Rostrevor and Newcastle were the startlines for our runners taking part in the 2019 Mourne Way races by 26 Extreme. Conditions on low lying trails were expected to be a little muddy due to monsoon season in Northern Ireland but it wouldn’t be enough to put off the BARF crew who are well used to harsh conditions and hills .

A very early start for Philip Ward in the Ultra which saw him make his way from Rostrevor to Newcastle then back again along the same route , a tough course but definitely an enjoyable one. Philip completed the 52 mile trail/mountain course in 13.08.19 and definitely earned a relaxing Saturday evening ,impressive running indeed.

The marathon would see runners start in Donard Park and follow the Mourne Way back to Rostrevor . Peter Thompson had another superb run and continued his fine form with a 3.53.13 and 6th overall . Dessie Green also took on this tough marathon and completed in another fine run of 5.23.47 . Denise O’Hagan (pic above) lined up for the marathon also and finished in a great 6.11.38 , she had a nice surprise en route also as Taryn and Pauline met her providing some great BARF support in the latter tough miles . A superb effort by all our runners under tough conditions on a testing course . Well done folks Arf ! Arf !

Thursday night means Hill and Dale race day and as usual the club had a great turnout of 12 mountain runners ready to take on probably one of the toughest but most enjoyable races of the series . This year it started anti clockwise with Carn then down around the Lough climbing Doan then meandering the peat hags to Loughshannagh before crossing to Ott onto the finish .

Colin Pascoe was first home for the club and 20 th overall in 50.54, Rónán Davison-Kernan 51.49, Jim Brown 52.55, Declan McGrellis 53.11, Paddy Mallon 54.49, Stephanie Pruzina (above pic) 1.01.12 and first in her category , Trevor Wilson 1.05.24, Mark Pruzina 1.06.57, Andy Bridge 1.07.12 , Gary Longridge 1.13.34, Clarke Campbell 1.19.06 (pic below) and Stephen Waterworth 1.34.18.

Well done to all our runners again , great effort and display from the club and congratulations again to Stephanie on her category win . Arf ! Arf !

The Glens of Antrim set the scene for Saturday’s NIMRA race, The Cairncastle Classic , a new route set in the scenic Glens of Antrim , a tough 10 miler with plenty of climbing and starting on Ballygally beach.

Alan Ritchie was home for the club first in 14th overall with Jim Brown , Gareth Boreland (below) , Jackie Toal (above) and Clarke Campbell all representing the club on the day .

Well done to everyone on the day ! Arf ! Arf !

pics by Hazel Mc Laughlin.

On Thursday evening 12 Barfers took to the hills from Donard Car Park to take on the latest race in the Hill and Dale series.

Colin Pascoe was first club member home in a fantastic 5th place overall and first in his age category finishing in 42.45 followed by Rónán Davison-Kernan in 47.51, Jim Brown 48.12, Declan McGrellis 48.17, Paddy Mallon 50.45, Stephanie Pruzina (pic above) 53.54, Trevor Wilson 56.29 ,Mark Pruzina 58.57 (pic below ), Gary Longridge 1.01.42, Andy Bridge 101.54, Philip Ward 1.02.47 and Clarke Campbell 1.09.36.

Well done to all our members on another great display on a tough fast mountain course . Next week sees the series head to Loughshannagh for the tough open mountain Loughshannagh Horseshoe. Arf ! Arf ! …….pics by P.Fegan and A.Shimmons

Congratulations to Declan McGrellis and Trevor Wilson who took on the tough Isle of Jura Fell Race over the weekend. The lads are no strangers to this race but it’s still a navigation day if the weather is bad and that was the case at the weekend meaning the compass was out .

The route takes in 7 summits over a testing 28 km of tough terrain with a total elevation of over 2370 metres taking in the Paps of Jura . Declan finished in 4.59.36 and Trevor in 6.12.04 .Well done lads ! Arf! Arf !

Last Wednesday evening Peter Thompson took to the roads at Bann 10 k in Banbridge. An event that grows year on year and attracts some stiff competition to the hilly road race .Pictured left above Peter finished the tough route in 36.55 got a well deserved 3rd place overall . Well done ! Arf! Arf!

This weeks Hill and Dale race was Rocky Mountain starting in Leitrim Lodge . 11 hardy BARF runners lined up to take the loop race with a fast descent back to the finish . First home for the club was Colin Pascoe in 37.02 and 13 th overall .

Rónán Davison-Kernan finished in 40.12, Jim Brown 41.31,Paddy Mallon 43.03,Stephanie Pruzina 46.16,Andy Bridge 49.25, Mark Pruzina 49.58, Trevor Wilson 50.36 , Phil Ward 52.59, Gary Longridge 53.32 and Stephen Waterworth 1.05.

A great summers evening running by all and superb effort on a great course with over two hundred taking part …pics by P Fegan ……well done Barfers ! Arf ! Arf !

Newcastle town centre was the start line for Saturdays annual Slieve Donard race with our largest mountain looking down on the eager runners about to tackle the tough climb to the summit and fast lung busting descent again back to Donard Park.

Rónán Davison-Kernan (below ) was first of our 8 BARF mountain goats home in 1.12.47 followed by Alan Ritchie 1.14.30 ,Paddy Mallon 1.21.58,Andy Bridge 1.30.24,Trevor Wilson 1.34.01,Kathleen Monteverde 1.42.18 which saw her first in her category with a strong performance(bottom pic ),Philip Ward 1.57.18 and Ian Taylor 2.17.50.

Strong running once again from all our club members in what is a very stern test but highly enjoyable race . Photos can be found at the link below

https://www.flickr.com/photos/newcastleac/sets/72157705052139932 (Paul Fegan)

Alan Ritchie made use of the bank holiday weekend to head to Kerry to take part in the Waterville Trail Running Festival, a multi stage race of 129.6 km and total elevation of 3720 metres taking in some of the Kerry Way with each stage consisting of 43.2 km and over 1000 metres per day over the 3 days .

Day 1 saw the runners head anti-clockwise and saw Alan finish in 5.22.11, day 2 was clockwise and he ran even quicker in 5.15.16 but there was better to come . Day 3 and anti-clockwise again he ran his quickest day in 5.14.22 finishing overall winner of the multi stage event and over an hour in front of second place . A perfectly paced weekend of running from Alan as he prepares to take on the West Highland Way shortly . Well done ! Arf ! Arf !