Mick Hanney

14 August, 2025

We are grateful for the work done by our mountain rescue crews, many of whom are IMRA colleagues.. This race is an opportunity for IMRA to give back. It was great to see so many entries sold and thanks to those who bought knowing that they wouldn’t race, just to get the contribution in.

At registration I was delighted to pick up a couple of cheeky age cat prizes for the winter and trail leagues. Thanks Lillian and Alice for the photo.

It was a beautiful summers evening as we gathered above the mountain rescue base in Laragh. Over 150 people across the long and short courses.

The leinster league finished last week. The mountain rescue benefit race has a different vibe to a league race. Probably not as competitive, in one way, but then again one might take advantage of someone else not going full gas.

Some of the leinster league core stayed away, putting their feet up for the midweek season, leaving the rest of us to it.

Gareth was master of ceremonies and we were underway at 7.30 up the fireroad. No one seemed to be in a great hurry which was fine by me. Turning off the fireroad into the single track towards Paddock hill it started to get more serious, as we ran in single file to the stile onto the Wicklow way.

The evening was glorious and the hill was dry and in full sunshine.

I managed to sneak ahead of Alice, then Kate and Chris on the climb and tuck in behind Pol O’Murchu who was running steady. This has been a habit in recent races. At Bray we must have overtaken each other 3 times each. Onto Dry hill and turning across the heather it gets a bit hairy. You can’t see where your feet are going to land, so there is a bit of jeopardy in the foot placement. Inched past Clare and Pol on this section before the downhill track where I was about 5th in a line of runners. Made a couple of places along here.

The pace increased back down towards the Scarr race start point, a small climb up then down past Brusher’s gap hut where we missed Graham’s tin whistle this year. Then left off the Wicklow way, before a turn and a short steep climb back up. Overtaken by Clare here but managed to keep the feet turning over. Past John Shields taking pictures for the 2nd time, then over the stile and the single track down past some juniors.

Neither gaining or losing time on Clare, I was probably more concerned on not getting overtaken by a fast descending Pol. We crossed the line in the exact same time according to the laptop but she beat me to the line. Clare was first woman home. Kate and Lorraine made up the rest of the women’s podium. Garreth Davis was 1st man with youtuber Daniel 2nd and Rory Lush 3rd. Thanks to Daniel for his entertaining videos throughout the season.

A great event and a super spread of refreshments at the finish line for the tired runners.
Thanks to Gareth and all the volunteers for a super evening.