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

 

Calamity Jane?but Carty Glory

Mon 2 June 2003 - Simon Taylor

A teacher?s management and co-ordination skills are challenged regularly in the confines of the school, however, rarely are they on show like they were last Thursday night at the Loughshannagh Horseshoe, the 8th of the 11 race Acheson & Glover Hill & Dale Series 2003. The organiser shall remain nameless, some of us do know who he or she is, at least with 104 racers for the toughest outing of the Series, he (there?s a clue) easily missed being the most unpopular, as well as the most inept, of the Series organisers.

?Don?t panic Mr Mainwaring? (that?s not his real name obviously, but think Dad?s Army and you?re starting to get the picture of Thursday night?s events). I suppose the stress built up as 7.30pm approached, wanting to run the race as well as organise is always designed to generate stress, particularly when the green Wellington boot clad Fontenoy and official starter, Frank Morgan, doesn?t turn up before the official start time (in case, you?re not following this, it?s difficult to fulfil duties as official race timekeeper if you turn up after the race has started).

Anyway, recognising the danger of not being able to time the race and run in it at the same time, Ba?oops, the organiser left his able, and normally super chilled, daughter to complete taking the entries; by the way, there seems to be a new sport within a sport developing in the Series, inspired by celebrity architect Peter McGookin, that is ?how late can I turn up and gain an official entry and still make the start line by 7.30pm?? Well, it was causing Jane (that?s Bar?oops, the organiser?s daughter, keep up, if you can) no end of stress, because her dad was gone, disappeared, up the track shouting that she should leave the car and come to the start line and get the race started (she would have to time the race as well now). Or would Brian Ervine be able to start it? No, he was too busy selling, or was he still too injured to make it to the start?

All?s well that end?s well, Jane got the race started, her dad got to run the race (and finished in the top half) and, true to form, Morgan turned up at 7.40pm. Down to the serious racing and after the plod through the mud and bog to the top of Carn, the runners faced the treacherous and steep descent to the Lough Shannagh itself, before the steep climb onto Doan. To give Bart (oops) credit, the marshalling was superb with every move covered and Roy Donaldson was able to report that North Belfast?s Series heir apparent Neil Carty and Newcastle pair Robbie Bryson and Deon McNeilly reached Doan almost together.

At this point, Bryson must have been the favourite, but this year Carty has been more determined than ever and his fitness now matches his desire. At every descent or flatter section Carty stole the lead and a few yards. By the summit of Slieve Loughshannagh, McNeilly had been dropped and Carty turned for home just ahead of Bryson. There was no stopping Carty as he plunged down alongside the Mourne Wall and then climbed towards the summit of Ott Mountain. Once there he literally sprinted for the finish line to win in 41 minutes 38 seconds, nearly a minute ahead of Bryson and over two minutes clear of McNeilly.


Carty (the Funky Worm) is effectively uncatchable now in the Series with five wins and a second place. Newcastle AC made up the next five places, after Bryson and McNeilly came Ally McKibben, Stevie Cunningham (deafened by the noise from the biggest personal fan club ever seen at a Hill & Dale race ? it?s alleged that half of Annalong were on the mountain) and Damien Brannigan.

Remember Jane and Bart, that loving father daughter pairing? Well normal service resumed after he finished and reassumed his organising responsibility. Jane, well she couldn?t work the watch, while Bart couldn?t read it (digits too small for a man of his age without his glasses), it was a bit like the Jack Spratt nursery rhyme; thank goodness for Frank Morgan, it was a surreal occasion.

So Carty won the day with Violet Linton, Bryson, Alwyn Shannon, Cookie O?Hagan, Billy McKay, Des McHenry, and Adam Mitten winning respective categories on the night.

More news, Bob Cooke returned his oversubscribed shot glass and what about Banjo? Banjo is now a celebrity from Newry, infamous previously for his marshalling skills at, for example, the Hen & Cock race (although he never liked going further than Hen). Last May he competed in the Kilbroney race at Rostrevor and after finishing 67th of 87, he felt himself in good enough shape to declare an attempt on Everest. Well congratulations from all involved in the Hill & Dale Series, for on 31st May this year (last Saturday) he succeeded in making it to the summit of Everest.

Next week is the Rocky from the Leitrim Lodge on the Lower Hilltown to Rostrevor Road at 7.30pm as usual.

BOGBOY

Pictures
Full Results