Cunningham and O'Kane win Slieve Bearnagh

Tue 6 July 2010 - Ian Taylor

Stephen Cunningham (Mourne Runners) and Shileen O'Kane (BARF) strengthened their leads in the Northern Ireland Mountain Running Championship by winning the Slieve Bearnagh race last Saturday. The 4 mile event is a real rollercoaster as it climbs three peaks in quick succession with 2,800 feet total climb. It was the fourth race of six in the NI Championship Series which is sponsored by Primo Solutions.

Defending Champion Des Woods set out a strong challenge as the runners battled against a heavy rain shower and mist on the first peak Meelbeg and Cunningham was working hard to hold on. However, the Annalong man has been in great form having broken the course record at Slieve Donard the previous week and secured the Hill & Dale Series title with six race wins.

Cunningham's form showed through as he powered up and down the steep and rocky slopes of Bearnagh to open up a good lead. Despite a determined effort by Woods up the final peak Meelmore, there was no stopping Cunningham as he clocked 45.34 to notch up his ninth win of the season and increase his lead in the Championship rankings. Woods finished a clear second 1-22 behind his Mourne clubmate as David O'Flaherty (Newcastle AC) produced his best race of the season to take third ahead of Alex Brennan (Ballymena Runners) and the Mourne pair of Gary Bailey and Wille Marks.

The women's race was a real ding dong between leading Championship contenders Shileen O'Kane and Alwynne Shannon (Mourne Runners). Shannon won at Slieve Donard the previous week and was climbing strongly but O'Kane was descending fast to get back into contention. The pair were neck and neck on Meelmore but the final descent proved decisive as the former Champion hurtled down to win in 56.40, 20 seconds ahead of Shannon. Diane Wilson (Lagan Valley AC) is also sure to feature prominently in the Championship rankings as she secured third in 58.25, with Anne Sandford (Newcastle AC), Denise Mathers (Newry City Runners) and Gillian Wasson (Springwell Runners) completing the top six.

Mourne's Andrew Annett was top junior in ninth overall ahead of his clubmates Johnny Graham and William Hutchinson, while Mourne Runners were team winners ahead of Newcastle AC and BARF.

The NI Championship continues with the 19 mile Mourne Seven Sevens on Saturday 7 August. The final round is the Donard - Commedagh race which has been brought forward one week from the date originally published and will now be held on Saturday 21 August.