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28 November, 2009

A pleasant Saturday morning saw 73 runners take on a new course around Trooperstown Hill. Well known by orienteers, this 430 m summit probably doesn't get quite the attention it deserves from everyone else. Standing alone as it does above the village of Laragh, it affords fineviews to the main bulk of the Wicklow mountains, particularly right up into the valleys of Glenmacnass and Glandasan. Glendalough itself is mysteriously shielded from view. Trooperstown Hill bears a fine network of trails ideal for walking, mountainbiking, even a hill race. John Shiels was on hand with the camera, so no doubt those who were concentrating so hard on their footing that they missed the views will get a second chance.

The route started with a gradual climb up about 2 km of fire road to the top of Trooperstown Wood, some of which sadly has now been felled. A short tarmac section and a left turn onto the open land and the first hint of wet feet. Passing the ominous looking steep trail to the top of the hill, the race headed around the east side, contouring and climbing gently to the Place of Many Sheep. From here, a turn to the left and a short climb brings you to the unnamed hill with the "Boots" ? apparently a memorial to a local walker. A lot of people didn't see any boots, obviously more important things on their minds, like catching the runner in front. The first short descent of the day down a wet trail and then things got messy!

The route was _meant_ to take an acute right turn back towards Trooperstown Hill; unfortunately the markers (which had been checked less than two hours earlier) had been removed. The result was that runners only turned 90 degrees to the right and then came to a forest corner with no markers and started to get really confused. Fortunately, most realised where they were meant to be and put things right without losing too much time... Mick Kellet and Jean O'Neill ended up on the "scenic route", which involved the public road down in Clara Vale, as might be expected their eventual % of winner's time was somewhat higher than usual.

For those who found their way more quickly back onto the intended route, the course headed back to Trooperstown Hill, not too stiff a climb, but challenging enough in the wet and slippery conditions. The steep descent proved popular and led runners back to rejoin the way out and back down through the forest to the finish. James McFadden took first place by some four minutes from Shane O'Rourke, Martin Francis not far ahead of Jimmy Sinnott in the battle for 3rd overall and 1st M40. First lady was Orla McEvoy with Fionnuala Doherty not at all far behind. Gary Moralee took the M50 title (apparently his is an M50 now?!), first F40 was Ann Tobin, F50 Ger Power and first M60 was Brendan Doherty, showing the benefits of a sneaky recce of the route a few weeks beforehand (and possibly Mick's little detour?!). Charlie O'Connell was first M70.

Despite the navigational issues, most people seemed very pleased with the route. Perhaps the lesson is to put marshals at certain critical points? It is very possible that the tapes in question were moved by a landowner who would probably have suspected they belonged to motorbike scramblers. If they were your sheep on the hill, you would do what you could to discourage motorbikes too! Between Ballinastoe last summer and now Trooperstown, the reliance of races on marking is emphasised; in particular what happens when marking is interfered with before or during the race. If anyone has any ideas for more effective or tamper resistant marking, put a post on the forum!

Race over, we headed back to the pleasant surroundings of the Coach House in Roundwood for the prizegiving. Food and drink inside us and home in time for a fine Irish victory at Croke Park - all in all not a bad day.