Hill and Dale Race Series Results 2004
Race 1
Race 2
Race 3
Race 4
Race 5
Race 6
Race 7
Race 8
Race 9
Race 10
Race 11
Overall


Race 1

The Mc Veigh Classic

8th April 2004

Race 1 (of 11)

McKibben edges it & Harty romps home

The clocks go forward and all of a sudden it's bright enough to run in the forests and mountains after 7.30pm heralding another Hill & Dale Series. Traditionally, of recent times, it starts with the McVeigh Classic in Castlewellan Forest Park and the personal excesses of the winter period are exposed for all to see as the race winds its way up and down and up and down, finishing with the very public 'crawl' up the grassy slope in the shadow of the castle.

113 brave souls gathered by the lakeside and the atmosphere as ever was fantastic with the air full of anticipation. For anyone who knows Castlewellan Forest Park, the race has three serious climbs, the Ridge Walk, Slievenaslat and also Foxes Green with, of course, a lot of height loss in between each.

Amid the raucous noise there was a poignant moment's silence for Michael Morgan, founder of the Hill & Dale Series who died in the past year. Appropriately the silence was broken as the clock turned to 7.30pm, Michael set the trend that still exists today that the race should start on time.

Up front, Newcastle AC's Alan McKibben started fast as usual, followed by North Belfast's Neil Carty. Behind was one of this winter's cross-country champions, in a January race when he dropped McKibben on the last lap, North Down's Francis Marsh, who led the rest of the bunch. In close order were Ballymena's Mark Alexander and Larne's Andy Gregg.

As the years go by and old and new faces appear at the races, only one thing really changes, everyone is one year older than last year. Pointedly, Larne AC's Billy Magee, former Mountain Racing Association Chairman and Northern Ireland Team Manager, has now turned 60 and you wouldn't believe it, it seems to have been a new lease of life as he stormed home in 54th out of 113. At the other end of the spectrum, 16-year-old Shane Dogherty of Mid-Ulster AC is this year's youth find of the early season as he surprised everyone, with the exception of himself, tohttp://www.nimra.org.uk/results.asp?rID=16740 minutes 40 seconds in 36th overall and nearly three minutes ahead of second placed, first lady veteran, former Hill & Dale winner and club-mate Anne Sandford.

Special mention of the night goes to fireman Jess Anderson who marked his decision (it's only taken him two years) to join Newcastle AC with an early nomination for the 'lost in the mountains' award. I know it's only the forest, but Anderson set off for his warm-up and decided to take a short cut back through the young Christmas trees. Not so soon after he appeared at the start area with blood oozing from scratches all over his body - this wasn't a case of 'did not finish' instead a case of 'did not start'.

Someone handed in €5 as the race entry fee and willingly took back £2 in change. Honesty will be applauded when the transgressor owns up next week and the return of £1 will be sufficient - suspects are in the following order - those who live in Blayney, those who also work in Bessbrook and finally, those who shop regularly in Newry - you know who you are!

Finally, we intended to publish some award-winning photographs of the stunning views and backdrop from the McVeigh Classic, courtesy of Brian (Mr Grumpy from Ballyward) McBurney's new digital camera. However, never the sharpest tool in the box, McBurney only managed one shot and that was of an unsuspecting elbow - more scenic efforts are promised from future races once he gets someone to read the instructions for him.

Race two is this coming Thursday at the Tollymore Mountain Centre with an exhilarating run around the small trails of the forest. Anyone is welcome to participate with all abilities represented with times expected between half an hour and the full hour depending on your ability. Just arrive in the car park at the Centre by 7pm and enjoy the challenge.

