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28 November, 2009

The conditions for wednesday nights race were challenging.A fierce wind was blowing on the exposed approach to Corrig leaving the field much more spread out than usual and separating the men from the boys.
The course itself incorporated all the best(worst?!) elements of hill-running with dense forest,bog and open mountain.The relatively gentle ascent made for great open-throttle running,which I know a lot of the competitors relished.

Particular credit is due to the course-markers,Jane and Graham,who on Tuesday night at 10.30pm,on the occassion of Graham's 55th birthday,were on top of Corrig laying markers.Someone should definetly buy that man(and woman) a pint.

As anyone who noticed him will agree,credit is also due to John Sheil who braved the elements on one of the wildest and windiest parts of the course to take some great action photos.

The runners themselves rose to and relished the challenge.There were tremendous battles with the top men and the top ladies.Early race leader Kevin Keane gave in to the temptation to take the Junior course leaving the field open to Paul Nolan who clocked up another impressive win.The battle for 2nd and 3rd places resulted in a head to head between Richard O'Donnell and Eoin Keith over the last 2k of the coures,O'Donnell proving the stronger in the end.

In the women's section Commercial Rowing Club's double- sculls partners,Vanessa Lawrenson and Becky Quinn fought off the challenge of Laura Mc Ginley to take well-deserved 1st and 2nd places.This result is all the more impressive given that they had cycled to the race from the Navan Road and Ranelagh respectively!

The rowing fraternity further showed their strength in Irish Olympian, Gearoid Towey's very strong finish in 4th place.
This was Towey's 2nd race in the league and follows an excellent 7th in last weeks race.A reliable source informs me that he was determined on recording a victory on Corrig .It was not to be last night but I suspect one may not be too far away.

Roisin Mc Donnell,who seems to improve with every race,used her natural strength and fitness to take the over 40 prize from Rathfarnham AC's Fidelma Ayers.Gerry Lalor recorded a comfortable win in the over 40 men with Mike Long 2nd.

Henny Brandsma ran one of his best races in recent months to take the prize in the men over 50 section in a time of 41:47 with Joe Lawlor close behind in a time of 42:55.Henny was delighted with his win and was quoted afterwards as saying,'funnily enough I wasn't racing tonight'.

First females over 50 and 60 were Ger Power and Kathleen Bent both of whom had strong run and looked very comfortable at the finish.

Danny Toye was first male over 60 and Mike Gomm,who looked as content when I passed him on the mountain as he did in Aherne's afterwards,first over 70.

The under 14 section was won once again by Colm Moran who seems a real natural on the mountain,not surprising since his mother is veteran hill-runner and orienteer Mary O'Connell and Mary herself is a neice of Kerry football legend Mick O'Connell.

There were 195 finishers on wednesday night all of whom deserve a clap on the back for braving the unseasonable weather and forsaking another gripping episode of Coronation Street.It's great to see so many people from so many different sporting backgrounds enjoying the races.The league also seems to be drawing runners from the Business Houses leagues,including Joan Stapleton and Deirdre Casey who compete for AXA in the BHAA races.This was Joan's 3rd race and Deirdre's 1st.I spoke to them after the raceand both wre clearly exhilarated by the challenge and hopefully will be back for more.

The car-pooling system seemed to work well for this race.Any sole occupant cars are (or should be)suitably embarrased or else have a very good excuse.Car-pooler of the league so far(in my book anyway) is Brendan O'Connor who squeezed in 6 on Wednesday night.I'm not sure if his transport methods were entirely legal but he's got the right idea.
If anyone has any problems with their results please send email to bruce.shenker at the usual address which ends with @imra.ie.
Also we are missing results for the following people , if anyone knows anything about them please send email

282 Lorcan Blake
656 Daniel Hazley