Overall Series Results

More Records Fall in the 2006 Blue Lough Hill & Dale Series

Sponsors

For the second year in a row, the Series major sponsor was Blue Lough (www.mountainandwater.com) the outdoor activity, adventure and water sports centre based in Castlewellan Forest Park.

Also supporting the Series was the Hill Trekker, Newcastle’s trusted outdoor life shop, Brian Ervine supporter of many runners throughout the Series with better-studded footwear to improve the confidence, Down District Council, the Forestry Service and the Avoca Hotel for its fantastic final night hospitality and spread – it was like feeding a plague of locusts.

Thanks are also due to the many more un-thanked and un-named volunteer supporters. The marshals led by Mark Hanna and Billy McNeilly (plus siblings) deserve a special mention for their enduring effort in standing out on exposed mountain summits in all weather conditions.

Thanks also go to the hospitable pubs led by the Avoca Hotel who each week opened their doors to the post-race hordes - Frankie’s in Castlewellan, the Glenside in Rostrevor, Downey’s in Rathfriland, Doran’s Mourneview Bar near Hilltown, the Mary Margaret’s Horseshoe Bar near Hilltown, the Harbour Bar, Newcastle, O’Hare’s in Burrenbridge & the Maghera Inn.

Series Numbers

The 2006 Series once again broke records with 8 more runners than ever before completing at least 6 races – 126 in total winning the latest in fashion running tops to make even the slowest look good.

Another record of 284 different runners took part in at least one race – 10 more than last year. There were a record total of 1,320 entries for the Series as a whole giving an average turnout of 120.1 for each race – breaking the all-time record, set last year, by 0.1.

Winners

Perfect six scores were registered by:
• Newcastle AC’s Alan McKibbin, overall winner for the third year in a row (he also scored a perfect six in the Vet35 category)
• Mourne Runner’s Fiona Maxwell in her first year of serious racing won the ladies title with 8 wins (she also picked up the lady vet45 title in the process)
• Newcastle AC’s Deon McNeilly won the Vet40 category in a much lower key Series for him
• Newcastle AC’s Alwynne Shannon won the Lady Vet40
• Mid-Ulster’s Jonathan McCloy won the junior category for the fourth and final time as he turns 20 later this year
• BARF’s Jim Brown won the Vet45 category demonstrating some of his best running in five years
• Team Purple’s Brendan O’Hagan also scored the perfect six to win the Vet50 title, still not looking anywhere close to his age – but where is Kookie?
• Albertville’s Billy McKay, was again the very comfortable winner in the vet50 category
• BARF’s Denis Rankin once again used the Series to get fitter and stormed the Vet60 title

The ‘Runner’s Runner’ Award this year went to the very popular Barbara Brown, the sixth lady to pick up the title in the 18 years that it has been awarded. Barbara has been part of the backbone of the Hill & Dale for many years and is also has the thankless task of being the Treasurer of the Northern Ireland Mountain Racing Association.

It is easy to see how the attribute of ‘getting lost’ in the mountains might be genetic. However, even though the Trophy was kept in the family with Emer Hopkins winning, there is no blood link as she is not last year’s winner’s sister as previously reported, rather his wife. She won the award for heading off down the cliffs and crags of Meelbeg in week ten rather than staying on the main ridge.

The Classic Donard Race

This Friday night (23rd June) sees the 62nd Annual Classic Slieve Donard Race. It starts at 7.30pm sharp at the Newcastle Centre, finishing at the same place with the only checkpoint being the summit of Donard. It’s a challenging race and has run uninterrupted since 1945. Come and be part of history, either watching or participating.

BOGBOY