Stephen Cunningham of Mourne Runners set a superb new course record for the Mourne Seven Sevens at Newcastle on Saturday. The gruelling 19 mile event climbs the seven highest peaks in the Mournes and involves a total climb of 8,500 feet. The race was the fifth round of six in the Northern Ireland Mountain Running Championship
, sponsored by Primo Solutions.

Cunningham was soon out on his own at the front as defending NI Champion Des Woods is away racing in the Swiss Alps and no one else in the field could keep up with the pace. The Annalong man reached the top of Slieve Donard in under 39 minutes and then kept that fast pace going for a further 3 hours as he charged round the other six peaks and back to Newcastle. He clocked 3 hours 38 minutes 34 seconds to knock a massive 15 minutes 36 seconds off his clubmate Gary Bailey’s 2004 course record. The result means Cunningham has now secured the NI title with a maximum score of 400 points from 4 wins in the six race series.

Gary’s brother Clive Bailey was runner in 4.46, a minute ahead of Dale Mathers (Newry City Runners) with Cathal McGreevey (Team Purple), Johnny Steede (Ballymena Runners) and Steven Linton (NWOC) completing the top six. Moire O’Sullivan (Setanta OC) was also in record breaking form in the women’s race. The long distance specialist from Dublin was well inside Anne Sandford’s 2004 mark as she recorded 5.19.25 for a clear win ahead of Denise Mathers (Newry City Runners) and Hazel McLaughlin (Lagan Valley AC).

The final round of the NI Mountain Running Championship is the 6 mile Donard – Commedagh race on Saturday 21 August.

Photos are here and results will follow