Eva Fairmaner

14 July, 2011

I love the way the warnings from my parents over the years of “never get in a car with a strange man” are cheerfully ignored on a Wednesday evening. The drill is usually cruise around a pub car park (well you can’t really “cruise” in a Fiat Punto but sure we can dream) and then the radar swings into action to sense any athletic men in the vicinity. I hasten to add that I do offer and have always gladly availed of lifts from my female chums too. Once the target has been observed and noted, then pleasantries are exchanged (I do at least ascertain that they are actually hill runners and not just Joe Soap O’Public). Last night I had the pleasant company of Eoin McMahon, Oisin MacCinneide and our gallant chauffer Mikey Fry. A glorious summers’ evening with a fine breeze at Kippure. A large crowd gathered, some were anxious to make their magic seven races, some were hoping to drop a result with a better placing and then the rest of us were there because….well what else would you be doing on a Wednesday evening.

Once the race started people went about sorting themselves out on the stony path before the real climbing started. Conditions were the most dry I have ever raced on so you could almost stretch the imagination to say it was enjoyable on the uphill.

Peter O’Farrell appeared on the return journey in what seemed like a ridiculously short time. Bearing down on him was the “bridesmaid” John Brennan who has seen so many runner-up spots now that he must know how Catherina McKiernan felt in the World Cross Country races. Eoin Keth was in 3rd place when they flew past but the might Bernard Fortune, known for his rapid descending skills, was ominously close and he took the 3rd place. The top 3 M40 men were 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the race showing how age is irrelevant!.

Jenny McAuley had a tremendous run, she descended like a mountain goat and was flying passed some of the men as I hauled my weary legs (and the rest of me) up towards the Mast. Kate Cronin, usually easy to identify in her bright orange (or should it be tangerine) top was 40th overall and 2nd lady with Clare O’Sullivan a further 10 placed back finishing a strong run to take 3rd place. I managed to have a good descent considering my tendency to get mild hysterics if I can not see where exactly my foot is going – I blame it on watching too many horror movies in my youth and memories of damsels being sucked into marshes! Ironically I managed to go over on my ankle whilst attempting to speed up on the rocky road to the finish but it didn’t deter me as I knew both Liz Ryan and Helen Dixon were close on my heels and the lure of another Great Outdoors voucher was too good.

Martin Francis is like a fine wine, good nose, fine body and improves with age! He had yet another win and is unstoppable. In the Ladies category Ruth Lynam unfortunately had a DNF so we hope to see her back soon.

The M60s were pleased to see no sign of Diarmuid O’Colmain (who has the M60 category sewn up) so a delighted David Brady held of Ercus Stewart to take the prize. Caitlin Bent was in a class of her own – literally and was smiling as she skipped downhill enjoying her 222nd recorded race. Seamus Kilcullen won the battle of the most senior Gentlemen and got a rousing cheer at the prizegiving.

Martin and Niall Gaffney had a close battle with only 15 seconds separating them in the M14 class with their sister Sinead having a fun run in the FJ category.

Conor Short and Paul Collins displayed strong running to complete the full course in their MJ category and Rory McMullan holding off James Alexander by just over 90 seconds over the shorter course.

Our car was a happy one on the way back down to the pub. Driver Mikey put on some upbeat music and we learned that Oisin had had a flyer finishing in 10th place, Mikey himself modestly revealed that he might have been in the top 20 (he was 20th) I was teasing Eoin as I had passed him near the finish and obviously his pain killers (he had injured ribs) hadn’t given him the podium finish that we reckoned it would have! As we neared the viewing point we saw a romantic couple had strategically placed their camera on a tripod and were lovingly cuddled up for a photo – we wanted Mikey to stop so that we could jump out of the car and spoil their photo or at least “moon” at them – I have no shame! We also found out that Oisin is a fine traditional fiddler so who says hill runners are not a multi talented bunch.

Zoran and his Merry Men (and Ladies) put on an efficient and well-oiled registration/marking and finish so well done and thank you to all – it is thanks to Zoran and all the many volunteers (some of whom do above and beyond the required two volunteering posts) that we can continue to hold the races.

Rene Borg

14 July, 2011

TEAM RESULTS

MEN
1. Boards AC 48 (4 Eoin Keith, 18 John Ahern, 26 Eamonn Hodge)
2. UCD 56 (8 Luke McMullan, 10 Oisin McCinneide, 38 Eoin Syron)
3. Sportsworld 235 (11 Damien Kelly, 98 Eoin O'Brien, 126 John Fitzgerald)
4. The Vulgar 264 (13 Ian O'Kane, 123 Brendan Roth, 128 Jesko Zimmerman)
5. Raheny Shamrocks 379 (99 David Brady, 138 Ciaran McGrath, 142 Mike Gomm)

WOMEN
1. Sli Cualann 34 (1 Jenny McAuley, 15 Liz Ryan, 18 Catherine Byrne)
2. River Runners 41 (8 Michelle Rowley, 9 Catherine Halpin, 24 Aisling Corkery)
3. Setanta 68 (4 Hazel Thompson, 22 Colleen Robinson, 42 Caitlin Bent)