BOGBOY

1 Alan McKibben Newcastle AC O
32:33
2 Neil Carty North Belfast O
35
3 Francis Marsh N Down O
34:24
4 Mark Alexander Ballymena O
32
5 Andy Gregg Larne O
46
6 Shane Dogherty Mid Ulster OJ
35:18
7 Paul Rodgers Newcastle AC O
23
8 Joe McCann Newcastle AC O
26
9 Damien Brannigan Newcastle AC O
37
10 Gary Bailey ACKC O
49
11 Dave Allen Albertville V40
59
12 Alex Brennan Ballymena O
36:03
13 Lee Maginnis Newcastle AC O
13
14 Andy McKee Team Purple O
18
15 Adam Mitten Newcastle AC OJ
20
16 Eddie Bell Abbey V40
31
17 Edward Hanna ACKC O
40
18 Billy McKay Albertville V50
52
19 Mark Kendall Newcastle AC O
37:01
20 Brian Campbell Newcastle AC O
06
21 Jamie Stewart N Down OJ
10
22 Jonathan McCloy Mid Ulster OJ
13
23 Johnny Gregg Team Purple O
18
24 Mark McManus Larne O
23
25 Hugo Rodgers Newcastle AC O
38:30
26 Andrew Nibblet ACKC O
34
27 Charlie McAlinden Newcastle AC V45
37
28 Thomas Simmons N Down O
40
29 Des O'Rogan Team Purple O
46
30 Cathal McGreevy Team Purple O
56
31 Barry Wells Newcastle AC V40
39:01
32 Cathal McAuley Ballymena V40
09
33 Samuel Herron ACKC O
34
34 Richard Cowan Willowfield O
48
35 Paul Mawhirt Newcastle AC O
40:12
36 Kerry Harty Newcastle AC L
40
37 David Bell Newcastle AC V40
50
38 Vaughan Purnell Lunchtime Legends O
55
39 David Fulcher U/A V45
57
40 Mark Hanna ACKC O
41:22
41 Mervyn McCollam Larne O
31
42 Wes Kettyle ACKC V50
36
43 Nigel Hart BARF O
39
44 Eddie O'Hagan Team Purple V40
43
45 Colin Funston N Down O
52
46 William Marks ACKC O
54
47 Brendan O'Hagan Team Purple V45
54
48 Vince McAlinden BARF O
42:03
49 Garry McLoughlin Newcastle AC O
16
50 Andy Bridge U/A V40
45
51 Aiden Campbell U/A O
51
52 Cecil McCullough U/A V40
55
53 Darren Herron ACKC O
57
54 Billy Magee Larne V60
43:07
55 Jim Erskine U/A O
12
56 Brian Linton BARF O
15
57 Patrick Lemoine BARF O
17
58 Anne Sandford Newcastle AC LV
20
59 Trevor Wilson BARF V40
28
60 Rob Matson U/A O
35
61 Fred Hamond BARF V50
42
62 Peter McGookin ACKC V50
44
63 James Keown ACKC O
50
64 Brian Wilson U/A O
52
65 Frank Gorman U/A O
44:17
66 Marty McVeigh Newcastle AC V50
20
67 Jonathon P Sloan ACKC O
26
68 WJ Brown Newcastle AC V50
28
69 Mike Barton ACKC V50
29
70 John Savage Newcastle AC V45
42
71 Francis Nugent Newcastle AC O
45:00
72 Ricky Cowan Willowfield V55
14
73 Fred Strickland Ballydrain V55
32
74 Andy McCann BARF O
39
75 Paul Fegan Newcastle AC O
40
76 John Sloan ACKC V55
46
77 Andrew McGibbon BARF O
52
78 Harry Harron U/A O
57
79 Tish McCann LVO LV
57
80 Kristian McCloy Mid Ulster OJ
46:05
81 Anthony McCloy Mid Ulster V40
21
82 Sinead Murphy Newcastle AC L
25
83 Terry McQueen BARF V40
45
84 Barbara Brown ACKC LV
51
85 John Adgey ACKC V55
47:07
86 Andrew Campbell ACKC O
13
87 Harry Teggarty U/A V50
20
88 Robbie Boake U/A O
44
89 Brendan O'Boyle Larne OJ
53
90 Martina Hawkins Newcastle AC L
55
91 Mark Pruzina BARF O
48:05
92 Angela Beggs BARF L
17
93 Claire Galbraith ACKC LV
31
94 Dave Goddard U/A V50
35
95 Ian Taylor BARF V55
42
96 Barry Evans U/A O
49:11
97 Colin Morrison U/A O
56
98 Mark Eccles Ballydrain V45
50:14
99 Charlotte Smith ACKC L
44
100 Liz Redmond U/A LV
51:01
101 Connel Nugent Newcastle AC V40
10
102 Peter Turkington ACKC V45
30
103 Ross Denver East Down O
46
104 Sue Middleton U/A LV
57
105 Hugh McCloy Mid Ulster V45
53:43
106 Cuan Boake ACKC O
55:22
107 David Hughes ACKC V40
26
108 Maureen Oliver DUB LV
49
109 Hugh Young U/A V60
56:50
110 Sue Farmer ACKC LV
57:25
111 Wendy Findlay U/A LV
58:27
112 Tony Bradley U/A O
60:22
113 Jess Anderson U/A O
Did Not Start!!!
         


Team Results

1
 Newcastle
16
2
 Ballymena
48
3
 North Down
52
4
 ACKC
53
5
 Team Purple
66
6
 Larne
70
7
 Mid Ulster
108
8
 BARF
147

 

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