Torc mountain woods a real test for athletes

: Geraldine Breen

: Mags Hassett

: Marie Piggott

: Race director Joe O’Leary (centre) watching athletes competing in the Irish Mountain Runners Association (IMRA) Torc Mountain Wood event

: Nick Hogan

: Jennie Smith, Sinead Kelleher, Annette Quaid, and Geraldine Breen

: Conor McElroy

: Jean Hamilton and Simon Mangan volunteering for the Irish Mountain Runners Association Torc Mountain Wood event

: Julie Byrnes-Hilliard

: Karl O’Leary

: Athletes competing in the Torc Mountain Wood event

: Mike O’Sullivan

: Philip Coffey

: Into the woods

: Tamela Maciel

If you went down to the woods at the weekend you were in for a big surprise.

Gerard Downe competing in the Irish Mountain Runners Association Torc Mountain Wood event, in Killarney National Park, on Sunday.
Pictures: Valerie O’Sullivan

There to greet you would have been dozens of super fit athletes participating in the Irish Mountain Runners Association wood run and they were giving it their all.

The weather was perfect for the occasion which was held in the woodland surrounding Torc Mountain and although the conditions were hugely testing, the course was perfect.

The big event was organised by Killarney ultra athlete and elite champion Joe O’Leary who was delighted to show off his home town to the participants.