Northern Ireland Mountain Running Association
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Newcastle AC - British Over 40 Champions

Thu 21 August 2003 - Simon Taylor

Newcastle AC were crowned British Masters (over 40) team champions after a winning performance at the final round of the British Championship in the Breacon Beacons.

World Masters Champion Robin Bryson and NI champion Deon McNeilly finished seventh and tenth overall and were backed up by Dermot McGonigle, Richard Rodgers and Jim Patterson in the 18 mile race, which was made all the more demanding by the hot conditions.

The Mourne men held off main rivals Horwich Harriers to take the Masters team title with maximum points from four wins in the six race series. Bryson was incontention for the individual masters title, but despite running wellfor seventh he could not match Mark Rigby of Ambleside who finished third overall on Saturday to take the title.

The Newcastle club missed out on the bronze medals in the open team category by just one point, finishing a very creditable fourth behind Ambleside AC, Borrowdale Fell Runners and Pudsey and Bramley AC.

Brian Ervine