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

The deepest Mournes shed one of its secrets on Thursday last as 129 souls gathered for the 5^th race in the Hill & Dale Series. More of that later (or if curiosity is killing you, skip the next few paragraphs and find out sooner).

The Moughanmore Race covers an out and back course via Pigeon Rock to the Moughanmore summit from the Deer?s Meadow. Thanks to all who paid attention to the ?no parking? signs on the Main Road and parked instead on the old road into the Spelga Dam. The weather was very kind ? indeed it was one of the nicest days of the year for that part of the world with temperatures soaring and any wind coming from the warmth of the Sahara. Underfoot conditions were as dry as they have been for many a year and on the dot of 7.30pm race organiser mountain rescue guru Dave Goddard made his announcements and trusty Frank Morgan got the race underway.

Straight from the start, Eoghan Totten sped into the lead. The 15-year-old is a product of Newcastle AC?s youth policy (and don?t they really need one), as for poor Mourne Runners, it looks like they are waiting on Regan Cunningham, who is presently 5 or so, but looks like their best bet. But Totten just sets out fast and keeps going till he drops. This evening though, he put the cat among the pigeons by being in the front bunch for most of the first climb. A generation apart, 45-year old Deon McNeilly, 41-year-old Alan McKibbin and 41-year-old Des Woods kept him company.

Onto the climb of Moughanmore and McKibbin led, but McNeilly is coming onto form and he didn?t let up. No one really expected anyone to beat McKibbin, but McNeilly has always been the gutsiest of competitors. He passed McKibbin to take the lead and never looked back, reaching the summit of Pigeon Rock and charging downhill to finish in the swift time of 29 minutes and 31 seconds. Once McNeilly was past, McKibbin?s head seemed to go up and soon he was also passed by Woods, who came home in an excellent 2^nd place, 14 seconds behind McNeilly.

McKibbin was 3^rd to give him a 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd so far this year against Omagh?s Stevie Duncan?s 3 firsts.  Ever improving Stevie Cunningham was next only 19 seconds behind McKibbin followed by another fast improver David O?Flaherty, a further 16 seconds adrift. Then in 7^th place came Paul Mawhirt ahead of the real local to this race, Eddie Hanna who lives just at the Spelga Dam. Junior Totten held on well and took many new scalps with his 9^th place.

Coming back to one of Mourne?s fine secrets being uncovered this week, it all revolved around the ladies race. First there is Charlene Haugh who runs in the blue of Mourne Runners, an up and coming Mourne girl who is popular with the men of Mourne. Then there is many times Hill & Dale winner and Northern Ireland Champion BARF?s Shileen O?Kane who runs in purple. But also there is Shalene Ward who runs in white and has been unattached, briefly a member of Newcastle AC and more recently has pledged her allegiance to Mourne Runners. Now the confusion is setting in ? ?so she?s called Charlene as well?; ?no she?s Shalene?; ?no that can?t be right, Shileen?s that wee girl in the purple who used to win all the races round here, had a couple of kids and doesn?t win so many these days?. ?No that?s a different Charlene, we have two Charlene?s these days and the other Charlene runs in purple.? ?No, I?m sure you?ve not got it right, the wee girl in purple is Shileen, we have Charlene and now we have a Shalene?. ?Look up there, there comes the first lady home and she?s flying ? is that Charlene?? ?No, it?s Shalene?. ?Come on, ye girl ye, let it rip?. ?Yip, that?s easier, all these Charlenes are confusing me, sprint home ye girl ye, what a run!?

?Who?s that girl in the red and yellow coming now?? ?That?ll be Alwynne, I think.? ?Al what? Sod this. Come on ye girl ye great run?. So now you know the secret of why the locals from the hills no longer refer to the fairer sex by their first names, just blame the Charlene/Shalene/Shileens.

For the record, Shalene Ward won in an excellent new ladies record time of 35minutes and 39seconds, nearly a minute inside the old one.

Next week is the mighty Hen & Cock and registration opens at the Hen Car Park at 6.30pm.

BOGBOY