Stone Cross to Lug Relay
Last year, the presiding IMRA chairman Tony Kiernan, decided to resurrect the Stone Cross to Lug Relay, bringing it back on the calendar from an 8 year hiatus. This year, the event has survived despite, or perhaps, because of, modest attendance…
Beginners found themselves easily in deep water over these hills and in many ways the race serves as the “evil twin” of the Wicklow Way Relay and suits runners specialised in exposed mountain terrain and classical fell racing.
The relay route stretches over 53km of the boggiest, foggiest and most desolate parts of County Wicklow and runners must climb 14 peaks among them Dublin’s highest as well as Wicklow’s top-3 hills: Kippure, Tonelagee, Mullaghcleevaun and Lugnacoille respectively.
Rough terrain and an unmarked course were bound to set up a battle between the inceptors of Irish hill running: The orienteering clubs. A lone Ajax team found itself hunted from the first leg to the third by three Setanta teams but despite minor mishaps, the team of Mike Long, Greg Byrne and NC winner Peter Kernan arrived first at Fenton’s pub: the route terminus.
In the process, Peter Kernan distanced his nearest rival on leg 2 by more than 24 minutes, a formidable feat of navigation and athleticism.
The record of 4h32m38s stands for another year, however, with the team of Ajax tallying 5h58m35s, 14 minutes clear of 2nd and 52 minutes ahead of 3rd despite a storming run by young orienteer Colm Hill who seriously challenged the all-time record for leg 3 with his 02:03:16 effort.
Full results can be found on the IMRA Website.
For a race report from an Ajax perspective visit here.
