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

Twenty years ago a field of 36 runners contested the final race of the newly created Hill and Dale Race series, a race that was won by Ian Park of Ballydrain Harriers while the first lady was local girl Gwenda McNeilly. Twenty years on and against 116 others the McNeilly name is still to the fore as Gwenda?s brother Deon gained the victory in this year?s race.

 

Last Friday saw the final race of the 2008 Hill and Dale Race Series starting in Donard park and following a course over fast forest tracks, steep climbing through the pine woods and a section across the open mountain to the Quarry before returning downhill through the forest on narrow tracks and back to the spectacular parkland finish in Donard Park.

 

A large crowd of supporters, some merrier than others, had gathered to cheer the runners in and they were rewarded with many fine contests right to the finishing line and to help raise the runners ?hackles?, a piper played a rousing medley at Donard Bridge and thanks are due to Raymond Kendall for providing the inspiration.

In the ladies race Shalene Ward made little of the tough course to come home in 26^th position overall over 2 minutes ahead of Shileen O?Kane with junior Lauren O?Donnell Anderson coming home as third lady.

 

Meanwhile in the men?s race series champion in waiting, Alan Mc Kibbin didn?t actually need to run as his only rival, Omagh?s Stephen Duncan, had decided not to start leaving the way clear for Alan to secure another Hill and Dale title. Alan however had not read this part of the script and, despite having an injury, lined up for the scenic tour of Donard forest.

 

Everyone has their own way of preparing for a race with some preferring to quietly jog alone, whilst others like the comfort and reassurance of a group and warm up with their club mates. The men who proudly wear the silver fern on their all black jerseys raise their aggression levels by performing the famous Haka, but prior to this race, onlookers were entertained by a well known veteran runner bringing himself up to race tempo by gathering drinks cans whilst muttering to himself. The Hill and Dale Series is always full of surprises!

 

This race was no exception with both McKibbin and McNeilly, the first two athletes, entering the finish arena together. Who was going to take the honours? It was only then that the onlookers noticed that Alan was walking in injured, while Deon was finishing at full gallop. He crossed the line unchallenged to take the win and his second victory of the series. Forty one seconds later the second surprise of the evening came into sight in the form of Junior runner Eoghan ?Rodney? Totten, almost thirty years younger than the still youthful McNeilly. Eoghan?s coach Fr J Mc Cann was characteristically modest about his prodigy?s achievement and when interviewed later said ?He couldn?t have done it without me?. Kilkeel?s Andrew Niblock continued his great form by finishing a very comfortable third.

 

 

 

With the front of the race travelling rapidly through the sunlit forest everyone else worked just as hard to get to the better of their rivals for the last time this year. Strabane man, Fergal O?Connor was delighted to pass both Pascal Toner and Harry Teggarty on the twisty descent of Ali?s pad but both Messrs Teggarty and ?two races a week Toner? had different ideas as they cruelly swept past the tiring O?Connor on the fast tracks before the finish spurred on perhaps by thoughts of the legendary Avoca sausage rolls and vol au vents.

 

Another surprise lay in store with the mild mannered Bessbrook man, Paul Fegan, displaying a very fast sprint finish. Not well known for aggressive running, the last time Fegan lost control of himself in this way was when an 84 year old passed him in the finishing straight at the Ben Nevis race. With shouts of encouragement from his team mates he muttered ?No more Mr Nice Guy? and delivered as fine a display of sprinting ever witnessed in Fortwilliam, leaving the super veteran in his wake. As he approached the line on Friday night onlookers were convinced he was going to pass himself in his anxiety to cross the line and be first to the post race festivities.

 

They say it is nearly impossible to train a cat but the Hill and Dale Race committee have worked tirelessly to convince the Monaghan men that half past seven means just that and if you arrive at twenty five to eight the race will have already started. Just when we were convinced that we had won them over to our way of thinking it was, perhaps, no surprise that the Monaghan men lapsed back to their bad old ways arriving late for the race allowing them a seamless transition from warm up to off in one long stride. On further investigation it was found that they had been delayed only by their visit to the dress hire specialist in Carrickmacross.

 

Potentially an unwelcome surprise was brought to our attention by race marshals Kevin Quinn and Billy McNeilly when they reported an injured party on the mountain. Stephen Farr had twisted his ankle badly and they were gallantly escorting him off the mountain. While the twin Sisters of Mercy tended the wounded we knew that Stephen was in good hands and it wasn?t long before Cecil and Joy McCullough?s Rescue vehicle had scooped up the wounded and had him back to his car in Donard Park. Many thanks to the marshals and to Cecil and Joy for their help (and to the athletes who stopped to help -  editor).

 

With the course cleared and with runners and spectators both competing in the race to get a good seat for the prize giving, the curtain fell on this year?s Hill and Dale race Series. A departing runner had the last word when he was overheard to say ?Do you know what I will remember most about this year?s Series? Do you know what motivated me and made me come back week after week and that made me ignore the pain and the hardship? ?The egg sandwiches.?

See you up there.

 

Pete Moss