McKibben Conquers The Monument
by Brian Steele
Newcastle AC’s Alan McKibben took full advantage of his “home” event when he destroyed the opposition with a convincing display of running at the Monument Race in Tollymore Forest Park. 171 runners set off on the fast downhill start from the monument towards the river, as the race crossed the Ivy bridge and into the forest tracks the pace was relentless, McKibben testing his rivals as the course wound its way up the “Shute” and out onto the White Plains. Continue reading →

Easy win for Des over the Meel’s

By Wingman

Meelbeg Meelmore, the 8^th race in the 2011 Hill and Dale Series over two of the Mournes  highest peaks  both over 700 meters , joined only by five other peaks that exceed that height to make up the seven seven’s. In complete contrast to the week before at Loughshannagh with strong winds and chill factor only just above freezing, the air was still, the sky clear blue and temperature above twenty degrees. It was the warmest day of the year and the 188 runners assembled risked heat stroke rather than exposure. Continue reading →

Lough Shannagh Horseshoe – the Race with a Reputation

by The 2 Americanos

Another week and another race, but on this occasion, not just any race, it has to be thee Mountain race of the series, the Lough Shannagh Horseshoe. Starting above Spelga the route runs over the summit of Carn, into the centre of the high Mournes to the summit of Doan and returns via the third and final summit Slieve Loughshannagh. Continue reading →

More photos taken by Nicky McCrickard just added to gallery.

Woods Grinds out a Win on Millstone
by the Big Fella’s fella

In race six of the Up and Running sponsored Hill and Dale series on an aptly named mountain, Millstone, Des Woods continued to grind down all 179 runners to record race win number 5. He now lies 1 win away from the 2011 title. To date Stevie Cunningham, the reigning champion has yet to toe the line through injury and illness, so we wish him well for a speedy return.  Unfortunately for Stevie with only 5 races left he can no longer retain his title. Continue reading →

MUCH  MOURNING  IN MOURNE

by Pete Moss

It is with much sadness and regret that I have to report to you the loss of a great Mourne character. This fellow had tramped the mountains for many years and was well known to many Hill and Dale runners as they often watched him disappearing into the distance. Mourne Runner’s Andrew Niblock was particularly attached to him and had these words to say shortly after the loss, “I will miss this old soul terribly and it will be hard for anyone to follow in his footsteps” Continue reading →

Binnian to the Top

The fourth Hill and Dale headed into real Mourne country on Thursday 5^th May for a mountain run like no other – to the top of Slieve Binnian and stop.  The sunny spell ended that day and it would have been difficult to light a match never mind a fire by the time the race started at 7.30pm.  The mountains were shrouded in mist, and the light was already dim as 174 runners took to the start on the Head Road, Annalong. Fantastic attendance for any race and not expected for a brutal run to the top of a rocky mountain on a miserable evening. Continue reading →