B.A.R.F. winter training starts on Thursday 3rd October. We will be meeting at the reception area of the Ozone Complex, Ormeau Embankment at 7pm for a 7.15 start. All comers welcome.
October Schedule
3 Oct. Bridges and Hills
10 Oct. Church Rd & Glencreaghy Hills
17 Oct Ring Road
24 Oct. Shaws Bridge Hills
31 Oct. Pyramids around the park
As is our want at the start of any month, a pizza and beer frenzy follows training on Thursday 3rd – venue to be decided on the night.
This morning saw 44 fell runners assemble in Kilbroney Park for the Mourne Runners race ‘The Fallows’. The race, a fast 17.5km run with 895m of climbing was not to be missed!
The race started at the forestry hut (G.R. 185176) beside the park entrance and proceeded straight along forest track, past the path for Fiddlers Green, and out onto open mountainside – effectively running parallel to the road below. Around the 3km mark runners entered Ballyedmond Wood, which was the start of a short steep climb, before passing through a gate (G. R. 208161) and onto an easier climb on open mountainside. This continued all the way to the mast (G.R. 204176). Runners then descended on a popular mountain bike track before re-entering Kilbroney Forest (G.R. 211181). The race then proceeded along fast undulating tracks before a steep zig-zag forest climb to a track close to the Slieve Martin – Slievemeen col. The remaining 2.5km was the very fast descent past Fiddlers Green, taking the infamous Hill & Dale race route!
Continue reading
I’m pleased to announce the completion of the long overdue revamped BARFNI.co.uk website. This site will be used in conjunction with our Facebook Page and Twitter account to give BARF an updated online presence. So go right ahead Like, Tweet and Share our wonderful content!
See you in the mountains,
Aaron
BARF Webmaster!
Normally Jonny Steede’s sub four hour run and second fastest ever Seven Sevens time would have received most of the attention in the race report, but the ladies record was smashed by a towering performance from Dromore athlete Diane Wilson. In conditions which were close to ideal, warm, with light winds and firm under foot conditions, Diane was soon flying with a good smooth rhythm which she maintained throughout the race to become the first lady to dip beneath the five hour mark. In fact she dived way past that mark to beat Shileen O’Kanes record of last year by half an hour. Second lady Denise Mathers also ran a personal best for a finish time of 5hrs- 13 min- 6 seconds, which only a few short years ago would have been a record performance.
Continue reading
The fifth running of this race took part on Saturday 20th July, the race also being part of the NIMRA Grand Prix series. The recent spell of good weather had the benefit of creating perfect conditions underfoot for the nineteen entrants for this race. With the ground bone dry, Stephen Cunningham of Mourne Runners reduced his own course record to an incredible 14 minutes and 37 seconds, the time it took him to run from the Great Cairn at the top of Slieve Donard to the entrance to Donard Park. Diane Wilson also reduced the Ladies course record in recording a very fast time of 18 minutes and 27 seconds. In total, six people recorded a sub twenty minutes for this descent.
Continue reading
A few important changes have had to be made to this year’s race due to the Festival of Flight event, which is happening in Newcastle at the same time. The main change is that the event centre has had to be moved to the Greenhill YMCA at grid ref (369 303), post code BT33 0GR. Access will be from the Tullybrannigan Road which runs around the west side of the Donard Park playing fields. A parking area has been set aside for our use at grid ref (371 305) and a short walk of about 200m will take you to the YMCA. Avoid the main Donard car park which will be closed on the day. Bring a change of clothing and a towel as there are showers at the centre and refreshments will be available after the race.
Continue reading
57 runners took to the start line for the 32nd running of the annual Annalong Horseshoe fell race, this year featuring as a long race in the NIMRA championship. The weather was bright and clear, with cool temperatures and strong winds expected on the summits. Three previous winners of this race lined up on the starting line, any one of them favourite for this years honours. Last years winner, Deon McNeilly of Newcastle AC, recently becoming a V50, was aiming to become the first person to record a win in this race in the Open category, as a V40 and as a V50.
Continue reading