Northern Ireland Mountain Running Association
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Carty tightens his grip, McBurney romps home

Sun 11 May 2003 - Simon Taylor

The Hen & Cock race represents, already, past the half way of the Acheson & Glover Hill & Dale Series. Another 96 runners turned up for this weeks challenge, which like all the other races in the Series is unique.

The weather was fine, after some earlier heavy showers and the recent wet weather, the underfoot conditions were wet in places. North Belfasts Neil Carty was hoping to make the most of the absence of Robbie Bryson and Deon McNeilly to make it three wins for the year and to take him into the Series lead. Brysons and McNeillys club mate, Ally McKibbin had other ideas and stalked Carty step for step up the first steep climb of Hen mountain. In the ladies category, Ballymenas Sharon McBurney was aiming for the victory to practically secure the title this early in the Series with five wins from the first six races.

It takes all sorts to make up a field of runners and special attention is drawn this week to the renowned architect, ACKCs Peter McGookin, whose achievements include the Waterfront Hall. However, whilst the Waterfront was completed on time, McGookins timekeeping has worsened with the passage of time and he has singularly failed to make any race this season in what would be described as sufficient time for the start. This has two impacts, the organisers and marshals are unsure exactly how many are in the race and, despite his useful shape, for a man of his age, he finishes further down the field than if he managed to turn up in time. This week was, obviously, no exception as he set off once again behind the mass of 95 runners quickly catching, it has to be said, Blayneys finest Dermot Neary. McGookin eventually came home 61st in just under 43 minutes having passed 35 runners only this week. I wonder if he will make it some week on time or is this to remain but a distant memory of halcyon days of towers and turrets and his Waterfront monument pride and joy.

Meanwhile, not long after McGookin got going Carty and McKibbin were descending from the summit of Hen, less than seven minutes after the start, and behind a bunch led by Ballymenas Alex Brennan, tailed by Newcastles Damien Brannigan, fresh (if that is the right word) from his 2 hours 52 Belfast Marathon on Monday, Stevie Cunningham and Albertvilles Steve Begley. Across the boggy ground and onto the climb of Cock and Carty made the decisive move, pushing hard he stole a few yards, McKibbin hit back, but soon after the elastic was broken and Carty pushed on to gain a 10 second lead by the summit of Cock arriving there in around 19 minutes.

On the fast descent Carty made his lead tell with McKibbin fighting hard but to no avail, Carty came home for his third victory in 28 minutes 45 seconds and a 44 second gap to McKibbin, who in turn had over two minutes on the fast finishing Brennan. Recent Newcastle AC recruit Stevie Cunningham produced the best run of his life in 4th, just out kicked by Brennan posting a fast 31 minutes and 34 seconds.

Former winner, BARFs Jim Brown was first veteran 40 in 32 minutes and 25 seconds. One of the other performances of the night came from the steadily improving Jonathan McCloy from mid-Ulster, who over the past two seasons has quietly progressed up the field and tonight produced his first top ten finish ever, coming home in 9th in 33 minutes and 18 seconds. At only 17, McCloy capped a successful past few weeks with this run and has great potential for the future and is now running better in than Eoghan Gill, last years top junior, was at this time last year.

Larnes flying (he hasn been this year yet) doctor Peter Howie showed a tentative return to form with his 11th place and first veteran 45 in 33 minutes 37 seconds with Albertvilles Billy McKay, another Belfast Marathon participant, coming home first veteran 50 in 34 minutes 7 seconds. First veteran 55 was BARFs Denis Rankin in 21st overall in 36 minutes 15 seconds with Legends Tom Donnelly first veteran 60.

Meanwhile, McBurney dominated the womans section again to come home in 38 minutes 1 second, 46 seconds outside the still injured Shileen OKanes course record. Second to McBurney was also first lady veteran Alwyn Shannon in 48th overall in 40 minutes 40 seconds to tighten her grip on 2nd in the Series. 3rd lady was BARFs Stephanie Pruzina in 65th overall in 44 minutes and 12 seconds.

Alwyn and Dave Bell led the runners in the post-race celebrations to Downeys in the Square in Rathfriland, where a warm welcome was received for the prize-giving. Next week is the gap week and the Series returns for the first of five straight races, the Monument Race in Tollymore Forest, on 22nd May.

BOGBOY