Slieve Binnian Teams & Report

Sun 2 May 2010 - Ian Taylor

Teams

Ballymena, with three athletes in total, were within one point of Newcastle, with 18 competitors. Mourne Runners maintained their number one position, with 21 athletes. Fourth through to sixth places were very competitive, with two points between BARF, Newry City and Team Purple.

1	Mourne R	10
2	Newcastle	33
3	Ballymena Runners	34
4	BARF	83
5	Newry City	84
6	Team Purple	86
7	Larne	92
8	Lagan Valley	202
9	Murlough	232
10	E Down	246
11	Lunchtime Legends	265
12	Rowallane Ramblers	373
13	Castlewellan GAC	408

The first three team positions after four races are as above, with Newry City and Armagh hanging on to 4th and 5th places, with BARF trying to recover from its poor race One result. In total 18 teams have participated to date. See table beloe:

clubUploads/fckeditor/nimra/file/H&D Teams 4.xls

Ian

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Stone men, Foxes and Lunatics on Slieve Binnian

Slieve Binnian, in the Southern Mournes, has long been associated with ‘stone men’; both the many hardy workers who wrought in the numerous quarries dotted around its slopes and also the mysterious stone granite faces which watch over its lofty summit. This association continued last Thursday evening when 181 hardy stone men and indeed women took up the challenge of climbing to Binnian’s summit in as short a time as possible in what was Race four of the 2010 ‘Hill & Dale Race Series’

This race, which is unique in that it finishes at the mountain summit, starts at the foot of an old quarry track, and follows this gradually sloping track before climbing more steeply past one of the old quarries. Runners then continue their climb beside the wall and finally over the style near the top to finish in a narrow gap at over 2000 feet. Whilst the quarry men were concerned with moving stones down the mountain, on this occasion the reverse was true, and, as half past seven approached, some people looked particularly worried if not petrified as they prepared to carry more stones than others.

The early going was fast as people were fresh and the slope not too steep and this allowed the young pretenders to take the stage. Andrew Annett, Jonathan Graham and Sean Donnelly were running very well at the front with the ‘foxes’ tracking close behind. It was only when they left the track and started up the mountain for real that this early challenge expired and the main contenders, led by Mourne’s Stephen Cunningham, hit the front. Cunningham was followed by Newcastle’s Peter Pan alias Deon Mc Neilly then came James Speight, Eddie Hanna and Des Woods.

Further down the mountain any early banter had ceased as the great mass of the runners toiled ever upwards hoping that their efforts would allow them to get back down with fewer stones than they started with. As doubt began to enter people’s minds as to the wisdom of their endeavour young Cunningham crossed the finish line having held of the challenge of a strong finishing Mc Neilly with James Speight an excellent third. Very steadily the rest of the field arrived at the summit in various stages of decay.

It has been reported to me by those people that have spent time in Lounge Bars and Licensed premises that often, as it approaches closing time, the clamour of conversation gets noticeably louder. It has also been reported that men and women take on ruddy complexions and may stare blankly into space and that they are often unsteady on their feet and sometimes may even need assistance to stand. In the knowledge of this you would have been forgiven for mistaking the finish line on Thursday night for a pub at closing time for as people crossed the line the power of speech and of their legs deserted them and they began to rave in a loud and uncontrolled manner. At one point the summit marshals could not hear each other and Jack O’Hare had to call for order. One Newcastle runner’s face was so flushed and his eyes so glazed that the marshals thought for sure he had witnessed a terrible site on the way up. Everyone was however very relieved when Mark Hanna allayed everyone’s fears by telling us that Marty looks like that all the time.

The ladies arrived in led by Rathfriland’s Alwynne Shannon and closely followed by Shileen O’Kane and not for the first time leaving many good men in their wake as both finished inside the top thirty. 42 minutes passed and with everyone finished, the course was cleared, and to the sound of Bill Hopkins raving about orienteering the stone men were left in peace to watch and wonder.

One final thought or perhaps word of warning. If you are ever intending to buy cattle in the livestock mart in Castleblaney be very careful on a Friday morning as the auctioneer may still be very confused due to his efforts on the previous evening and don’t be surprised if, at the scratch of an ear, you haven’t just invested in 300 store and beef bullocks.

Many thanks to everyone who helped at top and bottom and also to the Harbour Bar who sponsored and hosted the prize giving. A special thanks also to the Marks family who kindly allowed the use of their field for car parking.
The series continues this week with the Moughanmore race which starts at the Deers Meadow at 7.30pm sharp. As this is an open mountain race, competitors are reminded that whistles and waterproof coats must be carried and that, in the event of bad weather, strict cut off times will be enforced.

Pete Moss