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

Slieve Bearnagh Preview

Fri 2 July 2010 - Ian Taylor

Slieve Bearnagh Preview

This Saturday sees the fourth race in the NIMRA Championship series over the Slieve Bearnagh route.  The race route, as described elsewhere on this site, is short but intensive, with three climbs over mountains of heights 708m, 739m and 687 m and is basically the Meelbeg Meelmore Hill & Dale route with a slight diversion over Bearnagh.

Top contender has to be Stephen Cunningham with numerous first places in the last couple of months, while behind him Des Woods, Gary Bailey, Andrew Niblock and others have scrambled for places.  As leader of the Championship, a win for Steve would make it very difficult for any of the other top contenders to gain first position over the remaining two Championship races - Seven Sevens on7th August and Donard-Commedagh on 21st (note date).

The ladies' Championship is more open with only Shileen O'Kane having three races completed but with Diane Wilson and Alwynne Shannon tying for second place on 197 points.  Ladies are reminded that, unlike last year, you must do at least one race at each distance.  Hence if you were not at Sl Gullion, you should make sure you collect points on Saturday.

Category leaders are Pete Grant (v40), Gareth McKeown (V45), Mike Barton (V55), Noel Douglas (V50) and Jim Patterson (V60) but some other contenders have only completed two races and could potentially overtake these athletes.

The race starts at 11 am with registration from 10 am at the bottom of Happy Valley and is in the capable hands of Dave Bell and the Mournes Runners team.

Ian

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