Cooley Legends Half Marathon

Happy Trails Ahead

CLEC — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 23:28:28 +0000

Cooley Legends Half Marathon & 10k 2013 (20/4/2013)
powered by Carlingford Adventure Racing Club

The fourth running of the Cooley Legends Half-Marathon & 10k took place once again in the glorious setting of Carlingford Lough and the Cooley Mountains.The early morning setting of the Foy Centre was the registration base and bus pick-up to the start line at the Lumpers Bar in Jenkinstown, 13.1 miles away. Justin Maxwell claimed the fastest time, taking the lead on the road section to the Long Woman’s Grave at the half way point, in a time of, 1:23:55, a new record time. Previous record held by Ugis being 1:24:40 he managed two years previously.

It was a quality field lined up at the start line. The wet conditions during mid-week made conditions a ‘wee’ bit tricky. The next runners all arrived with some daylight between them as several runners broke 1:40 for the half-marathon distance on the route with 522m of climb. Cathal Reily was hot on the heels of the lead man and was to finish just 3:12 behind in a time of 1:27:07. Shane Lynch coming home in third in 1:29:37. Micheal Reilly fourth senior male home in a time of 1:34:00.
Local Setanta Triathlete Niall McCabe, the first vet was fourth overall, in a time of 1:30:55. 2nd Vet Niall Halpin 1:32:55. 3rd Martin O’Hagan 1:36:15. 4th Gerry McCabe 1:38:44. First Super vets were Paschal Larney 2:05:36 and Bernadette O’Keefe 2:30:30
High on the mountain above the Bellurgan forest through some of the wet peat bog section, some thinking they were shallow puddles.

In the ladies race, the last two years saw local Setanta Tiathlete Jolene Mallon take the title. However the day belonged to Karen Alexander, winner of the first Legends Half back in 2010. Karen finished 7th overall and lead from start to finish in the ladies race posting a fantastic of 1:34:01. In second, last years champ Jolene Mallon finishing in 1:45:04 and Emma McKenna 1:50:52 in third. In the Vets section first home was Patricia Sloane 1:45:32. 2nd Siobhan Payne 2:16:26. 3rd Lynn Pettus all the way from the U.S.A.
As the race entered the rocky fire-road and left civilisation behind, 342m climb was the menu for the first six kilometres.

Grassy Descending, Heaven!

The next part of the Tain Way is truly glorious: the path is narrow and uneven but mostly grass and the decent grade manageable. The first feed station was at the 5mile mark, were runners grabbed a sip of coke at the drinks station, or a nibble at the snack food available, ready for the tarmac stretch coming up.

Tarmac relief ??
There was pain and joy here as steepish climbs were followed by fast short descents.

At the ‘Long Woman’s Grave’ the runners for the 10k were lining up for their start, a half hour after the start of the Half Marathon. It was a welcome 3 mile gradual tarmac decent to the second feed station. The sun decided to show its face at the sound of the start siren. Shane Toner went into an early lead, holding it unopposed to the finish line in a time of 41:54. He was to be closely followed by Danny Duffy (47:18) and Geoffrey Frawley (47:39) in third. In the ladies section of the 10k run Agnes Feher also went into an early lead, holding it unopposed to the finish line in a time of 55:59. She was to be very closely followed by Anne Canders (56:33) and Catherine White (57:32) in third. At the 9 mile mark, at the second feed station, runners left the tarmac surface for the final climb to Goylin Pass under the shadow of Slieve Foy, and there was to be no more uphill. Final finisher Siobhan Marry was given a very special welcome as she ran over the finish line at Dan’s Stone Wall Cafe, and was delighted to receive his finisher Legend Lighthouse.
Falling towards Carlingford

Carlingford and the Lough with the majestic Mourne Mountains, greeted the runners for the final technical descent to the finish.
Once again there was great banter and impressive hand crafted prizes outside Dan’s Stonewall Cafe, the proprietor and staff putting on a wonderful post race reception in the village square. A big thanks to all involved, to the girls at registration, Carlingford Red Cross, the Foy Centre, Garda, John Lamb of the Lumpers Bar, Mt. Bike marshals M.J. & T from Cuchulainn Cycle Club, marshals at all the feed stations (Myles from anywhere), the TY students from Bush Post Primary School who marshaled at the feed stations and in the village. To all those who travelled from near and afar to make it another special day.
Slán, and happy trails for the summer ahead.

