Northern Ireland Mountain Running Association
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Ervine & McBurney take Gallion Race

Sun 5 October 2003 - Simon Taylor

Brian Ervine and Sharon McBurney were the winners of the inaugural Slieve Gallion race in the Sperrins on Saturday 4 October. The Mid-Ulster Athlete Club Promotion was a resounding success and attracted a quality field with the top three mens and womens places being filled by Northern Ireland internationals. The four-and-a-half mile course, which took the runners up through Iniscarn Forest before a loop on the open mountainside at the summit, involved 1500 feet of climb and was well received by all competitors.

Richard Rodgers of Newcastle AC was first to show, but Ervine powered up the climb and was well clear of the Ballymena duo of Mark Alexander and Alex Brennan, who were locked together in second. After the summit loop, Ervine was a minute and 15 seconds clear and had the race sewn up and although the Ballydrain Harrier eased back on the descent, he came home a comfortable winner in 38 minutes 10 seconds.

Meanwhile, Alexander and Brennan were having a real ding dong battle and really charged down the descent. Alexander finally got away on the lower slopes for his best result of the season, closing to within 16 seconds of the winner and 14 seconds clear of Brennan.

Jamie Stewart of North Down produced a great run to win a very competitive junior race from Jonathan McCloy, who along with his father Hugh, instigated the race, with Newcastle?s Adam Mitten close up in third. Rodgers, recently turned 40, was top veteran in fifth overall, ahead of Foyle Valleys Billy Orr in eighth, with top over-55 Jim Patterson an excellent ninth overall.

The ladies race was a thriller, with NI Champion Sharon McBurney and Newcastle ACs Alwynne Shannon disputing the lead throughout.
The two were still together coming off the steep section of the descent, but the Ballymena runner eventually broke clear on the forest track to win by 14 seconds in 44.58. McBurney kept her unbeaten record on the local mountains this season intact while Rathfriland woman Shannon topped off a fine spell after excellent performances in the World Trophy in Alaska and the World Masters in Germany over the past three weeks. Omagh Harrier Hazel McCausland took third in 50.51 with Brabara Brown and juniors Nicola McGaughey and Kirstin McCloy completing the top six.

Congratulations and thanks must go to Hugh and Jonathan McCloy and the Mid Ulster Athletic Club for organising a highly successful race.


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