Midweek race news: 7/5/09
Donna Mahon
Despite some pretty mucky weather this week the ‘midweekers’ still got out there and ran the hills. It was relay time in the last Bunny Run of 2009, the Leinster League continued in Ireland, wind and rain greeted the hardy souls at Dumyat Hill Race, and last night the Sheinton Steeple Chase took place on the England / Wales border…
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Hellfire and Brimstone – courtesy of our girl in the West, Moire O’Sullivan
Last night saw the third instalment of the Leinster Summer League with the devilishly fast, and aptly named Hellfire and Brimstone course.
In the men’s race, the winner of the last two races, Eoin Keith, was still recovering from his 5th place in the World 24 hour Ultra running Championships over the weekend. Kevin English took advantage of Keith’s absence, taking home the race spoil.
Kevin English at Hellfire
In the ladies race, it was a repeat of last week’s Howth race result with Donna Mahon and Mags Greenan taking first and second place respectively.
Full results and photos
Next week, the races step up a notch on the Three Rock Ticknock course. No more single figure distances like the first three weeks: this course will lay on 10km of running, with the infamous descent down the Boneshaker. Whoever dares themselves down that descent should rightfully win!
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Dumyat Hill Race – courtesy of Scottish Hill Runners
Driech rainy slippery conditions did nothing to deter a huge field from turning up and running at the Wednesday night Dumyat Hill Race.
The winning positions were 1st Matthew Gillespie, 2nd Alasdair Anthony and 3rd Oleg Chepelin. Amongst the women, Angela Mudge scored a 5th straight win. Andrea Priestley was 2nd woman, and Catriona Buchanan 3rd.
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The fast and furious Sheinton Steeple Chase took place last night in Sheinton near Cressage, Shropshire. Full results at the Mercia website, images from the ever-present Alastair Tye at Fellrunningpictures
Robin Sedman-Smith at Sheinton
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Bunny Relays – courtesy of Woodentops
Only mad dogs and Bunny Runners would go out racing in these conditions. A fantastic 60 teams toed the start line and the very wet and slippy conditions made for some interesting change overs with generally not much yolk being spilled.
What a great effort the two fancy dress teams Sunny Furry Scaries and Tod Bunnies put in, one to get their outfits and two to compete in the atrocious conditions. As always at the prize giving there’s a quirky element thrown in, this week it was flashing teeth for all category team winners, with the customary stash of Easter Eggs, although beer was also added to Rossendale Dwarves – overall winners, 3 People – first ladies, Plucky Pearce Pacers – first family and Sunny Furry Scaries – first fancy dress.
Paul Woods’ photos here
Bunny runners brave the cold and wet
