Irish Mountain
Running Association

Howth Winter

Authors

Unknown Rene BorgGerry BradyGerry BradyPeter O'Farrell

Unknown

<B> TEAM RESULTS </b>

A record-breaking team line-up for the Winter League saw Clonliffe Harriers repeat last year's victory in the men's with welcome appearances from new team Boards AC and rarely seen Sportsworld and 3D Tri Club.

In the women's Crusaders took the first step in reclaiming their "crown" with a close win over the triathlon ladies of 3D.

MEN
1. Sli Cualann 30 (Tim Grummell 4, Ben Mooney 10, Martin Francis 16) - First team across finish
2. Clonliffe Harriers 30 (Gerry Brady 3, Brian O'Sullivan 8, Ronan Hartnett 19)
3. Rathfarnham WSAF 38 (Peter O'Farrell 1, Mike Long 15, William Griffin 22)
4. Sportsworld 52 (Sean Wall 11, Kieran Lynch 20, Paul Mitchell 21)
5. Boards AC 69 (Mick Hanney 14, Marc Barrett 27, Paul Joyce 28)
6. Crusaders AC 80 (Shane O'Rourke 5, Gavan Doherty 31, Diarmuid O'Colmain 44)
7. 3D Tri Club 105 (Alan Kenny 30, Sean Farrell 35, Donor Dooley 40)
8. GEN 223 (Alay Ayling 18, Joe Lalor 77, Brendan Doherty 128)
9. UCD 232 (Zoran Skrba 25, Paul Morrissey 89, Stuart Scott 118)

LADIES
1. Crusaders 49 (Marlon Davies 10, Mary Donnelly 18, Deirde Ni chearbhaill 21)
2. 3D Tri Club 71 (Valerie Fenton 16, Susan Ward 26, Vanessa Fenton 29)

<b> Inter-county women </b>
1. Dublin 10 (1 Mags Greenan, 2 Tiziana Campane, 7 Daniela Boehm)

<b> Inter-county men </b>
1. Dublin 10 (1 Peter OFarrell, 3 Gerry Brady, 6 Niall McAlinden)
2. Wicklow 19 (4 Tim Grummell, 5 Shane ORourke, 10 Ben Mooney)
3. Kildare 77 (2 Colm Hill, 33 Dermot Murphy, 42 Colin Burns)
4. Kerry 98 (15 Mike Long, 21 Paul Mitchell, 62 Berndt Heim)
5. Meath 178 (37 Luke Walsh, 70 Kevin Magee, 71 Gerry Kealy)
6. Louth 254 (64 Aidan Callery, 68 Padraig ODwyer, 122 Pol OMurchu)

Rene Borg

<B> TEAM RESULTS </b>

A record-breaking team line-up for the Winter League saw Clonliffe Harriers repeat last year's victory in the men's with welcome appearances from new team Boards AC and rarely seen Sportsworld and 3D Tri Club.

In the women's Crusaders took the first step in reclaiming their "crown" with a close win over the triathlon ladies of 3D.

MEN
1. Sli Cualann 30 (Tim Grummell 4, Ben Mooney 10, Martin Francis 16) - First team across finish
2. Clonliffe Harriers 30 (Gerry Brady 3, Brian O'Sullivan 8, Ronan Hartnett 19)
3. Rathfarnham WSAF 38 (Peter O'Farrell 1, Mike Long 15, William Griffin 22)
4. Sportsworld 52 (Sean Wall 11, Kieran Lynch 20, Paul Mitchell 21)
5. Boards AC 69 (Mick Hanney 14, Marc Barrett 27, Paul Joyce 28)
6. Crusaders AC 80 (Shane O'Rourke 5, Gavan Doherty 31, Diarmuid O'Colmain 44)
7. 3D Tri Club 105 (Alan Kenny 30, Sean Farrell 35, Donor Dooley 40)
8. GEN 223 (Alay Ayling 18, Joe Lalor 77, Brendan Doherty 128)
9. UCD 232 (Zoran Skrba 25, Paul Morrissey 89, Stuart Scott 118)

