McConville masters Meelmore descent

24 June 2015

HAPPY Valley car park basked in glorious sunshine on Thursday evening as the weather gods once again provided perfect conditions for the penultimate round of the 2015 Hill and Dale series.

Whilst the great and the good discussed tactics including footwear, headwear, make-up, hair styles, dance-moves (this turned out to be some prudent pre-planning for this week’s Friday night prize giving and not the race itself) the sign-on team was working away.

It was marshalled with military-like discipline by the remarkable mind-reading Mary Knight who managed the task of completing entries, which in itself is an accomplishment as many forget their surname, a sure sign that physical and indeed mental fatigue is setting in.

Thankfully, with the final race taking place this Friday, some R & R is not too far away.

At 7.30pm 192 runners set off up the testing climb of Meelmore. With competitors jostling for position, it was Commonwealth cyclist Roger Aiken who set the pace as he topped Meelmore.

In first position, as the race descended down Meelmore towards Meelbeg, was William McKee followed closely by visitor Csaba Gósswein and the ever improving Barry McConville. This combination proved to be the move of the night with the trio putting daylight between themselves and the field.

McKee came into view first off Meelbeg and McConville began hurtling down the hill like a bus with no brakes.

The crowd was treated to a superb dual. McConville even had time to practice his front roll on the way down, a move that seemed to waste no time in his relentless pursuit of the finish line.

At the finish, McConville took the honours by two seconds and with it joins an elite club of Hill and Dale race winners. McKee and Gósswein rounded out the podium.

In the ladies race a battle royale ensued between Shileen O’Kane and Diane Wilson. O’Kane held a commanding lead at the top of Meelbeg but some superb descending saw Wilson take a well deserved come-from-behind win.

A special mention must go to Rita Devlin and two other runners who stopped to offer assistance to Nicky McKeag who suffered a laceration to her knee. Nicky was recovered by Mourne Mountain Rescue and the club are extremely grateful for their continued help and support.

Big thanks to all who helped on the night including sign-on team, marshals, time-keepers, Jack and his team at

O’Hare’s and photographers Ryan McDonald and Deon McNeilly.

This Friday sees the final of another successful series at the Donard Forest race , with the prize giving in O’Hare’s afterwards. All welcome. Dancing shoes compulsory.

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