Hill and Dale Series 2014 Preview

Open mountains, an open field; the 2014 Hill & Dale will be as competitive as ever

2014 Hill & Dale Series Preview by Bogusboy

Thursday 17th April sees the return of the ever-popular Newcastle AC promoted Hill & Dale Series.  Now, incredibly, in its 26th year the series continues to grow and is more appealing than ever to runners of all abilities, with, in particular, ever increasing numbers of ladies embracing the challenge.  2013 was a vintage year when the series broke all records in terms of the number of competitors, the numbers completing the series and the quality of bitter diatribes bestowed upon the athletes at the start and at the end of the races by the organisers – all part and parcel of a Thursday night out in the beautiful scenery of county Down!!!

A Two Man job

The eleven race series, stretching until Friday 27th June returns with the traditional opener, the recently re-branded ‘Wells Classic’ in Castlewellan.  Running the first night is a mammoth task and Director Wells has spared no expense in head-hunting the talents, expertise precise and skills of one synonymous with the Hill and Dale, Pol Og MacWhirt. In accepting this prestigious post, the newly appointed deputy spoke of his unbridled joy at being at the very epicentre of operational race control.  No doubt his charm, wit and ebullience will add to the occasion. This 5.5 mile race takes in 1080 feet of climbing before finishing by the wall of Castlewellan Castle.  There are many good vantage points for spectators to see the racing up close.

Last year 219 turned up for this season-opener and all 219 completed the race. Allan Bogle installed himself as the series favourite, leading home a strong field and living up to his pre-race billing when Bogusboy made the following tentative statement! ‘This year I am playing safe and predicting a comfortable win for Allan Bogle of City of Derry.  He is an athlete who has shown good form recently and should have the leg speed to see off his rivals.’ Having said that Carty was only 11 seconds behind Bogle!

Despite my luck in 2013 picking a winner in this race is perennially difficult and in recent years there have been a few surprises, most notably when Noel Collins, a talented junior from Omagh, defined excellence in storming to a memorable win.  In 2012, it was Jonny ‘the Steede’ Steede, who, on the back of some very good performances at early season at NIMRA races, was an impressive winner. He will certainly be up there this time, based on current form. Traditionally the series winner does not emerge too early and this race is an ideal opportunity for an athlete with a bit of leg speed from early season 10k races to claim a moment of glory in the ‘hills’. This time last year, Cunningham was still in hibernation and would not emerge from his slumber until the hills became steeper and the pathways a little less clearly defined!

Will it be a double Bogle?

In attempting to secure a brace, the obvious choice is once again Bogle, who on the back of a highly impressive performance in winning the opening round of the British Championship at the Donard Challenge should have the confidence and the speed to outclass his opponents.  His ability to navigate through the mist at breakneck speed recently won the day against a top class field from across the UK and although navigation is not needed (much to the relief of Lynch, McNeilly, Herron, Steele, Grant et. al.), the City of Derry man has more than enough in reserve to beat anyone on fast running tracks and short sharp climbs.  Steede should be good enough for second and the much improved Lynch is my tip for third. To make things a bit more interesting I consulted with ‘The Prophet’ to find out his tips for race One. After much contemplative musing, he began speaking in strange tongues, or maybe that was just his accent!  Anyway, he believes that Bogle will not make the trip and has predicted O’Flaherty, Steede and Lynch to finish 1, 2 and 3.  We will see on the 17th where true wisdom lies.

Can 5 become 6?

Recent series’ champions have been dominated by Mourne Runners. Eddie Hanna was convincingly triumphant in 2009, Stevie Cunningham was deftly dominant in 2010 and Des Woods reigned supreme in 2011.  Carrying on the mantle of such distinguished athletes is not easy, but it rested well on the shoulders of Andrew Annett, who became the youngest series winner ever in 2012 and recorded a fourth successive title by four different Mourne Runners.  Cunningham returned to serious competition in 2013 and with five wins and a second place was crowned champion for the second time, narrowly edging out Ian Bailey to ensure that the title remained firmly with the Mourne men for another 12 months.

The 2013 Hill and Dale saw five different men win races (less than the 7 who enjoyed race victories in 2012):  Cunningham was the most successful, claiming the five wins.  Outside of that Ian Bailey had three wins, Allan Bogle had two and Jonny Steede won the series finale at Drinahilly. It would be difficult to imagine one athlete winning the six races needed to be the undisputed champion and I contend that this year the number of second and third place finishes will be significant in determining the overall winner.  The 2012 champion, Andrew Annett is bedevilled with injury and it would be wonderful to see him back in action this year, challenging the leaders and intensifying the level of competition at the top end of the field.

