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28 November, 2009

Irish Trail Running Championship - Report by Douglas Barry
Peter Dalton regained his Irish Trail Running Championship title at the expense of last year's holder Mick Byrne. The DSD runner cleared off in to an early lead near the start of the 10k event and proceeded to control the race from the front, setting a record for the course. Behind him, Mick Byrne led home his Parnell team mate Billy Porter on what is their nearest local event.
The race was held in Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow over 2 and a half laps of a sweeping course in the beautiful grounds of Avondale House. Avondale was the home of Ireland's lost leader Charles Stewart Parnell, although in these days of Celtic Tigers, we're now more concerned with loss leaders.
It was a bad year for last year's champions as Mary Jennings had to surrender her title to Raheny runner Orla Gormley who also won in a new record. Orla had built up an impressive lead over the first lap but Mary clawed it back on the second. When Orla realised Mary was nearly on her shoulder, she cleared off like a startled rabbit, extending her margin yet again. Una May, on her long comeback after the birth of her son, took third.