Northern Ireland Mountain Running Association
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Slieve Gullion Report

Sun 11 March 2007 - Ian Taylor

<>Race day dawned bright and sunny, despite the forecasts, for the first Championship race of 2007. While dry overhead, the ground was very heavy along the ridge with many muddy holes giving slower times. With an excellent turn out of competitors, one third more than the record numbers in 2006, the racing promised to be close. Welcome visitors included a team from USA and representatives from IMRA, as well as juniors from Omagh and individuals from Glen Runners and North Down.

Determined to stamp their mark on the race, Deon McNeilly and Alan McKibbin took an early lead, racing together for most of the event, with a following group of Des Woods, Neil Carty, Don Travers and David McNeilly. On the fast descent down the track, Deon pulled ahead of Alan to win in 30:50, well outside his 1999 record of 28:00. Similarly Neil, demonstrating his new training techniques and hence faster speed, overtook Des on the same track and got within sight of Alan at the finish.

In the ladies? categories, Fiona Maxwell developed a two minute lead over Alwynne Shannon, herself a minute ahead of Anne Sandford and in the process took 47 seconds off Anne?s record.

It?s actually easier to win the open male category than the vet 40 one as the first four finishers were all vet 40s (although if you look at the results you will see that one has not faced up to the fact yet!), with Don Travers of Armagh being the first under 40 runner in 5th place. Perhaps we need a new ?under 40? category to give younger athletes a chance. Jim Brown (BARF) was first in the vet 45 category with Bernie Morgan (Armagh) surprising himself as vet 50 winner and Billy McKay first vet55. The latter male is now having difficulty coming to terms with seeing females, and Fiona Maxwell in particular, ahead of him. Some of us have been chasing females in races for years! First junior was Ciaran Collins of Omagh in a respectable 37:37 although we should point out that in faster running conditions juniors Jason Wilson, Jonathan McCloy, Adam Mitten and Simon Taylor have posted quicker times.

Oh yes, I nearly forgot ? there was a vet 60 category too ? although one of the main contenders nearly did not start as he was too busy watering the plants. Anyone running along the Gullion ridge would have known that the plants needed no extra water this year. Jim Paterson took off after the main race, overtook half the field, meanwhile muttering about the start time, and finished 36th and first vet 60. Perhaps he should have been disqualified for environmental damage.

With first and second places Newcastle were well on the way to being first team, backed up by Eamon McCrickard and Richard Rodgers, the latter running a little slower than his recent Odyssey outing. Mourne Runners, top team in 2006, finished second and will have to work hard to repeat their 2006 placing, although team member Brian Ervine was absent today with an infection. A record 9 teams finished, with a surprise North Belfast Harriers team coming fourth ? a first NBH team in a mountain race for many years. With a little more support there could be teams from Ballymena and Willowfield as well. It would be good if Newcastle and Mournes ladies could each get a team for our Br Championship on 31st March.

The event finished off with excellent hospitality and very generous prizes provided by the organisers, Armagh AC.

Teams:
1 Newcastle 14
2 Mourne R 21
3 Armagh 36
4 N Belfast H 47
5 BARF 61
6 Larne 66
7 Omagh 100
8 Team Purple 144
9 Team USA 213

 

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