A Few Pics

CLEC — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 19:51:34 +0000

Pictures of Cooley Legends ’13 can be found HERE

More pics HERE

Results 2013

CLEC — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 13:46:15 +0000

Results have now been posted on Chipit.ie and can be found in results

Entries on the Day

CLEC — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:56:41 +0000

Online entry will close tonight. A limited number of entries will be taken on the day. Please e-mail your intention.

Final brief

CLEC — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 10:27:15 +0000

With preparations for the 4th annual Cooley Legends Half Marathon and 10k well in hand, we hope everyone is looking forward to the event.
The trails are dry/softish after the recent snow melt and it looks like it’s going to be fine for Saturday morning, a bit cloudy but dry with a chance of a shower during the week from time to time. But Saturday is Lookin’ good
& hope all a feelin’ fine !!

WindGURU:- http://www.windguru.cz/int/index.php?sc=47784&sty=m_menu

With 24 counties now represented, on the start line, from home and abroad, it’s a true all-Ireland affair.

GETTING THERE & PARKING
Carlingford. – Take the R173 off the M1, at exit 18, for Carlingford.
Limited parking is located at the Foy Centre, so it is advised that you arrive early morning. Parking is also available in the village, opposite the harbour. There is NO parking available at the sailing club. There will then be a five minute walk from the village to registration at Foy Centre. Please leave no visible valuables in our car.

REGISTRATION at THE FOY CENTRE
Turn left into the village, keep left, coming from Dundalk, or right after King John’s Castle from Newry and the North. Foy Centre is beside primary school, opposite church. It will be signposted on the day.
Check in on Friday 19th April from 7 pm to 8 pm. All runners to check in at this time, if possible.
Also on Saturday morning 20th April 7.45am to 9.00am.
At registration you will receive your goodie bag with event Buff, race number and timing chip for the event. Use this bag if you want gear taken back to the finish line.
KIT & EQUIPMENT
Please refer to the website for equipment requirements for the event. It’s advisable to bring a ‘bum bag’ with mobile phone, if you wish. Decision about race equipment taken that morning at race briefing.

WATER & FEED STATIONS
There will be feed stations located at 5 and 9 mile markers.
There will be water and coke available in cups, with orange quarters and banana halves, sweet jellies available at these stations
Please do not litter the trail. Bin bags located 100m from feed station. Please use them.
‘ Leave No Trace ‘ only footprints !!
SAFETY ALONG THE ROUTE
We will have a sweeper on a mountain bike (Tail End Charlie) who will alert marshals if need be. Also lead biker to head the posse !!
We will have several marshals and warning signs along the run, please adhere to the marshal’s instructions.
If you are being approached by a competitor who is clearly running faster than you please let them past without any undue delay. (‘On the right/On the left – Thank you’ )
There is a small section of the route on a public road. Please be careful, respect the rules of the road and other road users at this point, as the road WILL NOT be closed to traffic.
SHOPS
The local shops in the village and coffee shop at the finish line, Dan’s Stonewall Cafe, will be open from 8.30am on the day of the event.

RACE SPECIFIC INFORMATION
Registration Saturday morning 8.00am to 9.00am.
Race Start 10.00am, 600m from the Lumpers Bar, Toilets available here, Jenkinstown.
10k start at Long Woman’s Grave 10.30am – Portaloo on site.
You will be transported there by bus. Everyone hopefully will take the bus. (To the start !!)
Buses for the half marathon leave the Foy Centre at 9.15am sharp. Please make sure you are on your assigned bus at 9.10am
Buses for the 10k leave the Foy Centre at 9.55am sharp. Please make sure you are on your assigned bus at 9.50am
Please arrive early and allow plenty of time for registration.
DO NOT MISS YOUR BUS TRANSFER TO THE START LOCATION.
RACE BRIEFING for both the half marathon & 10k will take place at the Foy Centre at 9.00am

We hope that everyone has a safe journey to the event and we look forward to welcoming each of you to Carlingford. Once everyone has finished or has been accounted for and the course is cleared, prize giving will take place outside Dan’s Cafe, and we invite you to mingle and stay for a bit of banter and the craic.
Showers available at the Foy Centre.

