Northern Ireland Mountain Running Association
www.nimra.org.uk

 

McNeilly gets off to a flyer

Tue 11 March 2003 - Simon Taylor

DEON McNeilly of Newcastle AC and Sharon McBurney of Ballymena Runners were the winners of the opening round of the NI Mountain-Running Championship, promoted by Armagh Athletic Club at Slieve Gullion this afternoon.

McNeilly led from the start as a group of seven that included North Belfast Neil Carty, the Ballydrain trio of Brian Ervine, David McNeilly and Robert Neill, Newcastles Paul McWhirt and Ballymenas Alex Brennan quickly broke away from the large field as the runners battled into a head wind and driving rain.

At the North Cairn McNeilly and Ervine were well clear and the Newcastle man made his break along the wind swept ridge to reach the summit 20 seconds ahead.

Both men took falls as they charged down the treacherous descent and although Ervine closed to within yards, McNeilly, the course record holder, powered away on the lower slopes to win by 21 seconds in 30.54.

Carty was a clear third as McWhirt signalled his return to form in fourth as McNeilly, Neill and Brennan steamed over the line in quick succession.

Sharon McBurney made a very impressive championship debut as she scored maximum points, coming home over three minutes clear of international Hazel McCausland of Omagh Harriers. The Ballymena runner clocked a speedy 43.39 for the three-and-a-half mile course which included a 1000 feet of climb, despite the adverse conditions.

The team race was extremely competitive with Ballydrain Harriers winning on countback after tying with Newcastle on 13 points. Ballymena Runners showed that they will be well in contention this season by taking third ahead of established mountain running clubs BARF, Larne AC and ACKC.

Full Results

Report taken from Irelands Saturday