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

Anyone Vet 40 or above will recall the British Railways advertising slogan and at about 2.30 on Saturday last quite a number of the competitors in the 33^rd annual International Mount Snowdon race may have thought it was good advice. As bemused and ice-cream licking tourists sitting comfortably in the only rack and pinion train in Britain looked on 488 tortured souls toiled towards the 3560 foot summit of Wales? highest peak.

The only ever injury to a passenger on the railway occurred on the day the service opened in 1896 but the same could not be said for the participants in the race who had to contend with temperatures in the mid 20s Celsius and high humidity while negotiating the jagged rocks of the summit path.

Any novice runner would certainly enjoy the first half mile of gentle road and enthusiastic cheering crowds as the field swept past race sponsor the Royal Victoria Hotel but might well surrender when confronted with the seemingly near vertical tarmac at the end of Victoria Terrace. Thankfully though, if this is successfully negotiated competitors are ?rewarded? with a rocky path of gentler gradient in places but clearly showing the results of the many thousands of walkers who traverse the route each year.

Spirits were high in the Northern Ireland camp as the race began and both teams were to the fore as the field snaked upwards. International debutantes Andrew Niblock and David O?Flaherty reached the summit 16 seconds apart with Gary Bailey and Johnny Steede hot on their heels. The Steede caused astonishment amongst onlookers at the summit and the crew of the Welsh TV helicopter with his impromptu and quickfire display of pistol technique as premiered by his County Antrim clubmate on Youtube ? you can take the man out of Ballymena but you can?t?.

The local ladies were also putting in excellent if slightly more demure performances. First to the summit in a remarkable 58.53 and 8^th female was Alwynne Shannon with Frances Orr and Shalene Ward arriving shortly afterwards, their times within 10 seconds.

In most races the seriously hard work is over at the summit but not at Snowdon. As they turned at the top and made their way down the initial section of railway track, competitors had in store 5 miles of rocky, unforgiving terrain and temperatures climbing ever higher on the shadeless descent.

As ever, Gary Bailey left the summit like a man possessed and had overhauled both Niblock and O?Flaherty by the Rocky Valley. O?Flaherty was gaining some ground on Niblock but the Newcastle man was clearly in trouble as they passed under the railway bridge and was eventually forced to retire, his only consolation being the award for the biggest blisters in Llanberis.

Calamity was also about to befall Alwynne Shannon who had maintained her lead over the other local ladies on the long descent but had to be helped off the course with heat exhaustion just after leaving the mountain for the final road section. There had been a suggestion that she would be allowed to complete the race but a diagnosis of advanced delirium was confirmed when she was heard shouting, ?No, let me go on, if I run a bit faster I know I can catch Marty McVeigh?. A helicopter was summoned to transport her to hospital but much to her chagrin this was diverted to assist Welsh International Matthew Roberts who had collapsed with similar symptoms. An ambulance eventually deposited her in Bangor infirmary although the medical expertise of the staff was not matched by their knowledge of the geography of North Wales and it took the patient some time to convince them that she had not come to grief while running over the Queen?s former brother in law.

The clammy conditions and record temperatures were however no obstacle to the Mourne duo of Bailey and Niblock, clearly acclimatised by November evenings on Knockchree and they led the NIMRA team home in excellent 21^st and 22^nd class positions. Sundance Steed?s 28^th place ensured a team place ahead of Wales B, IMRA and the frighteningly fit looking Royal Gurkha Rifles.

The surviving ladies team of Orr and Ward also had a fine result, finishing 12^th and 13^th in their category, ahead of both IMRA teams.

As the weary finishers crossed the line, many made directly for the first aid tent, to be greeted by a scene from MASH with dazed and blood spattered participants strewn around including NIMRA?s Frances Orr being patched up after no less than four spectacular falls on the descent ? Dulce et Decorum Est??

Several other local runners made the short trip to Snowdon including Paul Fegan following his 7 days preparation at altitude in the Dolomites and David Ewart and Norma Rea ?fresh? from their traverse of the Snowdon Horseshoe just the day before.

The overall race was notable for the completion of a remarkable hat-trick of victories by Salford schoolteacher Andi Jones whose run in 1.06 made a mockery of the sweltering conditions although his summit time of 42.08 was still short of the 39.47 record held by Robbie Bryson of Newcastle.

A very impressive event with possibly the largest and most enthusiastic crowds of spectators of any UK mountain race, combined with excellent organisation and hospitality towards visiting teams. Despite a few mishaps, thoroughly enjoyed by all although the Northern Ireland runners? speed on the mountainside was not reflected on the Sunday morning with the not so aptly named Jonathan Swift ferry held up for several minutes as the local contingent variously limped, hopped and shuffled their way on board.

6 England

27 Spain

31 Scotland

44 Wales A

45 Italy

70 Wales B

71 Northern Ireland

76 Republic of Ireland

80 Royal Gurkha Rifles

3 England

9 Scotland

15 Wales

21 Italy

25 Northern Ireland

30 Republic of Ireland A

35 Republic of Ireland B

Gary Bailey            55.25          1.22.37

Andrew Niblock       54.26          1.22.55

Jonny Steede         56.52          1.27.45

David Ewart          1.04.33         1.36.09

Frances Orr           1.03.15         1.38.00

Shalene Ward        1.03.04         1.39.57

David Bell              1.09.05         1.48.14

Paul Fegan             1.11.42        1.49.54

Norma Rea             1.14.56         1.52.59

Andy Bridge           1.14.25         1.59.30

David O?Flaherty       54.42            DNF

Alwynne Shannon     58.53             DNF

Full results are on the WFRA website.

Sheugh-hopper