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28 November, 2009

Round Mountain provides a good early season test for runners who want to take their mountain running beyond the mob scenes on Wednesday night. With the new road it is easily accessible and well organized (including post race sandwiches) by Eamon McMahon who is from the area. The course starts out on gradually ascending forest trails for about half its length and then goes over a fence and opens up into open mountain for a short descent , followed by a steep climb to the turnaround.

Race started at a brisk enough pace from Lumper's pub along the road and by the initial turn onto the forest trail a group of 8 runners had already opened a gap. This group was headed by Richard Rodgers with Kevin Keane (who had finished 7th overall in Knockdhu the day previously) on his shoulder. The group had fragmented by the top of the forest trail. Rodgers (who had also run Knockdhu the day previously for NI Vets) was still in front, but now had only Keane for company. The leading two were followed by Nicholas McGuinness and Bob Lawlor, with Eoin Keith closing on them in 5th having moved steadily through the field.

Over the style and onto the open mountain and Keane attacked and had opened a 10 second gap over Rodgers after climbing strongly up the steeper gradient to the summit of the round mountain. McGuinness summited in third, but Keith, now in 4th quickly, caught and passed him on the ensuing steep descent. Lawlor turned next in 5th and these 3 positions were held till the finish line.

Crossing the style back to the forestry trail and Keane was finding a determined Rodgers difficult to shake, Rodgers having re-establishing contact on the ascent from the base of the mountain back to the style. Rodgers pressured Keane nearly all the way down the rapid descent on the forestry road. Keane, made to dig deep, eventually forced a decisive gap near the bottom, which he held through the final, fast last quarter mile section of road.

Being second overall Richard Rodges was an easy winner in the M40 category. Aisling Coppinger was well recovered physically (though still a little shaken by what she called a 'savage' course) from her Saturday run on Knockdu to take first in the women's race. Henny Brandsma showed he is coming back into form and will be a major contender in the M50 category. He caught the co-author of this report at the summit and held a small lead back to the forest tracks where he was able to extend it for a comfortable victory. Frequent Scotish visitor Drew Turnbull was first 60 and over and Mike Gomm was fist 70 and over.

It was a beautiful day and a great setting for the start of the Leinster Championship.