Rene Borg

26 April, 2010

by Jane and Graham Porter

The morning started with heavy showers threatening to spoil our reputation for fine days for our races in the “sunny south east” but by 9am the weather prospects looked much more promising.

As we put up direction signs in Bunclody we met a hungry Caroline Reid, fresh from her adventure race the previous day, looking for somewhere to get breakfast. By 9.45am we were set up in the wonderful Corabutt gap carpark with panoramic views over counties Carlow and Wexford.

Runners from local Wexford clubs, Slaney Olympic AC and SBR (Sliabh Bhui Rovers) were joined by two Carlow men of international mountain running experience, Mick Kelly and Keith Heary and a good showing of other IMRA runners, several of whom – Mick Hanney, Diarmuid O’Colmain, Tommy Galvin and Derek Livingstone - had run the Tonelagee race the previous day. The lads from the Curragh made great time on the journey on the new M9 motorway.

Despite having to register some very last minute arrivals the race was underway by 11.10am in lovely sunshine. Graham was under pressure to get to the first major junction ahead of the runners to guide them on their way.

Mick Kelly and Keith Heary led out the field of 33 runners. The first couple of miles are relatively flat but from here there is a long steady pull for 1.2 miles. The front runners had to jockey for position with a group of stray horses who were not displaying race numbers! After 3.2 miles there is a glorious gradual downhill run for 1.5 miles. The last 1.3 miles has a few short pulls but is mainly flat.

37 minutes after the start two runners appeared around the last bend – Mick Kelly in the lead with Keith in hot pursuit. Mick won the race by 2 seconds. In third place was Martin Monaghan of Slaney Olympic. Keith, after a brief chat with his fellow runners, then ran all the way back home!

Caroline Reid won the ladies race and took the record comfortably to boot, finishing in 46.46. The record of 51.17 was set by Dena Hogan last year. Jim Boland won M50 with Diamuid O’Colmain winning M60.

With all the runners safely back to their cars the thunder roared and the skies opened on the unfortunate Graham who was following around the course picking up the markers.

Then it was back to the comfort of Ryans Moss House in Bunclody for prizegiving and refreshments. The next race is in two weeks time on Gibbet Hill on the other side of Bunclody. Info on website or from Jane 0876799490 Graham 0872286186.