If anyone has any queries between now and the event please contact us on the mobile 087-8105919 or 0871205616.

Slán

Legends Team

What a difference a year makes !!

CLEC — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 15:58:55 +0000

The annual ‘Cooley Legends’ gold rush for title glory kicks off in less than four weeks time. This time last year we were experiencing temperatures in the high teens. It was a real ‘barn burner’ up there, with gorse fires glowing in the dark most nights. It’s a wee bit cooler this time around, with the snow slow to lift and the easterly stubborn to change direction. However, with just 25 days to go before the race start, a wee blow of a south westerly should sort things out.
Online entry HERE

Bone dry up there, but will it last !!

CLEC — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 23:54:24 +0000

Calling Legends 2013

CLEC — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 19:17:45 +0000

The Cooley Legends Half Marathon & 10k will take place on Saturday, 20th April, 2013.
Registration will take place at the Foy Center, Carlingford, opposite church.

Online registration is now open on RunIreland.com HERE

Legends Report 2012

CLEC — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 20:25:18 +0000

Cooley Legends Half Marathon & 10k 2012 (21/4/2012)

Ugis - Arís
Cooley Legends Champ.

The third running of the Cooley Legends Half-Marathon & 10k took place once again in the glorious setting of Carlingford Lough and the Cooley Mountains.The early morning setting of the Carlingford Sailing Club was the registration base and bus pick-up to the start line at the Lumpers Bar in Jenkinstown, 13.1 miles away. Ugis Karasevs was back once again to defend his title and see if he could deliver a time as fast as 1:24:40 he managed last year.

It was a quality field lined up at the start line and he would have to be at his best if he was to have it his own way this time around, the man opposing him was Don Travers from Banbridge. The wet conditions after the overnight rain made conditions a ‘wee’ bit tricky. Ugis posted a time of 1:25:20, just 40 seconds of last years time, but still holds the record. The next runners all arrived with some daylight between them as 18 runners broke 1:40 for the half-marathon distance on the route with 522m of climb. Travers was hot on the heels of the lead man and was to finish just 1:07 behind in a time of 1:26:27. Torben Dahl coming home in third in 1:27:59. Local Setanta Triathlete Niall McCabe, the first vet was fourth in a time of 1:29:59
High on the mountain above the Bellurgan forest through some of the wet peat bog section, some thinking they were shallow puddles. However John McKenna was to discover different, sinking to above his knees in bog, stuck and with the possibility of being fossilised, he was helped out by three follow runners in a spirited act.
Local SetantaTiathlete Jolene Mallon , the defending champion, lead from start to finish in the ladies race posting a fantastic of 1:39:28, for her first top podium of the season, knocking a massive four minutes of last years time.In second position Rachel Nolan was close behind finishing in 1:44:45 and Erin Kate Aleksek in third 1:50:05. As the race entered the rocky fire-road and left civilisation behind, 342m climb was the menu for the first six kilometres.

