Controversy at Rocky, but Candidates, at last,
for Lost in the Mountains
The storm was brewing, in more ways
than one, on Thursday night past, the strong southerly
wind was strengthening as the evening approached and
skiffs of rain blew in and out, but never materialised
into too much before the race was over.
Rocky is a great race. It has everything
there is in fell racing from steep climbs and descents,
faster sections on track, bog running and, last but
not least, a route that is obvious when the weather
is fine and not so obvious when the cloud descends.
The latter was the case tonight, to the cost of 2003
Acheson & Glover Series Champion North Belfast's
Neil Carty and Newcastle's Ally McKibbin.
Carty and McKibbin moved steadily away
from the 102 strong field, as the race climbed steeply
along the wall rising out of Leitrim Lodge. Onto the
track and the lead was extended further from Ballymena's
Alex Brennan, Larne's Andy Gregg and Newcastle's Stevie
Cunningham and Damien Brannigan. The gale was awesome
and Cunningham demonstrated how much he has learned
already in his novice year of racing by tucking in
behind Brannigan as the wind hit 50mph on the climb
to Altnataggart. Mind you, given the frame of Brannigan,
tucking in behind doesn't really do too much good.
Anyway, up ahead, Carty and McKibbin
turned, everything well, at the first checkpoint,
and as the group behind approached they couldn't help
but notice that they seemed to be heading a bit too
low down the valley for the direct line to Pearse's
Castle; the race was on, maybe they could be caught?
Off Altnataggart, Brannigan & co
stuck to the track and soon found themselves on the
summit of Pearse's to be greeted by Mawhirt and Daughter
and the surprising news that they were leading; where
were Carty and McKibbin? Enough talk of them for now.
Behind in the women's race, last year's champion Shileen
O'Kane was making a welcome return from many, many,
many months off; could she make a winning start? No
was the answer, mortal after all. It was, instead,
LVO's Violet Linton and Newcastle AC's (Rathfriland's
best) Alwyn Shannon who were setting the pace, in
the absence of this year's champion Ballymena's Sharon
McBurney.
Back at the front of the race (or was
it?), Carty continued to stretch McKibbin as they
crossed the ridge to Tournaman Rock and onto Rocky
mountain itself. Behind, Cunningham demonstrated his
improvement as he out climbed Brannigan on the run
up Rocky with Brennan and Gregg in close attention.
Cunningham is fast on the descent, but so is Brannigan
and as they turned for home, the fierce wind pushed
hard against the runners as they plunged down the
mountain.
Carty kicked for home and McKibbin took
a tumble and the race was over. 32 minutes 15 seconds
was the time with McKibbin 28 seconds behind. Cunningham
was next in 36 minutes dead, five seconds clear of
Brannigan. Brennan was only six seconds back with
Gregg 15 more seconds adrift.
Behind, Newcastle's junior Adam Mitten
had the best race of his season to finish in 8th place
overall in 37 minutes 51 seconds; it's all this track
training and racing, which is delivering such improvement
on the fells. BARF's Jim Brown was first vet 40 in
38 minutes 22 seconds and Larne's Billy Magee first
vet 55 in 24th overall in 41 minutes 37 seconds. First
vet 45 was LVO's John White in 41 minutes 54 seconds
and first vet 50 was ACKC's Peter McGookin in 41 minutes
and 59 seconds. Jim Metcalfe once again did himself
proud coming home as first vet 70 in 65 minutes and
40 seconds.
Linton won the ladies, pulling away
from Shannon on the last descent to win in 43 minutes
and 15 seconds with Shannon first lady veteran in
44 minutes and 6 seconds. A big mention this week
for the ACKC revival, spurred on by the team guru
Mike Barton after last week's Loughshannagh organising
distraction, Gary Bailey had the race of his life
(so far) in 7th overall, backed up by Willie Marks
(at last re-acclimatised after his spell in New Zealand)
in 13th, Sam Harron in 15th, again with a Series best
and the returning old man Roy Donaldson in 16th. Will
they get fit enough in the near future to challenge
the Newcastle old men?
Meanwhile back at the front, Carty and
McKibbin had given the race organiser, Brannigan,
a major headache. Not only had Pearse's Castle marshal
Mawhirt not seen them, but Carty had crossed the line
105 seconds inside Mawhirt's 4-year old course record.
Given the course conditions, wet underfoot and the
strong gale, it is clear that this was a problem.
