Classy Crudgington storms to victory in Slieve Donard race

Classy Crudgington storms to victory in Slieve Donard race

4 June 2025

BOB Seger’s 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 changed to Iron Maiden’s ‘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.

Some of the 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 and 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 runners tried to suss out the best line home from the quarry.

Conditions on the day were favourable enough and while shower or two did arrive, it was only towards the race’s conclusion. 

Ten minutes before the race, RD Pearse was welcoming the 161 runners, particularly the IMRA contingent, who travelled up early doors to take on the Ulster leg and race two of the Irish Championship, and any runner who had also made their way over from Annalong.

Participants were directed on to the road for the start and our traffic marshals, led by President Frank Morgan, got the show underway. 

From the get go, it was a fast-paced stampede down the town and straight into Donard Park for the beginning of the climb to 850m.

Setting stall out right from the start, 2025 Hill and Dale champion-elect, Tom Crudgington, was determined to claim victory after some previous near misses. 

On his heels, initially, was clubmate Ashley Crutchley and Joshua McAtee, of Mourne Runners.

The three lads, who are familiar foes in battle, held the order from the saddle and to the summit. However, Crudgington was on a different planet as the race went on, gathering up a significant four-minute lead at the summit topping off in 37:14. 

About 10 seconds separated second and third, Crutchley and McAtee, at the top, before the inevitable happened and somebody once again created their own heat map on Strava. 

If continued, a peculiar line would have landed you somewhere in the vicinity of Annalong, but luckily for Crutchley, he spotted McAtee and got back into formation.

Nonetheless, Tom had claimed another minute on the lads on the descent, with a of 17:53 (the quickest of the day) and was to storm home in 55:07, breaking Seamy Lynch’s record time from 2018 by seven seconds. 

Crutchley pulled in a strong sprint to grab second and come in just under the hour in 59:56.

McAtee, despite another roll of the ankle, settled for bronze in 1:01:42, but took the first MV35 place. 

Newcastle AC’s own Davy Hicks came home in sixth place, nabbing the MV45 and ensuring the team trophy for first three home stayed in Newcastle for another year.

In the ladies’ race, Caroline Harney-Ayton, of Parnell’s AC, was first to the top with a powerful climb of 49:14. 

She was chased by Louise Murray and our own Tanya Cumming, about a minute behind. However, a four-minute gap in the summit times could not stop multiple winner Diane Wilson, of Dromore AC, from having a final say on the standings. 

The quickest descent of the day, with 20:31, threw her right back into contention to catch Harney-Ayton when the two ladies emerged out of the forest. 

Harney-Ayton held Wilson off on the home stretch to take first place by 10 seconds and put a new name on the ladies’ trophy, claiming her second victory in the Irish Championships after winning Log na Coille a few weeks previous. 

With a very solid run, Cumming followed them home 30 seconds later, clinching the final podium place.

To the relief of the organisers, all 161 runners were accounted for. It was a brilliant sight to watch competitors scuttering down to the quarry and 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, 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’s John Adgey, were accounted for and the first place and team trophies were handed out.

Race three of the Irish Championship is Mweelrea on Saturday, June 21, 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 and Dale race eight — the infamous Loughshannagh.

Registration should be completed by Tuesday and details are available on the website and Facebook. 

If you missed any of the Hill and Dales, or the Slieve Donard race, you can watch them back on the Up & Running channel on YouTube.

A massive word of thanks for the superb feedback we have received on hosting and organising of the race, which went by effortlessly.

This would not be possible without all the people who worked in the background, the registration and finish team, the traffic and car park marshals and the marshals and 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 Kelly. 

It was a fitting 80th anniversary race and we are now looking forward to the 81st edition in 2026.