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28 November, 2009

We were promised a bogfest that is exactly what we got 22km of knee deep bog, rain and mist. Other than that it was great.

Before the start at the planner's short briefing we were told that the original course transpired to be too long and one leg was being dropped but to compensate and keep route choice options open we were being allowed to do the controls (after the first one) in any order. Although there were only three controls involved, this surprisingly lead to a great variety of route choices with hardly any of the 18 runners going the same way

From the start (the quarry carpark between the two Lough Brays) to the first control (arete on cliffs overlooking the loughs) runners managed to find three different route. Aonghus O'Cleirigh took the hikers track climbing over a small knoll while those who stayed low by the lake lost time but not as much as those who choose not to descend to the lake but went straight to the cliff top from the road and contoured around.

From there a decision had to be made a clockwise route around the Kilbride Rifle Range taking in Seefin first and Corrig and the way back or vice versa. Either way, according to the planner, the Kippure to Seefingan ridge was the only sane option, Philip Brennan disagreed went for the anticlockwise option and took a route in a direct line for Corrig across several river valleys which worked well for him and keep him in the hunt.

The majority went for the clockwise option heading for the passage grave on Seefin, trying a variety of ways to avoid the worst of the bog and keep the height gained to a minimum. The next control was on Butter Mountain, a featureless hill not much visited by anyone (most of us will not be back). The control description said the kite was at a mast what it did not say was the mast was lying on the ground. Those who were navigating by identifying their mountains by looking for masts had a torrid time.

Here we were at the furthest point from the start and had all the height we had lost to regain and if we had wanted to give up we had effectively the course to finish before we saw dry clothes again. Unless you were the lucky competitor who thumbed a lift and persuaded the hapless driver to drive him around the range back to the start. Although there was another epic crossing of the Dodder valley and all its tributaries by Moire most made the return journey as easy as possible sacrificing time and height differentials to keep on some sort of human made track.

Veteran orienteering and hillrunning champion Aongus was first home. Only three weeks back in training after a long layoff the 3.17 hours run had taken its toll. He was followed home by a very sprightly Moire who was now the new Nav. challenge champion. This the first time in IMRA's history that a female competitor has won an open competition (although in the early days of IHRA Cary May may have won a race). Third home was Philip having gone by the "path" less travelled and met no one on the way.

NC3 Sept. 14th '08 22.3 km 760m

1. Aonghus O'Cleirigh 3.17.52 MV
2. Moire O'Sullivan 3.24.01 F
3. Philip Brennan 3.29.16 MV
4. Ben Dromey 3.44.37 M
5. Peter Kernan 3.44.44 MV
6. Zoran Skrba 3.53.35 M
7. Marcus Geoghegan 4.06.50 MV
8. Paul Symth 4.11.08 MV
9. Gavan Doherty 4.33.40 M
10. Wayne Jenkins 4.55.38 M
11. Stuart Scott 5.1040 M
12. Stephen Doorly 5.39.40 MV
13. Barry Tennyson 5.4348 MV
14. Isabelle Lemee 6.50.00 F
14. Sarah Heal 6.50.00 F

Mick Kellett Retired
Jackie O'Hagan Retired
Stuart Neumann Retired

NC After three races

1. Moire O'Sullivan 7.16.42 F
2. Paul Symth 8.13.48 MV
3. Zoran Skrba 8.26.14 M
4. Peter Kernan 8.28.33 MV
5. Wayne Jenkins 10.01.12 M
6. Stephen Doorly 10.22.07 MV
7. Barry Tennyson 12.54.18 MV
8. Isabelle Lemee 13.28.56 F
9. Sarah Heal 14.14.35 F