Local joy as Furey takes Connacht
Rosalind Hussey
This season has seen the beginning of Brian Furey’s rise to prominence in the Irish hills and the Connacht man went West together with a big IMRA contingent for the annual double-header of Croagh Patrick and Ben Gorm the two counters towards the Connacht Championship title.
There are few greater tests of fearlessness and descending skill in Ireland than these two races and it is no coincidence the fastest descent on Croagh Patrick, set by former Ben Nevis winner John Brooks of Lochaber, still stands below 13 minutes for the 2.15 miles.
Croagh Patrick – The Reek
Brian Furey tests the limit of descending regularly and has seen the cruel face of “The Reek” when a nasty double-sprain here side-lined him for the good part of a season in 2008. The race is known for its “casualty rate” but Brian would not be among them this year.
Three men were battling it out to the top; Brian fought it out with club-mate Peter O’Farrell for supremacy with Crusader’s Jason Kehoe in hot pursuit. He was himself pursued by Diarmud Collins, East Cork. A bad fall just off the cone of scree that marks the final ascent saw Jason hobble in in last position whereas Diarmaid Collins stormed on to pass out Peter O’Farrell and claim second.
Victory on the day belonged to Brian, however, who could be proud of his winning time of 47:29. In the last decade only the “Three Johns” (Brooks, Lenihan and Heneghan) and Paul Nolan have run the route faster.
Derval Devaney, running for local club Mayo AC, took victory ahead of Dubliner Karen Duggan, Clonliffe, and the Defense Forces’ Caitriona Nic Caba.
Ben Gorm
On the grassy slopes of Ben Gorm a smaller field, thinned by injury and perhaps the Saturday festivities, took off for the Championship decider. Once again, Brian Furey edged clear of his championship rivals Diarmaid Collins and Peter O’Farrell, his run coming within 25 seconds of Sean Twomey’s 2008 record.
However, Munster man Tom Blackburn, Bilboa AC, broke up the party to take second leaving Diarmaid Collins to take third. In the overall standings, this meant Tom and Peter, the defending champion, could not be separated as third spot tied with seven points and a head-to-head win each. Brian Furey brought the championship home to Connacht with his two clear wins and Diarmaid Collins took second overall.
Rosalind Hussey, fourth on the previous day, claimed the overall title with a record-breaking run with former Irish international Orla McAvoy of Crusaders and Susie Mitchell in second and third.
So despite the usual bloodied competitors, the travelling IMRA contingent could celebrate another fine weekend at the Delphi Adventure Centre as the first championship of the year closed out this Bank Holiday weekend in Ireland.
King of the Mountains
Croagh Patrick featured as a “triple-header” this year offering points for the Connacht and Irish Championships as well as the “King of the Mountains” (first man to the summit of three peaks Croagh Patrick, Carrauntoohil and Lugnacoille).
Will feature more on this exciting “race to the top” but at Croagh Patrick some who came to grief on the descent could console themselves with points won for this competition: The ultimate test of pure strength in the Irish hills.
