Tollymore H & D Race
Fri 16 April 2010 - Ian Taylor
Woods keeps rising up - its the eye of the tiger!
There were many impressive performances in Thursday's second leg of the Up and Running (Belfast and Newry) sponsored 2010 Hill and Dale at Tollymore Forest, but none more so than the entries staff, overseen by Joe 'Restless Legs' McCann, who managed to process a record 213 athletes in just over an hour, ensuring the race would start on time on another glorious County Down evening.
New recruit Jack O'Hare was processing entries faster than he can pull pints, but the job was not helped by a few late arrivals. The competition to see who can turn up latest and still get a number could be the most hotly contested of the series. Last year's tardy stalwarts, Castleblayney triplets Conall, Francie and Gary McL Nugent had a bad night, arriving well in time, albeit with fistfuls of euros; 2009's most consistent performer Iryna Kennedy made a good early showing with husband Paul panicking through the stately door of the Clanbrassil Barn well after 25 past 7; and local favourite (and race organiser) Damien put himself in the reckoning with a much delayed appearance at the barn door - and he had to complete a new athlete's registration too. Well done Damien - your best performance in a Newcastle vest for a while. And if any of you are going to be late regularly, come with a decent excuse - I suggest "I feel like I'm in everyone's way if I show up on time", or "Actually I've been here for 20 minutes big guy - I was just out chillin' in the van waiting for the end of the live version of 'Born To Run' ."
So on to less important things - the race itself. A blistering early pace was set along the trail towards Parnell's Bridge and at the bridge a trio of speedsters had emerged led by last week's winner Des Woods, last year's winner Eddie Hanna (both Mourne Runners) and 17-year old James Speight, all the way from Omagh. These three were hotly pursued by Deon Mc Neilly (Newcastle) and Neil Carty (North Belfast Harriers) with a combined age of 90 - truly a tussle between youth and experience. After a hard-fought battle, these were the first five across the line, Woods pipping Hanna and Speight for his second win with McNeilly and Carty close together about a minute behind. Sperrin Harriers' Karen Alexander had an emphatic victory in the Ladies' Race, placing 26th overall. Both Woods and Alexander broke the previous Course Records - congratulations to them.
Throughout the field, in your average Hill and Dale race, everyone has their own story to tell.
Last year's female junior winner, Daisy Murray, had come to the race with her father, who was on crutches after a recent operation. Unfortunately, after an altercation with a tree-root, it was Daisy who left on the crutches. We wish her a speedy recovery.
Long-time Hill and Dale stalwart and race organiser Marty McVeigh has started the series in very consistent form and is expected to improve in leaps and bounds having recently broken free from the shackles of the Ordnance Survey after a whole lot longer than a life sentence. Hopefully his erstwhile colleagues will present him with a Garmin rather than a carriage clock. At least McVeigh's long tenure has ensured him to be a dab hand with the map and compass. The same cannot be said for club colleague Eamon McCrickard. Having completed 1690 runs in Tollymore, and assisted with more arrows of every hue than have been seen since the Battle Of Wounded Knee, Eamon still managed to stray off line and announce himself as an early contender for 'Lost In The Hills'. True to form he still managed to drag himself back up to 9th, his traditional finishing place.
Beards seem to be a new development at this year's series. Cecil McCullough appears to be modelling himself on George Clooney, but George after he's spent some time down a coalmine it has to be said. The less said about the aforementioned McVeigh's goatee, the better.
Mourne Runners Sam Herron has shown good form this season and continued this with an impressive 17th place. At the presentation he was handed a photograph for the family mantelpiece - take a long hard look at this, Darren - this could be you with a wee bit of training. Also at the presentation Bull's Eye birthday boy John 'KK' Kelly was serenaded with a fresh rendition of the birthday song "Happy birthday to you, You were born in Kilcoo, You're bigger than all the others, 'Cos you're over 4 foot 2." X-Factor surely beckons for the songwriter.
A big thank you to O'Hare's, Central Promenade for hosting the presentation and providing tasty snacks for the hungry hounds; and to Up and Running for their continued generous sponsorship of the Hill and Dale Series.
Next week's race is Slieve Martin, from Kilbroney Park, Rostrevor, starting at 7.30p.m. sharp. But get there EARLY for your entry or risk being pilloried in next week's report.
An array of striking poses from the race can be viewed at http://www.flickr.com/photos/37987915@N06/sets/72157623752582709/
Contributed by BogusPodge
Teams by Ian
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