Gerry Brady

12 April, 2009

by Douglas Barry

Trial results: http://www.imra.ie/ad-hoc/Senior%20Men%20Trial.htm

Ladies IC & MC Result: http://www.imra.ie/ad-hoc/LadiesMangerton.htm

Open IC & MC result below, junior men included as short race results at end. Willie Reidy summit time is missing could anyone supply it.

John Lenihan dominated the Irish team selection trial on Mangerton mountain near Killarney at the weekend. The former World champion needed the win on the scenic Kerry course to carry his hopes of a 13th Irish championship title to the final race on the Galtees in two weeks time.

The Kerryman’s main rival, Scottish international and former Ben Nevis race winner, John Brooks missed the race due to a niggling injury leaving the pair with two wins and a second each in the 5 race Arup series with the Irish title now hanging on the result over the tough Tipperary course.

Lenihan took advantage of the Scot’s absence to impose himself on all his rivals for the Irish team for the World championships at Sauze d’Oulx in Italy as he relentlessly pulled out an insurmountable margin on one of his favourite courses. Lenihan had over a minute on a tight battle between Sean O’hEigeartaigh, George Lonergan, Alan O’Shea, and Gerry Brady as they reached the Devil’s Punchbowl below the summit.

At the summit, Lenihan had held his advantage while Lonergan and O’hEigertaigh were inseparable in joint second with O’Shea and Brady just behind. Beth McCluskey took the women’s race from Orla Touhy with Alwynne Shannon third. Micheal Lyons and Rose Twohig won the junior men’s and women’s races respectively.

Irish Team Trial Mangerton
Senior Men
1 John Lenihan 64.24
2 George Lonergan 65.24
2 Sean O'hEigertaigh 65.24
4 Alan O'Shea 65.25
5 Gerry Brady 65.29
6 Kevin Keane 68.24

Senior Women
1 Beth McCluskey 54.08
2 Orla Tuohy 56.46
3 Alwynne Shannon 57.25
4 Maureen Foley 57.52

Junior Men
1 Michael Lyons 50.34
2 Niall Sheehan 50.51
3 Dan Mulhaire 52.20
4 Rory McDonnell 54.52

Junior Women
1 Rose Twohig 32.14
2 Michelle Twohig 32.58
3 Antoinette Brady 34.10

Irish Championship courses
1 John Lenihan 83.49
2 Kevin Keane 91.34
3 Willie Reidy 92.39

1 Maureen Foley 86.28
2 Alwynne Shannon 86.38
3 Zeo Melling 88.17
4 Kate Moyna 90.54