A close run thing will be closer still

Last year the ladies series was still very much in the balance after 8 races. Shileen O’Kane had bagged the first four races before being pegged back by Diane Wilson.  With three races to go O’Kane had a narrow 4, 3 advantage, with Patricia McKibbin claiming a well-deserved first ever ladies victory after a fine run over millstone.  O’Kane finished the season strongly and claimed the title with victories at Rocky and Hen and Cock. Gillian Wasson was the final night winner to bring a very competitive ladies’ series to a close.  It will be much the same this year and I have a feeling that Wilson, after a good winter, will have the climbing legs and descending speed to push O’Kane to the very end.  Predicting the champion is an impossible task.

Can Newcastle mount a serious challenge?

For many years the hopes and fortunes of Newcastle AC have rested on the capable shoulders of Deon McNeilly. At the tender age of 51, the evergreen veteran McNeilly will inevitably still be up there with the elite, reminding them that he still has to be beaten by anyone laying serious claim to the title.  The legs show no visible signs of letting up as he continues to compete at the highest levels, long after many of his previous challengers have stopped racing.  However, as the new age dawns the younger men of Newcastle are more likely, under the watchful eye of ‘the big fella’, to be real challengers to Cunningham, Bogle, Steede and the other title contenders.

There are now several Newcastle names cannot be ruled out.  Ian Bailey want very close in 2013 and reports that he will be taking the line again in 2014. While he will not challenge for the win in the opening race, he can certainly lay down a marker and he will have something to prove in Tollymore in race 2.  He is a superb athlete who is full of running and his outstanding climbing ability will leave him close to the leaders in every race. Seamus Lynch, a sophomore first-draft pick from the University of Southern Rathfriland, is a tremendous prospect and should not be discounted.  He was fourth in the series last year and enjoyed two second and two third placed finishes.  He has worked incredibly hard throughout the winter and has (notwithstanding the Donard challenge!!!) shown some great speed over different terrains.  This leg speed makes him a contender.  The only drawback is that ‘Hen’ has not been available to guide him around the courses on a daily basis.  Without his mentor to act as a human sat nav, Lynch has employed the services of a team of Sherpa from Nepal, but claim they lack Hen’s caustic wit and biting sarcasm.  If these were the criteria, one must wonder why McVeigh was overlooked!!!

O’Flaherty was also well placed in the overall standings last year and is running faster than ever, recently setting a PB for 10k; something he claims to have been inspired about a story he once heard about the Armagh 10 – not sure what he means!  He is one of those rare athletes who can turn excellent road racing form into outstanding mountain performances. O’Flaherty has notched up several race wins in recent years, usually in the very worst of conditions and he will not be bothered by either the elements or the opposition.  I expect his to be there or there abouts in the final shakedown.  The same could be said of David Steele, who continues to grow in strength and has a fantastic turn of speed.  If he can get footwear coach Des Woods to choose the correct tyres with the right treads, he too could be in the mix for some podium finishes.  Aside from this quartet, Newcastle’s swelling ranks also include Paul Carlin.  Youth and experience, for once, could overcome old age and treachery!

The best of the rest

While it would imprudent and unwise to bet against a Mourne Runners champion in 2014, there are some seasoned campaigners who have the potential to cause an upset.  Neil Carty, the perennial bridesmaid, can never be written off, though like many of us age is no longer his friend.  Nonetheless he managed to finish third overall last year and was as consistent as ever with one second and five third placed finishes.  The key question issue is how often Bogle will make the long trip to the Mournes.  If he sees the series as valuable preparation for the British Championship then we might see enough of him to take the title back to the North West. Over 11 races he could prove

difficult to beat, irrespective of how well the others are running.  In the final analysis, I think Cunningham has too much in the mountains and he is my champion elect, with Bogle a close second and Bailey a credible third.  The prophet sees it differently and his choices are O’Flaherty, Bailey and Bogle in that order.  All will be revealed in the fullness of time.

Something for everyone so come along

The Hill and Dale series offers something for everyone and while the focus thus far has been on the ‘elite’ athletes; each and every category is hotly contested and every place in each race important to those vying for them.  With age the races become more challenging, but the number of competitors in all of the veteran categories are testimony to the great sense of fun and personal satisfaction that comes from taking part and either beating your time from last year or the person that beat you last week.

