Race 2 Glory Race Report

On a day when the anticipated top 3 men’s showdown produced the closest finish in Series race history, the local welcome and support for all participants was the talk of all post event.

On the opening run the defending champion Ruraidh Geraghty led out as expected but with several unexpected toilet stops on route was off the pace by the bike transition with Adian Mc Moreland leading by a min into transition ahead of Padraig Marrey and  Brendan Conway with Jonathon Caulfield, Geraghty and Paul Carolan 20 sec further behind.

Marrey set off at a ferrocious pace on the bike and caught and passed Mc Moreland as Geraty regained some time on the bike to move into 3rd with Conway in 4th at the second transition. Mc Moreland caugh up on Marrey soon into the run but could not shake him off and in the end local course knowledge and “auld dog” determination helped Marrey to out sprint his younger rival and take the win by only 4 seconds! Gerraghty held on grimly to take 3rd place 4 mins back with Irish Air Corps’ Declan Kelly coming through with a fine last run leg to take 4th place just a min ahead of vet winner Noel Gibbons in 5th place.

In the ladies race reigning Expert Series Champion Emma Donlon made a welcome return to competitive action after a prolonged absence through injury and was never in any great danger as she led from the off to post a neat win 5 mins ahead of recent Series race winner Collette Sweeney who in turn was 5 mins clear of fellow top vet Kathleen Barry and Pauline Moran taking 4th a further 6 mins back. Sandra Caulfield kept up a family tradition of top placings in 5th as her brother Jonathan took the Top Culchie title with his 11th place overall in the men’s race.