The fourth race of the 2026 Hill and Dale Series delivered everything the Meels are famous for – steep climbs, wild weather, questionable route choices, and this year, a record-breaking crowd.
An incredible 343 runners crossed the finish line last Thursday, a huge leap from last year’s 211 finishers. The Hill and Dale Series continue to grow, and Meelmore proved that the appetite for mid-week mountain madness is stronger than ever.
Thankfully, the weather gods were kinder than in recent years. No yellow warnings, no torrential rain, no last-minute course cuts.
But the Mournes weren’t going to let us off lightly; 30mph winds and unseasonably cool temperatures made the summits a real test, especially for the marshals who stood firm in the gusts while runners blew past them like loose kit bags.
Months of planning, and a new route. Behind the scenes, the Hill and Dale machine has been grinding away for months in preparation, tackling all-important annual questions including: How many mugs do we need? What should the final series prize be? Will the Meels ever get a break with the weather?
After several years of weather-forced course changes, the Meelmore race directors, Stevie Rice and Sam McNeilly, made the executive call to permanently alter the Meelmore route. The updated course was published on the Newcastle AC website and emailed to runners, yet the start line still buzzed with confusion. Classic Hill and Dales.
The new route kept the traditional opening climb but removed Meelbeg entirely, a summit often cut anyway, and reinstated the old-school direct line from the Meelmore tower to Happy Valley. It was a fast, speedy descent, and judging by the finish-line feedback, a very welcome one.
The start – chaos, face plants, and three gully options. With no whistle available, Stevie opted for the tried-and-tested method, a thunderous “Go!” What followed was pure Hill and Dale carnage.
Runners scattered in all directions, several face planted within metres, and the infamous Spellack gullies offered three equally terrible choices. As the saying goes, “the only way is up” – except on Spellack, where there are several “ups,” none of them pleasant.
From Spellack, the line to the Meelmore tower was more straightforward, though the windswept marshals deserved medals for staying upright. The drop into Happy Valley was fast and speedy, and the Mourne Way finish delivered runners home in sharp times.
The racing – Tom dominates, Karen commands, and strong runs all round. The men’s race was controlled from the gun by Tom Crudgington of Newcastle AC, who stormed home in 29:12.
So confident in his form, Tom planned to recce next week’s Luke’s course as his warm-up. Behind him, Niall McCartan (BARF) delivered a superb run for second in 32:18, while James Millar (Mourne Runners) made a brilliant return from injury to claim third in 32:57.
The women’s race was dominated by Karen Wilton (Jog Lisburn), who powered home in 39:14 and then immediately had to get back for Eli’s cool down, mirroring Tom’s warm-up antics. Esther Dickson (Newry AC) took second in 40:04, recovering brilliantly after a poor start-line route choice and using her trademark descending skills to claw back multiple places. Rachel Quinn rounded out the podium in 40:15 with a smooth, consistent run.
