Hill and Dale Results 2005
Race 1
Race 2
Race 3
Race 4
Race 5
Race 6
Race 7
Race 8
Race 9
Race 10
Race 11
Overall


Race 10: Meelmore Meelbeg

9th June 2005

Harty is champion, McCloy grabs the junior lead

Beautiful summer weather, millions of midges, more controversy over the race finish and a quality post-race gathering in O'Hare's in Burrenbridge, all make for a fine Thursday evening out. The Happy Valley was the location for the 10th race of the www.mountainandwater.com 2005 Hill & Dale series over the mountains of Meelbeg and Meelmore.

119 souls stepped up to the moving start line in sunny conditions amid controversy. ACKC guru, Mike 'BART' Barton, was inspired by his anger again this year over the location of the finish. Early for a change, official timekeeper Frank Morgan had already penned out the finish line, but again over the Wall at the location of last year's finish line. Bogboy's mistake of last year had been widely criticised by the Bart and he was livid with despair to find the finish line in the same place as last year as he warmed up for the start. Arguments followed and to make matters worse, race organiser, Billy McNeilly decided to play games with the start as well.

As the runners gathers some 200 metres up the track, he called them back to the car park gate amid more protests. Mild mannered men are sometimes easily excitable. The race started amid reasonably well-intentioned banter (I think) with the Bart having failed to have the finish moved - again. At least next year the race will be run in the opposite direction, automatically ending any controversy. Maybe this is Bart's way of psyching himself up for the race? For the record, he finished 46th tonight, no real difference from other weeks (although he has got fitter as the Series has progressed), so hard training seems to be the only real alternative.

At the sharp end of the field it was yet again Eddie Hanna who was first to show, climbing strongly up the tough Meelbeg rise ahead of Neil Carty, Stevie Cunningham, Gary Bailey and Des Woods. Hanna had lost out in the final descent last week and was out to ensure that he didn't make the same mistake again. He led from start to finish as he ground out the lead and sailed home down the fast descent off Meelmore to win his second race of the Series from Carty with fast-finishing Bailey third.

The junior title is still alive, just, after Jonathan McCloy responded well to the pressure of two defeats in a row by Adam Mitten. His father Hugh chauffeurs McCloy Junior to each race, not a trivial task given that they live on the northwest side of Lough Neagh on the edge of the Sperrins. The family McCloy organise the very successful Slieve Gallion race in October each year and have been big supporters of the Hill & Dale for several years now.

McCloy made it his fifth win this evening in ninth place overall to edge ahead of Mitten's four wins. This sets things up nicely for the final race this Friday evening with McCloy hoping to seal a hat trick of junior titles.

In the ladies, Anne Sandford was the easy winner over two minutes ahead of her nearest rival and one second inside her own record of last year. This was Sandford's second win of the Series but ironically her victory ensured that Kerry Harty secures her second Hill & Dale title in a row with five victories already under her belt, without running a step.

Winners in the veterans' categories were Wendy Findlay in ladies vet35, Billy 'the elephant' McKay in the vet50 in a fine 8th place overall, fast-improving Jim Brown in the vet45 in 12th place overall, Steve Begley in 13th overall, first vet40, Billy Magee first vet60 in 48th overall and Ricky Cowan first vet55.

So back to Billy McNeilly who declared himself pleased with the overall organisation on the night. He arrived at O'Hare's with his now famous free-range egg sandwiches in hand this week for a change, however, only to discover that he had left the prizes 'in da house'. He headed off for home in a hurry uttering the words 'don't say to anyone, particularly Bogboy', sorry, but it is now clear that the General is unable to hold his own water.

A final word for BARF's Denis Ranking, a founder member of the Fell and Mountain Racing Association and recently turned 60. Denis completed his official 100th Hill & Dale race this evening and will look to return next year to win the vet60 title. Denis is one the many inspirations to younger runners who can now see that running and racing can be a lifetime hobby - life begins at 60.

Next week is the final race of the Series on Friday night in Donard Forest with the prize giving in the Avoca Hotel afterwards.

