Northern Ireland Mountain Running Association
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Harty is champion, McCloy grabs the junior lead

Mon 13 June 2005 - Bogboy

Beautiful summer weather, millions of midges, more controversy over the race finish and a quality post-race gathering in O?Hare?s in Burrenbridge, all make for a fine Thursday evening out. The Happy Valley was the location for the 10th race of the www.mountainandwater.com 2005 Hill & Dale series over the mountains of Meelbeg and Meelmore.

119 souls stepped up to the moving start line in sunny conditions amid controversy. ACKC guru, Mike ?BART? Barton, was inspired by his anger again this year over the location of the finish. Early for a change, official timekeeper Frank Morgan had already penned out the finish line, but again over the Wall at the location of last year?s finish line. Bogboy?s mistake of last year had been widely criticised by the Bart and he was livid with despair to find the finish line in the same place as last year as he warmed up for the start. Arguments followed and to make matters worse, race organiser, Billy McNeilly decided to play games with the start as well.

As the runners gathers some 200 metres up the track, he called them back to the car park gate amid more protests. Mild mannered men are sometimes easily excitable. The race started amid reasonably well-intentioned banter (I think) with the Bart having failed to have the finish moved ? again. At least next year the race will be run in the opposite direction, automatically ending any controversy. Maybe this is Bart?s way of psyching himself up for the race? For the record, he finished 46th tonight, no real difference from other weeks (although he has got fitter as the Series has progressed), so hard training seems to be the only real alternative.

At the sharp end of the field it was yet again Eddie Hanna who was first to show, climbing strongly up the tough Meelbeg rise ahead of Neil Carty, Stevie Cunningham, Gary Bailey and Des Woods. Hanna had lost out in the final descent last week and was out to ensure that he didn?t make the same mistake again. He led from start to finish as he ground out the lead and sailed home down the fast descent off Meelmore to win his second race of the Series from Carty with fast-finishing Bailey third.

The junior title is still alive, just, after Jonathan McCloy responded well to the pressure of two defeats in a row by Adam Mitten. His father Hugh chauffeurs McCloy Junior to each race, not a trivial task given that they live on the northwest side of Lough Neagh on the edge of the Sperrins. The family McCloy organise the very successful Slieve Gallion race in October each year and have been big supporters of the Hill & Dale for several years now.

McCloy made it his fifth win this evening in ninth place overall to edge ahead of Mitten?s four wins. This sets things up nicely for the final race this Friday evening with McCloy hoping to seal a hat trick of junior titles.

In the ladies, Anne Sandford was the easy winner over two minutes ahead of her nearest rival and one second inside her own record of last year. This was Sandford?s second win of the Series but ironically her victory ensured that Kerry Harty secures her second Hill & Dale title in a row with five victories already under her belt, without running a step.

Winners in the veterans? categories were Wendy Findlay in ladies vet35, Billy ?the elephant? McKay in the vet50 in a fine 8th place overall, fast-improving Jim Brown in the vet45 in 12th place overall, Steve Begley in 13th overall, first vet40, Billy Magee first vet60 in 48th overall and Ricky Cowan first vet55.

So back to Billy McNeilly who declared himself pleased with the overall organisation on the night. He arrived at O?Hare?s with his now famous free-range egg sandwiches in hand this week for a change, however, only to discover that he had left the prizes ?in da house?. He headed off for home in a hurry uttering the words ?don?t say to anyone, particularly Bogboy?, sorry, but it is now clear that the General is unable to hold his own water.

A final word for BARF?s Denis Ranking, a founder member of the Fell and Mountain Racing Association and recently turned 60. Denis completed his official 100th Hill & Dale race this evening and will look to return next year to win the vet60 title. Denis is one the many inspirations to younger runners who can now see that running and racing can be a lifetime hobby ? life begins at 60.

Next week is the final race of the Series on Friday night in Donard Forest with the prize giving in the Avoca Hotel afterwards.

BOGBOY