking her cue from the conflagration and burning off all her immediate opponents
And finally Ger Power, in a moment of truth we would all have to subscribe to
<I>“what I really enjoyed was the view”</I>
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Some manoeuvring (over the best route to the cross, and as to whether runners had to actually go to the cross or not). More doctrine for the cardinals to lay out next time. What the hell, thanks to all the hard work of the race team and a magnificent evening, no one died and a good time (if not maybe a good race) was had by all.
IMRA rocks!