BOGBOY

1 Eddie Hanna ACKC O
29:35
2 Neil Carty North Belfast O
30:20
3 Gary Bailey ACKC O
39
4 Stevie Cunningham Newcastle AC O
54
5 Des Woods ACKC O
31:33
6 Andrew Niblock ACKC O
32:04
7 Gareth Arnott Willowfield O
7
8 Billy McKay Albertville V50
51
9 Jonathan McCloy Mid Ulster J
33:02
10 Damien Brannigan Newcastle AC O
6
11 Eamon McCrickard Newcastle AC O
44
12 Jim Brown BARF V45
52
13 Steve Begley Albertville V40
58
14 Keith Annett ACKC O
35:06
15 Barry Wells Newcastle AC V40
18
16 Andy Gregg Larne O
22
17 Roy Donaldson ACKC O
52
18 Mark Hanna ACKC O
36:12
19 Don Travers Armagh AC O
27
20 Mervyn McCollam Larne O
29
21 Ivan Millar LVO O
33
22 Vince McAlinden BARF O
42
23 Dominic McGreevy Ballydrain V45
51
24 Samuel Herron ACKC O
55
25 Charlie McAlinden Newcastle AC V45
56
26 Stephen Kennedy Larne O
56
27 James Keown ACKC O
57
28 Dave Ewart BARF O
37:18
29 Paul Mawhirt Newcastle AC O
20
30 Paddy Mallon BARF V40
23
31 Cecil McCullough ACKC V40
43
32 Peter McGuckin ACKC V50
44
33 Jim Erskine U/A O
38:10
34 Johnny Lowe U/A O
15
35 Clive Coffey Physio&Co V40
17
36 Carl Ruddle Newcastle AC O
23
37 Marty McMullan Newcastle AC O
30
38 Anne Sandford Newcastle AC LV40
34
39 Eddie O'Hagan Team Purple V40
44
40 Gregg McCann LVO V40
48
41 Mael O'Hare Newcastle AC O
39:04
42 Gareth McKeown U/A V40
8
43 David Bell Newcastle AC V45
12
44 Darren Herron ACKC O
29
45 Thomas Turner U/A J
39
46 Mike Barton ACKC V50
39
47 Francis Nugent Newcastle AC O
39
48 Billy Magee Larne V60
50
49 William Marks ACKC O
51
50 Micky Harty U/A O
53
51 Adam Mitten Newcastle AC J
55
52 Brendan O'Hagan Team Purple V45
40:04
53 Philip McGavock BARF O
8
54 Patrick Higgins LVO J
15
55 Brian Wilson U/A O
23
56 Gerard Higgins LVO J
30
57 Paul McCormac Physio&Co O
39
58 Andy Bridge U/A V40
40
59 Harry Teggarty ACKC V50
41
60 Clive Bailey U/A O
43
61 Alwynne Shannon Newcastle AC LV40
46
62 John McBride BARF V50
56
63 Michael Brentnall ACKC O
41:02
64 Patrick Lemoine BARF O
6
65 Kevin Balmer BARF V50
17
66 Liam McHale Cork Triathlon O
34
67 Paul Fegan Newcastle AC O
34
68 Norman Roberts Larne O
41
69 John Adgey ACKC V60
45
70 Clare Galbraith Newcastle AC LV40
54
71 Frank Gorman U/A O
57
72 Dave Wilson LVO O
59
73 Ricky Cowan Willowfield V55
42:14
74 Dave Goddard Newcastle AC V50
20
75 Mark Pruzina BARF V40
24
76 Chris McCrory BARF O
24
77 Seamus White Newcastle AC V45
27
78 Andrew Campbell ACKC V40
28
79 Greg Lennon Physio&Co O
28
80 Des O'Hagan Physio&Co V45
56
81 Clarke Campbell BARF O
43:21
82 Sam Lamont U/A O
21
83 Barry Rankin ACKC V45
21
84 John Findlay Newcastle AC O
25
85 Francis Boal Ballydrain V55
28
86 Willie John Brown Newcastle AC V50
33
87 Denis Rankin BARF V60
48
88 Steven Cassidy Physio&Co O
56
89 Brian Campbell Newcastle AC O
44:05
90 Helen Cassidy Physio&Co L
6
91 Aiden Campbell U/A O
19
92 Gordon Stephens LVO V45
24
93 James Smyth U/A V40
29
94 Norma Rea BARF L
36
95 Colin Smyth BARF O
54
96 Ian Luney BARF O
45:04
97 Chris Losty U/A O
39
98 Nigel McKeown U/A V40
40
99 Vicky Clegg North Down LJ
42
100 Donal O'Kane BARF V40
49
101 Kerry Iveston North Down LJ
46:06
102 Andrew McGibbon BARF O
19
103 John Taylor Newcastle AC O
23
104 Declan Grimley U/A O
27
105 Mark Hopkins U/A O
47:05
106 Connel Nugent Newcastle AC V40
58
107 Paul Watson Newcastle AC V40
48:19
108 Wendy Findlay Newcastle AC LV35
31
109 Angela Beggs BARF L
56
110 Bob Cooke ACKC V55
57
111 Helen Brown BARF LV35
51:20
112 Simon Aldred ACKC O
40
113 Bill Hopkins LVO V55
52:29
114 Pauline O'Hara BARF LV40
55:26
115 Clare Doran U/A LV35
43
116 Peter Ludlow ACKC O
51
117 Anne George Newcastle AC LV40
52
118 Peter Turkington ACKC V50
58:44
119 Andrew Hin U/A O
59:46

 

Team Result (3 to count)
1 ACKC 9
2 Newcastle 25
2 Larne 62
5 BARF 62
6 LVO 115
7 Physio&Co 171

©2004 Newcastle AC. All Rights Reserved.