Participation in the series in 2013 broke all previous records and it is fantastic to see such huge numbers travelling from the length and breadth of the province to take in the spectacular scenery, insofar as that is possible while traversing a rocky precipice, and test themselves in these wonderful races.  Most hardened Hill and Dalers will tell you that it is not the winning, but the taking part that counts; knowing that you have gone where few boldly go is sufficient satisfaction and gratification for many.  There is also a great camaraderie among the increasing numbers of loyal supporters who turn up each week to watch their favourites and avail of the many excellent vantage points to watch the action unfold – tay, coffee, biscuits and sweets usually appear and there is always a great atmosphere at base camp in one of the makeshift command centres, hastily erected for the evening.  The night always ends on a high with a bit of light super in one of the many excellent pubs in the area, where if you are lucky you may get a spot prize if you are lucky and a slating from the man with the microphone if your racing indiscretions are found out and they usually are.  There are even allegations that ‘the Bard of Strangford’ is bringing his guitar to lead a bit of chanting in the pub, telling tall tales of when he was a good runner – heaven help us all if that comes to pass!!!  All athletes are asked to make use of the free online registration system in operation as this makes the administration of the races less burdensome and allows entries for each race to be processed faster.  Full details are available at www.newcastleac.org.

Junior Hill & Dale runs 2014

Building on the outstanding success of the Newcastle AC Junior Club and the McGrady Financial Service Cross Country Series, we are delighted to reveal that the Junior Hill and Dale runs have been included once again.  This is the third year of the junior events which are designed to enable children from Primary 5 upwards to experience running on forest trails and moderate open mountain. These three events are again sponsored by Toscano Pizzeria and begin in Castlewellan on the opening night of the senior series (17th April).  The three events afford an opportunity for all children to enjoy the atmosphere and excitement of a Hill & Dale evening while getting some exercise at the same time.  The organisers are keen to point out that these races are primarily fun events to introduce junior athletes to the world of forest and fell running.  The runs start at 6.45pm and will be completed with time to spare which enables the juniors to spectate and see some of their coaches and heroes in action.   The entry fee of £2 is payable at each race.  Parents are asked to ensure that children arrive in plenty of time to register and warm up and to be mindful of the fact that car parks are usually busy from 6:15pm onwards with many competitors in the senior races travelling directly from work.

Junior Hill & Dale events 2014

Date Time Location
Thursday 17th April 6:45pm Castlewellan Forest Park
Thursday 24th April 6:45pm Tollymore Forest Park
Thursday 12th June 6:45pm Hen and Cock (Post-Primary only)

 

Junior Hill & Dale Information

  • Junior Registration closes at 6:30pm
  • Junior runs start at 6:45pm
  • Runs are open to all juniors Primary 5 and above (except Hen & Cock).
  • You do not need to be a member of a club to compete
  • There will be different runs each night to suit both primary school and post primary school pupils
  • Run distances and terrain will be age appropriate
  • Entry fee is £2/race and is payable on night of run

It all kicks off on Thursday week

The series begins on Thursday 17th April and runs for eleven weeks, culminating in the now traditional last night celebration on Friday June 27th.  All proceeds from the final night of the series will be donated to charity. Further details are available at the Newcastle AC club website (www.newcastleac.org), where online registration for the series is now live.  Competitors are advised to complete this form prior to registering for their first race as this will speed up the entry process and ensure that the additional ‘on the night’ registration fee is waived.  The Race Committee point out that online registration is free and does not commit any athlete to any number of races.  All race fees are paid on arrival at each individual race.  Athletes are also reminded that entries will close at 7.15pm sharp and that the regulations regarding health and safety are non-negotiable.

All athletes must register online. However limited registration will be available on the night at an increased cost of £15 from 7:15 – 7:25pm. We do not want you to use this method and we do not want this additional money. Additional proceeds will go to charity. You risk missing the start of the race if you do not register online.

RACES START AT 7.30pm SHARP.

Entries Close at 7.15pm

 

ENTRY FEES:

Registered athletes: £8

Non-registered/Unattached/ non-affiliated clubs: £10

Juniors (aged 16-18): £3

Best 6 results from 11 to count towards the overall series

Safety Regulations:

  • Safety equipment required for races: compass, whistle, full body cover which should be brought to ALL races.
  • NO headphones or ear pieces of any description are allowed for safety reasons
  • All runners must report to the finish.
  • Reasonable fitness levels needed – cut off times will apply at the discretion of the organisers.
  • All efforts should be made by runners to car share, and park safely at all races