Last Saturday saw an unseasonably mild day for the 4^th annual running of this local mountain race, the 1^st round of the NI Mountain Running Grand Prix Series.  The race course provided a mixture of terrain over a challenging 7.1 mile course which involved negotiating 530m of up-hill climbing.  42 entrants ensured there would be competition throughout the field, with Pegasus having Stephen O’Hara running in his debut mountain race (the home club missing NI Grand Prix age group winners Peter Bell and Jason Wilson due to injury).

Shortly after the course briefing a 1 minute silence was held for John Sloan, a former mountain runner who is now no longer with us.  With the minute of silence the first mountain race on the MI calendar could take place.  The first mile saw Mourne Runners Gary Bailey and Stevie Cunningham storm away from the field, with Gary having the slight advantage at the top of the first steep climb.  This proved to be temporary as the pre-race favourite Cunningham stormed past to capture a lead he wouldn’t relinquish (with Bailey having to settle for bridesmaid position a number of minutes back). North Belfast’s Raymond Ferguson finished in a fighting 3^rd position only 6 seconds off Bailey and 30 seconds ahead of Ballymena Runners mad man Jonny Steede.  First junior position went to Omagh Harrier’s NI junior international Ciaran Collins in 5^th position, while a special mention must go to Springwell runner Gerry O’Doherty on finishing a superb 6^th overall and first Vet 50 runner.  Stephen O’Hara put in a gutsy effort to finish in 23^rd and in the process beat some seasoned mountain runners!  Adding, a certain ‘marathon man’ Harold Reilly was seen completing a number of hill reps while marshalling, though saying he wasn’t feeling up to running!

In the concurrent women’s race, Karen Alexander proved her versatility over different terrain with a solid win over Charlene Haugh of Mourne Runners.  Top female local was Springwell’s Gillian Wasson only a number of minutes behind the winner in 3^rd position.  Top Female Vet was Roisin McDonnell of Southern club Crusaders.