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

 

A Stitch in Time at Happy Valley

Sun 13 June 2004 - Bogboy

Controversy prevailed at the penultimate 2004 Hill & Dale race over Meelbeg and Meelmore Mountains surrounding the Happy Valley (just one early point of order for Des McHenry who despite his many years of experience still seems a little confused ? the ?hills? are what the runners race up and down, the ?dales? are in between the hills and are mainly there to enhance the view from the hills ? this is part of what makes the sport more interesting and beautiful than road racing).

Billy McNeilly was this week?s organiser and once again the race would have gone off like clockwork if it hadn?t been for the torrential shower that turned the results? sheets into pulp and the fact that the finish was set up in the wrong place. Bogboy himself, not unknown to controversy, is taking his share of blame for the confusion, but nonetheless was amused by the colourful complaints led by a local ex-footballer who shall remain reasonably anonymous. No sooner had he finished shaking his head and quietened down ? it was already two minutes into the race and his tirade had begun at the start line before the race had even started ? when Kiwi Richie Stevens? lovely labrador dog, the infamous Tess, charged out in front of him nearly bringing his race to a premature end ? the air was the same colour as the sky.

103 runners took the starter?s orders on an evening that had followed several thunder and lightning showers, but for the time being was hot and sultry. It?s a tight start and the climb of Meelbeg goes on and on. Series title-holder Alan McKibben led the charge followed by one of the most improved climbers of the season Ed Hanna. Behind Hanna, Stevie Cunningham was also climbing strongly. Just inside 19 minutes McKibben reached the summit cairn and plunged down the hill to the col in under two minutes. Five minutes later he was on the summit of Meelmore and, no problem, in another five minutes he came home in just 14 seconds outside the half hour. This was McKibben?s seventh victory of the Series. Hanna hung on from the fast-finishing Cunningham to finish second.

In the ladies race, Anne Sandford took her third victory of the Series to cement her second place overall ahead of Violet Linton by 15 seconds with Tish McCann in third a further 20 seconds back.

Albertville?s Steve Begley was first veteran home in 10th overall, his best race so far on real mountain terrain. Jim Patterson was 12th overall and first veteran-55; yet again demonstrating how good his form remains. Billy McKay took first veteran-50, just behind Patterson and Larne?s Billy Magee secured the veteran-60 title with 44th in just outside 40 minutes.

Meanwhile back to the finish-line controversy. The ?unofficial long race? was won by the grumpy ex-footballer, with ACKC?s managing guru in second place and young Pauline O?Hara in third; each having continued through the ?official? finish line and over the stile and down to the ?traditional? finishing spot.

Special thanks this week goes to BARF?s Nigel Hart who for the second week running attended to one of the race?s victims. Last week he looked after Larne?s Andy Gregg who gashed open his knee during the Rocky Race, this week it was the turn of Wes Kettyle. Kettyle cycled down from Belfast and, despite a troublesome calf muscle, set off to ease his way around the race. Ever the competitive animal, Kettyle stayed on script as far as the summit of Meelbeg, then spotted a couple of his mates already part way down to the Happy Valley col. Setting off to catch them, he gathered a head of steam. Then suddenly the Mourne Wall was hurtling towards him, or was it him hurtling towards the wall? Either way it was Kettyle who was bound to come off worst. Shoulder first, the collision happened and in a state of some shock, blood pouring from fresh wounds, step in BARF?s angel of mercy to guide him off the mountain. Some time later, Kettyle, after cleaning his wounds in the nearby river, was seen putting in a couple of stitches into one of his deeper gashes ? they breed them hard in Deramore.

The last race of the Hill & Dale Series takes place in Donard Forest on Friday night (note ?Friday?) followed by the Series Presentation Night in Leslie?s Bar in the Avoca Hotel. Action starts in Donard Demesne at 7.30pm sharp ? come and give it a go as a warm-up for the Annual Classic Slieve Donard Race, which this year takes place at 7.30pm the following Friday (25th June).

BOGBOY