This year’s race was run in benign conditions, no rain, no strong winds or high temperatures to contend with but it was a bit humid at times particularly in areas where the breeze didn’t stir the air. The conditions underfoot were dry after our long hot summer and this did cause some problems with grit accumulation in running shoes. Ashley Crutchley had to stop twice to empty his and others mentioned similar problems.
The race started from a familiar base, Shimna Colleges but that’s where the similarities ended for in the two years since we were last there the college has been demolished and a new ultra modern school has been constructed. The playing fields we formally started from are no more, so the race started from the new road circuiting around the back of the buildings.
Tom Crudgington of Newcastle AC, who has been posting a series of impressive results recently, had entered the race for the first time. There was some pre-race speculation as to his tactics but once the whistle blew they soon became obvious. He led from the start to finish with a particularly strong push initially to the top of Slieve Donard which opened up a two minute advantage over Adam Cunningham of Mourne Runners and Ashley Crutchley of Newcastle AC. By the Ben Crom Dam Tom had increased this lead to eight minutes and then opted to go straight up to the North Tor by the notoriously leg sapping steep climb. Behind him, Adam and Ashley, who were still together, choose the longer but kinder saddle route. Interestingly, the gap between Tom and Adam was still eight minutes by Binnian’s summit, with Ashley now dropping back. As the race progressed over Lamagan and to the Donard/Commedagh saddle, the gap between Tom and Adam remained the same and it was only on the run down to the finish line that former champion Adam reclaimed three minutes. However, it was not enough to prevent Tom from winning his inaugural Seven Sevens in a great time of 3hours 46 minutes. Ashley was ten minutes behind Adam by the finish line, claiming third position, and Con Halpin ran well for fourth spot. With Tom and Ashley both in the under-23 category, it was a good day for the young guns.
In the ladies race Helen Reid led for most of the way only overtaken briefly at Ben Crom Dam by Sarah Knight. However Helen continued to climb strongly for the remainder of the course and by the finish had over ten minutes of a lead on Joanna Wheeler Connon of Glen Runners who had managed to overtake Sarah for second position.
In the veterans categories Newcastle’s former winner David Hicks now in the v45 category ran a steady solo run to be first home and fifth place overall with a time of 4hrs 39 mins.
Finally a special mention and congratulations to Kevin Murdock for completing his 21 st consecutive Seven Sevens.
