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, to come home in 6th place overall.

Neck and neck as they appeared at the finish, it was McKibben who summoned up the extra effort and out kicked Carty to win in a time just 5 seconds outside Deon McNeilly’s 2002 record. Two minutes back it was Marsh 3rd, Alexander 4th and Gregg 5th.

The lady’s winners from the last three years, Shileen O’Kane & Sharon McBurney were notable by their absence (O’Kane recently had a baby but is allegedly already back in training). This left the way clear for Newcastle’s Kerry Harty, another youthful star of times past who is returning this year to top class competitive action. Harty raced clear early in the race and came home in 40 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

Results for the McVeigh Classic		8th April 2004		
Race 1 (of 11) of Hill & Dale 2004 Series						

Position	Name	Club	Cat	Time			 		
									
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		Team Race 		
6	Shane Dogherty	Mid Ulster	OJ	35:18					
7	Paul Rodgers	Newcastle AC	O	23		1	Newcastle	16	
8	Joe McCann	Newcastle AC	O	26		2	Ballymena	48	
9	Damien Brannigan	Newcastle AC	O	37		3	North Down	52	
10	Gary Bailey	ACKC	O	49		4	ACKC	53	
11	Dave Allen	Albertville	V40	59		5	Team Purple	66	
12	Alex Brennan	Ballymena	O	36:03		6	Larne	70	
13	Lee Maginnis	Newcastle AC	O	13		7	Mid Ulster	108	
14	Andy McKee	Team Purple	O	18		8	BARF	147	
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!!!