Numbers down at Powerscourt, as Minnock goes up
Suzanne Kenny
Do hill runners only accept the uphill to enjoy the downhill? Whatever their reasons, only 164 runners gathered excitedly in Crone Wood for the ascent up Djouce Mountain...
This was the lowest on a Wednesday this season, a fact that may have pleased many after several weeks above the 200-mark. Before reading too much into it, numbers were a bit up on last year’s inaugural event so hopefully the appetite for the innovation of an uphill only race will continue to grow.
“Top” performances
The return of one contestant had been awaited with a mixture of fear and anticipation: last year’s winner Barry Minnock. His rival was Scarr winner Tristian Drute, Sligo AC, but the Rathfarnham man was in mercurial form as he knocked 2:22 off his own record with 34:02. It was telling of the conditions that the top-4 men all broke the course record. Niall McAlinden, CNOC, was third man to the top.
Barry Minnock at Powerscourt
Not to be outdone, Suzanne Kenny took her fifth win in five starts summiting in 41:15 ahead Donna Mahon and Raheny’s Kate Cronin. Donna retains her ladies record of 40:02 which looks all the more impressive now considering the inferior conditions last year.
Leaguer decider
Post-race, one thing stood clear: Barry Minnock has retaken his Leinster League crown (won in 2007 and 2008) with three races to go, winning seven out of seven races. In the ladies, two more wins will secure Suzanne Kenny a similar sweep.
Rathfarnham look set to add team glory to individual victory as they built their already unassailable lead winning ahead of UCD and Sli Cualann. Crusaders ladies ran home unopposed to also confirm their position as front-runners.
Next up the new expanded “Corrig-route” named after new peak Seefingan.
Results, reports and images of the Powerscourt Uphill now online at IMRA.
