Newcastle AC
THE rearranged Slieve Martin Race took place last Thursday (13 August), after the event was forced to be removed from the Hill and Dale Series earlier in the year due to wildfires in the area.
Race directors David Hicks and Barry Óg McConville were determined to see the race go ahead at a later date, with the rearranged event instead taking place as a charity race to raise funds towards the purchase of a defibrillator.
The defibrillator will be located at the Old Town Road car park, opposite Carricklittle Lane in the Mournes, after an excellent total of £1,582.40 was raised on the night.
A total of 118 runners took to the start line in good, if slightly warm, conditions, with the ground bone dry.
The front runners set off at pace on the long climb up the Clasha via Fiddler’s Green, before heading towards Cloughmor and on to the summit of Slieve Martin.
After crossing the stile, runners followed the fence line back towards Rostrevor, with a steep descent over loose scree testing a few nerves before they rejoined the upper Burma Path and made their way towards the finish.
Local Warrenpoint runner Tim Conway, representing Crusaders AC, led from start to finish. Newcastle AC’s Ethan McMullan finished second, with Newcastle AC’s David Hicks taking third.
In the women’s race, Sarah Brady of Lagan Valley AC was first home, followed by Victoria Kelly of Saintfield Striders in second and Newcastle AC’s Holly Fisher in third.
The junior categories were won by Caleb Lewis of Jog Lisburn Running Club and Holly Blease of North Down AC.
Newcastle AC would like to thank everyone who helped in the lead-up to the race and on the night itself.
This Thursday sees the Scrabo Hill Race at Scrabo Country Park, Newtownards, before the nights begin to close in, while the next Newcastle AC-organised race is the Mill Hill Mile, which takes place on Tuesday 1 September, starting in Annsborough at 7pm. Entry details are available from the Newcastle AC website.
