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!’
While both these tunes have been out for quite some time, the Donard Race has a bit more history, with 2025 being the 80th anniversary of the race, held continuously every year without interruption from 1945. A feature on our website captures this history of the iconic race: Slieve Donard History.
Some of our regular attendees to our club races were probably sitting about on Thursday night twiddling their thumbs and not knowing what to do with themselves with no Hill & Dale on that night, luckily Donard had something to offer them on Saturday morning. The leisure centre for registration was as a busy spot as Donard Forest with runners trying to suss out the best line home from the quarry, any good lines were on TBC status, with trees scattered all over the place from Storm Éowyn in January.
Newcastle AC’s Dominic McGreevy first M65
Conditions on the day were favourable enough, clear to the top with some breeze offering a relative escape from humid conditions at sea level. A shower or two did arrive but only towards the races conclusion. 10 minutes before the race RD Pearse was welcoming the 161 runners all ready to rock, specifically welcoming the IMRA contingent who travelled up early doors to take on the Ulster leg & race 2 of the Irish Championship, and any runner who had also made their way over from Annalong (more on that later). After asking was everybody here, and then was anybody not here (to which a few perplexed runners put their hands up) Pearse highlighted to all the aura of madness that exists in the sport, and praised anyone who is considered a headcase just within that circle of mountain runners, that’s a special level of insanity altogether. We have too many of them knocking about to name specifically!
Like a herd of cattle busting out the gate, everyone was then directed onto the road to be ready for the start, and finding a sizeable gap between two Ulsterbuses making their way down the town, our traffic marshals lead by President Frank Morgan got the show underway. From the get go it was a fast paced stampede down along the south end of the town and straight into Donard Park for the beginning of the climb to 850m.
Setting stall out right out from the get go was Hill & Dale 2025 champ-elect Tom Crudgington who is in the form of his life at present and was determined to claim victory today after some previous near misses. On his heels initially was club mate Ashley ‘The Bull’ Crutchley & Joshua ‘Lumpy Ankles’ McAtee of Mourne Runners, the 3 lads familiar foes in battle! This was the order from the saddle and to the summit, however Tom was on a different planet as the race went on, gathering up a significant 4 minute lead at the summit topping off in 37:14.
Mourne Runner’s Sarah Hanna 6th Lady
About 10 seconds separated 2nd & 3rd Ashley & Josh at the top, before the inevitable happened, and somebody once again created their own heat map on Strava. A peculiar line if continued, would have landed you somewhere in the vicinity of Annalong! Luckily for Ashley firstly he was already on the correct mountain, and secondly he quickly turned the head round, spotted Josh and got back into formation, reminiscent of a racehorse called Might Bite running to the finish at Cheltenham 2017 (look it up on YouTube) If the clag was down, then the racehorse would have been ‘Divorce Referendum’ which Father Ted had a bet on and was cantering home only for to then inexplicably run off the course in the opposite direction!
Nevertheless Tom had claimed another minute on the lads on the descent with a drop of 17:53 (the quickest of the day) and was to storm home out on his own in 55:07 almost 5 minutes ahead of the pack, and breaking Seamy Lynchs record time on this route from 2018 by 7 seconds. Ashley pulled in a strong sprint to grab 2nd and just come in under the hour in 59:56 whilst Joshua despite another roll of the ankle settled for bronze 1:01:42, but took the 1st MV35 place. Coming in 6th place to nab MV45 was our own Davy Hicks and as a result the team trophy for first 3 home was to stay in Newcastle for another year.
North Down AC’s John Adgey first M80
In the ladies race Caroline Harney Ayton of Parnells AC was first to the top with a powerful climb of 49:14. Chasing Caroline was Louise Murray and our own Tanya Cumming about a minute behind. However similar to last year, a 4 minute gap of a summit time won’t stop multiple winner Diane Wilson of Dromore AC having a final say on the standings. The quickest descent of the day with 20:31 threw her right back into contention again to catch Caroline when the two ladies emerged out of the forest. However Caroline was hold Diane off on the home stretch to take 1st place by 10 seconds and put a new name on the ladies trophy, and claim her 2nd victory in the Irish Champs after winning Log na Coille a few weeks previous. Following them in 30 seconds later to clinch podium was Tanya Cumming with a very solid run.
For the relief of the organisers all 161 runners were accounted for. It was a brilliant sight watched a colony of ants in a line up high scuttering down to the quarry, and people jumping out of the tree line in Donard Park in every direction. The majority of the people on the run in over the football field would be described as seized up, this is no surprise with recent efforts over Granite Peaks, Paps of Jura & Leinster League all still in the legs. Nevertheless that did not prevent a huge squad navigating to the beer garden in O’Hares for the prize giving. All age categories (including MV80, congrats to John Adgey) were accounted for, and the 1st place and team trophies handed out.
2025 winners with Deon McNeilly Newcastle AC Chair and Pearse Brogan Race Director. L-R: Deon McNeilly, Josh McAtee 3rd & 1st M35, Tom Crudgington 1st, David Hicks 6th &1st M45, Pearse Brogan, Tanya Cumming 3rd, Ashley Crutchley 2nd, Caroline Harney Ayton 1st, Diane Wilson 2nd & 1st F55
Race 3 of the Irish Championship is Mweelrea on Sat 21st June, followed by Mangerton in July and Galtymore in August. If Donard was your first one, two more races out of the three will get you standing in the final championship, so why not get them into the diary and head down for a rattle at them! Next on the agenda for Newcastle is Hill & Dale #8, the infamous Loughshannagh. Mr McCann and The Prophet himself will ensure a night of drama for you all, get registered by Tuesday evening, details on the website &
Facebook. If you missed any of the Hill & Dales or the Slieve Donard race, you can watch them back on the Up & Running channel on YouTube (Franky has been covering the highlights on each race, and he’s getting better every week at his editing!)
Finally, a massive word of thanks for the superb feedback we have received on hosting & organising of the race, which went by effortlessly! This would not be possible without all the people who worked in the background, registration and finish team, the traffic & car park marshals and especially to the marshals & sweepers on the mountain, who ensured everyone returned safe and casualties avoided. Thanks to Debbie, Lorna, Miley, Deon, Frank, Seamus, Ronnie, Linda, Donna, Cate, Adam C, Catriona, Áine, Stevie, Sam, Ethan, Anthony, Francie, Prophet, Jinxy and John ‘Butcher’ Kelly.
A fitting 80th anniversary race and looking forward to the 81st edition in 2026!
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