Slieve Donard Race

Sun 27 June 2010 - Ian Taylor

The 66^th Annual Slieve Donard Race

promoted by Newcastle AC

5 miles/2800 feet climb

Stephen Cunningham of Mourne Runners was in top form as he broke the course record at the annual Slieve Donard Race in Newcastle on Saturday. The Annalong man dominated the top quality field for the classic event which included course record holder Des Woods (Mourne Runners) and nine times winner Deon McNeilly (Newcastle AC).

Cunningham reached the top in under 38 minutes, 43 seconds ahead of Woods with McNeilly a further 24 seconds back. The Mourne Runner then hurtled down the treacherous descent back to the finish on the promenade in Newcastle in an amazing 16 minutes 42 seconds, to set a new record 54 minutes 33 seconds, 16 seconds inside Woods’ 2009 mark. Woods was a clear second in 56.31 as Andrew Niblock came through on the descent to make it a clean sweep for the Mourne club. Multiple winner McNeilly was just 17 seconds behind in fourth with Neil Carty (North Belfast Harriers) and Kris Muldoon (Armagh AC) and Gary Bailey (Mourne Runners) all inside the one hour mark.

Alwynne Shannon made it a double for Mourne Runners as she clocked 68.54 to notch up her seventh win of the season. She finish two minutes ahead of Diane Wilson (Lagan Valley AC) with Anne Sanford (Newcastle AC) third in 75.19.

The mountain running action continues next Saturday with the fourth race of the NI Mountain Running Championship in the Mournes. The 4 mile Slieve Bearnagh race is promoted by Mourne Runners and climbs 3 peaks with a total ascent of 2,700 feet.

Men

1. S Cunningham Mourne Runners 54.33 (record)

2. D Woods Mourne Runners 56.31

3. A Niblock Mourne Runners 57.18

4. D McNeilly Newcastle AC 57.35

5. N Carty North Belfast Harriers 58.16

6. K Muldoon Armagh AC 58.52

7. G Bailey Mourne Runners 59.13

8. A Brennan Ballymena Runners 61.01

9. S Herron Mourne Runners 62.04

10. D Brannigan Newcastle AC 62.13

11. E McKrickard Newcastle AC 64.08

12. W Marks Mourne Runners 64.13

13. J Brown BARF 64.35

14. D McGreevy Newcastle AC 65.08

15. D Mathers Newry City Runners 65.25

16. G Boreland BARF 65.55

17. A Annett Mourne Runners 66.41

18. J McCloy Ballymena Runners 66.52

19. T Wilson BARF 67.03

20. P Grant Newry City Runners 67.14

Women

1. A Shannon Mourne Runners 68.54

2. D Wilson Lagan Valley AC 71.13

3. A Sandford Newcastle AC 75.19

4. A McCoy East Down AC 85.18

5. D Mathers Newry City Runners 90.09

6. D Trimble Unattached 92.22

Teams

1. Mourne Runners 6 points

2. Newcastle AC 25

3. BARF 48

4. Ballymena Runners 55

5. Newry City Runners 85

6. Armagh AC 85

Report & Results from Brian Ervine