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28 November, 2009

As Paul Nolan crossed the line to win the Sugarloaf BBQ race and take the Arup Leinster League, he turned and pointed to fast finishing second placer Kevin Keane, declaring to all and sundry "This is the future of Irish mountain running!" Paul had turned in the lead at the top of the Sugarloaf, the toughest race in the league, and had been caught by the rapidly improving Kevin on the steep rocky descent. But as the race progressed, the wily Nolan had too many arrows in the quiver to allow the new boy on the block the chance of a surprise first league win.

Paul powered away on the lower slopes of what is without doubt one of the most challenging courses in Irish mountain running to take his sixth win of the Arup series, winning it comfortably from his plaster-casted main rival Eoin Keith. Eoin took second overall in the league despite being sidelined with his injury while the improving Peter O'Farrell took third place on the night, and third in the league, after a consistent run of performances throughout the season. Bernard Fortune took fourth in the race but missed completing the league by one race. Better luck next year Bernard!

Behind Bernard, an ebullient Paul Mahon took his third 5th place of the series and pipped Eamonn Horgan for 7th in the league after a ding dong battle throughout the series. Paul did nine races and Eamonn did eight. There's a moral there somewhere.... Ahead of this pair in the Arup league, Kevin Keane, Bob Lawlor, and Gerry Lalor finished honours even on 34 points each after a close battle all season.

Beth McCluskey was her dominant self, taking a splendid 10th overall with the much improved Hazel Thompson taking second place ahead of Una May in the women's category. Beth had finished second in the Irish mountain bike champs over the weekend, but her efforts hadn't taken anything out of her and she must be looking forward to a good win in the selection race on Mangerton next weekend. With her excellent form in the Europeans, and a phenomenal 12th overall in the Arup league, she must have a strong chance of getting in the top twenty in the Worlds in Sauze d'Oulx, Italy in September.

In the other categories, Andrew Allers took the M40 ahead of Doug Corrie and league winner Eugene Coppinger. In the M50s, Henny Brandsma had the indian sign on Eddie Reid and Ercus Stewart with league winner Bruce Shenker content to relax in 5th behind Wally Young. Eddie Hughes took the M60 class ahead of Seamus Kilcullen with Anthony Shea in third. Joseph McGarr was first junior ahead of Conor Fennell and Ted McCormick. Jonathan Barry won the junior junior short course.

The arrival of a large vehicle in the car park signalled the return of the chairwoman Jane Porter and the disappearance of the F50 prize. Powered up by her European tour which included a small race up and down Mount Olympus, Jane returned to rule the roost, badmouth her poor husband for having the temerity to beat her on the Sugarloaf, but still hold off Caitlin Bent and Ger Power for top F50.

After the derring-do on the formidable Sugarloaf course, appetites were whetted, and subsequently slaked copiously as the even more formidable catering teams of the IMRA swung into flawless action. The Donlons and O'Gormans ably abetted by others did their best to produce a food mountain but failed as the cavernous maws of 164 mountain runners and sundry injured hangers on set to work on reducing the self same mountain before it even reached cairn stage. Never were so many burgers and sausages eaten so fast. Roll on next year!!