Classy Cunningham runs well clear of chasing pack

Classy Cunningham runs well clear of chasing pack

12 June 2013

CONDITIONS were perfect last Thursday night for Meelbeg/Meelmore, the eighth race in the 2013 Hill and Dale Series which was won by Mourne Runners’ Stevie Cunningham.

Starting at the Happy Valley the course takes in two of the highest peaks in the Mourne Mountains.

The air was still, the sky clear blue and temperature above 20 degrees, it was the warmest day of the year so far and the 155 runners assembled risked heat stroke rather than the usual exposure due to wind chill.

The race was quickly underway with Ian Bailey setting the pace in the early stages followed closely by Stevie Cunningham and that is how things remained over the summit of Meelmore and on to the summit of Meelbeg.

Despite his gallant efforts to distance his current nemesis, Ian hadn’t managed to establish a commanding enough lead on the climb leaving Cunningham a firm favourite on the long, fast and uneven descent back to the finish.

Stevie managed to use all his racing experience to pull away to win by over a minute on the tricky descent off the shoulder of Meelbeg. Ian remained focused and finished a clear and extremely credible second.

With four wins to Bailey’s two, Cunningham must now be a firm favourite to claim a second title with only three races remaining.

Deon McNeilly was next to the summit after the leading two, but he was quickly overtaken by Neil Carty on the descent, followed by a steady stream of younger Newcastle AC runners, David McNeilly, Seamus Lynch, Sean Donnelly and David Steele finishing in that order.

First lady home was Diane Wilson, with Shileen O’Kane taking second less than 20 seconds behind and Anne Sanford finishing third lady. This was established as the finishing order despite much ado and annoyance during the post-race carousing.

After the initial confusion at the start, the rest of the proceedings progressed like clockwork, with the results completed in record time and no errors.

Back at Maghera Inn for the presentation, pub landlord Hugh Davey had organised an excellent spread while the runners waited for the results. Race 9 of the series is the Rocky Horseshoe. Rocky starts at Leitrim Lodge near Santa’s Grotto (Grid 224256).

This should be a fascinating tussle as this is a must win race for Bailey if he has to have any chance of challenging Cunningham for overall glory. It is also a big race for Cunningham who theoretically could wrap up the title with two races to spare if results go his way.

All runners are reminded to bring full body cover in case of poor conditions and all information about the race is clearly stated on the Newcastle AC website (newcastleac.org).