Irish round-up leading into Galtymore
Joseph Mooney
While English runners turned their attention to the Rydal Round, Borrowdale and other challenges, Irish runners have not been lying dormant. The Trail League kicked off at Glen of the Downs wood two weeks ago with victories for Joseph Mooney and Karen O’Hanlon, Maynooth…
Second round followed this Wednesday past on the Earl’s Drive course. Unforeseen circumstances forced a change of venue from Butter Mountain.
Jason Reid, Rathfarnham, had a comfortable victory over Maurice Robson and Ian McGrath, his second this season after his win at Annacurra back in February. Karen O’Hanlon notched another victory ahead of Suzanne Sheehy and the holidaying Moire O’Sullivan.
Jason Reid at Tibradden
The Trail League concludes with the second running of the new Devil’s Glen course this Wednesday coming with Ian O’Kane and Karen O’Hanlon in pole-position for the league.
Meanwhile in Munster, Tom Blackburn and Mike Cunningham continued their rivalry at Keeper Hill, this time with the former taking a comprehensive victory over the fourteen kilometres. He now leads the league by a point ahead of Mike with one race to go. Niall O’Ceallaigh, Clonmel, was third man with Deirdre Finn beating off Loretta Duggan in the ladies to move within a point overall.
The Munster Wednesday League will go down to the wire in its first year…
Galtymore
You won’t offend any Trail or Munster Wednesday League competitors by stating that the big event last week took place at Galtymore – The penultimate and hardest of the Irish Championship races.
Martin Bradshaw was left as the only man with a chance to shake Brian Furey’s claim to the title when Peter O’Farrell and Jason Reid didn’t compete. In the end, Brian turned the race into a non-event finishing more than seven minutes clear of Rob Cleary and ten ahead of Martin Bradshaw.
In a fortnight when Snowdon’s old record withstood even a Kenyan assault, Galtymore’s classical record, set by Ben Nevis’ winner John Brooks of 75:55, looks equally safe despite good weather conditions. Despite being the best time in a few years, the winning time was still almost nine minutes outside John’s time.
“Runners race to win not to break records,” Kenny Stuart pointed out at the Snowdon press conference, and Brian Furey won the day and the Irish Championship before the last race at Slieve Donard. First lady Mary Louise Ryan, Bilboa AC, arrived ten minutes ahead of Deirdre Finn and thirteen ahead of Loretta Duggan, St. Mary’s Claire. Yet, Deirdre Finn maintains the lead for the title, but Karen Duggan can wrest it from her grasp by finishing fourth or better at Donard.
Results from Galtymore at IMRA.
Next weekend the World Championship Uphill Trial at Djouce on Saturday is on before the Munster League finishes at Ballyhouras Sunday.