Eventually, after a quick organising committee summit
and even some input from non-committee members (valid
points Willie John, but no standing), the decision
was taken to exclude the two protagonists from the
official results. At the end of the day, it was decided
that when they had reached the ridge, they should
have turned right and gone to the summit of Altnataggart,
rather than turning left and, although close, it was
not the right direction. Brannigan had made it clear
that there were checkpoint marshals at four points
and this is part of the sport, make the four points
or well… the rest is history. At least there
are now two real candidates for the 'Lost in the Mountains'
Trophy. So controversy reigned; well it wasn't too
bad, Carty was half way to Belfast and McKibbin was
back at home at this stage. It was left to Marty McVeigh
to heckle the race organiser at the prize giving,
not for any real reason, but mainly because he enjoys
heckling. All in a night's craic at Doran's ever welcoming
pub, near Hilltown.
Next week is the penultimate race, Meelmore
& Meelbeg, and note that it is clock-wise, not
as had been advised incorrectly on Thursday night,
starts from the Happy Valley, as ever, at 7.30pm.
BOGBOY
| 1 |
Stevie Cunningham |
Newcastle AC |
O |
36:00
|
| 2 |
Damien Brannigan |
Newcastle AC |
O |
05
|
| 3 |
Alex Brennan |
Ballymena |
O |
11
|
| 4 |
Andy Gregg |
Larne |
O |
16
|
| 5 |
Richard Rodgers |
Newcastle AC |
O |
37:26
|
| 6 |
Cathal McGreevy |
Team Purple |
O |
32
|
| 7 |
Gary Bailey |
ACKC |
O |
43
|
| 8 |
Adam Mitten |
Newcastle AC |
OJ |
46
|
| 9 |
Jim Brown |
BARF |
V40 |
51
|
| 10 |
Steven Linton |
NWOC |
O |
38:22
|
| 11 |
Brian McBurney |
Newcastle AC |
V40 |
33
|
| 12 |
Jonathan McCloy |
Mid Ulster |
OJ |
37
|
| 13 |
William Marks |
ACKC |
O |
39:32
|
| 14 |
Joe McCann |
Newcastle AC |
O |
57
|
| 15 |
Samuel Herron |
ACKC |
O |
40:01
|
| 16 |
Roy Donaldson |
ACKC |
O |
07
|
| 17 |
Eddie O'Hagan |
Team Purple |
V40 |
09
|
| 18 |
Richard Cowan |
Willowfield |
O |
55
|
| 19 |
Richard Campbell |
ACKC |
O |
59
|
| 20 |
Owen McMurray |
U/A |
OJ |
41:01
|
| 21 |
Vince McAlinden |
BARF |
O |
16
|
| 22 |
Ian McCollam |
U/A |
O |
23
|
| 23 |
Lee Maginnis |
U/A |
O |
31
|
| 24 |
Billy Magee |
Larne |
V55 |
34
|
| 25 |
Marty McMullan |
Newcastle AC |
O |
37
|
| 26 |
John White |
LVO |
V45 |
42
|
| 27 |
Mael O'Hare |
Newcastle AC |
O |
54
|
| 28 |
Peter McGookin |
ACKC |
V50 |
56
|
| 29 |
John Savage |
Newcastle AC |
V45 |
59
|
| 30 |
Cecil McCullough |
U/A |
V40 |
42:11
|
| 31 |
Jonathon Lynn |
U/A |
O |
18
|
| 32 |
Jez Anderson |
U/A |
O |
37
|
| 33 |
Mark Hanna |
ACKC |
O |
40
|
| 34 |
James Keown |
U/A |
O |
44
|
| 35 |
Des McHenry |
Willowfield |
V55 |
48
|
| 36 |
Mervin Chambers |
Willowfield |
V40 |
53
|
| 37 |
