Northern Ireland Mountain Running Association
www.nimra.org.uk

 

Another Record Breaking Night at the Hill & Dale Series

Sat 12 April 2003 - Simon Taylor

A record entry turned out for the Tollymore Mountain Centre race, the 2nd in the Acheson & Glover Hill & Dale Series ? 129 runners from far and wide; Larne, Ballymena, Belfast, Dungannon, Castleblayney, Newry and all points of County Down. It seems to have been a long time since this part of the world seen so much sunshine over a period of a few weeks ? since St Patrick?s Day it has been fantastic and this has left the mountains in superb shape and the forests dry with very fast running conditions.

Ballymena?s Sharon McBurney has stamped her authority on the Series in only two races, following up last week?s record breaking run with another sparkling performance to come home in 28th overall in 35 minutes and 51 seconds, knocking 1 minute and 20 seconds off Shileen O?Kane?s two year old record. Second lady, and first lady veteran, was North Down?s Roma McConville, who took advantage of Alwyn Shannon?s absence to grab her first category win of the year.

The men?s race was well set up with Newcastle?s Deon McNeilly, record holder, going head to head with current World Master?s Champion, and club colleague, Robbie Bryson. With last week?s winner Neil Carty absent, could anyone else challenge?

This Tollymore race is very fast with the climbs well broken up with short opportunities to recover and very fast long downhill sections. The start is a cavalry charge with the best part of four minutes descent to Parnell?s Bridge and a spectacular sight it was, thundering feet at the first corner like the field of thoroughbreds approaching the Canal Turn on the first lap of the grand National last weekend. Ballymena?s James McCann said a quick ?hello? to the two favourites out front and then promptly joined the peleton of about 15 runners as the first steep climb got underway. Newcastle?s Paul Mawhirt then appeared at the lead of the chasing bunch clearly intent on putting the disappointment of the previous weekend?s Bernagh race behind him.

Off the first summit and Bryson who led, was quickly joined again by McNeilly with Mawhirt, Albertville?s Steve Begley (2nd last week) and McCann now clear of the rest. With local man Jim Patterson having led the way in recent years the new bunch of veterans are now proving that the ?older man? can compete on equal terms with the ?younger man?, the first two tonight being veterans and six more in the top twenty.

The first veteran 55, Willowfield?s Des McHenry continues to produce blistering runs, even in these fast conditions, as he prepares for the World Masters Triathlon Championships in Ibiza (is that what he?s really going for?) ? McHenry came home 20th in 35 minutes and 3 seconds. First veteran 50, Albertville?s Billy McKay had a very fast second half of the race to finish 15th overall in 33 minutes and 11 seconds.

First veteran 45 was Team Purple?s Francie O?Hagan, 16th in 33 minutes and 27 seconds, who hasn?t quite recaptured last year?s form but will show far more when the Series enters the mountains proper. Also notable finishers were Lunchtime Legends? Tom Donnelly first veteran 65 and just ahead of him first veteran 70 Jim Metcalfe in 50 minutes and 58 seconds ? an example to us all.

Meanwhile, the first veteran 40 would be the overall winner of the race as Bryson and McNeilly slugged it out. Off the second long climb and there still wasn?t much in it, with Bryson just getting the edge on McNeilly and then being drawn back on the descents. However, slowly Bryson was just looking the stronger and eventually the elastic snapped and he eased away to win in 29 minutes 41 seconds, outside McNeilly?s record by 16 seconds, but 33 seconds clear tonight.

Behind, Begley, who out kicked Davy McKibbin in the home straight last week, did the same to another Newcastle man this week as he charged past Mawhirt to secure 3rd place in 31 minutes and 6 seconds. Newcastle secured the team victory over Albertville reversing last week?s result.

One of the great things about this Series is that every race is different and challenging in its own way and whilst the winner was destined to come home in under 30 minutes there were finishers all the way down to 55 minutes ? everyone is welcome ? so if you want something different to do on a Thursday night at 7.30pm just turn up (by 7pm) and run ? this week it?s Kilbroney Forest Park in Rostrevor with a good climb to the Cloughmore Stone, followed by the rise onto the open mountain side and onto the summit of Slievemartin before returning to sea level ?record again just over the half hour but runners all the way down to an hour. Full details of the rest of the Series can be found on http://www.nimra.co.uk/.

BOGBOY