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

 

Christmas Races

Sat 22 December 2007 - Ian Taylor

Christmas is the time to test how your winter training has been going. Make sure you run at least one of the following, especially designed to test either your mountain speed & climbing (Turkey Trot), endurance (Castlewellan Cracker) or overall speed (Race over the Glens).

Turkey Trot, Boxing Day
This long standing event starts at 12 noon on the bottom of the Trassey Track, climbs to the col between Bearnagh & Meelmore and then contours/climbs to the second col between Meelmore & Meelbeg. A fast usually slippery descent down the Happy Valley is followed by a fast run along the Ulster Way and back down the Trassey Track to the finish.

You are reminder to come prepared to carry or wear full body cover - there will be a kit check beforehand. Prize giving will be in the Tollymore Mountain Centre with mulled wine, sandwiches and mince pies.

For three years exile Steve Neill has held off all local competition, winning last year in 45:30 ahead of Deon McNeilly (45:46) and Steve Cunningham (47:02). Steve s time was well short of his previous best and the record of 42:47 set by Brian Ervine in 1997. Fiona Maxwell demolished the ladies record with a time of 56:18. With a record entry of 89 in 2006, lets push this higher again for 2007.
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Preview by Brian:
Mountain Runners will be out in force in the Mournes on Boxing for the traditional Turkey Trot race.  There is always serious competition at the sharp end for the Martin McMahon Memorial Trophy and Northern Ireland Champions Deon McNeilly (Newcastle AC) and Fiona Maxwell (Mourne Runners) head the line up.  Leeds based Steve Neil of Pudsey & Bramley AC has won
the event for the past 3 years but he will face a determined challenge from the in form McNeilly and Mourne Runners Steven Cunningham and Gary Bailey.

Last year Fiona Maxwell demolished the women?s record for 5.5 mile course which includes 1500 feet of climb, clocking 56minutes 18 seconds.  However, the NI and All Ireland Championship has had a tremendous season winning the British over 40 title and taking fourth overall in the British Championship, so it is possible that she may go even faster.  Alywnne Shannon has had a great season too, taking Bronze in the British over 40 category, so a thrilling race is in prospect on
Wednesday.  The event is organised by BARF and starts from the Trassey Track at noon.
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Castlewellan Christmas Cracker
If you prefer your fun events to be a little flatter and faster, try the Newcastle event on Saturday, 29 December, starting at 1 pm from Castlewellan Football Grounds. This event has taken over the mantle of the similar Comber event, with entrants in pairs. The course is over road and forest tracks, 17K in length (with about 450 metres of climb in 2006) - a challenge to see who is best - road, cross-country or mountain athletes.

Winners in 2006 were Alan McKibben & Dave Mc Kibben in 64:43 with five Newcastle pairs in the first 9 finishers. The first female pair were Hannah Shields & Tricia Sloan in 76:23 and the first mixed pair were K Shields & B Connelly in 72:43. Vet categories go by joint ages so start at 80, 90, 100, etc. There are refreshments after the race with T shirts for prizes.

Race over the Glens
The first race of the new year for most of us - on Tuesday, 1 January with a 12 noon start, this is shorter (about 5.7 miles with 330 metres of climb) & faster than Castlewellan over forest tracks, but with a fast descent followed by a couple of sharp climbs. Jarleth Falls won in 2007 in 32:23, ahead of Gareth Hill & Des Woods. Ladies winner in both 2007 & 2006 was Anne Paul, last year in 38:20 with Fiona Maxwell second in 41:34. Again refreshments and tee-shirts provided for all 200+ entrants.

You should enter via the race web site
http://www.raceovertheglens.co.uk/
to save ?1 surcharge for entries on the day.