John Lenihan (Riocht) shook off a flu bug, bad weather and strong opposition to win the 8 1/2-mile Carrauntoohil running race in Co Kerry for the eleventh year in a row.

Lenihan, who had been bedridden earlier in the week, looked a doubtful starter, defied the best efforts of former Irish champion, Francis Cosgrave (Blackrock) and new Sugarloaf record holder, Paul Nolan (Crusaders) to win the mountain race in a time of 76 mins 58 secs, just five minutes outside his own record.

The trio, accompanied by English runner, Shane Green, had been together on the initial climb up Caher mountain, which leads onto the Carrauntoohil ridge, but as the route steepened, the former world champion powered ahead, fragmenting the field.

Despite Cosgrave's best efforts on the steep descent, he couldn't catch the flying Kerryman and had to settle for second for the fourth year in a row.