Only one race this weekend and it was the IMRA Leinster season-opener at Brockagh Burst. Two men in the top-20, four in the top-50, three category placings, two debutantes and a few returnees – this race had it all.
BROCKAGH BURST (SL season-opener)
report by club coach Rene Borg
We had our third largest crew ever at an IMRA race (10)* at one of the most local races for us: Brockagh Burst, this year serving as the season-opener for mountain running in Leinster and the Spring League – something shown by sold out tickets and nearly 200 starters. On the side-lines we were also well-represented with Graham Bush serving as summit marshal and Barry O’Neill as deputy race director although no special shortcuts for our members we reported.
Paul Duffy, myself and Kevin Ferguson stayed close together up and around the first bend on the constantly steepening fire-road (at 1.2k). For Kevin this was his first race for our club and also his first IMRA race! In general the theme for our runners was comebacks: Derek Cullen back after injury with his first IMRA race since 2019, Graeme Warren returning to shorter racing after Art O’Neill and Paul Duffy back after nursing a peroneal injury for a month.
Also racing on the day was a good contingent of our Wicklow Wolf RC runners: Alan Kennedy, Mark Willoughby, Maria Forsyth, Elaine McKinney (one of the 2023 new-joiners) and James Heggie. It was particularly sweet for Elaine who won the F45 category!
| RESULT |
| 1. Derek Crammond (Parnell AC) 0:25:11 |
| ——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————- |
| 13. Paul Duffy 0:30:26 – 3rd M40 |
| 15. René Borg 0:30:33 |
| 33. Kevin Ferguson 0:31:49 |
| 46. Graeme Warren 0:33:26 |
| 51. Derek Cullen 0:33:57 |
| 67. Alan Kennedy 0:35:34 (WW RC) – 2nd M55 |
| 92. Elaine McKinney 0:38:46 (WW RC) – 1st F45 |
| 100. James Heggie 0:39:36 (WW RC) |
| 141. Mark Willoughby 0:44:48 (WW RC) |
| 164. Maria Forsyth 0:49:30 (WW RC) |
As fire-road gave way to the infamous grassy bank, I carved out a bit of a lead on our other runners arriving at the summit somewhere in the top-20 with two runners closely ahead. A few spots back first Kevin arrived and then Paul Duffy. At the Xmas Party, myself and Paul had featured on the Table Quiz as the ‘Rivalry of the Year’ – facing off six times in official races – with me winning the 4 hill races and Paul the two cross-country runs. This year the tables look set to turn. I was enjoying a good descent – passing out 5 runners only to lose a spot late on to the hard charging Paul who gained at least 10 spots on the descent.
Kevin was next over the line followed by Graeme Warren and Derek Cullen in that order and then came our five Wicklow Wolf RC pack: first Alan in a great 67th spot then Elaine (11th lady), James Heggie (securing his top-100 spot!), Mark Willoughby and Maria Forsyth.
Glendalough AC 