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28 November, 2009

Lugnaquilla race - Report by Gerry Lalor
By noon, a uniform slate gray sky was resting heavily on the shoulders of Camara hill, and creating a dramatic foreshortening of its view. Such was the intensity of the rain, that waterproof jackets were considered to be compulsory wear, underlining the respect that this mountain race up Leinster's highest commands.
And so the race began, with over forty hardy souls competing, with an emerging group of pedigreed runners quickly dominating the front, and as they steadily climbed away, a gaily-coloured ribbon of Pertex bodies followed in its wake.
From the top of Camara onwards, it became a leg-sapping climb in diminishing visibility and very soft conditions. This was terrain that required full concentration to maintain the track, which at times became vague. When we finally took leave of the muck, to head left up through the sloping rock field before reaching the summit plateau, it was some comfort to find that it had been marked to the trig point. It was also encouraging to those of us struggling, to get a hefty cheer from strategically placed human markers, Gary and Simon, to head us along the final flat to meet Henny at the turn around.
Arriving first at the trig point, was Paul Nolan, and very much on his own. In a bold confident style, he had climbed to an unassailable lead, and on an unchallenged descent, crossed the line with a comfortable three-minute margin to spare. This was a terrific achievement, where he reigned in very inclement conditions, and later acknowledged that it may have been his best performance in this race.
The race for second and third was much more closely contested however. On the descent both athletes were as close as pugilists, and Eoin Keith, whose permanent toothy grin, unfortunately had more bite that his trail shoes, hung on tenaciously to recently categorized veteran, Francis Cosgrove. It was only on crossing the stile and onto the final section of hard trail, that Eoin was able to regain the advantage, and kick off and sprint to the finish, less than four seconds ahead of Francis, who in also being third, took the first vet prize.
As the elements decided to be a bit more benevolent on the return leg back, the rain stopped and the grayness lifted, and a very fast and focused Nicky Cinnamond crossed the line as first female. Still feeling energetic, she professed great satisfaction with her run, and her continually improving strong form. A minute later, a very relaxed Roisin McDonnell crossed in second place and also first F40.
Other notable finishes were John O Reilly as second M40, Jim Stuart of Lochaber, ahead of Bruce Shenker in the M50 class, with the irrepressible Mick Kellet taking honours in the super-vets, likewise Caitlin Bent, and junior Siobhan Murphy on the short course
Also worthy of a special mention was Cormac O? Ceallaigh and his one shoe finish. Where most would have limped back from a losing a shoe that now looked like a tyre blowout, the sole having completely separated from the upper, he continued to run well. Definitely deserving the foot of the mountain prize.
Post race analysis was carried out in Moynihan?s in Donard, where the debate turned from trail runners versus Walshes, to the hungry consumption of buttered bread and steaming broth, and the odd glance to the muted Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. The massive amounts of magically appearing mushroom soup from behind the bar, led to the lonely barman, who had also left his post to go out and buy five loafs of sliced bread, receiving the biggest cheer during the presentation tributes. With such adulation, who needs to score an FA cup goal?