Race 3

Slieve Martin

22nd April 2004

Race 3 (of 11)

McKibben makes hay at the Cloghmore Stone

The beautiful setting of Kilbroney Forest, in Rostrevor, on a beautiful spring evening, when the heat in the sun seems to have finally returned, greeted the enthusiastic masses for the 3rd Hill & Dale race of the Series.

Ever since Deon McNeilly jettisoned the Crossone race and it was replaced with this one, he has cast aside the mantel of the most unpopular race organiser. This year is set to be no exception with 105 runners turning out (Richie alone again, Tessa absent having seen the light already) to take on Slieve Martin.

The race route, these days well put together by McNeilly, climbs steeply on forest tracks to Fiddler's Green and quickly onto the Cloghmore Stone. From there it climbs even more steeply along the side of the forest to the summit of Slievemeen, followed by a tough undulating run across open mountain ground to the summit of Slieve Martin. The views are stunning, but most don't even see them in the heat of battle. The descent is fast, very fast, to the Cloghmore Stone and then returns steeply back to the start at sea level.

With the Larne AC's Knockdhu International Race on Saturday at Cairncastle, some (more sensible) runners had chosen to give tonight a miss. Newcastle's Alan McKibben was one a few at the sharp end not racing on Saturday and he was strong favourite to make it 2-1 in the Series in his favour, with Neil Carty not racing. The ladies race, however, was as strong as ever with both Kerry Harty and Anne Sandford turning up, both racing Saturday, both probably hoping for an easy victory.

It is suffice to say that McKibben made it a stroll, home in 34 minutes and 45 seconds, nearly two minutes outside McNeilly's record. Behind though there was a real scrap with Larne's Andy Gregg, Newcastle's Damien Brannigan and Paul Rodgers, ACKC's Ed Hanna and Gary Bailey and BARF veteran Jim Brown all stretched out across the mountain as they reached the summit. Brown is fast on the descent and he showed all his ability as he flew down the terrain, as it got steeper and steeper.

Brannigan, though, is no slouch himself, just under 2 hours and fifty minutes for the London Marathon four days earlier, he was demonstrating his powers of recovery and strength as he passed Gregg and stormed home for second place in just over 36 minutes, only 12 seconds slower than his 2003 time. Brown was 34 seconds behind and first veteran, in an excellent third place. Fastest descent of the night, though, went to Bailey 7th at the summit, he picked up two places to finish in 37 minutes 14 seconds and with a further half mile on the descent he would probably have made the top three - less Belmo(u)nt and more mountain climbing will see Bailey a real threat as the season develops.

22 seconds separated Harty and Sandford at the end after a much closer race than in the first two weeks. This gives Harty three wins out of three, but winning the overall series is not going to be a formality as the terrain becomes more mountainous suiting former NI fell running champion Sandford over Harty. It's going to make interesting watching. Behind, Tish McCann, with an orienteering background, is getting stronger each week. She took a couple of minutes out of Sinead Murphy to come home third.

Jonathan McCloy came home first junior to take his first victory of the series. The tussle between him and Adam Mitten is going to be interesting. Charlie McAlinden was first veteran 45 in 20th, Marty McVeigh first veteran 50 in 45th and Denis Rankin first veteran 55 in 44th.

Paul Mawhirt is an enigma. A stalwart of Newcastle AC over the years, a many time Northern Ireland fell running international, former semi-professional footballer and more recently, a recreational runner, he still has the capacity to surprise. Having declared short running shorts out of fashion one Sunday morning at the turn of the year, this Thursday night he turned up in a pair of swimming trunks, more Costa del Sol than the Carlingford Riviera, but nonetheless in 22nd place he was definitely the first man (or woman) home in swimming trunks. To celebrate, he also paid Newcastle's club treasurer the outstanding annual membership subscription that he had owed since the deadline (that he himself had a firm hand in setting) had passed at the end of January. To celebrate further, he turned up unexpectedly (the weather was too good to stay indoors) at the Knockdhu International on Saturday and came home a useful 36th, the first man home in safari shorts. His only comment to the roving reporter was that now that the summer is here, he needs a more lightweight pair, as 'it's getting a bit warm down there'.

Race four is this coming Thursday from the Head Road above Annalong with the steep climb to summit of Binnian. Sitting 2,450 feet above sea level this awesome mountain is never easily climbed and most certainly not at speed. It is a unique Hill & Dale race, as it involves no descending at all, finishing at the top. A list of people, the mountain goats who make up a lot of time on the descent, don't like it, but will still be seen at the start line at 7.30pm - why? Because it's there.

BOGBOY

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