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

Stephen Cunningham of Mourne Runners set a superb new course record for the Mourne Seven Sevens at Newcastle on Saturday. The gruelling 19 mile event climbs the seven peaks over 700 metres high and involves a total climb of 8,800 feet. This year’s race took the peaks in a different order to previous years. Slieve Donard and Commedagh were first as before, but then runners headed to Lamagan, Binnian, across Ben Crom Dam to Meelbeg, Meelmore, Bernagh and back to Newcastle. It is the longest race on the local calendar and a severe test of stamina, strength and mountain running skill. The race was the fifth round of six in the Northern Ireland Mountain Running Championship, sponsored by Primo Solutions.

 

Cunningham was soon out on his own at the front as defending NI Champion Des Woods is away racing in the Swiss Alps and no one else in the field could keep up with the pace. The Annalong man reached the top of Slieve Donard in under 39 minutes and then kept that very fast pace going for a further 3 hours as he charged round the other six peaks and back to Newcastle. Only two runners had previously broken the 4 hour mark in the eighteen year history of the event, but Cunningham smashed the 4 hour barrier in spectacular fashion. He clocked 3 hours 38 minutes 34 seconds to knock a massive 15 minutes 36 seconds off his clubmate Gary Bailey’s 2004 course record. The result means that the Mourne Runner has now secured the NI Mountain Running Championship with a maximum score of 400 points from 4 wins in the six race series, even though there is still one race to go.

 

While Cunningham forged ahead in his own race against the clock, there was a close battle for second place throughout the 19 mile distance. Clive Bailey, brother of former record holder Gary, made it a one - two for Mourne Runners with strong running in the closing stages as he took runner up in 4.46. Dale Mathers (Newry City Runners) was just over a minute behind in third with Cathal McGreevy (Team Purple), Johnny Steede (Ballymena Runners) and Steven Linton (NWOC) completing the top six.

 

Moire O’Sullivan (Setanta OC) was also in record breaking form in the women’s race. The long distance specialist from Dublin was well inside Anne Sandford’s 2007 mark as she recorded 5.19.25, taking 30 minutes off the record for a clear win ahead of Taryn and Anna McCoy (joint second), Denise Mathers (Newry City Runners) and Hazel McLaughlin (Lagan Valley AC).  The race was held in conjunction with the annual challenge walk organised by the Spartan Red Socks walking club, with a total entry of 345 with 56 retirements.

 

The final round of the NI Mountain Running Championship is the 6 mile Donard - Commedagh race on Saturday 21 August (start 11am). The Lurig Challenge Run (3.5 miles/1,200 feet) takes place in Cushendall this Saturday 14 August (start 1 pm) and is a counter in the NIMRA Grand Prix Series.

 

Report - thanks to Brian Ervine (with a couple of edits!)

 

1  Mourne Runners   1, 2, 9   12

2 Team Purple 4, 11, 24   39

3 BARF 7, 14, 22  43

4 Newcastle 8, 13, 27  48

5 Newry City 3, 21, 40  64

6 Lagan Valley 28, 48, 49 125