Northern Ireland Mountain Running Association
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McKibben & Harty Dominate Last Night and the Series Overall

Mon 21 June 2004 - Bogboy

A record 113 runners turned out for the final Hill & Dale race of the season in Donard Forest last Friday night. It was great to see new faces taking up the challenge ? five in all in this race alone ? showing that all are welcome to take up the challenge of a race against gravity. Over the twelve weeks each of the twelve races is unique; from faster forest races to steep and rough mountainous terrain. Donard Forest comes into the category of being one of the faster races, but still has its fair share of steep climbing and fast descending.

The atmosphere was buzzing in Donard Demesne before the start as runners and supporters gathered following the extensive thunderstorms of the late afternoon. Also buzzing was the tiny nightmare ? the might midge ? no, not the Mighty Mitty (he was buzzing later in the evening), the mighty midge. This sworn enemy of the human being is fast becoming the scourge of any evening races near a tree. At least the runners are reasonably protected when they can move around, but for officials and supporters, a multitude of bites were the order of the day. Official starter and timekeeper, Frank Morgan, seemed to suffer worst, not the prettiest oil painting at the best of times; Morgan?s midge bitten face was a picture afterwards at the presentation evening. Enough said as Morgan?s diligent input to the Series? officialdom is irreplaceable.

Despite the midges, the Series victors Alan McKibben and Kerry Harty insisted on posing for copious photographs in front of the starting line-up just as the clock turned 7.30pm. Blaming the Mourne Observer photographer for the delay just does not wash, as they were clearing delighting in their moment of fame. How many different angles can the victory picture really be taken? I think we saw all of them as the midges delighted in the bare flesh.

Still, straight from the gun, McKibben was off in a flash and was quickly joined by Simon Taylor. Fresh from a15 minutes and 1 second 5,000 metres on the track, Taylor set about opening a gap on the early flatter section. Speed is one thing, however, but specific climbing strength and endurance is another and once on the steep climb to the top of the Ballagh, McKibben caught and dropped Taylor who was soon joined by 2003 winner Neil Carty and 2002 winner Deon McNeilly.

Former bike international, McKibben is having the best running season of his life and no doubt will want to win again next year to emulate his twin brother?s double of Hill & Dale Series? victories. For now though he will settle for a fine 8th victory in the Series this year and a new record by 25 seconds, coming home in 31 minutes and 7 seconds, nearly a minute clear of Carty in 2nd, McNeilly on 3rd and Taylor in 4th.

Junior, Mid-Ulster?s Jonathan McCloy, who makes more than a 100-mile round trip each time he competes in a Hill & Dale race, won again on Friday night, coming home in 11th overall in 34 minutes and 57 seconds. This was his 6th win of the series and his second junior title in a row. McCloy faced good competition from the Mighty Mitty, who despite making good progress this season still cannot get the better of McCloy, on most nights.

Kerry Harty and Anne Sandford are off to Poland in a couple of weeks to compete for Ireland in the European Championships and their close competitive rivalry this season so far has spurred each on to new heights. This has not only been good for the both of them, but also for Violet Linton and Tish McCann who are hot on their tails. Donard Forest, though, clearly suits the faster Harty with less steep ground that normally suits Sandford. Harty, like McKibbin, is fast out of the blocks and was well clear after the first ten minutes and never looked back, coming home in 41st overall in 39 minutes and 59 seconds, only 20 seconds outside Sharon McBurney?s course record and 46 seconds clear of Sandford. Sandford, meanwhile, had been led by Linton for the whole race, but nipped inside her on a tighter line as they enter the final sprint down the grassy demesne to the finish line. Linton was clearly disappointed, but graceful as ever in defeat, she will feel that she will get her own back quietly as the season unfolds. As for McCann, she had another excellent race coming home only 8 seconds behind Linton.

Bogboy