Ballyhouras Race. 20/06/99

Report by Douglas Barry

Matt Twoomey presided over an expanded Ballyhouras race again this year. The Munster IMRA Chairman was delighted with the increased turnout of 53 runners and nearly 40 walkers who made the trip to his attractive piece of Munster. Irish champion John Lenihan (Riocht) - the hill record holder - headed up the entry which included an increased number of overseas runners. Afterwards, the visitors said they really enjoyed the pleasant 10 kilometre course that takes in the summit of Seefin - the dominant mountain with its great views of the rolling riches of the Golden Vale.

Kerryman Lenihan had returned to his Munster happy hunting ground after his surprise hunger induced defeat the previous week in the Circuit of Glencree. He admitted frankly "I'm exhausted after it: I'll have to bring something to eat next year!!" However, tired as he may have been, he still had no problem adding the Ballyhoura race to his collection. This tough little race was the fourth round in the Munster championships and attracted the usual contenders and, at the end of it, an unusual contentious finish.

The king of Riocht cleared off up the mountain and the race win was a certainty. John came in to a clear winning margin. Behind him, a battle ensued between Desmond Currans team mates John Barrett and Willie Guiney. The pair charged up the mountain with Barrett leading. Guiney who is a quickish descender said he fancied his chances on the drop down to the finish, but, despite his best efforts, couldn't overtake Barrett who, although he is still learning the tricks in his first season of mountain running, appeared to have mastered most of the key elements.

As Barrett pulled away with 400 metres of track to go and a handy lead in his pocket, Guiney had what might be kindly described as a rush of blood to the head. Seeing his fellow Desmond Currans clubmate's receding back, he jumped over the course marking tape, and dived down off the marked course directly to the finish, missing the last turn and a significant portion of the course, to take second from the blissfully unaware Barrett.

Needless to say, the bliss didn't last long. A puzzled Barrett soon was wondering why a strangely happy Guiney was congratulating him on his race. A check on the results turned the bliss to hiss. A discussion ensued. The organisers reversed the placings and a lucky Guiney, despite not completing the full course, was able keep third place. "I thought it was OK to take my own route, as you can do it in other mountain races" he said later. In the immortal words of Mandy Rice Davies, "Well, he would say that, wouldn't he".

	Men
1	John Lenihan	Riocht	40.38
2	John Barrett	Desmond Currans	42.34
3	Willie Guiney	Desmond Currans	42.44
4	Maurice Dennehy	Duhallow A.C.	46.16
5	Donie Shine	Duhallow A.C.	48.06
6	Jeremy Coward	Chippenham Harriers	48.36
7	Tom Smith	Chippenham Harriers	48.37
8	Mick Ahern	West Limerick	51.20
	Vet
1	Pat Murphy	Eagle A.C.	47.38
2	Paddy Hegarty	Eagle A.C.	49.36
3	Jamie Dore	Rochdale Harriers	49.46
	Super Vet
1	Bernard Collins	Limerick A.C.	51.20
	Junior Male
1	Ross Alexander	Cool Quin A.C.	35.16
2	James Neal	Chippenham Harriers	41.20
	Women
1	Ann Goggin	Bishopstown Orienters	39.57
2	Cora Fenton	Limerick A.C.	41.38
3	Ide Donovan	Buttevant	55.43
	Vet
1	Pauline Dore	Rochdale Harriers	61.40

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