Grassy Descending, Heaven!
The next part of the Tain Way is truly glorious: the path is narrow and uneven but mostly grass and the decent grade manageable. The first feed station was at the 5mile mark, were runners grabbed a sip of coke at the drinks station, or a nibble at the snack food available, ready for the tarmac stretch coming up

Tarmac relief ?
There was pain and joy here as steepish climbs were followed by fast short descents.At the ‘Long Woman’s Grave’ the runners for the 10k were lining up for their start, a half hour after the start of the Half Marathon. It was a welcome 3 mile gradual tarmac decent to the second feed station. The sun decided to show its face at the sound of the start siren. Martin Curran went into an early lead, holding it unopposed to the finish line in a time of 41:28 setting a new record in the process. He was to be closely followed by Shane Coleman (43:08) and local Setanta Triathlete Fergal Cunningham (43:30) in third. At the 9 mile mark, at the second feed station, runners left the tarmac surface for the final climb to Goylin Pass under the shadow of Slieve Foy, and there was to be no more uphill. Final finisher Kevin Comiskey was given a very special welcome as he ran over the finish line at Dan’s Stone Wall Cafe, and was delighted to receive his finisher Legend medal.

Falling towards Carlingford

Don Travers
Second best legend

Carlingford and the Lough with the majestic Mourne Mountains, greeted the runners for the final technical descent to the finish.
Once again there was great banter and impressive hand crafted prices outside Dan’s Stonewall Cafe, the proprietor and staff putting on a wonderful post race reception in the village square. A big thanks to all involved Physio Ireland, Carlingford Red Cross, Sailing Club, Garda, Mt. Bike marshals fromCuchulainn Cycle Club, marshals at all the feed stations, the students from Bush Post Primary School who marshaled in the village. To all those who travelled from near and afar to make it another special day.

Report & Results

CLEC — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 19:08:01 +0000

The 3rd annual Cooley Legends (off/road) Half Marathon held Saturday 21st April, 2012 in Carlingford, Co. Louth. Conditions were soft under foot, after the overnight heavy showers and fresh North westerly wind to cool the participants on their way. It was Ugis Karasevs, once again taking first position with a time of 1:25:20, just 40 seconds off last year’s time.

In the ladies race once again, there was no catching the local Setanta Triathlete Jolene Mallon (1:39:28), knocking four minutes off last year’s time with Rachel Nolan (1:44:45) and Erin Kate Aleksak, all the way from Statin Island in third (1:50:05) position.

Overall Male:-
1^st Ugis Karasevs…………01:25:20
2^nd Don Travers………….01:26:27
3^rd Torben Dahl…………..01:27:59
4^th Niall McCabe…………..01:29:59 (1^st Vet)

Overall Female:-
1^st Jolene Mellon………..01:39:28
2^nd Rachel Nolan…………01:44:45
3^rd Erin Kate Aleksak……01:50:05

Male Vet 40+:-
1^st Niall McCabe …………01:29:59
2^nd Warren Cartmill……..01:36:41
3^rd Colin Teevan………….01:41:51

Female Vet 40+:- (amended)
1^st Orla McElroy………….01:58:07
2nd Amy Beggs…………..02:08:25
3rd Helen Conneally…….02:19:07
4th Clodagh O’Gorman..02:24:32
5th Gudrun O’Connor……02:29:21

Male Classic Vet 50+:-
1^st Paschal Larney……….02:11:39
2nd Denis Murphy………..02:20:35

Male Vintage Vet 60+:-
1st Liam Fortune………………..02:12:08
2nd Sean Donnelly……………..02:12:29
3rd Christopher McDonnell…02:49:33
4th Kevin Comiskey……………03:02:01 & Final Finisher – Legend

10k Results
Male:-
1^st Martin Curran……….. 41:28
2^nd Shane Coleman……..43:08
3^rd Fergal Cunningham..43:30

Female:-
1^st Michelle Murray……..49:16
2nd Pauline McDonnell…53:30
3rd Liza Halpin…………….55:06
4th Nicole Pringle…………56:04

Male Vet
1st Robert Giles…………………48:57
2nd Neville McGroarty……….51:17
3rd Edwin Murphy…………….56:33

Female Vet
1st Bernadette O’Keefe….….1:03:04
2nd Debbie Malone………….1:03:15
3rd Sharon Bell……………….1:05:41

Classic Male Vet (50+)
Peter Curren…………………..55:27

Vintage Male Vet (60+)
Gerry McAlinden…………58:15

Results for the Half Marathon HERE

Results for the 10k HERE