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28 November, 2009

Sugarloaf BBQ League race - Report by Douglas Barry
Paul Nolan truly proved himself to be 2002's King of the Wicklow hills with a win in the final Arup Leinster League race on the Sugarloaf. This race, as usual, proved itself to be the most formidable of the 13 races in the league with its steep climb over a stony course that lay in wait - with malice aforethought - for the unwary. And, as usual, there were many unwary ones who failed to treat this 3.5 mile course with the respect it deserves: they discovered that it bites, and bites hard, particularly on the descent.
Paul Nolan knows this of old and kept his powder dry even though he was pressured by an improving Killian Mullet. Killian got the better of renowned descender Aonghus O'Cleirigh who in turn shaded the fast closing John MacEnri and his main rival for second place in the league Eoin Keith. With his third place the Gus-man sealed his second overall in the league. Who was first? the redoubtable Mr. Nolan no less with 10 wins and a second place in 11 outings.
Joan Flanagan won the women's race yet again and confirmed her own supremacy over all the women in Leinster. Joan was just over a minute ahead of Roisin McDonnell who in turn was well ahead of former British Orienteering Champion and Irish international Una May. Una is starting to put her best foot forward after the birth of her first child. Joe Feeney continued on his winning way in the M50 class but Ercus Stewart's 2nd place on the night was not enough to deny Bruce Shenker 2nd place in the league overall.
The short course for Under 14s was won by the chairman's son Eoghan O'Gorman ahead of Kevin Garland while this correspondent's son Jonathan Barry edged out Brendan O'Reilly in a close tussle for the under 11s. Deirdre Bell was the best junior girl in the long course.
That's it for the Leinster League for 2002. A summer that wasn't but with races that were. Over 250 hardy souls tried a race this year. It's up to all of you to ensure that more come out to try a mountain race in 2003 and enjoy the craic and the pints afterwards. There are still three more non league Wednesday races before the western sky snuffs out the summer evening sun. Be there!