Slieve Gullion Report

Mon 8 March 2010 - Ian Taylor

Edward Hanna (Mourne Runners) and Shileen O’Kane (BARF) were the winners of the opening race of the Northern Ireland Mountain Running Championship at Slieve Gullion on Saturday. The race was the first of six in the 2010 NIMRA Championship series which is sponsored by Primo Solutions.

The Armagh AC promotion was held over a new course this year which started from the Forest Park at the south east side of the mountain and climbed to the summit via Calliagh Berras Lough. The distance was 4.7 miles with 1500 feet climb which is 1.2 miles /500 feet climb longer than the old course. Conditions were ideal - bright, dry and no mist.

Deon McNeilly of Newcastle AC, the course record holder for the old course, led the runners in determined style on the opening section up through the forest. McNeilly, Hanna , Johnny Steede, Neil Carty, and Stephen Cunningham were closely packed as they came out of the forest and onto the open mountain. As the climb steepened Hanna soon asserted himself and by the summit had built up a good lead over McNeilly.

The 2009 Hill & Dale Series Champion was in total control as he came charging down the mountainside to notch up his first NI Championship race win in 36.13. Meanwhile, Steede, Carty and Cunningham were flying down the descent as they battled it out for the minor placings. Steede, who won the season opener at Binevenagh the previous week was ahead coming into the forest. However, Carty scorched down the track to snatch second by 2 seconds, with Cunningham 17 second back in 4th and McNeilly and Gary Bailey completing the top six.

Shileen O’Kane was in fine form having finished 4th in the big Carnethy race in Scotland last month. The former NI and All Ireland Champion clocked 45.10, as Diane Wilson produced an impressive run to take the runner up spot just 15 seconds behind, with Anne Sandford third in 48.43. James Speight (Omagh Harriers) and Daisy Murray (Team Purple) were the top juniors while Mourne Runners were team winners ahead of Ballymena Runners and Newcastle AC.

Teams

1. Mourne Runners 11 points

2. Ballymena Runners 21

3. Newcastle AC 31

4. Armagh AC 60

5. BARF 66

6. Omagh Harriers 101

Report by Briuan Ervine

Note: a pair of waterproof trousers were found in the car park. If you lost a pair and can describe the ones found, you can claim them.

Ian