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

 

Duncan & Shannon in Control

Mon 21 April 2008 - Bogboy

The 2008 Hill & Dale Race Series continued in great form with the race based in Tollymore Mountain Centre and another record turnout of 175 runners toeing the start line ? but this week only 171 were destined to make the finish line.

 

The spring has been cold and it was no different as the runners milled around waiting for the start of Race 2, a start that had been moved 200metres because the track had been proving too narrow for the number of starters. The usual cavalry charge proceeded but soon last week?s winner Omagh?s Stevie Duncan was pulling away at the front. Duncan recently became Northern Ireland Half-Marathon Champion and he is clearly in the form of his life. It looks like he holds out the possibility of taking the Hill & Dale title west of the Bann for the first time ever.

 

While the leaders were charging on, Newcastle?s Noel Douglas was on the first climb mid-pack and passing some runners when he lost his balance and reached out and grabbed a tree to steady himself when suddenly he heard a click and then felt a searing pain. Looking down, he saw that one of his fingers was dislocated at the knuckle joint. Returning to the Mountain Centre, a Good Samaritan whisked him off to Casualty and more pain of relocation to come.

 

The course had been revised to include a small amount of extra climbing on the 2^nd Drinn through some of the deeper forest. This did not deter Duncan as he stormed home to win in 33 minutes and 16 seconds, well over a minute clear of Mourne?s Des Woods ? another man entering the form of his life. Deon McNeilly (race organiser this week) was next (and first veteran 45) with first junior, Omagh?s Noel Collins in fourth. Fast improving Mourne?s Stevie Cunningham, hill-running virgin East Down?s Brendan Teer, Newcastle?s Dave McKibbin made up the minor places.

 

In the ladies section, Newcastle AC?s Alwynne Shannon made it two victories out of two with a comfortable, near two minutes, victory over Omagh?s Frances Orr. Newcastle?s Anne Sandford was next home in third.

 

One of the other elements of the Hill & Dale series is the very competitive team event. It has been dominated over the years by Newcastle AC, but this year they are under real pressure in the shape of both Omagh Harriers, who won again this week to make it two out of two and Mourne Runners who came home in 2^nd this week. Only 4 points separated the first three teams and all in all an amazing 13 different teams register a score. For the record Lagan Valley made it (lucky for some) 13^th with 275 points, some 260 points off the lead.

 

A more disturbing feature of this week?s forest race was the propensity for some runners to leave the track and cut corners (especially on the zigzags). In other races on the open mountain, it is normally fine to get between checkpoints by any line, however, the etiquette on a forest race would be for competitors to stay on the track ? you know who you are J

 

After last week?s special outing of numbers 50 & 100, a new fashion is emerging with runners seeking out special numbers ? Joe McCann was on the hunt for 196, his weight in pounds, whilst Damian Brannigan was looking for 830, the time of his next feed ? no joy for either as they already had numbers from the previous week.

 

As for the Mourne Runners? Godfather, Bart, he was obviously taking part in a Bono ?look a like? competition; shades (ok), hat (ok), waistline, U2 fat. Meanwhile ACKC?s continuity member Davy Hughes looked for all the world like a runner on the Olympic Torch Marathon ? in this case, not surrounded by Chinese Security Men, but a group of females who obviously heard about his champagne buying the previous week at the prize giving.

 

Race three moves the whole contingent to the southern end of the Mournes and Kilbroney Forest and the first sign of ?real? mountain in the series to date. It is only a glimpse though as much of the course is in the forest. Please note that entries will close sharp at 7.20pm for the start at 7.30pm ? so get there much earlier to register.

 

BOGBOY

 

Teams (3 to count)
1	Mourne Runners	15
2	Omagh Harriers	18
3	Newcastle AC	19
4	Larne	97
5	BARF	99
5	Team Purple	99
7	North Belfast	100
8	Albertville	183
9	Ballydrain	184
10	Physio & Co	233
11	North Down	250
12	Lunchtime Legends	255
13	Lagan Valley	275