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.

Unlike previous years, when rain, sleet and snow battered the runners before they even started, the day turned out to be a little windy but otherwise uncharacteristically mild. Registered, complementary spuds collected, and warmups completed, 131 runners gathered at the start line.

Newcastle AC had a good turn out and the athletes didn’t disappoint. Tom Crudgington dominated the race from the start, developing a significant gap within the first half mile. Tom maintained a consistent lead throughout the race and flew home in 43 minutes and 14 seconds, with over a minute lead on second place finisher Ryan Steward (unattached). Adam Cunningham, Mourne Runners, followed shortly after to take third place. Ashley Crutchley ran a fantastic race, finishing just 11 seconds after Adam to take fourth place. The rest of the Newcastle men finished strong with David Hicks completing the race in 48.23 to take 13th place, followed by Michael McGreevy in 49.24 and Pearse Brogan in 60.17.

Meanwhile the women’s team more than pulled their weight for the club. Aine Gosling demonstrated why she is considered one of the best female mountain runners in Ireland, by establishing a significant lead from the start. Combining her mountain running and cross-country strength and speed, Aine powered home to take first place in 52.57. Meanwhile a battle was taking place on the hills between Newcastle’s Tanya Cummings and Mourne Runner’s Sarah Hanna. Both women put up a good fight, but it was Tanya Cummings, fresh from her victory at the Slieve Gullion race the week before who managed to put in a powerful sprint round the football pitch at the end to take 2nd place in 55.18. The women’s team was completed by Catherine McIntosh finishing in 63.34 which secured her the Vet45 category. Combined, the women were delighted to discover that they also won the female team prize.

The Newcastle AC athletes would like to thank the organisers of The Spud Run for a fantastic event with great support, delicious soup and of course, the spuds!