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

For the second year running the men from Mourne dominated this year?s Glenariff Mountain Grand Prix race.

This is the local running clubs second promotion of the year and the race, now in its seventh year and was once again sponsored by North Antrim Food retailer, Glens of Antrim Potatoes. This year saw seventy runners take part in the tough event made even more demanding with very wet underfoot conditions.

The race started in Waterfoot and host club runner Mark Alexander was amongst the pack as they turned inland to travel along the riverside section. At this stage Mourne Runner Eddie Hanna forged ahead along the river section hotly pursued by Cunningham and Hanna.

As the race leaders approached the Glen Road a horse that had broken loose from a neighbouring field was galloping along the course providing an unwelcome addition to the race entry for race director Brendan O?Boyle. Thankfully, Larne?s very own horse whisperer, Evan Taylor, was on hand to intervene and shepherd the horse into a nearby field.

The leading pack began the tough 1100 feet climb up the South face of the Glen with Cowan, Ferguson and Gregg climbing well closely behind.

As they came back down off the mountain Mourne Runners trio of Bailey, Cunningham and Hanna had opened up a sizeable gap on the rest of the field and despite changing positions a number of times on the run home this was the way they were to finish back at St Patrick?s primary school with Gary Bailey out sprinting last year?s winner Eddie Hanna finishing in 46 minutes 43 seconds.

Alwynne Shannon of Newcastle AC cruised home to a comfortable win in the ladies section in 55 minutes 03 seconds with the ever improving Charlene Haugh of Mourne Runners finishing second in 60 minutes 45 seconds narrowly holding off last year?s winner Anne Sanford of Newcastle AC who finished in 60 minutes 50 seconds.

The team prize was won by Mourne Runners with Andy Gregg taking the Master Trophy finishing well up the field in eighth overall. Andy was closely followed by Dominic McGreevy in eleventh place who claimed the male vet 50 category with a strong run. Next home in the veteran section was NIMRA Chairman Jim Patterson taking the vet 60 category in fourteenth. Stewart Cunningham of Mourne finished 30th claiming the vet 55 category.

The female vet 35 category was won by Alison Rankin of Springwell.

1 Mourne Runners 6

2 Larne AC 33

3 Glens Runners 45

4 Newcastle 45

5 BARF 84

6 Springwell 104

Springwell Ladies 145

Mourne Vets 71

BARF vets 120