Race Report by Deon McNeilly
Photos by Paul Fegan
British Championship U20 Trials
Congratulations to Newcastle & District AC Member Tom Crudgington who came 6th at the British Championship U20 Trials in the Sedbergh Lake District over the weekend.
Junior Home International
After too many years to count (or at least mention in public), it was finally NIMRA’s turn to host the Junior Home International, which combines with the British & Irish U17 & U20 Mountain Running Championships
Greenhill YMCA was the destination, with all five nations at last able to attend. Some ‘bubbling’ of course was still needed but it was great to welcome our visitors to Newcastle, and our beautiful Mournes.
The Mourne weather seemed to think so too, with the mist and murk of the trial two weeks previously a distant memory.
After arrivals, by boat, bus, car and plane on Friday, it was an early start on Saturday for the race, with teams bused to Happy Valley and a field that had taken on something of a festival feel. Continue reading
PBs Galore for Newcastle & District AC athletes at the Antrim Coast Road Half-Marathon
Race Report by BOGBOY
Slieve Donad 2021
The warning was Yellow on Meelbeg
From Yellow warnings of Thunder & Lightning, changing to warnings about rain, the Met office just couldn’t make up its mind.
Once the race organisers had contented themselves, that neither Thunder & Lightning, strong winds or heavy rain were any longer a threat to the athletes, the decision was made to mark out the Course, running over Meelbeg, with that long glorious ridge as the descent to the finish.
However, by the time the final markers had been placed, the fog had become so thick, that it was becoming a serious danger that the junior athletes would miss one of the 300 markers on the course and veer off in the direction of Fofanny Dam. Continue reading