Three Newcastle AC athletes (Tom Crudgington, Ashley Crutchley and Tanya Cumming) were selected as part of the NIMRA team that travelled to Keswick, England to compete in the British Inter-counties Senior Mountain race on at the weekend. This year’s race also doubled up as the British Athletics trial race for the “up and down” event at the Senior European Off-Road Running Championships due to take place in Annecy, France from 31st May to 2nd June 2024. Continue reading
Category Archives: Mountain
Newcastle AC success at the NIMRA Granite Peaks Ultra and 25k
The inaugural NIMRA Granite Peaks Ultra and 25k happened on Saturday 20th April. The Ultra was a distance of 50km, summiting 14 peaks with over 3000m of climbing. The 25km has over 1150m of climbing. Weather forecast was looking good but the day ended up being much warmer for the races than anticipated.
Double Gold for Newcastle AC at Glenariff
This weekend saw the second race of the mountain running season with Glenariff – otherwise affectionately known as ‘The Spud Run’. Set in the beautiful Glens of Antrim, the race starts from the Glenariff Community Centre, and makes it way along a muddy lane for nearly two miles, up a 370m climb and back along the same route. Unlike the Slieve Gullion race the week before, which is almost a straight up and down, Glenariff is more like a tough cross country with a mountain in the middle. Seasoned spud runners know that the real challenge is not necessarily the climb but switching tired legs from the muddy descent off the mountain to fast running mode for the two-mile lane home.
Provisional Calendar 2024
Provisional calendar for the Hill & Dale Series and Slieve Donard Race:
| Date | Start Time | Event |
| Thursday 11 April 2024 | 19:30 | Castlewellan |
| Thursday 18 April 2024 | 19:30 | White Plains |
| Thursday 25 April 2024 | 19:30 | Slieve Martin |
| Thursday 2 May 2024 | 19:30 | Binnian |
| Saturday 11 May 2024 | 14:00 | Slieve Donard Race |
| Thursday 16 May 2024 | 19:30 | Rocky |
| Thursday 23 May 2024 | 19:30 | Luke’s |
| Thursday 30 May 2024 | 19:30 | Millstone |
| Thursday 6 June 2024 | 19:30 | Loughshannagh |
| Thursday 13 June 2024 | 19:30 | Meels |
| Friday 21 June 2024 | 19:30 | Drinnahilly |
Races are subject to permit. Further details, including how to enter, will be available soon.
Mourne Mountain Marathon 16 & 17 September 2023
After all the hard slogging done through spring and summer, the Mourne Mountain Marathon is the culmination of the season for all grades of orienteers, fell runners and hikers to one event over the weekend in the middle of September. Generally the weather conditions would be favourable for such an event, however in typical fashion after last weeks heatwave, the dish was served best cold, foggy, wet, muck and gutters for the near 200 teams that toed the line starting at the Tollymore Mountain Centre on Saturday morning. Continue reading
Impressive PBs over 13.1 and 6.2 for Newcastle Athletes
Impressive PBs over 13.1 and 6.2 for Newcastle Athletes.
A review of the weekend’s racing by Bogusboy
Since the beginning of January many of the Newcastle AC faithful have braved the elements and taken to the roads in less than ideal weather in preparation for one of the many spring marathons across the UK and beyond. For most the focus has been on London, now less than a fortnight away on 24 April. For a smaller number M day was Sunday 10 April in Manchester. Noel Gallagher and Pascal Toner travelled from Newcastle and were joined in the home of Wonderwall’s favourite band by Brendan Donnelly. All three equipped themselves well and turned in great performances. Noel had sought advice from anyone who would give it and had tortured himself and all of his club mates with the burning dilemma, ‘should I go with the hour balloons’? Aiming for a 3:05 to secure a place in London 2017, he showed uncharacteristic patience and prudence in going out steady. Through halfway in 1:30:05, he held on well and ran a very been paced second half to cross the line just 27 seconds outside the three hour mark. Coach Rodgers was quick to point out that this will give him something to fret about and motivate him for the next 52 weeks. No doubt he will be asking more questions of those around him. His planning is already underway and a 1:18 half in Bohermeen is already scheduled. Continue reading