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

 

Donard Uphill Championship & Selection Race

Wed 30 June 2004 - Ian Taylor

Preview
Next Saturday?s race (12 noon at Donard Park) should be a closely fought battle for selection and Championship points. Using ascent times at the Slieve Donard race for comparison, Brian Ervine, Ed Hanna and Deon McNeilly climbed with a separation of only ten seconds between each at the top with Steve Cunningham and David McNeilly a couple of minutes further behind. To put things into perspective they were all three minutes behind the fastest ascender and eventual race winner John Brookes. Alan McKibbin and Neil Carty will be away representing Ireland at the European Championships and have been pre-selected for the World Trophy team. In the Ladies? category Shileen O?Kane is rapidly coming back into form, with an ascent time of 50:15, over 3 minutes faster than her ascent last year. Clare Galbraith also had an excellent run, with a time at Donard summit of 52:52 while Violet Linton took 54:40 but suffered a foot injury on the descent. Absent were Anne Sandford and Kerry Harty, resting before the European Championship next week (and pre-selected for the World Trophy). Amongst the juniors Adam Mitten managed to get the better of Jonathan McCloy after numerous attempts during the Hill & Dales, ascending in 45:15 to Jonathan?s 45:40, both faster than last year. Route information is listed on this web site under race details.

Selection
The race will be used to select three places in the senior men?s and two in the senior ladies? teams for the World Trophy in September. One male team place is discretionary and will be decided then or later. If you wish to be considered for this place and will not be at the selection race please make your case to one of the selectors before 3 July. Those selected are expected to respond as to their availability within a few days.

Up to four junior males and three junior females may be selected. The first two males and females at the Trial Race on 3rd July will be selected with the remaining places discretionary. Competition in WMRA Junior races (male and female) is limited to those aged 16, 17, 18 and 19 years on the 31st December in the year of the competition.

You are reminded that not all eligible places in all teams will necessarily be filled. The full selection policy has also been updated elsewhere on this web site.

World Trophy, Sauze d?Oulx, Turin, Italy
The World Trophy this year is on 4/5 September in Italy. The course lengths are 10.14 km with 1017 m of climb (men), 8.46 km with 860 m climb (ladies & junior men) and 3.57 km with 447 m climb (junior women) . Accommodation is provided for teams from Thursday until Monday morning.

Snowdon, 24 July.
On 3 July we will also be selecting for our Snowdon team. Please be willing to indicate your availability as soon as possible so that travel arrangements can be finalised. Team accommodation is provided on the Friday and Saturday evenings. If you wish to take part in this classic race even if not on the team, you are reminded that entries close on 3 July. Entry forms etc are at http://www.snowdonrace.com/ or from the Links on the NIMRA site.

Championship Positions
These have been updated after the Sl Donard race. Currently 20 people have completed the Championship with Neil Carty on 148 points ahead of Brian Ervine on 147 points. Barbara Brown still leads the Ladies but can be passed by Anne Sandford or Violet Linton. Jim Patterson leads vet45, vet50 and vet55 categories. The Junior Championships are being held at Scrabo on 30 July.

Race Details
Selection Criteria