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

 

Annalong Horseshoe version 3

Sun 16 May 2010 - Ian Taylor

Fastest time in 14 years

Stephen Cunningham demonstrated he is in a class apart with a fantastic time in the Annalong Horseshe race, over 13 miles and 5500 feet of climb.  Pulling rapidly away from the rest of the field, Steve had a solo run and still managed a time of 1:57:43, the fastest time since the current record of 1:56:57 was set by Robbie Bryson in 1996 - and the second fastest time ever..  In fact in those intermediate years no one has even got under 2 hours, with the closest being Des Woods in 2007 (2:00:48), Brian Ervine in 1999 (2:00:49) and Deon McNeilly in1996 (2:00:53).  Bearing in mind that Steve looks very relaxed in the photographs, was running without a watch and was not being chased by anyone, he could have come ever closer to breaking the record.  Since the Annalong Horseshoe began in 1982, only four athletes have broken 2 hours - Adrian Philpott in 1990 (1:59:09), Robbie Bryson in 1996 (1:56:57), Brian Ervine also in 1996 (1:58:26)  and now Steve Cunningham (1:57:43).

Note I am missing 1993 results so cannot be entirely sure that no one else has got under 2 hours.

Steve approahing Chinney Rock

 

In the ladies race winner Shileen O'Kane set off at a rapid pace, leaving Alwynne Shannon too much to do to catch her.  Shileen, like Steve, also set the second fastest time for ladies over the course, with 2:37:45, with the record being set by Fiona Maxwell in 2007 with 2:28:50.

Shileen at Windy Gap

 

Other photographs at the start, Chinney Rock, Windy Gap and the finish are available on the BARF flickr site

BARF Photo

Teams

1 Mourne Runners  1,2,3       6

2 Armagh 5,11,31                    47

3 Newry City  9, 10, 29             48

4 BARF  13, 18, 19                    50

5 Newcastle 15, 16, 22            53

6 Lagan Valley  24, 30, 43         97

7  E Down 41, 45, 46                 132

8 Springwell 47, 48, 49             144

 

Note that one Newcastle runner has not qualified to run as a team member for his club yet - if he had, Newcastle would have moved up to second place with a score of  45.

It is very noticeable that of the above 8 teams, three of them very led home by females - Diane Wilson for Lagan Valley, Wendy Findlay for East Down and Gillian Wasson for Springwell, with also Shileen in the BARF 4th place team. Congratulations.  In the first ten years of the event, probably only four or five females in total competed over the course, with Suzie Carson setting a record of 3:02:09 in 1991 and Roma McConville breaking it in 1992 with 3:01:37.  Later record holders have been Shileen in 1999, Joan Flannagan in 2001 and Tish McCann in 2005.

Split times at the checkpoints should be available later - note first leg times should be reduced by 11 seconds

Split times

 Ian

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Report by Brian Ervine:

Stephen Cunningham of Mourne Runners was in tremendous form as clocked the second fastest time ever to win the Annalong Horsehoe on Saturday.  It was the 29^th edition of the classic event which climbs 5 major peaks in the high Mournes and the third race of the 2010 Northern Ireland Mountain Running Championship.

 

Cunningham clocked 1 hour 57 minutes and 43 seconds for the 13 miles and 5,100 feet climb to get his name on the prestigious Stephen Derby Memorial Trophy for the first time.  The Mourne Runner, who lives nearby in Annalong, was just 46 seconds outside Robbie Bryson’s outstanding 1996 course record and now joins Bryson, Brian Ervine (1.58.26 in 1996) and Adrian Philpott (1.59.09 in 1990) as the only men to break the two hour barrier for this long established classic test of mountain running speed , stamina and skill.

 

Previous winners Des Woods (2007), the current NI Champion, and Gary Bailey (2008) were second and third to complete a clean sweep for the Mourne Club. North Belfast Harrier Neil Carty secured fourth ahead of Armagh’s Kris Muldoon, with local man Willie Marks completing the top six. 

 

There was a record number of women competing this year and securing vital points for the NI Championship.  Former NI Champion Shileen O’Kane clocked a speedy 2.37.45 for a clear win ahead of Alwynne Shannon of Mourne Runners and Diane Wilson of Lagan Valley AC.  The NI Championship is now at the half way stage with three races completed.  The next round is at Slieve Bearnagh on 3 July (and not Flagstaff as announced at the prize giving - its a Grand Prix event), with the Mourne Seven Sevens and the Donard-Commedagh races in August concluding the series.