Summer League #10: Curragh Wood Results and Report

Post date: Jul 18, 2013 8:45:9 AM

Curragh Wood was the destination for the 10th event in the Cork Orienteering Club Summer League. Given this was the last event to count in both the individual and team league results several participants had an extra incentive to compete at Tuesday night’s event. In all 93 highly focused orienteers were in attendance with many hoping to get a ranking on the leaderboard and others having aspirations of elevating themselves up the results table.Competitors had the great pleasure of enjoying yet another fabulous summer’s evening. All this fine weather of late has led to the forest being exceptionally dry under foot and as anticipated the competition was fierce on the night. The soaring temperatures and the very physical nature of the terrain in Curragh Wood seemed to present the most challenge on the night. Once again the supply of water at the finish helped quench the thirst of many finishers and energized them for the most important post run discussions. The planner incorporated a butterfly loop onto the Short course on Tuesday night which meant that a number of controls had to be visited twice. We hope the temporary disappearance of the control unit from the stake at control 1/9 on the Short course didn't hamper anyone’s run. The unit seemed to have popped off the stake and went on a little adventure of its own down the gully but thankfully once located it was securely reattached to the stake. On the Long course the slow uphill climb to the first control provided the perfect opportunity to study the course and see what lay ahead. The leg from 2 to 3 seemed to be one of the differentiating legs on the night. With several options to approach the control. Many however veered off their intended route due to the vegetation and the recent felling. The running from 6 to 7 was most enjoyable and took participants around the ring fort at the pinnacle of the forest. From this high ground the course commenced the fast downhill descent interrupted only by the need to enter the ruin to punch control 8. This effortless downwards running was to be savoured as the corresponding climb awaited competitors in the latter part of the course. So following some scenic running along the river bank and the negotiating of numerous exposed roots the almost vertical ascent from control 11 to 12 was very tough going. Having completed this climb the running along the path from 12 to 13 provided an excellent opportunity to recover. The event itself wasn't without its own drama following a small misadventure one competitor managed to part company with his SI card but somehow successfully retraced his exact steps and located his SI card and proceeded to finish out the course. Another participant had a very close encounter with a tree but we can fortunately report that she will have no enduring scars from this meeting. 

With the Men’s and Ladies 2013 League titles safely secured by the Corbett siblings Cillin and Niamh respectively, before they departed the country on their holidays. The battle on Tuesday night was for podium honours. Some folks coped well with the self induced pressure to perform well not to mention the pressure and goading from their nearest rivals. The phrase "Get ready to eat my dust!!" was heard amongst two Short course contenders vying for the last podium spot. Nothing like a friendly bit of rivarly to help spur you on when running up the hills in Curragh.

The fastest competitor on the Long course was Donal Murphy who seemed to effortlessly traverse this physical terrain and completed the course in a time of 33:30. This event winner sees him jump two positions in the leaderboard and earns him the runners-up crown in this years league and sadly demotes Brian Corbett to third place in the overall results. Yet another steady run from Jonathan Lucey secured him second place on the night as he completed the course in a time of 34:54. John Hyland made his Summer League debut on Tuesday night and bagged third place in the process by completing the testing course in a time of 38:10. The fastest Lady around the hills in Curragh Wood was Ailbhe Creedon she finished the course in a time of 43:50 thus achieving consecutive event wins. This improved her overall league total and makes her the Ladies league Runner Up. Second place on the night went to Trishia O’Mahony who finished in a time of 49:07. The final podium spot went to Elaine Sheridan who completed the Long course in a time of 51:38. It was a clean sweep for the Bosonnet family on the Short with very little separating these siblings. Joe Bosonnet has already safely secured the 2013 Summer League Short course title so he was under no pressure on his run on Tuesday night. However Joe showed no signs of relaxing at the Curragh event and achieved yet another event win by finishing the course in a time of 20:43. A mere 22 second behind Joe was his brother Sean who was runner up on the night. Meanwhile sister Sienna who adopted a more leisurely approach at the start of this year’s Summer league has switched focus over the last few weeks when she realised that an overall Short course podium position was within her reach. So a steady run by her on the course earned her third place on the night as she finished the course in a time of 21:46. This podium finish also ensures she claims the final podium spot on the Short course. Well done to all who participated on the night. Full individual results and splits are available here.This week CorkO would like to extend a huge THANK YOU to Feargal O'Shea for planning the event on Tuesday evening. Feargal is another of our novice planners and I hope you all enjoyed the courses he set out. Thanks also to Liam O'Brien who was the event controller. We are also very grateful to Frank O'Brien for assisting with starts and Rob McEvoy and John Scannell for helping with control collection.

Following this event 56 individuals have successfully completed 6 events and feature in the league tables. However in total 73 individuals have so far participated in 6 or more events and are eligible to received a summer league finishers t-shirt. As if the fun event and BBQ weren't reason enough to attend next weeks event in Farran Forest park nine competitors have an added motivation to come to Farran as attendance here still counts towards obtaining the league finishers t-shirt.

Now that the pressure is off in terms of the contest for league positions it’s time to have some orienteering fun. So the final Summer League event will take place in Farran Forest Park. This park is located on the southern shore of Inniscarra lake and provides panoramic views of the tranquil waters and surrounding countryside.

This will be a fun event and will be followed by an end of league BBQ and prizegiving both of which will take place in the National rowing centre which is also located within the grounds of Farran Forest park on the lake shores. It is sure to be a fun and social evening, so don’t miss out. Further information on the location and directions to Farran are available here.

Hope to see you there,