Hill & Dales 2025 – Race 9 – The Meels Results, Report and Photos

One Meel Down
Race Report by the Terminator 

After a dream run of dry conditions in the 2025 Hill & Dale Series, the spell was broken for Race 9 at Meels. With a yellow weather warning issued and steady rain soaking the Mournes, runners braced themselves for what looked like a repeat of last year’s flood-fest. Thankfully, while visibility was poor and the rain persistent, conditions remained manageable—if challenging. Continue reading

Hill & Dales 2025 – Race 8 – Loughshannagh Results, Report and Photos

Another Night, Another Record
Hill and Dale Race 8 – the Loughshannagh Horseshoe by Bogusboy.
Tell them little and keep them guessing appears to have been the mantra of the long-standing directors of this spectacular showcase event of the Hill & Dale series. There is always speculation about the direction, even if it is posted well in advance. Is it Ott first or Carn first? Is it clockwise or anticlockwise. To ensure that uncertainty prevailed it was declared that it was definitely Ott first and the race would go anticlockwise! That may seem fair enough to the unwise and the untrained until one realises that this would mean climbing Ott before coming back in the same direction. Needless to say, there was much chatter and debate and only one of the Race Directors was available for comment and he quickly declared, ‘that was nothing to do with me,’ leaving his long-suffering organising partner under the proverbial bus. All was resolved with and those registering were duly informed that it was most definitely Ott first in a clockwise direction. When someone with sense and wit in equal measures asked about next year’s race, ‘Carn first, clockwise’ was immediately proclaimed, though not by McCrickard!
 

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Slieve Donard Race 2025 Results, Report and Photos

Two new names on the trophies for 2025

Bob Segers tune from 1976 ‘Mainstreet’ was playing in the RDs head on the road down to Newcastle on Saturday morning as the Slieve Donard race was returning to its historical start line on the road outside the leisure centre. Taking one look up to the top of the highest peak in the Mournes from race HQ at sea level the record then changed to Iron Maidens ‘Run To The Hills!’ Continue reading

Hill & Dales 2025 – Race 7 – Millstone Results, Report and Photos

Dog Friendly, Cat Friendly, Twin Friendly – A Race for All

Scribed by participant and long-time Hill & Daler Bronagh McInerney

Millstone delivered in style – and then some

It was one of those rare nights where everything aligned – blue skies, sunshine, puffy clouds, dry grippy trails and a record-breaking Millstone turn out of 294 runners! Entrants were all herded in style by Sam, Debbie & Kerry who ran registration and barcode scanning at O’Hare’s like seasoned professionals. The car park filled up early, the buzz was high, and runners were warming up everywhere from the promenade to the forest, and the grassy patches in between – the pre-race buzz was almost festive! Continue reading

Hill & Dales 2025 – Race 6 – Lukes Results, Report and Photos

Skorts, Suncream and Stockings at Slievenaglogh 

From Meelmore Lodge by The Homeworking Civil Servant 

Meelmore Lodge hosted race six of the 2025 Hill and Dale Series, with runners tackling a 4.5-mile route that summited Slievenaglogh (586m) and Lukes (391m). Out of 348 registered runners, 312 (224 male, 88 female) braved the rugged inclines, unpredictable descents, and the now-familiar appearance of the Northern Irish sun. An impressive increase of 96 participants from last year’s event took to the sunkissed slopes.  Continue reading

Hill & Dales 2025 – Race 5 – Hen & Cock Results, Report and Photos

History rewritten on an historic day
Hill & Dale Race 5 – Hen & Cock by Bogusboy
This week, on the historic occasion of the election of the 267th Pope (Leo XIV) and the 80th Anniversary of VE Day, Hen & Cock made a much anticipated and welcome return to the Hill & Dale calendar since it was ‘retired’ a number of years back. The reason for this was the logistical nightmare of managing parking for those volunteering and those taking part. Determined to resurrect this iconic race, Messers Grant and McVeigh sought a bespoke solution. After a brief conclave, there was white smoke (they used McVeigh and McCann’s hair in the fire!) and a field able to accommodate the ever-increasing Hill & Dale numbers was sourced. The Race Directors and the Race Committee would like to thank Mary Savage for her generosity in granting permission that enabled us to take the traffic off the road and ensure that the race could reclaim its rightful place in the fixture list. Listening to the chatter after the race, the decision to bring the race back was a positive one as people seemed to enjoy it – undoubtedly this was aided by exceptionally good weather on the night.

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