Race 4: Binnian to the Top

27th April 2006

Al be back, and Maxwell on top of the House

With race organiser and scribe Bogboy missing, this week’s race was brought to you by Pipeboy and Bogman.

A beautiful clear night greeted 112 souls for the much hated ‘Binnian to the top’ race – the fourth of the 2006 Blue Lough (www.mountainandwater.com) Hill & Dale Race Series.

However, this week, despite it being the shortest of the series, the pain increases steadily as the mountain gets steeper and just as the summit crags are reached the race is over and lungs gasp for air and the car is parked 2,000 feet below.

This week, and unusually for a mountain race in the Mournes, car parking facilities were provided in a field kindly organised by Willie Marks of Mourne Runners. But, despite the best efforts of Marty McVeigh trying to get people to park in the field, runners seemed to park at will along the Head Road roadside annoying the local farming community into the bargain as well as getting Mr McVeigh’s language to turn the colour of the sky.

With a big racing weekend up ahead (Knockdhu International Mountain Race and the Belfast City Marathon) some of the front-runners from men and ladies’ sections were missing.

The race starts at the top of the Brackenagh East Road and climbs quickly on a rough rutted track to a disused quarry. This year it was decided to allow runners to make their own choice of ascent, and when runners reached the quarry they had a choice to make.

That’s where the real climbing starts, most people keeping the wall on the left flank of Binnian is conquered and then the Mourne Wall is reached and the summit crags are only 300 feet above.

The leaders arrived at the quarry inside 8 minutes led by Series Champion Alan McKibbin decked out with his Race Number 1 and also making his debut in this years series, followed closely by last weeks winner Deon McNeilly and Ed Hanna. Hanna lasting somewhat longer this week than his 90secs last week when he went over on his ankle in a British Championship race and that was running along the road.

At the quarry, McNeilly thought he would (after a cursory look at McKibbin and Hanna) drop back, and instead of following the ‘traditional’ route up the left of the quarry, duked in right and went up the right hand side of the quarry. These manoeuvres actually brought the three back together at the wall and didn’t give McNeilly the advantage he was seeking.

Alan McKibbin pulled away on the steeper slopes and won in 22 minutes and 10 seconds and Ed Hanna pipped Deon McNeilly for second place after a great tussle (see pic below)

In fourth place, and having a blinding race was Andrew Stevenson of Mourne Runners. Corky as his comrades commonly know him, is an interesting character. He turned up tonight for a ‘loosener’ in preparation for the Belfast Marathon on Monday.

He has undoubted natural talent and showed this from an early age (mainly annoying teachers at school, Bart can vouch for this), and has also been known to have imported a bright yellow New York taxi.

Tonight however, he turned up in an aka Prince Philip Green Range Rover and managed to get it into the aforementioned car park on two wheels, nearly taking series sponsor Marty McMullan for a free spin. He also is not your typically built climber, standing 6ft 4 and weighing in around 13 stone and a few gold teeth thrown in for good measure…if he continues the progress he has made over the last few weeks and learns to descend he is a runner to look out for in more ways than one… perhaps he’ll turn up at Moughanmore for a recovery run!

Mourne Runners, Fiona Maxwell is making the female championship very interesting, with a victory last week and now winning the female race in a winning time of 27.13, finishing 22nd overall and setting a very competitive new race record for the female race.

Alwynne Shannon took second with strong running just over a minute behind in 28.25, who was in turn just ahead of a fast improving Shileen O’Kane 28.35.

Newcastle’s Thomas Turner, more at ease on the Rugby pitch, took first junior in 37th overall, in a time of 28 mins 14 mins, just behind Newcastle colleague Declan McElroy (see pic below), but was issued with a warning from El President Morgan about the distinct lack of club colours on show (see pic below).

Ballydrain’s Dominic McGreevy continued his ding dong battle for the Vet 45 category with Jim Brown (see premature victory salute below) finishing in 10th place overall in a time of 24.46.

Other category winners were, Brendan O’Hagan (Vet 50) in 24th overall 27.20, Billy McKay in 9th overall (vet 55) ‘resting up’ for Saturday’s Knockdhu International in 24.43. While there were very close finishes in all the other categories, Billy was described by the Head summit marshal Mawhirt, as being a clear length ahead of his nearest rival JP, Denis Rankin (vet 60) 94th place in 34.17.

With this a “to the top only race” runners took the chance to break bread with their usual adversaries on the causal walk back to the field, with even Lilly and Jack returning hand in hand. As a number of them remarked if going down was as easy as this every week it would be fun instead of pain.

The committee would like to thank Mark Hanna (Mourne Runners) for forgoing the refund of his £4 over payment last week, even though this will put back the purchase of the “clubs” new kit for at least another month.

Race five takes the runners into the heart of the mountains for Moughanmore with the start and finish at the Deer’s Meadow above the Spelga Dam.

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