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28 November, 2009

Martin Mc Donald And Maureen Foley Supreme on Slievenamon!

With hard under-foot conditions leading to the occasional ornamental blister on the descent Sunday’s race was a classic Slievenamon affair.

The pecking order was very much decided in the first mile when Martin Mc Donnell of North Laois, the eventual winner, set the early pace. He was joined at this point by John Herlihy of Riocht AC and Junior athlete Niall Sheehy of Goran. A chasing group led by Richard O Donnell of Tulla AC included Tom Blackburn of Bilboa and Tadhg Vaughan of the host club Coolquill AC. Blackburn was in 3rd position at the gate at the end of the road leading to the mountain. He held this position to the final climb to the summit where he was overtaken by Munster Secretary Pat Murphy of Eagle AC. Martin Mc Donnell was running his own race up front all this time and was bothered by nobody.

Blackburn held on to 4th position to the turning and attempted to haul back Murphy. Murphy found another gear at the summit and started to descend like a mountain goat. He was chased by Richard O Donnell and Shane Mullaney of Ballinonty AC. O Donnell passed Herlihy and Junior Athlete Sheehy 500M into the descent and forged ahead. Blackburn left Murphy for dead mid-way on the descent, opened a gap on Sheehy and started to chase O Donnell , but the Tulla clubman was having none of it. The seasoned Mc Donnell, M40, ran a spectacular race to win on a time 39.00. O Donnell was the first senior man home on a time of 41.05. Blackburn was the 2nd senior man finishing on 41.18 ahead of the first junior man Niall Sheehy on 41.34.

Maureen Foley of Bilboa AC who is in her first season as a mountain runner ran every step of the way up and down. She had set herself a target for the event and was rewarded handsomely with the magnificient Graine Perpetual Trophy for a fine win on a time of 48.45. The everfescent Loretto Duggan was 2nd lady home on a time of 54.54. IMRA , Munster Region would like to thank Tadhg Vaughan and his fellow club members at Coolquill AC, Mr and Mrs Michael Kehoe of Kehoe’s Pub and the local Civil Defence for their contribution to the success of the event.