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

Ben Nevis 2008

On 30^th September 1895 Fort William hairdresser and tobacconist William Swan donned his plimsolls, strolled out of his shop and set off on the first timed assault on Ben Nevis; with only a cup of Bovril to sustain him at the summit he returned to the Post Office in the High Street after 2 hours 41 minutes.

 

In Swan?s magnificent effort lay the seed of the modern Ben Nevis race, now an event of some 600 entrants from throughout the British Isles and beyond.  The 2008 race welcomed a Northern Ireland contingent of 24 athletes, probably the highest number ever and testament to the allure of an event described in it?s official history as ?the supreme test of athletic fitness.?

 

One of the joys of the race is the organisers? unshakeable faith in it?s traditions ? the familiarity of Lochaber Pipe Band leading the runners to the start pen, the taciturn humour of the commentator and even the same brand of fruit cake eagerly devoured by the weary runners at the finish ? sure it?s as if you?d never left.

 

This years race was a counter in the World Skyrunning Championship for the first time with 25 top class European athletes competing in the penultimate round of the series; perhaps this would be the year Kenny Stuart?s record of 1.25.34 would finally be broken?

 

As the nervous runners assembled at Claggan Park, three wide-eyed young men from West of the Bann visibly paled as a stern faced Annalong schoolmaster instructed them to keep well away from the Gardyloo gulley, solemnly declaring that it was actually 3000 feet high and not just 300 as they had thought.

 

First local to  complete the one mile tarmac dash to Achintee was Mark Alexander of Ballymena who reached the Bridle path just ahead of Richard Cowan and Gary Bailie.  The rocky path along the flank of Melantee grew gradually steeper and as the Red Burn came into view the Newcastle duo of  Patrick Bradley and Barry Wells were trading places with Dave Ewart of BARF with Mark Kendall just behind and wondering whether the month long American honeymoon had really been the best preparation.

 

Perched just below the Burn was ace lensman Paul Mawhirt but even he was no match for Barry Wells who shot past him on the steep ascent resulting in the unedifying spectacle of the photographer having to outsprint Wells to the river crossing to get the vital snap.

 

The long rocky grind to the 4406 feet summit lay in store after the river and as the runners disappeared into the mist the only sound to be heard above the gasps for breath was the lilt of one Darren Herron still able to recount tales of life in the Kingdom of Mourne to anyone who happened to be in within earshot.

 

The summit marshals at last came into view and having overcome their shock at the now trademark Johnny Steede pistol craft (as available for viewing on utube) and guided the Muldoons past the gullies, saw the runners off on the headlong descent over the moonscape of shattered rock and scree.

 

Best local descent was from Mourne?s Gary Bailie who was first home in 1.50.01 followed by the Steede just over two minutes later.  First overall was Skyrunner Roc Agusti in 1.29.12 still well short of Stuart?s record and first lady Angela Mudge in 1.47.12.

 

In 1972, Fort William GP Dr Connochie endowed the award of a plaque for any runner who completed the feat of completing 21 races.  The only Northern Ireland athlete with a distant but probably realistic eye on the award is Newcastle?s Brian McBurney who has now completed 10 events and whose soft spot for the good doctor?s daughter Kathleen who was the first lady to complete the race in 1955 gives an added incentive to strive for the plaque.  Another notable lady at this year was Norma Rea who clearly thoroughly enjoyed the run as the first local woman to complete the event for many years and possibly the first ever?

 

An excellent outing once again with the only security scares caused by the man from the Flush Road whose extensive cache of toiletries was confiscated at the City Airport and a brief standoff between a man from Tyrone and Special Branch?s finest at Inverness.

 

Anyone thinking they are fit enough for the supreme test should carefully check the BNRA website for an entry form in January 2009.

 Dave Bell