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

The entry for this year’s event is up on the previous few years, and once again some interesting teams have entered. Tim Lenton, last years elite winner is back with a different partner John Laughlin, so is the 2^nd placed team of Deon Mc Neilly and Paul Mawhirt and the 3^rd placers of Billy Reid and Gerry Kingston.

Top veteran from last year Stephan Watts from Derby will also be in the running but with a different partner as Craig Harwood has teamed up with Angela Leonard to form a strong mixed team. This should be interesting as there are a number of other mixed teams in the elite class. Eoin Keith and Paul Mahon from Dublin are back hoping not to become casualties of the cluster again, and its good to see elite regulars Ali Welsh and Lawrie Jones signed up for action.

 

Finally in the elite a late entry has just been received from Steve Birkenshaw and Morgan Donnelly. As winners of this years LAMM, and recent setters of sub 18 hour times for the Bob Graham round, I think they can more than put the wind up the other teams.

 

The B class should be very competitive and there are many teams who I am unfamiliar with so the winners could come from anywhere. I note that Phil and Sally Ward have entered and they are regular top ten finishers. Steve Wilson has previously enjoyed success here and is back with his wife Cath to challenge for the mixed title. We have some Dutch visitors Anne Heikoop and Ton De Vaan, and in the C class Kees Geers and Katinka Mulder so a special welcome to them.

 

The C class is as large as ever and I don’t propose to speculate on possible winners, as the main challenge is to get around the course for the majority of teams but it is great to see so many familiar names.

 

We hope everybody enjoys the event, even though the course planner has once again went to considerable lengths to make them as challenging as possible. If you are doing the Elite or B class look out for the Cluster, It will be tricky so make sure you get all the points marked onto your map(s) then make sure you visit them all. Other wise you will be in the soup and crying into it at the finish!

Jim Brown

If there is anyone not taking part in the Mountain Marathon and would be prepared to take markers in on the Saturday and Sunday as part of a training run. It really would be greatly appreciated. Please contact Jim Brown at JimBrown73342@aol.com