Turkey Trot

26th December 2004

Alpine Conditions in the Annual Turkey Trot

The day after Christmas throws up all sorts of conditions. This year they were great with the very wet ground of the rest of December having been replaced with a fresh covering of snow. This made the treacherous descent of the Happy Valley slightly easier with childhood days for many of the runners being re-lived as they slipped and slid their way down. Many of the record 74 runners agreed that the view with the sun on the snow over Loughshannagh on the way to the Meelmore-Meelbeg col was awesome.

The day's main plaudits must go to Martina Hawkins of Newcastle AC who won the ladies' section in a time of 58:43, breaking the 2000 record of Anne Sandford by 45 seconds. Anne herself was second, also inside her old record. The ladies race was a hard fought one with former fell champions and internationals also in the race such as Shileen O'Kane and Tricia Sloan, not to mention the welcome visitors such as Catherine Wilson from Kenilworth Runners in England who finished third. Sloan was fourth lady overall and first veteran in 61 minutes and 5 seconds.

In the men's race, after numerous attempts including second place last year, Steve Neill of Pudsey & Bramley won in a time of 46:46, well clear of Newcastle AC's Alan McKibben (first last year) and Steve Cunningham. Neill is originally from Bangor, with his parents now living in Newcastle. He has now long been established in the Leeds area and is an accomplished mountain runner in the competitive English scene.

First team was Newcastle AC with 10 points, with ACKC in second on 27 points and BARF third on 38 points. Thanks are due to the organising club BARF, to the Tollymore Mountain Centre's usual hospitality and the many marshals out on the course.

BOGBOY

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