Northern Ireland Mountain Running Association
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McKibben returns to make his point the best way

Sat 14 June 2003 - Simon Taylor

A fantastic turnout of 105 runners appeared at the Happy Valley for the Meelmore Meelbeg race on Thursday night last, the 10th of the 11 race 2003 Acheson & Glover Hill & Dale Race Series. Sunny and kind weather, following another unsettled spell, greeted the runners and after last week?s ?lost in the mountains? escapade, Newcastle AC?s Alan McKibben was out to prove a point.

After an initial sortie by Larne?s Andy Gregg, McKibben moved to the front, followed by Albertville?s Steve Begley, Ballymena?s Alex Brennan, Ballydrain?s David McNeilly and Newcastle?s Damien Brannigan and Stevie Cunningham. This week the mountains were clear and although McKibben twisted and turned, veered left and right, he soon established a great lead, one minute by the top of Meelmore. A swift descent of Meelmore to the col, he set into climb of Meelbeg showing awesome strength and stamina as he bounced up the mountain. In his wake, it was McNeilly who led the bunch, but only by a bit.

The ladies race was led again this week from start to finish by improving Violet Linton of LVO, showing better form as each race goes by. Linton came home in 36th place overall in 37 minutes 49 seconds, just over a minute outside Shileen O?Kane?s record from last year. O?Kane made her second race comeback and finished 3rd in 62nd overall. Sandwiched in between was Alwyn Shannon, first lady veteran in 41st overall and only 25 seconds down on Linton.

Meanwhile, McKibben reached the summit of Meelbeg comfortably ahead and took the foot off the accelerator slightly, took no chances and plunged down to Happy Valley below. His winning time of 17 seconds inside the half hour is high quality, only beaten by the likes of Robbie Bryson.

A sprint finish saw McNeilly hold off Brennan for 2nd, whilst Cunningham descended fastest to move into 4th place ahead of Gregg and Brannigan. Fast finishing junior, who loves the descents, Jonathan McCloy, from Mid-Ulster, narrowly failed to beat Jim Brown, first veteran 40, for 8th place. McCloy would have to choose to out descend the fastest veteran descender on the scene.

Billy McKay, one of the slowest vet descenders, still managed to do enough on the climbs to win comfortably the veteran 50 category in 11th overall and first veteran 45 was John White of LVO. Billy Magee out kicked the limping Des McHenry to win the vet 55 category again this week.

Again this was an excellent ?McNeilly clan? production with excellent hospitality at the Maghera Inn afterwards as usual. Next week is the last race of the Series in Donard Forest, a new route, on FRIDAY, followed by the Series prize giving in the Avoca Hotel.

BOGBOY

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