Unknown

28 November, 2009

A mixed weather day ? sunshine and showers ? but still quite warm with the Church on top covered in mist. A race to look forward to! A tough run to the top, around the Church and don?t admire the view on the way down or you just might fall!
With our esteemed, heading for 60, Race Director Paddy Lord giving the orders ? very strict! ? and his son Lawrence and girlfriend Malaika and the well over 50 Henny all at the summit, and Denise taking the finishing times, the race started nice and easy.
Paul Nolan and Turlough Conway led the posse of 61. By the time the Statue and the gate came to meet us I decided to take a more leisurely pace and let the youngsters at it. With some of the hard work done to get to the shoulder, it started to rain but stopped just as quickly.
As usual on the final ascent to the top the leaders were on their way down with Paul Nolan well in front needing the assistance of a certain well pas it over 50s? shoulder (mine!) to get round a bend! Turlough ?the Sligoman? Conway was next followed by Munster Tom Blackburn. That is the way they finished.
The Ladies race was well won by Orla cEvoy, with Loretti Duggan passing Sarah Moores on the decent to claim second spot while Sarah finished third.
Peter Kernan had a very good run winning the over 50 category and finishing in just under the hour. I then felt very benevolent and let Joe Aherne take second place! Sam Hand is still running well finishing a little over an hour to win the Juniors while the old pipe smoking campaigner himself Mick Kellett took the over 60s ? easy knowing this was not the Wicklow Way!!!
So a great race was run with no major accident. Our thanks as usual go to Paul O?Malley of the Mayo Mountain Rescue for looking after the cuts and bruises and Campbells Bar for the water, the pints and the television for the match.