Jardine and Paris conquer the Mourne Highline in less than perfect conditions

With the weather being on everyone’s lips from the start of the year but sure the Mourne Highline is after Easter and everyone knows that is when the sunshine comes. Queue checking the weather forecasts with teasing comments about heat waves and 25+ degrees. Alas, this promised heat wave wouldn’t make it to the Mourne Mountains and instead, the conditions would turn out to be rather more challenging.

The safety briefing would be the first opportunity to hear terms like ‘pea souper’, ‘proper clag’ and other various descriptions of fog/mist that would involve many people trying to work out how to use a compass. The sign on went smoothly and with the safety briefing over it was time to head to the buses for what should have been a very scenic drive to Spelga Dam. At Spelga Dam the first challenge was to find the start line.

The race started right on time with into the mist headed 285 runners with compasses out in front. By the time they had reached the road crossing everyone was strung out in a long line and on their way to Meelbeg where ever that was. With the next peaks being easy to find due to the Mourne Wall it would be the descent of Commedagh that would prove the decisive point in the race for many.

It was Rhys Findlay-Robinson that would lead the way over the first peaks but he would be overhauled by Justin Jardine on the way to Commedagh and hold on to that lead until the finish. Jack Wood would time his run to perfection and take the final podium position. The podium could have been quite different if Carl Bell and Ross Gollan hadn’t taken a detour off Commedagh to fit in some extra miles – I am told it would be worth seeing their strava upload.

The female race would prove to be just as eventful as the men with Jasmin Paris, Emma Gould and Caitlin Rice leading the way. It would be Emma Gould who would make a gap from the rest on her way to Commedagh but the trip down didn’t go to plan as she took a slightly longer route back to the finish. This would open the way for Jasmin Paris to take the win followed by Caitlin Rice with a fast finishing Bronwen Jenkinson taking the last spot on the podium as well as claiming the U23 prize.

For the locals it was looking very good for Zak Hanna who would be seen running with the top 5 over the first half of the race but would this pace would catch up with him on the descent to the finish as he dropped back. The experienced Allan Bogle would put in a superbly paced run as he would catch Zak on the run in to claim the first local on the day. On the female side it was Shileen O’Kane who put in a tremendous effort and would take the first local female prize with time to spare from Sarah Graham.

When all the runners had made it back from a challenging course it was back to the HQ where the ladies were on hand serving soup, tea, coffee and of course the odd bun or two. The timing team led by James Carr and Mark Pruzina double checked everything and made sure the results could be seen on the big screen. Many thanks to O’Hares for the prize of dinner for two as well as Hilltrekker for providing the prizes for the local athletes. There are too many to thank individually so you know who you are and what you did and our thanks are sent out to you. For the marshals that spent the time out in the cold and mist all day at the checkpoints as well as the sweeper marshals that made sure the last runners got in safe and sound they deserve an extra special pat on the back.

Hopefully, everyone had a great race and I am sure they are plenty of epic stories about your trip of Commedagh to the finish.

Here is a link to a few photos and below you will find the results as well as the results with splits.

Facebook Pictures Start – Finishers – Prizegiving

Flickr Pictures Start – Finishers – Prizegiving

Pictures by Jayne Bell – Flickr – Facebook

Full Results (Link here) – Still Provisional so if you see a mistake use the contact form to tell us

Full Results with Splits (Link here)

Team Results (To Follow)