Annalong duo come out tops
ANNALONG'S Gary Bailey and Hannah Shields of City
of Derry were the winners of the opening race of the
Mountain Running season at Binevenagh, near Limavady.
The Pegasus Athletic club promotion is a new addition
to the calendar and got the season off to an early
start with a seven-mile route round the craggy cliffs
overlooking Lough Foyle which included 1,200 ft of
climb.
Newcastle's Steven Cunningham, Mark Alexander of Ballymena
Runners and Bailey were quickly away as the field
climbed up through the forest and had opened a good
advantage as the climb steepened.
Cunningham was climbing strongly and was first to
the top, with Bailey now clear of Alexander and Ballymena's
Cecil McAuley and Billy Orr of Foyle Valley.
Cunningham was looking strong as they hurtled down
the descent but Bailey was chasing hard and got back
on terms as they reached the forest.
Bailey got his nose in front in the final stages to
snatch victory in 58-51, three seconds ahead of Cunningham.
Alexander was a clear third in 60-48 as McAuley won
the battle for fourth place and first over 40 ahead
of Orr with Springwell's, Colin Loughrey completing
the top six.
Everest mountaineer, Hannah Shields had things all
her own way in the womens race as she clocked 70-03
to finish five minutes clear of Omagh's Hazel McCausland.
