Because of a certain large sporting event across the water, traditional athletics has gone into a lull leaving it to the off-roaders to take centre stage over the weekend.
In Wicklow, 19 teams of three completed the Stone Cross to Lugnaguilla relay – a 53km saunter taking in 16 peaks of over 600m, peak hag mazes, strength-sapping bogs.
On a day of low-hanging clouds that made navigation very tricky, the trio of Greg Byrne, Zoran Skrba and Finbar McGurren (“Is Maith Linn Caca Milis”) came home first in 5 hours 59 minutes.
Byrne had completed an opening leg of 13.18km leg that included the peaks of Seahan, Corrig, Kippure and Seefingen in second place behind early leader Niall McAlindon.
On the middle 19.99km leg, with the squelching bogs of the Mullaghcleevaun plateau to negotiate, Zoran Skrba took the lead handing over to McGurran for the final 20.15km.
Had he done enough? The final leg takes runners to the top of Lug via the surrounding peaks and chasing McGurran hard was Ger Butler of the Boghole team. Butler managed a storming time of 2 hours 4 minutes but Caca Milis still won by a substantial 23 minute margin. Coming third were the GENerals, a team consisting of junior orienteering internationals Jonathan and Laurence Quinn, ably marshalled by Alan Ayling.
Early leader Niall McAlinden, along with Rosalind Hussey and Kyle Heron finished first of the mixed teams. Running the entire route in 9 hours 8 minutes were Mike Jordan and Sam Scriven who will be back next year to break the nine-hour barrier!
At the Lakeland 100 in England’s Lake District, Paul Tierney and Barry Murray finished 2nd and 3rd in just over 22 hours. That was an improvement of two hours 30 minutes for Tierney and of almost four hours for Murray on last year.
A week earlier, Eoin Keith had regained his overall Wicklow Way record from Tierney. Running the 127km route from south to north, Keith finished in 13 hours 6 minutes, so knocking 32 minutes off the record set by Tierney, running north to south, last summer.
Next stop for both Tierney and Keith is the 168km Ultra Trail de Mont Blanc on August 31. Locally, those who like long days in the hills are heading for the “Seven Sevens” in the Mournes this weekend – a mere 30.4 km.
Dublin-based raiders dominated the 20th Balla 10km in Mayo. Sean Hehir of Rathfarnham WSAF set a new course record of 31 mins 32 secs when winning the men’s race, while Elish Kelly of Raheny won the women’s race in 37 mins 9 secs. Raheny also finished first of the men’s teams.
Like to run but aren’t that fast? Then the sport of orienteering – where smart snails can catch headless hares- might be just what you’re looking for.Next Tuesday, the first of four rounds in the Phoenix Park summer league starts from the Papal Cross car park. On each of the four evenings, 3km and 6km courses are on offer (6.30-7.30pm starts) and beginners can be sure of a helping hand.
Families, novices, club runners, scouts, businesses, adventure racers and hill walkers/runners are all welcome. Entry is €5 or €2 for children, with all funds from the first night going to the DeafHear charity. Info www.3roc.net or 086-1023306.
A Barefoot Mile is scheduled for final evening of the ‘Live at Leopardstown’ Music and Racing festival on August 16 (8.0). This is a genuine barefoot mile – even your trendy “barefoot running” shoes must be cast aside. Included in the €20 fee is free entry to the horse racing programme from 4.50pm and to a Sawdoctors concert later in the evening. Plus there’s the chance to win serious cash, with €300 going to the first man and woman.
On a visit home from his US base, West Waterford’s David McCarthy smashed the course record at the Ballymacarbry 5-Mile in style last week. Setting his sights on William Harty’s 1996 time of 25 minutes, McCarthy finished in 23 minutes 55 seconds – a personal best on the roads. In second place was Philip Harty of Donore Harriers , brother of the former record holder, who still races regularly in the south-east.
Ultra runner Keith Whyte from Ennis won the Anglo Celtic Plate 100km (62.1 miles) on a hot day in Wales last Sunday – the first Irish male ultra runner to win this annual home nations international. With no Irish team travelling, Whyte entered as an individual and after taking the lead at 11 miles, went on to record a personal best time of 7 hours 19 minutes. Next outing for Whyte, part of the Irish team that finished sixth at the World Ultra Championships last April, is the Longford Marathon at the end of the month.
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