Crudgington & Dickson Secure Another Victory and take home the Series Titles
Report by Bogboy
This week’s Hill & Dale Series’ escapism from ‘normal life’ took place on Friday evening
indicating to the hundreds of runners who have participated in the Series that it was the
final race… a sadness descends for the runners as the solstice passes and there’s a
quare stretch in the evenings that now makes a turn and the weather…
…well the weather was reflective of much of what the spring and early summer has
served up in 2024 – wet… only by the 21st June warmer wet and well, not that wet, just
not dry and also it was grey, no sun…
But that didn’t dampen the spirits of the 260 runners who turned up to race the ‘easiest’
race of the series which takes place entirely in Donard Forest with its high point being
the TV Mast on Drinnahilly.
The Cavalry Charage at the start of Drinnahilly
Tom Crudgington has run a canny series and turned up on Friday evening for his 6th race knowing that a top 5 position would secure his 2nd series title having won in 2022 as a 17-year-old. Behind him Ashley Crutchley, who seemingly races whenever any one
advertises an opportunity to race, never mind time-trialling at ParkRuns, was the Series leader but knew that even beating Crudgington in the final race would unlikely be
enough.
I guess that’s probably why Crutchley went and raced the Lisburn Half on Wednesday
evening, or perhaps he raced it because it’s a race.
As the photo shows Crudginton led from gun to tape (ok there was no gun and no tape!) to win in 21:54 – the first time he has actually done this race. Crutchley was 48
seconds behind, having withstood the excellent challenge of Ethan McMullan, to take
2nd place in the overall series.
A relaxed Ethan McMullan coming home in 3rd place at Drinnahilly
McMullan, photo above, is now 18 and is going from strength to strength. He came
home a close 3rd, 12 seconds behind Crutchley having led at the final top, the TV Mast.
McMullan has raced prolifically since April – making the Irish Junior Mountain Racing
team at the trials in Limerick in April, District and Ulster Schools on the track over
5000m, 3 Hill & Dale races and competing as a Junior for Ireland at the European
Mountain Racing Champs in the Alps on 31st May (uphill race) and 2nd June (classic
race).
Gosling in full flow approaching the finish line – what’s on her mind
Áine Gosling literally never lets the grass grow under her feet, so in the summertime she is especially busy but for as anyone who knows her, all year round she is always busy doing something and rushing oe to be doing the next thing. Friday evening was no
exception. This was only Áine’s second race of the Series having won at race 4, Binnian
to the Top, back at the beginning of May. In between, she had competed for Ireland at
the European Mountain Racing Championships in the Alps at a rain soaked and very
much waterlogged Annecy in France at the very end of May.
She was attempting the near impossible feat this evening of attending her stae ‘end of
year’ party in Lurgan at the same time as racing in Newcastle. So hair pinned back and
ready to be released in the car afterwards, fake tan applied (inevitable given the
summer we’re having) and make-up partially applied, she toed the startline hoping that
the rain wouldn’t be too heavy and ruin her risky preparations. The next step was to win
the race and be in the car by eight o’clock, with the journey to Lurgan allowing her to
cool-down enough to then make a Superwoman Phonebox (for those of a vintage old
enough to remember the classic TV series) clothing transformation and suddenly
appear at the function pretending she had been there all evening!
As ever this ‘woman on a mission’ succeeded, arriving home for victory in 27:44, 23
seconds ahead of Martsje Hell.
A happy Martsje Hell in 2nd place
If anyone wants to understand why people love to compete across the 10 races, then
come and stand around the finish line area and listen to the rising buzz as runner after
runner arrives home – the feeling of well-being is tangible – healthy minds and healthy
bodies all around. The runners at the back of the field are as important as the runners
further up the field – each one is on their own journey and the photo below shows two of
the more elderly statesmen, Ian Taylor now competing in the M75 category
accompanied by one the Series’ sweeping team Mr. Butcher “no spring chicken, but I
very much behave like a spring chicken” Kelly… happy as ever!
JBK with Ian Taylor, in the finishing chute 55 minutes after the start…
The series prize-giving was held afterward in O’Hares. The overall series and category prize winners were announced and results can be found in the link below. In addition to the series winners Angie Kerr won the Runner’s Runner award for embodying the spirit of the Hill & Dales and turning up every week with a smile on her face.
Angie Kerr – the runner’s runner with Deon McNeilly (Club Chair)
Overall Series top 10 men with Deon McNeilly (Club Chair)
Overall Series top 10 women with Deon McNeilly (Club Chair)
Ronan McBride from the MMRT
Report by the original & the best, on behalf of the race directors, Community Strategist Damien and Chemist Ian…. Bogboy
Race Results:
Series results 2024:
Race Photos:
Photos by Richard Cowan (If you want to use Richard’s photographs then feel free. The link below gives you a chance to say thanks by buying him a cup of tea: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thekillinchyphotographer)