Though the Dollymount race does not have any mountains to climb it generally presents its challenge through a strong headwind and often lashing rain. On Wednesday there was no rain and the wind was from the northeast, so running on the beach was actually a pleasure, with the wind at your back and the setting sun casting a beautiful glow on the water. Even the ugly smoke stacks in the distance had their appeal.

61 runners set out into the wind onto Bull Island and Dessie Shorten showed off the benefits of his intense road running training by quickly opening up almost 20 yards on the trailing pack led by Eoin Keith. As we hit the beach and then got the benefit of the wind at our back, we could enjoy looking at the kiteboarders and getting a good grip on the solid, dry sand. Unlike mountain races where the terrain is changing, forcing changes in speed , running on the beach required unaccustomed concentration to maintain speed, which was the only distraction on this idyllic stretch.

As we turned off the beach and onto the causeway leading to the wooden bridge the racing really began. As Eoin Keith burst past Dessie, I began my battle with the Chairman, who used all his wiles, including running shoulder to shoulder with a young guy on a narrow stretch, to maintain his advantage. Though I was able to pass him about 5 times Vivian always had the answer and his last spurt with about 400 yards to go, had him clear in our tussle for 20 somethingth place.

The final stretch on the sidewalk back to the start was into the wind and Dessie stayed just behind Eoin, ironically drafting on the accomplished biker. Dessie held off his charge until the last 100 yards where he sprinted past to finish in a course record 22:41 (nearly 4 minutes faster than his time last year). This was Dessie's first overall win in an IMRA race. Eoin Keith finished second and Christy Crowley was third and first Vet, though our winner Dessie is of course also a vet. Emma Sokell continued her early season good form to win the woman's race in 26:30, several minutes ahead of the rapidly improving Martina O'Kearney. With so many of the others out injured, I won the M50, while Mick Kellet in M60 and Mike Gomm in M70 got their usual victories.

		Goal Flash	23-Apr-03
Pos	Num	Name	Club	Cat	Time
1	106	Desie Shorten	Tallaght AC	M40	22.41
2	152	Eoin Keith	Set	M	22.49
3	320	Christy Crowley	Raheny	M40	24.07
4	345	Patrick Marshall	St. Abans	M	24.14
5	334	Eamonn Horgan	.	M	24.21
6	120	Gary Moralee	Tallaght	M40	24.27
7	210	Aaron Shorten	Tallaght	M	24.32
8	292	Colm Doran	Clonliffe	M40	25.01
9	119	Liam O'Rian	Tallaght	M40	25.23
10	324	Marcus Geoghegan	Ajax	M40	25.43
11	350	Richard Connolly	Clonliffe Harriers	M50	26.15
12	238	Damien Courtney	Green 5	M	26.20
13	146	Emma Sokell	Crusaders	F	26.30
14	217	Doug Corrie	Fingal	M40	26.35
15	323	Paul Cullen	.	M40	26.36
16	118	Karl Geraghty	Tallaght	M	26.38
17	113	Claude McManmon	.	M40	26.46
18	336	Patrick O'Sullivan	3D TRI	M	26.50
19	341	Aidan Coffey	.	M	27.19
20	244	Ted McCormack	Gen	MJ	27.26
21	143	Conor O'Meara	.	M	27.28
22	346	Stephen Doyle	Raheny	M	27.34
23	331	Joseph Finegan	.	M	27.37
24	100	Vivian O'Gorman	.	M40	27.42
25	141	Bruce Shenker	.	M50	27.45
26	328	Michael O'Brien	Dunshaughlin	M40	27.53
27	319	Jim Srewart	Lochaber	M50	28.21
28	349	David Brady	.	M50	28.28
29	348	Seamus Byrne	Raheny	M	28.33
30	330	Garret Taylor	.	M	28.34
31	322	John Noone	.	M	28.53
32	274	Keith Kelly	.	M	28.57
33	337	Neil Fitzgerald	.	M	29.06
34	343	Thomas Galvin	Glenasmole	M	29.35
35	242	Martina O'Kearney	.	F	29.36
36	132	Eva Mulleady	Crusaders	F	29.44
37	342	Brian Phelan	.	M	29.51
38	291	Patrick Mason	Set	M	30.05
39	249	Isabelle Lemée	Crusaders	F	30.23
40	344	Jennifer Lee	Blackrock	F40	30.29
41	335	Val Jones	Fingal	M40	30.44
42	338	Ciaran Donaghy	GEN	M40	30.52
43	321	Oliver Desmond	.	M50	31.12
44	339	Robin Brady	.	M	31.28
45	127	Derek Livingstone	.	M	31.36
46	325	Richard Flynn	Set	M50	31.55
47	340	Nick Cork	.	M	32.01
48	142	Niamh Ni Cholmain	Crusaders	F	32.23
49	347	Tony Westby	Raheny	M60	32.24
50	218	Ray Linn	Fingal	M40	33.09
51	332	Deirde Kearney	.	F	33.35
52	216	Mick Kellett	GEN	M60	34.32
53	246	John Fitzsimons	3 Roc	M50	35.12
54	248	Sinead Roche	Crusaders	F	35.48
55	329	Paul Kelly	Crusaders	M	36.12
56	211	James Higgins	AIB	M40	37.14
57	333	Thomas Fowley	.	M	43.38
58	194	Brenda Malley	.	F	50.01
59	209	Mike Gomm	Raheny Shamrocks	M70	51.09

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