The Hill & Dale Race Series in the Mournes returned on Thursday 18th May after a break for the Slieve Donard Race last weekend. Race 5 took place in much more pleasant conditions than the wind, rain and hail of the previous event at Slieve Binnian as runners enjoyed evening sunshine. The runners started from Leitrim Lodge with a climb to the 405m summit of Rocky followed by more ascending and descending over Tornamrock to Pierces Castle before a welcome downhill return to the finish line at Leitrim Lodge. 5 of North Down AC’s mountain runners races were in action; Clair Quigley led the NDAC contingent taking 3rd place in her age group in 47:05. Donald Smith was next to finish in 55:12 ahead of Trevor Patterson in 59:51. Tracy McKittrick finished in 1:07:04, 5 seconds ahead of Ian McCreary.
[photo: Tracy McKittrick, Hill & Dale, Rocky]
[photo: NDAC finishers at Rocky; Ian McCreary, Trevor Patterson, Clair Quigley, Donald Smith, Tracy McKittrick]