Slieve Bernagh Race

1st April 2006

Jebb sandwiched by Hope(s) – A Hope Record & White Victory

Once again the Mourne Mountains hosted the first round of the British Fell Running Championships – April Fools Day – plenty of fools to be spotted but also a serious amount of racing in what was, arguably, set to be the highest standard mountain race on the island of Ireland during 2006. 205 competitors managed to complete the race including 64 Northern Ireland based runners, 7 from the South of Ireland and 134 from England, Wales and Scotland.

The weather above the head was kind with the torrential rain of previous days holding off until the race was over. However, underfoot conditions were treacherous; the first climb of Meelbeg being arduous, going on and on, through the boggy conditions as the runners climbed 1,400 feet. After the slippy descent of Meelbeg the runners faced the back-breaking climb of Bernagh (another 700 feet) and turned to slip and slide among the rocks back to the col between Bernagh and Meelmore. After the final climb of Meelmore (another 550 feet) the runners plunged down the treacherous ground to the finish.

The record for the race was 41:52 set in 2003 by Rob Jebb of Bingley Harriers in Yorkshire, the current British Fell Running Champion. Jebb started as the favourite for the race, but the record itself seemed safe as ground conditions and the freshening wind made fast running more difficult compared to 2003. In the event, due to the close attention of the Hope brothers from Pudsey & Bramley, a record-breaking race developed. Both Hopes had represented England at the World Mountain Racing Trophy last October in New Zealand and are starting the season in a fine vein of form.

It was older brother Rob who pulled away over the final mountain to win in 41:16 some 36 seconds inside the old record with Jebb second and younger brother Danny third.

In the ladies race, Bingley’s Natalie White came home in first in 52:12 just over four minutes outside Scotland’s Angela Mudge’s 2003 record. The first Northern Ireland lady was Shileen O’Kane in 11th overall, only a few months after having her second baby – hill running seems like a piece of cake compared to that. In all, a record of 36 ladies completed the race.

Once again the veteran men shone through with Dark Peak’s Dave Taylor 1st V40 in 12th place overall in 45:41, Dave Neill of Staffordshire Moorlands 1st V50 in 18th overall in 46:14 and Dave Spedding of Keswick 1st V60 in 55th overall in 51:44.

Amongst the Irish men, the first man from the island was a resurgent Paul Nolan from Dublin, 17th in 46:10 with Brian Ervine, now competing for Mourne Runners (soon to be accompanied by the NIMRA Chairman who has been in more clubs that Darren Clark uses in 18 holes?), 22nd in 47:04 picking up maximum points in the 1st local championship race. Next local home, also from Mourne Runners was Eddie Hanna, who demonstrated his natural talent for the mountains in 27th in 47:47. Hanna claims to only be running twice a week and with the Hill & Dales starting this Thursday (6th April) he can only get fitter and faster as the weeks of the spring progress. How though can he run so fast at present? Apparently it was all down to the 10pm Chinese Takeaway that he downed the night before – if only life was that simple.

First local veteran home was Newcastle AC’ Deon McNeilly (3rd) in 30th overall in 48:02. Both McNeilly and Hanna will be looking to challenge Alan McKibbin’s dominance of the Hill & Dale series.

In the teams it was great to see Mourne Runners manage 6th overall behind winners Borrowdale from the Lake District and also to see Larne AC in 9th and BARF in 12th.

It would be amiss not to mention Mourne’s Sam Herron, who as well as coming home 9th local, finished in the most spectacular fashion. Race finish Director, Frank Morgan, has lovingly created a finish funnel that started 30 metres across and directed the runners into the finish line. As the runners hurtled at speed through the treacherous ground, the finish seemed not to be as obvious to them as it did to Morgan – especially Herron, who managed to miss the funnel completely and then appeared suddenly beside Morgan with a side hurdle any gymnast, would have been proud of. It was the spring of a springbok – it certainly startled the officials who took a moment or two to gather themselves and continue recording the times and places.

This week sees the first of the Blue Lough Hill & Dale Series with the McVeigh Classic from the Lakeside Car Park in Castlewellan Forest Park (where does time go?). A series application form can be downloaded and filled in before arrival on Thursday from www.newcastleac.com. The idea this year is that runners will keep the same number for the whole series.

BOGBOY