LADIES
1. Crusaders 49 (Marlon Davies 10, Mary Donnelly 18, Deirde Ni chearbhaill 21)
2. 3D Tri Club 71 (Valerie Fenton 16, Susan Ward 26, Vanessa Fenton 29)

Gerry Brady

Inter-county women
1. Dublin 10 (1 Mags Greenan, 2 Tiziana Campane, 7 Daniela Boehm)

Inter-county men
1. Dublin 10 (1 Peter OFarrell, 3 Gerry Brady, 6 Niall McAlinden)
2. Wicklow 19 (4 Tim Grummell, 5 Shane ORourke, 10 Ben Mooney)
3. Kildare 77 (2 Colm Hill, 33 Dermot Murphy, 42 Colin Burns)
4. Kerry 98 (15 Mike Long, 21 Paul Mitchell, 62 Berndt Heim)
5. Meath 178 (37 Luke Walsh, 70 Kevin Magee, 71 Gerry Kealy)
6. Louth 254 (64 Aidan Callery, 68 Padraig ODwyer, 122 Pol OMurchu)

Gerry Brady

A wonderful crisp morning on Howth head greeted 180 stalwarts. Doug Corrie had spent a long morning marking a new course while Ray Linn had marshalled the registrations area. Almost exactly on time the race started and a newcomer, junior Sean Wall (Sportsworld) led the panzer division into a biting wind around the edge of the very wet field. As we headed for the first climb Peter OFarrell (Rathfarnham) moved nimbly into the lead with one eye on the single track ahead and one eye on his pulse rate (doctors orders). He was closely followed by Colm Hill (CNOC and DIT), Wall and Tim Grummell (UCD aka Sli Cualann!).

On the first short descent of the day, it became obvious that Wall had absolutely no grips on his shoes as he became detached from the leading trio who were well clear as they crossed the summit of Muck rock before descending sharply into the luxuriant rhododendron gardens with reputedly 2000 different species. The route followed winding old garden trails on its descent towards Deerpark hotel before climbing steeply back up along the edge of the cliffs to traverse the summit of Muck rock again (see John Shiels great shots taken from Dun hill).

OFarrell had the comfort of a clear lead as he made the steep climb up Dun hill and the long run out to the furthest hill on the course, Carrickbrack. He held the lead all the way home across the final summit of Black Linn with its aerial. Colm Hill was safely in second and Grummel was comfortably clear of his pursuers led by Shane ORourke (Crusaders). Further back all was not well as an as yet unidentified runner played pied piper to a posse of 30 others as they created their own course! The pied piper can be forgiven for he thought he knew where he was going, the other 29 alas.

In the ladies race, Mags Greenan (Clonliffe) after an uncharacteristically slow start worked her way to the front for a comfortable win. Behind her and closely packed together were a large handful of women who finished all inside the top half of the field. Sean Wall slipped and slided to 11th overall for a promising debut. Jordan Doyle and his sister Kayleigh won the young junior category. Diarmuid OColmain was an impressive winner of the M60 class as was Seamus Kilcullen in the M70 class. Last but not least is the outcome of stage 1 of the Joe Lalor / Justin Keatinge battle! Both missed a glorious opportunity by following the pied piper and in the end it was the sharp short hills that gave first blood to Lalor. Good man Joe!

Peter O'Farrell

Some new hopes, some old dreams dressed as as new hopes, some on doctor's advice trying out a sociable form of exercise, many happy to be out on a reasonable day in what has been a sometimes wild winter and at least one who got roped in to running after assuming there was a GAA match on..
Whatever your fancy, 175 folk lined up for a brand new course designed and pruned by Gerry Brady and marked by Doug Corrie (and others) once they had successfully negociated Ray Linn's registration team. 175 could have been 185 and the advice there is, get there on time next time kids :)
The course itself proved very popular with many commenting on it's interesting variation - once they had their breath back from the very visible last gallop round the GAA pitch at the finish. Some promising results and some age categories are likely to be shaken up by fresh blood, although I am duty bound to report our Lady veteran fields are fine examples of the benifits of hillrunning!
Round two of the fun continues at 3 rock on another new course.