Wes Kettyle |
ACKC |
V50 |
43:06
|
| 38 |
Charlie McAlinden |
Newcastle AC |
V45 |
09
|
| 39 |
Violet Linton |
LVO |
L |
12
|
| 40 |
Brian Campbell |
Newcastle AC |
O |
15
|
| 41 |
Andrew McGibbon |
U/A |
O |
20
|
| 42 |
Francis Nugent |
U/A |
O |
54
|
| 43 |
Denis Rankin |
BARF |
V55 |
58
|
| 44 |
Jonathon P Sloan |
ACKC |
O |
44:01
|
| 45 |
Alwyn Shannon |
Newcastle AC |
LV |
05
|
| 46 |
Mervyn McCollam |
U/A |
O |
06
|
| 47 |
Brian Linton |
BARF |
O |
24
|
| 48 |
Andrew Campbell |
ACKC |
O |
27
|
| 49 |
Tom Donnelly |
ACKC |
O |
32
|
| 50 |
Mike Barton |
ACKC |
V50 |
37
|
| 51 |
WJ Brown |
Newcastle AC |
V50 |
39
|
| 52 |
Kevin Quinn |
Newcastle AC |
V50 |
43
|
| 53 |
Barry Anderson |
U/A |
O |
45:03
|
| 54 |
Francis Boal |
Ballydrain |
V55 |
26
|
| 55 |
Edward Hanna |
U/A |
O |
28
|
| 56 |
Ian McMurray |
BARF |
V45 |
29
|
| 57 |
David Fulcher |
U/A |
V45 |
30
|
| 58 |
Ricky Cowan |
Willowfield |
V50 |
47
|
| 59 |
Chris Bell |
Abbey |
OJ |
49
|
| 60 |
James Smyth |
U/A |
V40 |
46:02
|
| 61 |
Phil Doyle |
U/A |
O |
04
|
| 62 |
Michael O'Hare |
St Peters |
V40 |
16
|
| 63 |
Michael Dorrity |
U/A |
O |
21
|
| 64 |
Harry Harron |
ACKC |
O |
27
|
| 65 |
Martina Elliot |
Lunchtime Legends |
LV |
47:02
|
| 66 |
John Adgey |
ACKC |
V55 |
07
|
| 67 |
Paul Fegan |
Newcastle AC |
O |
20
|
| 68 |
Andy Bridge |
U/A |
V40 |
25
|
| 69 |
Harry Teggarty |
U/A |
V50 |
29
|
| 70 |
Fred Hamond |
BARF |
V50 |
38
|
| 71 |
Shileen O'Kane |
BARF |
L |
48:00
|
| 72 |
Trevor Wilson |
BARF |
V40 |
17
|
| 73 |
Jim Johnston |
Newcastle AC |
V45 |
31
|
| 74 |
Ashley Fisher |
U/A |
O |
56
|
| 75 |
Ed Smith |
Lunchtime Legends |
V50 |
49:08
|
| 76 |
Noel Douglas |
Newcastle AC |
V45 |
17
|
| 77 |
Clarke Campbell |
BARF |
O |
28
|
| 78 |
Jim Walker |
East Antrim |
V40 |
50:11
|
| 79 |
Jonathon McKinley |
U/A |
O |
21
|
| 80 |
Marty McVeigh |
Newcastle AC |
V50 |
32
|
| 81 |
Connel Nugent |
U/A |
V40 |
36
|
| 82 |
Donal O'Kane |
BARF |
V40 |
39
|
| 83 |
Kieron McDonald |
BARF |
O |
51:24
|
| 84 |
Gary McLoughlin |
LVO |
O |
45
|
| 85 |
Ronnie Donaldson |
CIYMS |
V55 |
52:08
|
| 86 |
Hugh McCloy |
Mid Ulster |
V45 |
24
|
| 87 |
Gary Sloan |
ACKC |
V45 |
26
|
| 88 |
Darren Herron |
ACKC |
O |
29
|
| 89 |
Richard McConnell |
BARF |
O |
51
|
| 90 |
John Welshman |
U/A |
V40 |
53:04
|
| 91 |
Barbara Brown |
ACKC |
LV |
06
|
| 92 |
Leo McGrath |
Lagan Valley |
O |
11
|
| 93 |
Charlotte Smith |
ACKC |
L |
17
|
| 94 |
Ian Taylor |
BARF |
V55 |
27
|
| 95 |
Artie Quinn |
U/A |
V45 |
54:48
|
| 96 |
Heidi Kelly |
BARF |
LV |
57:06
|
| 97 |
Pauline O'Hara |
BARF |
LV |
20
|
| 98 |
Joanne Cousins |
U/A |
L |
24
|
| 99 |
Peter Turkington |
ACKC |
V45 |
58:12
|
| 100 |
Jim Metcalfe |
U/A |
V70 |
65:40
|
| DNF |
Neil Carty |
North Belfast |
O |
|
| DNF |
Alan McKibben |
Newcastle AC |
O |
|
