Bray beckons Irish runners back for some summer mountain racing
Beth McCluskey
Wednesday saw the start of Ireland’s Leinster League with the first League race up Bray Head. Eoin Keith took the spoils, still fresh from his win on the Wicklow Way Ultra only 10 days ago.
In the women’s race, Irish international Beth McCluskey made a welcome come-back after two years away from the mountain running scene.
The Leinster League is a highly popular series of 13 races for those based in and around Dublin and Wicklow, perfect for a bit of racing on summer mid-week evenings. The League kicks off with easier and shorter courses, Bray Head being a beginner’s 6km with 360 metres climb. Races gradually increase in distance and climb, peaking on the forested Ballinstoe course over 11.4km and up 538 metres.
This year the League features for the first time an uphill race only at Powerscourt in Co. Wicklow. And as always, it culminates in a barbecue at the base of Sugarloaf, a well-known scree topped hill on the outskirts of Dublin.
Bray Head slog for the big field
Already the popularity of this League is evident, with 226 runners turning out to battle it out on Bray Head. Next week, runners head to the north side of Dublin to take on Howth’s hills. The question is: will this little hill manage to cope with all these big numbers of runners?
