Win for Newcastle AC at NI and Ulster Intermediate XC Championships

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.

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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.

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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