The 1996 Flagstaff to Carlingford womens record set by Patricia Sloan of 2 Hours 2 minutes and 30 seconds looked unmatchable at the time but Shileen Donnelly took no less than 26 seconds off on Sunday last to establish a new record of 2 Hours 2 minutes and 4 seconds . This performance placed her 8th overall from a record entry of 45 for the 11 mile and 3000 ‘ of climb involved in the Flagstaff to Carlingford race.

Brian Ervine of Ballydrain Harriers once again won the mens event in another outstanding time of 1 Hour 30 minutes and 57 seconds almost a minute faster than last years winning time by Deon McNeilly but outside McNeilly’s 1997 record of 1 Hour 27 minutes and 25 seconds. Ervine and McNeilly are the only two runners to have broken the 1 Hour 30 minute barrier since the race started over 20 years ago.

The race was also notable for the record number of women competitors this year - a total of eight women completed the course with Anne Sandford of Ballydrain 2nd home and 18th overall in a time of 2 Hours 10 minutes and 8 seconds. In third place was Violet Cordner of Lagan Valley Orienteers 25th overall and a time of 2 Hours 20 minutes and 45 seconds.

The mens race had similiar big gaps in the top three finishers with Stephen Linton of BARF 2nd on 1 Hour 41 minutes 7 seconds over 10 minutes down on Brian Ervine while Jim Patterson of Albertville Harriers was 3rd in a time of 1 Hour 50 minutes 3 seconds . Fourth and 5th finishers Jeff Sommerville of BARF and Paul Mawhirt of Newcastle finished over two minutes apart despite both reaching the Slieve Foye check point almost together . However Mawhirt went off course on the descent giving Sommerville an over two minute advantage by the finish. Both recorded good times of 1 Hour 50 minutes 36 seconds and 1 Hour 52 minutes 46 seconds the only other runners to break the 2 Hour barrier.

While there were big gaps among the leaders the next 13 runners came home within the space of 9 minutes with some exciting finishes. After a further break of 8 minutes a further group of 10 runners came in within 3 minutes from 19th to 28th giving a good depth of performance overall.

The race was as usual superbly organised by Armagh AC with many club members giving their time and energy to marking and stewarding the course as well as taking entries , results and times . The club are grateful for the support in Carlingford particularly for the generous use of showers at the Adventure Centre courtesy of Tom McArdle and the use of the Hall and its facilities courtesy of Fred Adamson.

Flagstaff Results

1. Brian Ervine Ballydrain 1.30.57

2. Stephen Linton BARF 1.41.07

3. Jim Patterson Albertville O/50 1.50.03

4. Jeff Sommerville BARF 1.50.36

5. Paul Mawhirt Newcastle 1.52.46

6. Simon Taylor BARF JUN 2.01.01

7. Jim Brown BARF O/40 2.01.14

8. Shileen Donnelly BARF 1st W 2.02.04 REC

9. Francis O’Hagan Newry O/40 2.05.12

10 Fred Hammond BARF O/45 2.06.29

11 Peter Baxter Westerlands O/40 2.07.04

12 Billy Magee Larne O/55 2.07.42

13 Greg Clarke Albertville 2.07.50

14 John McBride BARF O/45 2.07.58

15 Richard Cowan Willowfield 2.08.11

16 Brian McBurney Newcastle 2.08.30

17 Wes Kettyle ACKC O/50 2.09.32

18 Anne Sandford Ballydrain 2nd W 2.10.08

19 Gary Lundy ACKC 2.18.32

20 Francis Lafferty 2.18.33

21 Ricky Cowan Willowfield O/50 2.18.45

22 Billy Dickie CIYMS O/40 2.18.58

23 Francis Rooney Lagan Valley O/40 2.19.08

24 Eddy Casey IMRA 2.19.27

25 Violet Cordner Lagan Valley 3rd W 2.20.45

26 Kevin Quinn Newcastle O/50 2.21.00

27 Alan Corish Albertville O/50 2.21.10

28 Donal O’Kane BARF 2.21.30

29 Trevor Wilson BARF 2.25.35

30 Ronnie Donaldson CIYMS O/55 2.27.42

31 Elspeth Scott Westerlands 4th W 2.30.30

32 Paul Fegan Lagan Valley 2.30.54

33 Noel Douglas Newcastle O/40 2.36.43

34 Ian Taylor BARF O/50 2.37.58

35 Fred Conradie 2.39.48

36 Hugh Young Ballydrain O/60 2.54.18

37 Heidi Kelly BARF 5th W 2.59.44

38 Andrew McGibbon 3.04.49

39 Nina Philips IMRA 6thW 3.08.30

40 Pauline O’Hara BARF 7thW 3.12.59

41 Denis Lee TARA 3.14.29

42 Brendan Doherty Gen O C O/55 3.34.10

43 Barbara Brown 8thW 4.02.00

44 Neil Mills 4.02.00

TEAM RESULTS

SENIOR MEN

1. BARF 12 Points

2. ALBERTVILLE 43 Points

3. NEWCASTLE 47 Points

VETERANS TEAM

1. BARF 53 Points

VET INDIVIDUALS

O/40

1. Jim Brown BARF 2. Francis O’Hagan NEWRY

O/45

1. Fred Hammond BARF 2. John McBride BARF

O/50

1. Wes Kettyle ACKC 2. Ricky Cowan WILLOWFIELD

O/55

1. Billy Magee LARNE 2. Ronnie Donaldson CIYMS

O/60

1. Hugh Young BALLYDRAIN

JUNIOR MEN

1. Simon Taylor BARF