On the way to yesterday race I witnessed a sight that I feel I must share with all aspiring hillrunners, wanna bees and no hopers. The dynamic duo of Hugh McLindon and Eoin Keith winners of the recent 104km Wicklow Way Relay are human after all.

They were competing in the 24 hours Rogaine (score orienteering event) and arrived at a control site 22 hours into the event, convivially sited in the front garden of a house hosting a party in Laragh. They did their reputation no harm as they went on to complete and win the event but to say they were shattered is no exaggeration and the one with the infectious laugh was uncharacteristically mute. However the scene added encouragement to those present preparing for the day’s hill run.

The usual small band of runners (with two newcomers to the scene) assembled at Glenmalure Lodge Hotel for the forth race in the Leinster Championship Series.

The late arrival of expected runner Bob Lawlor caused at bit of increased excitement as several runners were reassessing their chances and eying up the new coming for any signs of form. However as the 22 runners were called to order on the line at a stage start in the recent WWR, Lawlor was present and many a hope was dashed before the race began. The early part of the race was on a lovely track up and then down along the WW, coming back onto the Military Road before veering left and crossing the Drumgoff River. The next section was the steep climb up the grassy slopes of Fananieran Ridge, a climb remembered by many as the energy sapping end to the Circuit of Aughavannagh of the previous two years.

The track in the earlier sections of this ridge was quite runnable but the climb up the last section has been completely spoiled by quad bikes. This damage has been done since this route was surveyed in November. The last section up the steeper slopes of Croghan Moira was on more solid ground and therefore faster. The order of runners to arrive at the summit was to a large extent preserved to the finish with the notable exception of Joan Flanagan, who in winning the ladies race had, as usual, an excellent descent and improved her position by several places. The overall winner, as expected was Bob Lawlor, with Bernard Fortune and Paul Mahon in second and third. John O’Reilly, returning to form not seen for a few years was first vet.

		Croghan Moira	23-Jun-02
Pos	Num	Name	Club	Cat	Time
1	194	Bob Lawlor	.	M	76.16
2	396	Bernard Fortune	.	M	79.00
3	397	Paul Mahon	Set	M	82.56
4	340	Brendan O'Brien	Ajax	M	84.41
5	175	Gerry Lalor	Set	M	85.17
6	112	John O'Reilly	Bray Runners	M40	86.05
7	658	Keith Barrett	.	M	88.29
8	659	William Rock		M	88.40
9	164	Billy Alexander	AIB	M40	89.31
10	141	Joe Feeney	Civil Service	M50	90.29
11	229	Marcus Geoghegan	Ajax	M40	95.25
12	111	Joan Flanagan	Ajax	F40	96.04
13	157	Patrick Mason	.	M	96.17
14	121	Vivian O'Gorman	.	M40	97.06
15	115	Joe Lalor	GEN	M40	98.33
16	100	Brian Bell	BHRR	M40	101.06
17	155	Bruce Shenker	.	M50	103.14
18	361	Roisin McDonnell	Crusaders	F40	104.38
19	190	Cormac O'Ceallaigh	.	M	113.57
20	285	Barry Tennyson	.	M50	116.03
21	650	John Halpenny		M	117.02
22	102	Gordon Douglas	.	M40	149.20
23	134	Eva Mulleady	Crusaders	F	196.50
24	128	Simon Fairmaner	DSD	M	196.53
		Short Course
1	108	Mike Gomm	Raheny Shamrocks	M70	123.29