2003 Grand-Prix Series -
McDonald Cup – 4-Mile
Track Race
Venue
Morton Stadium, Santry
Date
Thursday
27th, March 2003
This year the
Grand-Prix series has more
events than before, with
14 races from March to
November across a variety of
distances and disciplines (see
FIXTURES LIST
for details).
Sponsored again by Behan &
Associates and headed up by
Noel Guiden, Pat Bonass,
David
Brennan and Paddy Tuite.
As there are a lot of races
and administration involved,
each participant also has to
help out in the adjudicating
for one of the events. As
usual the race directors will
allocate handicaps to all
athletes which makes this a
very special and interesting
competition. As an
extra 'incentive', this year
we have included a 'Joker'
system whereby athletes
nominate at the start of the
series an event for which they
will double the points they
score in the event. The series
is judged on the best 10
results. The
leader during the series will
be entitled to wear the Yellow
Jersey and there are prizes
for the different races as
well as the overall BEHAN &
ASSOCIATES CLONLIFFE GRAND-PRIX SERIES PERPETUAL CUP and
other prizes, awarded at the
end of the series in November.
The first event
this year was the McDonald 4-Mile
Track Race. The turnout
was excellent with 32 runners
taking to the start. The
conditions were perfect for the time
of year as it was quite cool (as the
officials Mags Greenan, Jim
Cleary, Gerry McCabe, Paddy
Tuite, Brian Rankin and Aidan
Creaner can testify!) with no
breeze or rain. Once the
race was started, the athletes went
out hard with 16 laps of the track
to complete. Colin Coyne
showed his current excellent form
and struck out to lead from the
start. Second and Third
place changed hands a few times
before eventually falling to Seán
McDonnell and William
Stafford. Every
place was fought for as each
athlete knew that the
handicapping could make an
enormous difference to their
points. Well done to Colm
Doran on a well deserved win
for the McDonald Cup.
Well done also to Declan
Murray on his astute playing
on the Joker to become the
first Series Leader & holder
of the yellow jersey.
Next event the 112th run of
the Clonliffe 2-mile road race
in Finglas on 16th April.
McDonald Cup 4-Mile race
Thursday
27th, March 2003
