Leinster Orienteering Championships 9th May 2010

What a team!
When I woke at 4.30 am with rain battering against the bedroom window on the morning of the Wicklow Way Relay, I suffered my first shiver of the day. What were we all thinking of - running 104km from Klmashogue to Shillellagh on a day like this? ?
By the time Nadya was stuffing down an early breakfast, it was hailing (as in stones). She still got around her 14km in 95 mins 16 secs, a PB by some way even taking into account the slightly shorter route. Eoin carried on the good work, finished Leg 2 in 104.40. Now it was Emma's turn and with Chester the dog safe in the care of Scott and Kim, she set off on the 8k leg, with her time of 46.25 pulling us up the table slightly (26th fastest of 34). Next up was Ger Power who came into Glendalough, with the rain bucketing down again, in a solid time of 69.38.
Despite a knee problem that has stopped him training, Martin did an encouraging time of 84.05 for the sixth leg. By then our Secret Weapon Ger Butler had left on the mass start and for a second year, clocked the third fastest time of the day for the leg of 53.38. Our GEN guest Kevin had hoped for for a faster time on the notorious 21k seventh leg, but the weather scuppered that plans. He still came into Tinehealy looking strong and fresh in a good time of 116.27 - the 22nd fastest of the day. Now it was all down to Sean, who had made a last minute "recce" of his leg the day before. It paid off. Sean, who has done the 21km leg for our teams for more years than we care to remember, fully deserved the glory leg this time and he splashed into Shillellagh in 47 mins 4 secs - the 12th fastest of the day.
That pulled us up to 25th overall of the 32 teams that finished; two teams retired (we hope that Rosie Lenehan isn't in too much pain after a stick went through her shoe and into her foot on the last leg). Amazingly, our overall time of 10 hrs 17 mins 13 secs was faster than last year when we clocked a time of 10:18.35 and finished 27th from 35 teams. So we're improving with age. Best of all we finished without anyone going even slightly wrong - few teams could say the same.
Well done to you all - and here's to next year's 10th edition of this great race, when we hope to have two teams, and work the car pooling a bit better (Sean has a scheme...) .
* Pics at http://www.flickr.com/photos/lindie/sets/72157619293070673/