Northern Ireland Mountain Running Association
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Ervine Takes Scorching 7 Sevens

Wed 13 August 2003 - Simon Taylor

Brian Ervine of Ballydrain Harriers was a clear winner of the gruelling 19-mile Mourne Seven Sevens, which was the seventh round of the NI Mountain Running Championship.

The race takes in all the high Mourne peaks over 700 metres in altitude and involves over eight and a half thousand feet of climb.

The event is equivalent to an effort well in excess of a standard 26-mile road marathon and the heatwave conditions turned it into a severe test of fitness and determination and not surprisingly there was a high retiral rate.

The 2002 NI champion and Mountain Marathon winner has missed most this season with injury, but he was quickly away from the start and reached the top of Slieve Donard in 42 minutes.

Newcastles AC find of the season, Stephen Cunningham, NI International Mark Alexander of Ballymena Runners and Scottish visitor Chris Upston were next but barring a major upset over the remaining 16 miles, it looked like the race was for second place.

Ervine battled against the clock but the scorching conditions meant that a record was out of the question as he came home in four hours 25 minutes and nine seconds.

Cunningham produced a gutsy effort on the final descent to take second in 4.42.24 after overhauling Upston, who finished in a highly credible 4.42.56.

Full Results