On Sunday 28 January, Newcastle AC had a hugely successful day at the Billy Neill Playing Fields. For the fourth time in the club’s history and third time in 10 years the Intermediate Men’s team won the overall team prize to bring the trophy back to Newcastle, with Robbie Hagen leading the race most of the way holding on for a Silver Medal, Tom Crudgington finished an excellent fourth, with Niall Goodman just making the top 10 in 10th place followed closely by Ethan McMullan in 11th.
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.
Junior Update
St.Malachys vs Shimna XC meet
Kicking off this weekend’s running action on Friday at Saint Malachy’s High School, Castlewellan was the annual meet between local schools St.Malachy’s High School and Shimna Integrated College as a warm-up event to prepare students for Districts on the 25th of January.
The Alternative Cracker Report
Report by Siobhán Grant
The rain fell fast and the wind blew wild, I’m not scared said all the runners packed into the High School at the start of the Cracker.
But the reality was, no one knew what lay ahead so there was every reason to be scared. Especially after record breaking rainfall in the hours leading up to the start of the race. Continue reading
Do we need to build an Ark?
Christmas Cracker 2023 by Rory Morrow
As the rains battered Castlewellan early on the morning of 29 December, it is alleged that the Prophet was battering the doors of Shilliday’s looking to procure a large consignment of timber, a few hammers and a big bag of nails. Fearful that the rains which were now reaching biblical proportions were not going to abate and he would have to reinvent himself as Noah, the Prophet was taking no chances. Francie and Hen were told to get the utility belts and Snickers trousers on and be on standby for a big job. Thankfully, as the undeterred masses waded through the flooded roads to reach the market town, the rains miraculously stopped and the skies turned a kinder shade. Plans to build the Ark were returned to the contingency folder and normal service resumed. Continue reading
Christmas Cracker Results and Photos 2023
Results to the Christmas Cracker 2023 are available here:
Christmas Cracker Results 2023
Selection of photos: