NEWCASTLE AC fielded two determined teams at the Denis Rankin Relay at the weekend, taking on BARF’s (Belfast Association of Rock Climbers and Fell Runners) biannual epic across the Mournes.
Both squads put in a huge shift over a long day (and night) in the hills, showing grit, teamwork and plenty of good humour along the way.
Fast Team – Record Breakers
Our lead team delivered a superb performance, smashing the previous relay record of 13 hours held by BARF and clocking an outstanding 11 hours 29 minutes.
On any other year that would have been enough to lift the trophy, but they came up against a fresh and formidable Mourne Runners team, none of whom had raced the Ben the week before, who stormed home in 10 hours 23 minutes.
Still, a record-breaking run is something to be proud of and shows the strength and depth building within the club.
Not-So-Fast Team – Fighting Spirit
Our second team dug in brilliantly throughout the day, securing seventh place out of 15 teams, just edged out by a strong East Down AC outfit. Every leg brought its own challenges, and every runner rose to meet them.
Leg-by-Leg Breakdown Leg 1 – Ryan McDonald & Tom Crudgington Thrown straight into the worst of the weather, Ryan and Tom started in darkness and battled horrific wind and rain all the way to Silent Valley. They arrived looking like two drowned rats but kept the team well in the mix.
Leg 2 – Ian Stevenson & Mickey Flynn Recent recces paid off for Ian and Mickey, who handled the tricky navigation around Ben Crom with confidence. Their steady, smart running kept momentum building.
Leg 3 – David Hicks & Martin McMullan From Deers Meadow to Rostrevor, Davy and Marty made light work of the notoriously complicated section from Finlieve to the mast. Strong, composed running throughout.
Leg 4 – Gary McEvoy & Pearse Brogan Waiting at the mast, Gary McEvoy (Mackers) and Pearse set off toward Spelga with seven peaks in the way. With the wind at their backs and plenty of runnable ground, both crossed the line at Spelga together, keeping spirits high and the pace honest.
Leg 5 – Ashley Crutchley & Roger Morgan Ashley absolutely devoured the final leg in a ridiculous two hours, even finding time to run a bonus loop in Donard Forest. Roger was a brilliant addition to the squad, helping make our “less slim” team a bit more streamlined on the day.
Post Race
The lads gathered at O’Hare’s afterwards for a well-earned drop, watching the final teams come through the Donard Arch and rounding off a cracking day out for the club. The Denis Rankin Relay returns in 2028, but there’s already talk of a Cassie’s Challenge relay next year with teams of seven.
It would be brilliant to see Newcastle AC field multiple teams again – plenty of runners in the club would thrive on a day like this.
A big thanks to the club for all the support, organisation and encouragement. The Mournes were wild, the craic was mighty, and Newcastle AC represented themselves brilliantly across both teams.
