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28 November, 2009

Hey, it's sunny out! That can't be right, surely?

A beautiful, hazy, sunny Wednesday evening saw a motley crew gather in the South Dublin hills for the third installment of the IMRA Leinster League. This week, the location for the race was the Hell Fire Club forest south of Rathfarnham/Ballyboden.

Runners had to negotiate a 6km course involving no less than four steep climbs and similarly steep descents. Apparently, Jane and Graham can be blamed for this "Hellfire and Brimstone" route.

Fortunately, though, the warm weather, the relatively short course and the wide, dry trails made for a thoroughly enjoyable race ... if a little frantic on some of the descents.

Also, runners can be proud to have briefly diverted the local hooligans at the Hell Fire Club ruins from their cider flagons for a few minutes!

Barry Minnnock made it two victories out of two with a strong victory against the returning Kevin English of Clonliffe who hasn't been seen on the IMRA circuit for a while. John McEnri took his 3rd third-place finish of the year in front of the up-surging Niall McAlinden.

Women's winner was Mags Greene in her first hill race who just about edged out last week's winner Aoife Joyce with the skin of her teeth. Karen Duggan had a strong run in third securing Clonliffe the ladies title this week.

Aisling's Team Geared Up energy bars went down a treat after the race.

Thanks to all who bought them and supported Turlough Conway's cycle for Women's Aid.

(Note to self - bring more cash than just the race fee or you're gonna miss out)

Previous warnings about the need to carpool seem to have worked somewhat with a good number of runners meeting at Buglers Pub in Ballyboden before making their way up to the race together. Still, though, the car park was overflowing by the time the race started.

Many thanks and congratulations to Aisling, Tony and the large contingent of helpers for a brilliantly organised race!

Well done also to Deirdre O'Neill who ran her 100th IMRA race!

<b>Team Results:</b>

Overal LL: <a href="/ad-hoc/LLOverallTeamResults.xls">here</a>

MEN

1. Rathfarmham WSAF 51 (Barry Minnock 1, Mike Long 12, William Griffin 38)
2. Clonliffe Harriers 76 (Kevin English 2, Dermot Murphy 24, Paul Carolan 50)
3. Crusaders AC 92 (Jason Kehoe 15, Mark O'Sullivan 30, Gavan Doherty 47)
4. UCD 98 (Eoin Syron 10, Niall Fox 17, Declan Carolan 71)
5. Sli Cualann 208 (Cormac O'Ceallaigh 25, Brendan Lawlor 75, Mick Byrne1972 108)
6. Tumbleweeds 208 (John Linehan 43, Ben Moore 51, Geraint Jones 114)

WOMEN
1. Clonliffe Harriers 8 (Mags Greenan 1, Karen Duggan 2, Bronagh Ni Bhriain 5)
2. Crusaders AC 28 (Aoife Joyce 2, Rachel Walters 11, Niamh Ni Cholmain 15)

</br>
<b> Inter-county women </b>
1. Dublin 8 (1 Mags Greenan, 3 Karen Duggan, 4 Zoe Melling)
2. Wexford - (2 Aoife Joyce)
3. Sligo - (14 Deirdre Hopkins)
4. Meath - (16 Ann Tobin)
</br>
<b> Inter-county men </b>
1. Dublin 44 (4 Niall McAlinden, 17 Niall Fox, 23 Robert Healy)
2. Wicklow 129 (25 Cormac O?Ceallaigh, 29 Simon Evans, 75 Brendan Lawlor)
3. Meath - (5 Fechin Heery, 58 Eamonn Hodge)
4. Louth - (60 Robert Costello, 107 Aidan Callery)
5. Offaly - (1 Barry Minnock)
6. Mayo - (10 Eoin Syron)
7. Kerry - (12 Mike Long)
8. Westmeath - (19 Patrick Ryan)
9. Cork - (30 Mark O?Sullivan)
10. Cavan - (71 Declan Carolan)
11. Waterford - (118 John J Barry)