Joyce and Kelly roar in Devil’s Glen
Aoife Joyce
The spectacular roar of the Glanmore waterfall, then larger, coined the current name of yesterday’s race venue: The Devil’s Glen. Two former Irish internationals roared highest as Michael Kelly, Gowran, beat a competitive men’s field…
Michael Kelly
…while Aoife Joyce, Crusaders AC, returned from a long injury lay-off with a win and a new course record (39:26) for the ladies following up on her runners-up spot in the Rydal Round in England the previous week. Positive feedback after the inaugural race, perhaps on the stunning sceneries of the glen, meant numbers were up from a hundred runners in 2009 to a hundred thirty four.
Behind Michael Kelly came Ian McGrath who just about held off a rare visitor from England: Pudsey and Bramley’s Shane Green. What fewer may know is that Shane Green, who has Irish parents, has his name written deep in Irish mountain running annals competing for the Irish team in the Nineties and gaining lasting fame when breaking Joss Naylor’s time for the Pike’s Peak ascent and descent.
Shane Green
He summed up the casual nature of the Trail League: “I walked a few steps on the last climb when I saw I was clear in third,” Shane said in the Ashford House afterwards, “it was my treat.” Behind cross-country style in-fights had several competitors busting their lungs on the fast unforgiving trails.
Ian O’Kane returned home in fourth which was enough to secure him the league title.
In the ladies, Laura Flynn, Rathfarnham, followed Aoife Joyce in second with Tressan McCambridge, Crusaders only ten seconds back in third. Aoife, Tressan and Emma Boland in fourth combined to give the Crusaders ladies victory on the night and sweeping the league unopposed. Fourth was a lucky placing on the night, as Emma Boland did enough to take the ladies’ Trail League title. Sli Cualann’s men also took their third victory on the trod and came out the best team of the Trail League.
Full results and pictures at IMRA.
