Hill versus Furey at Fraughen Rock Glen
Brian Furey
Runners were once again treated to an unusually dry and clear passage up Lugnacoille’s “back door” in the Fraughen Rock Glen from which yesterday’s penultimate Leinster Championship race took its name.
Mick Hanney reports:
bq. “Last year’s inaugural Fraughen Rock Glen (FRG) race was a bit of a wash out. Weather conditions were dreadful and this was reflected in a poor turnout. What a contrast this year’s race was. Wonderful un-Ireland-like conditions – sun shining, skies clear, temperatures up and little or no wind. Fantastic.”
Brian Furey ensured himself a well-earned rest, should he so desire, for the remaining Leinster Championship race at Mt. Leinster, with another win. Now with three victories in three, nearest contenders Peter O’Farrell and Colm Hill cannot make up enough ground to threaten. Colm Hill, CNOC, did his best to keep the league alive, though, hunting Furey all the way and being undone only on the final few hundred metres. He reflected “Brian Furey may now be crowned the Leinster Champ but I sure as hell made him work for it.”
Adrian Hennessy held off Des Kennedy in a tight sprint finish for third while Niamh Garvey, Raheny Shamrocks, and Eithne McShane were the sole female contestants and took first and second.
The favourable conditions and Brian Furey’s guile proved more than Bernard Fortune’s course record of 83:51 could handle and 69:19 stands now as the time to beat. That conditions played the major part became clear when the twelve first runners all ran under last year’s record. Despite this Niamh O’Ceallaigh’s ladies record survived for another year.
Next and final round at Mt. Leinster, full results at IMRA.
