Embedded Files
Post date: Jun 07, 2018 1:36:24 PM
Tramore Valley Park was the destination for the fifth event in the CorkO Summer League. This convenient city centre location is very accessible and always proves a popular stop on our Summer League tour. Despite a strenuous long weekend for some having participated in the club’s 20th Shamrock O-Ringen (3 tough days of orienteering) or the Cork City marathon or the Carrauntoohill hill run many opted to enjoy yet another fine evening in the outdoors and mustered up the energy to orienteer on Tuesday night. Of the 88 entrants on the night at least one participant was spotted proudly wearing his brand-new marathon relay finisher t-shirt!As the evening rush hour traffic resonated all around this site it was fabulous to escape the mayhem and enjoy a challenging run around this park. The dominant mound at this location offers great views of Cork city and its suburbs. Unfortunately, the council have only just begun the process of cutting the grass on this dome hill so I’m sure its presence influenced some route choices on Tuesday night. The long grass was also home to a pheasant who may have been startled on a few occasions as orienteers bounded down this hill.Anyone expecting a gentle stroll around this renowned site was in for a surprise. The planner took no mercy on participants and set out a gruesome Long course which had competitors traversing the infamous landfill mound multiple times and in almost all directions.Although the course was advertised as 5.5km this measurement was based on how the crow files. It would have been energy sapping to take the straight-line route to all controls particularly on the legs that went up and down the hill so participants probably covered approximately 2km more than this by the time they punched the finished.Both courses began and finished with a sprint across the playing pitch. From the goal posts at the Northern end of the pitch Long course participants had several routes options to control two. From here competitors began their first ascent of the mound. Noting the position of the bridges was important when selecting routes on this and several other legs. Control four was on the Southern side of the mound so it was a case of up and over. This was entrants first experience of the rather long grass. The early starters laid out the tracks and although some of these may not have been the straightest of routes it was certainly easier to follow this zig-zag tracks that to create new ones. The faster runners in the field would have enjoyed the fast running on the wide track from four to five.
Following five there was another steep climb up the mound thankfully, the minor trail on most of this route made things a little easier. Having punched control six there was fast descent though the long grass to the bottom of the mound before another sprint across the pitch to control 7. There was a bit of route choice on the long leg from seven to eight before competitors had to scale the mound yet again! A bit of contouring on the leg from nine to ten would have helped eliminate needless climb here. Once again, the fast runners in the field would have gained some time along the track on route to control 11. This was followed by two short legs in the rough open. Arms needed to be raised in the vicinity of these controls to avoid the nettles.Following 13 there was one final climb up the mound to 14 before another descent towards control 15. There was a long run in from here to the finish and the bragging rights for the fastest finish go to Conrad Daly. Despite the taxing course he still had a superior finishing kick!Of the 53 competitors on the Long course it was Conrad Daly who emerged top of the heap! He took the event win having completed the exhausting Long course in a time of 33.28. Conrad is the reigning Summer League champion and this is his second event win of the league. It seems he won’t be relinquishing the title without a fight. Runner up on the night was Joe Bosonnet who finished in a time of 35:43. Third place went to Zac O’Sullivan Hourihan who crossed the finish line in a time of 38.18. Incredibly this was Zac’s fifth consecutive day of orienteering. He competed in the Urban Orienteering Race in Killarney on Friday evening before participating in three taxing days of orienteering at CorkO’s 20th Shamrock O-Ringen. He certainly showed no signs of tiredness when traversing the hills in Tramore Valley Park.The fastest lady around the terrain in Tramore Valley Park was Una Buckley. She completed the punishing 5.5km course in a time of 53.16. Runner up on the night was Elaine Sheridan who punched all 15 controls in a time of 54:56. Third place went to Fiona Power who punched the finish in a time of 57:19. Fiona got to experience the technical open terrain on Crohane Mountain during day 2 of the Shamrock O-Ringen. Navigating around Tramore Valley Park on Tuesday night was an absolute breeze for her compared to that.
The competition was fierce amongst the 35 competitors on the 2.6km Short course and it was Conor O’Keeffe who led the field and claimed the event winner honour. Conor completed the course in a time of 18:26. Hot on Conor’s heels was Willie Fitzgerald who punched the finish a meagre 21 second behind Conor to take the runner up spot. The final podium spot went to Brian Scannell who finished in a time of 19:35.Well done to all who participated on the night. Full individual results with split times are available here:http://www.orienteering.ie/result2?oaction=moreResult&id=21805Huge thanks this week to Liam O’Brien for planning and organising the event and to Brendan Wall and Willie Fitzgerald who assisted on the night. Thanks also to Bobby O’Connor for providing the welcome refreshments at the finishThanks also to Cork City Council for giving us permission to stage the event and granting us evening access to Tramore Valley Park.Next week our Summer League roadshow moved on to the Regional Park Ballincollig. This park was once home to a major gunpowder works but has now become a very popular public amenity. Check out the link below for a map and some area trivia.www.corko.net/calendar/ballincollig-regional-park
This flat terrain will be a welcome change after the endurance climbing this week. Furthermore, in a slight change of format next will be a score event. There will be two group starts on the night. The first group start will be at 5:45pm and the second group start will be at 6:40pm. So, don’t forget your watch.
Finally, best wishes to all our regular followers who are under taking state exams at present. We hope they go well and look forward to seeing you out orienteering again soon.
Page updated
Report abuse