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28 November, 2009

In 2000, the winning time was 13.43, in '01, 13.45, in '02, 13.56, in '03, 15.03, and last year, 14.04, and each time the winner was the same man. In 2005, Paul Nolan took his sixth Christmas Flash in a row with his fastest time for the past four years. His time of 13.54 was only 11 seconds off his personal best for the tricky course despite the slippery and wet conditions underfoot.

Among the 68 runners taking part, the presence of Irish Half Marathon Championship silver medallist Gary Crossan competing in his first ever mountain race may have given Paul the extra spur along to a faster time, but he still eased back once he had killed off the opposition. The existing record of 13.15 set by former national 10,000 metre track champion and Belfast Marathon winner Gerry McGrath held out for yet another year.

The inexperienced Gary took an excellent second on what is undeniably a tricky course up and down one of the steepest climbs around to the landmark cross erected in 1950 - a holy year. The Donegal road runner impressed in a baptism of fire, holding off John MacEnri and the redoubtable Mark Caslin who set a PB for the course despite a long lay off. Mark is now a vet - yet another spur!

Valerie Brunton - a member of the well known Bray running family took the women's race ahead of Emer McElhinney both running in their first mountain race, with Sile Smith in third place. Best fancy dress (and fastest one!) went to Trevor Jobling who finished in 12th place overall despite wearing a dress! Honourable mentions must go to Gavan Doherty and Alan Ayling for giving Trevor a battle for the fancy dress prize.

Thanks to Vincent O'Sullivan for helping out at the finish. Ales and tales were available to all at the Strand Hotel on the seafront after the race. Some hardy souls deserved a drink more than others as they bravely swam in a cold Irish Sea after the race. No doubt, they were inuring themselves for the charity swim on New Year's Day at the same venue. Feeling brave? come and join some of us for the big splash!!

Next year, the date will be the same, but the race route is moving to the Sugarloaf thanks to the lure of gold. Yes, gold! The 2006 race winner will win a gold watch in the Charles Barrington Memorial Race on the Big Sugarloaf. Barrington was the first man to climb the Eiger and organised the first ever mountain race in Ireland in the 19th century. The prize he presented to the winner (Tom Hill) at the time, was a gold watch. History repeats itself.