Annalong Preview
Wed 12 May 2010 - Ian Taylor
Next Saturday's race is one of the classics in our calendar, having been run every year since 1982. Over about 13 miles with 5200 feet of climb it is very runable over most of the route, starting at Dunnywater, Annalong River Valley at 11 am. Entry forms are available at
clubUploads/fckeditor/nimra/file/Annalong Entry.doc
or
clubUploads/fckeditor/nimra/file/Annalong entry form.pdf
After last year's race you should not need reminding that all competitors must carry full body cover waterproof clothing - jackets must be waterproof and have a hood. Also compass and relevant map and emergency food, as required in all long races. Last year's winning time of 2:20 by Deon McNeilly illustrates the 2009 weather conditions. However the forecast for Saturday is light rain and low winds, but sandwiched between heavy rain on Friday and Sunday so anything is still possible, including hailstones as I write.
The race records are held by Robbie Bryson with 1:56:57 set way back in 1996 with Fiona Maxwell holding the current ladies record of 2:28:50 from 2007. Brian Ervine held a monopoly on the race up to 2004 with winners since then being Deon McNeilly, Brian, Des Woods & Gary Bailey but only Des has come remotely near breaking two hours with 2:00:48 in 2007. Perhaps the route is more cut up now, especially on the descent of Binnian, making records more difficult.
The 1982 Annalong Horseshoe was the first one, organised as a long race replacement for the Mourne Wall Walk. The race was won by Stanley Graham in 2:20:25, with Jim Hayes second, joint third between Dermot McGonigle & Mike McNulty, with other competitors including Willie John Brown, Noel Douglas & Ian Parke. The race has been held every year since, with a bad weather route once when snow covered the hills in May, but the proper course was raced later the same year. I think Jim Hayes was the early race organiser, despite running in it, with Denis Rankin taking over for many years and more recently BARF club.
Saturday's race promises to be a cracker with both Championship and Grand Prix points available. Current Championship positions are shown elsewhere on this site, with none of the "old hands" in contention yet. Leader is Steve Cunningham on 197 points, followed by Jonny Steede with 196, Eddie Hanna with 195 points and Gary Bailey on 194.
In the ladies section only Shileen OKane has completed both previous races with 199 points, Charlene Haugh has 100 points from Gullion, Diane Wilson has 99 from the same race and Alywnne Shannon and Anne Sandford both have 98 points.
Vet leaders include Peter Grant (v40, Newry City on 165), Cecil McCullough (V45, Mourne, 151), Harry Teggarty (V55, Mourne, 140), Noel Douglas (v50, Mourne, 119) and Ricky Cowan (V60, Willowfield, 116).
See below for Championship points
clubUploads/fckeditor/nimra/file/Championship 2010 Races 2.xls
At this stage of the year all local athletes have been included in the points. However Saturday is your last chance to sign up as a NIMRA member - use the online web form or print it and post/give to a committee member at Rocky or Annalong.
Checkpoints:
Start, Rourke's Park 358223
Chimney Rock 364257
Commedagh (cairn) 346286
Cove 336270
Slievelamagan 329260
Binnian 320234
Finish
On descending the track from Binnian, you must continue down the main track to the road at the Carrick Little car park (345219) , you are not allowed to cut the corner.
Apart from visiting the above checkpoints and the above restriction on the descent ftom Binnian, the route choice is yours. While checkpoints are on the above tops, the marshalls will normally be on the cols between tops to oversee the race better.
After the start go East along the road for 30 yards, then left up the lane to the Mourne Wall. There you can either keep to the outside of the wall towards Long Seefin or continue on, cross the stile and pick up the track on the map, crossing the wall on the shoulder between Rocky and Long Seefin. Cross to Chinney Rock, climbing on heather to its south ridge where a path can be picked up taking athletes to the summit. Aim for the north west tors, probably passing them on the north side and pick up descending paths towards the Mourne Wall. Then vear north towards the stile where the Brandy Pad crosses the Wall. Along the Brandy Pad cutting up to the Saddle and then to Commedagh Cairn. South west from the cairn, past the tower & over the stile to descent steep ground to the col before Slieve Beg. Over ther shoulder of Slieve Beg (no need to go to the top unless you want to stay on paths) to climb the well-worn path to Cove summit, well out to the left. A fast descent follows with a short climb to Lamagan. The descent from Lamagan is well worn but rough and is followed by a long climb up the well used track on the north ridge of Binnian. If your endurance is not great, this is where you will realise it! Contour along the ridge, keeping to the east of most of the tors, with the checkpoint on the high flat ground a few feet below the rocky summit of Binnian. Continue south off this to the small gap between the tors (where the Hill & Dale race finishes) and then turn east to descend with the wall on your right all the way to the track returning you to Carrick Little car park. Then fast along the road for almost a mile, with a short sprint uphill to the finish.
While your route choice will determine the race length, GPS measurements over three years indicates a optimum length of 13.1 miles with a climb of 1550 metres (5084 feet).
