Several of NDAC’s mountain runners were back in the Mournes on Thursday 5th May for the 4th race in this year’s Hill & Dale Race series. This race was billed as ‘Binnian to the Top’ and accordingly runners began at the Carrick Little car Park and followed the track towards the mountains before ascending Slieve Binnian on the tracks beside the Mourne Wall. Conditions worsened as runners approached the 747m summit of the third highest mountain in Northern Ireland and provided a very real reminder of the race requirements to carry full body cover and appropriate safety equipment. The temperature dropped, the wind picked up and drizzle turned to stinging hail and rain as runners were scanned in at the finish line and immediately began the descent to the welcome warmth of their waiting cars some 3.5k and 600m below! The North Down runners finished in familiar order with Oliver Playfair once more leading the club’s runners to the rocky tors at the summit in 31:16 followed by Clair Quigley in 37:26. Donald Smith was next in 46:36 ahead of John Adgey 49:06, Tracy McKittrick 49:17, Ian McCreary 50:56 and Trevor Patterson 51:29.
[photo: Donald Smith, Tracy McKittrick, John Adgey, Trevor Patterson]
