RD Report

22 July, 2024 - Greg Byrne

In tandem with the Glendalough Tucker Trail 80k ultra the Clover relay was run by 14 teams setting off in a chasing start from 8:25 to 9:30am. The bulk of the relay field was made up of teams from Blessington based Lakeshore Striders AC and the InnerFight Endurance coaching group. Despite the staggered starts the racing was tight on leg 1 to the Wicklow Gap with many well matched runner taking on the broken trail. Leg 2 was different with the in-form Liam Mooney giving the Striders lead team a decent gap over the chasing pack. Leaving Ciara Brophy to close out the final leg, a job done in some style with the second fastest time of the day for that relay leg.

The winning team from Lakeshore was Maria Harney, Liam Mooney & Niamh Brophy.

Followed home in second place by the team of Mae Mullholland, Colin Salmon & Deagla MacAree. With third place going to Alan Hynes, Grace Nugent &Harold Perez. Fourth place and only 2 seconds off third was the team of Deirdre Grogan, Raymond Cummins & Niall McHugh. Small margins after seven and half hours of racing.

With the eventual arrival of the sunshine the runners and the winners could enjoy the finish line setting of the upper lake in Glendalough well into the evening. Cheering the ultra and relay runners as they arrived at the end of their journey.

Thanks to all the runners and volunteers who combined to leave so many smily faces on the finish line.