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28 November, 2009

2002 Races
Sugarloaf Rush race - Report by Vivian O'Gorman
ARUP Leinster League "Sugarloaf Rush" Wednesday 8h May 2002.
The race started like a sprint! Up the road no holding back. Through the car park, over the small fence and on to the mountain. Paul Nolan leads the way --- sure hasn't he won this race so often he can do it blindfold. Simon Fairmaner, the current league champion, suffering from a cold was holding on to second while Eoin Keith was third. Meanwhile back in the real race 1 was just ahead of Joe Lalor and keeping up with Roisin Mc Donnell who was winning the ladies race. Onward and upward and there was a lot of heavy breathing. Torill Baekken took the lead in the ladies while Mark Caslin, former Connaught mountain running champion, was already in the lead in the vets race.
At the front Eoin caught Simon on the final climb and although got back to Paul just couldn't pass him and finished a happy second. Paul,scooting down the road, won in 18.57 while Simon finished a relieved third just ahead of John Brennan in fourth. Torill kept the pressure on and won the ladies race in a good time of 25.13 with Roisin coming in second. Once he is at the top Mark Caslin is hard to catch and so it proved winning his first vets race in 22.10 and finishing a very good 13th overall. Ercus Stewants warm up did the trick and although nearly run over by the rush at the start he managed to keep all of the other supervets at bay.He won easily with Diarmuid O'Colmain in second place.
Even though she had some competition Jane Watt stayed in front and despite her lack of winter training won her supervets race comfortably. Unfortunately we still have a shortage of juniors,under 16's and under 14's both boys and girls. Despite this David Healy ran very well to win the junior race finishing 15th overall. Brendan O'Reilly took the under 14's. With no Mick Kellet, Seamus Killcullen had the over 60's all to himself with Maura Higgins taking the win in the same category for the ladies. Mike Gomm, just back from the minefields of Croatia, had an explosive win in the over 70's. It was a short race but tough with plenty of sprint finishes. Although the weather got a little cold all 75 runners seemed to enjoy themselves and will be back for more punishment ar Ticknock Car Park next Wednesday!!!
Yours Sportingly, Vivian O'Gorman.
P.S. A Word of THANKS to Nora Lalor and Doug Corrie for doing the start and finish., To Justin Keating for his laptop and printed results and to Henny Brandsma for marking the course.