Northern Ireland Mountain Running Association
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Controversy at Rocky, but Candidates, at last, for Lost in the Mountains

Mon 9 June 2003 - Simon Taylor

The storm was brewing, in more ways than one, on Thursday night past, the strong southerly wind was strengthening as the evening approached and skiffs of rain blew in and out, but never materialised into too much before the race was over.

Rocky is a great race. It has everything there is in fell racing from steep climbs and descents, faster sections on track, bog running and, last but not least, a route that is obvious when the weather is fine and not so obvious when the cloud descends. The latter was the case tonight, to the cost of 2003 Acheson & Glover Series Champion North Belfast?s Neil Carty and Newcastle?s Ally McKibbin.

Carty and McKibbin moved steadily away from the 102 strong field, as the race climbed steeply along the wall rising out of Leitrim Lodge. Onto the track and the lead was extended further from Ballymena?s Alex Brennan, Larne?s Andy Gregg and Newcastle?s Stevie Cunningham and Damien Brannigan. The gale was awesome and Cunningham demonstrated how much he has learned already in his novice year of racing by tucking in behind Brannigan as the wind hit 50mph on the climb to Altnataggart. Mind you, given the frame of Brannigan, tucking in behind doesn?t really do too much good.

Anyway, up ahead, Carty and McKibbin turned, everything well, at the first checkpoint, and as the group behind approached they couldn?t help but notice that they seemed to be heading a bit too low down the valley for the direct line to Pearse?s Castle; the race was on, maybe they could be caught?

Off Altnataggart, Brannigan & co stuck to the track and soon found themselves on the summit of Pearse?s to be greeted by Mawhirt and Daughter and the surprising news that they were leading; where were Carty and McKibbin? Enough talk of them for now. Behind in the women?s race, last year?s champion Shileen O?Kane was making a welcome return from many, many, many months off; could she make a winning start? No was the answer, mortal after all. It was, instead, LVO?s Violet Linton and Newcastle AC?s (Rathfriland?s best) Alwyn Shannon who were setting the pace, in the absence of this year?s champion Ballymena?s Sharon McBurney.

Back at the front of the race (or was it?), Carty continued to stretch McKibbin as they crossed the ridge to Tournaman Rock and onto Rocky mountain itself. Behind, Cunningham demonstrated his improvement as he out climbed Brannigan on the run up Rocky with Brennan and Gregg in close attention. Cunningham is fast on the descent, but so is Brannigan and as they turned for home, the fierce wind pushed hard against the runners as they plunged down the mountain.

Carty kicked for home and McKibbin took a tumble and the race was over. 32 minutes 15 seconds was the time with McKibbin 28 seconds behind. Cunningham was next in 36 minutes dead, five seconds clear of Brannigan. Brennan was only six seconds back with Gregg 15 more seconds adrift.

Behind, Newcastle?s junior Adam Mitten had the best race of his season to finish in 8th place overall in 37 minutes 51 seconds; it?s all this track training and racing, which is delivering such improvement on the fells. BARF?s Jim Brown was first vet 40 in 38 minutes 22 seconds and Larne?s Billy Magee first vet 55 in 24th overall in 41 minutes 37 seconds. First vet 45 was LVO?s John White in 41 minutes 54 seconds and first vet 50 was ACKC?s Peter McGookin in 41 minutes and 59 seconds. Jim Metcalfe once again did himself proud coming home as first vet 70 in 65 minutes and 40 seconds.

Linton won the ladies, pulling away from Shannon on the last descent to win in 43 minutes and 15 seconds with Shannon first lady veteran in 44 minutes and 6 seconds. A big mention this week for the ACKC revival, spurred on by the team guru Mike Barton after last week?s Loughshannagh organising distraction, Gary Bailey had the race of his life (so far) in 7th overall, backed up by Willie Marks (at last re-acclimatised after his spell in New Zealand) in 13th, Sam Harron in 15th, again with a Series best and the returning old man Roy Donaldson in 16th. Will they get fit enough in the near future to challenge the Newcastle old men?

Meanwhile back at the front, Carty and McKibbin had given the race organiser, Brannigan, a major headache. Not only had Pearse?s Castle marshal Mawhirt not seen them, but Carty had crossed the line 105 seconds inside Mawhirt?s 4-year old course record. Given the course conditions, wet underfoot and the strong gale, it is clear that this was a problem. Eventually, after a quick organising committee summit and even some input from non-committee members (valid points Willie John, but no standing), the decision was taken to exclude the two protagonists from the official results. At the end of the day, it was decided that when they had reached the ridge, they should have turned right and gone to the summit of Altnataggart, rather than turning left and, although close, it was not the right direction. Brannigan had made it clear that there were checkpoint marshals at four points and this is part of the sport, make the four points or well? the rest is history. At least there are now two real candidates for the ?Lost in the Mountains? Trophy. So controversy reigned; well it wasn?t too bad, Carty was half way to Belfast and McKibbin was back at home at this stage. It was left to Marty McVeigh to heckle the race organiser at the prize giving, not for any real reason, but mainly because he enjoys heckling. All in a night?s craic at Doran?s ever welcoming pub, near Hilltown.

Next week is the penultimate race, Meelmore & Meelbeg, and note that it is clock-wise, not as had been advised incorrectly on Thursday night, starts from the Happy Valley, as ever, at 7.30pm.

BOGBOY

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