A weekend of hills and cross in Ireland…
Eoin Keith leads Liam Dunne at Ticknock Winter
Two weeks, two races and two victories; such is the tally for Eoin Keith after the running of Ticknock Winter. Despite pressure from two Leeds runners Liam Dunne and Dave Wilby, the long-distance man clawed out a six second win leaving him just one victory from the Winter League title, in a race decided on the icy descent.
Ladies’ winner was Emma Donlon, in only her second race following her baptism of fire and second-place finish at the Powerscourt Ridge race in November. Last year’s Winter League champion, Karen O’Hanlon, had been distanced by Suzanne Kenny last week and found herself more than a minute behind again today. One of her 2010 rivals, Karen Doyle, pegged herself closer than the previous year but still finished a further minute behind.
Emma Donlon
The crowd was somewhat small by the lofty standards of this popular race in the heart of the Dublin Mountain trails and while the explanations could be many, one contender for the truth was the Eircom XC race where another hill-running international, Donna Mahon, did very well to beat seasoned competitor Anette Kealy by seven seconds. Both had daylight to the field in which Ailish McDermott, while never seriously threatening the leaders, placed herself an unchallenged third.
In the men’s the closest finish came down to the duel between second and third, eventually Kevin Moriarty ahead of Mark Hoey. Mick Clohisey recorded 25:44 to make himself runaway leader of the five mile race, second of the Business Houses races in the New Year.
Three more BHAA cross-countries are lined up for February and March while hill runners will be bracing themselves for the third round of the Winter League on the new course at Annagh Hill on February 6th.
The Munster League kicks off with a new race Comb Wood to Templehill the following Saturday, the name suggests rural bliss, so if you have a scoop on this new route, don’t hesitate to contact us here at MST.
