Race 8 Results
Photos by Ryan McDonald

O’Connor’s first win and Bailey does it again  
by the BIG YIN

The Millstone Race starts in Donard Forest on the forest trails out onto the Mournes, tracks the wall to an ascent onto Millstone Mountain, descents to the quarry and back through Donard Forest. This year a slight tweak to the course took the runners down the pipe track at the middle bridge so avoiding the rooted single track. This 4 mile route with 1500 feet of climb requires the runner to possess speed, endurance, climbing/downhill skills and knowledge of the terrain. Clearly a race suited to Ian Bailey of Newcastle AC who was hopeful of his 5^th Hill and Dale win in 2014 and Catherine O’Connor of East Down AC poised for her first win. Continue reading →

Race 7 Results
Photos by Ryan McDonald

Bailey hits a hat trick and Wilson sets the record straight!

By A Banker

Thursday 29^th May 2014, saw some 164 runners from 17 various clubs with host club Newcastle & District AC leading the field with 23 so called athletes on show.  The race was the 7^th race in the 2014 Hill & Dale Race Series and ran in conjunction with NIMRA as part of their overall series.  Continue reading →

Race 6 Results

Bailey knocks out Rocky
by Fat Boys Slimmer

The Rocky Race is the 6th race of the 2014 Hill and Dale Series.  The race started on the mountainside at Leitrim Lodge and was run in an anti-clockwise direction. It included the summits of Altnataggart, Pearse’s Castle and Tournamrock before the final climb and the fast descent of the eponymous Rocky.

Conditions were perfect for racing, little wind and more importantly visibility was good.  One hundred and eighty four souls pitched up for the start, with many complaining of sore legs and feet from those who had competed in weekend events including the annual Slieve Donard Race,  The Inter Counties Fell Championships, Mourne Etape Cycle Event, and dancing in Jack O’Hare’s front bar! Continue reading →

Race 4 Results
Photos by Ryan McDonald

Bogle Beats Bailey as the Brave 170 Battle up the Beast of Binnian
by Bogusboy

The clouds had disappeared and the rain had retreated, uncharacteristic occurrences on a Hill & Dale Thursday.  The entries Vengabus was in situ, tay was on the go and insults were being handed out free of charge with race numbers – one likes to make sure that everyone gets value for money!  Tony Steele had once again provided the trailer, coffee, tay, milk (though in short supply – he loses a mark for that!), jaffa cakes and hidden in the corner, the jackpot – an unopened tin of assorted creams (which were demolished by the Entries & Results Management Team within minutes) – the best result of the night!  Our sincere thanks to Tony for his continual support and assistance which is invaluable, particularly on rainy nights and our apologies for the amount of biscuits eaten by a certain Mary Knight!!! Continue reading →

Race 3 Results

Race 3 Photos by Ryan McDonald

Report by Wingman

Ian Bailey Wins at Rostrevor 

The weather cleared following a morning of mist and drizzle to reveal Slievemartin 1590 feet above Rostrevor forest. The dull, damp conditions with no wind on Thursday 1^st May, where ideal for the 192 runners gathered on the start line for the 3^rd Hill and Dale race in the 2014 series. Unfortunately the conditions were also ideal for the midgets that soon began to attack any one standing still. Standing still wasn’t an option for the runners waiting for Frank Morgan’s whistle. Continue reading →

Senior Race 2 Results

Photos by Ryan McDonald

Report By the big fellows, fellow’s
Glorious sunshine greeted the hundreds of spectators and competitors that turned up at Tollymore forest park on Thursday past. Two hundred and forty three runners entered the main senior event, the Monument race, and 75 children took part in the primary and secondary school races. Added to the participants you also had wives, husbands, siblings, granny’s, grandads, cousins and doting parents and suddenly Tollymore was a hive of activity.  Continue reading →