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

 

Donard Commedagh Championship Race

Thu 14 July 2005 - Ian Taylor

You are reminded that the next Championship race is on Saturday, 16 July starting ar 12 noon from Donard car park.  This is the fifth race in the NIMRA championship but the first medium category event.  Since to complete the championship athletes must include a medium race in their list of four qualifying races, everyone must do Saturdays race or the second medium one on 20 August.  The latter is likely to be keener fought, with selection places available on the World Trophy team and less runners on holiday.

Saturdays race is organised and marshalled by ACKC with Sam Heron in charge.  Note that there are only four checkpoints to visit, as indicated on the course description elsewhere on the web site.  The route through the forest, unlike the Hill & Dale races, is unmarked.  Hence you cannot go off course although you may choose to follow a longer route!

At this stage in the Championship most contenders have completed 3 or 4 races.  In the senior mens category Deon McNeilly has only dropped 1 point, to Neil Cartys 3 points and the 4 dropped by Brian Ervine (out of their best three races).  Gary Bailey and Eddie Hanna are next, with 8 points dropped each.  In the Ladies section Anne Sandford just needs to take part in one medium event to automatically win the championship as no other contenders have the right combination of short and long races.  Perhaps ladies you should think about what format would suit you to make your championship more compepitive?

In the vets categories Deon is naturally ahead in the vet40 group, with the next genuine vet40 being Barry Wells, 11 points behind Deon but with vet55 Jim Patterson, vet50 Billy McKay and vet45 Jim Brown squeezing in ahead of him.  The latter is the first proper vet45 in the vet45 category while Billy McKay is the first genuine vet50 ahead of Kevin Grogan.  Jim Patterson naturally leads the vet55 category with Ricky Cowan having a great season and only three points behind (taking the best three races).  The vet60 category is getting more popular every year.  While currently John Adgey is in the lead, Billy Magee may have something to say about that but needs to complete both medium races.

Whether you are a leading contender, are suffering from a lack of races or just need a good workout, make sure you are there on Saturday.