26extreme Mourne Way Marathon Events 2017:
On Saturday 10th June 2017, well over 700 hundred athletes took on the 26extreme Mourne Way Marathon events, a selection of races including an Ultra-Marathon (52 miles), marathon, half marathon and 10k, all hosted by local events management company 26extreme.
Recent heavy downpours made parts of the course difficult to negotiate, but that did not stop the front runners recording some impressive times. Pre-race favourite Peter Cromie (Roe Valley CC) led the Ultra athletes back to Kilbroney Park in Rostrevor, where they started from at 6am before heading across the Mourne Way to Donard Park and back, in 7:17:11 (1st place). Gail Phibbs (Club Unknown) won the ladies race in 9:45:28 (1st place).
The marathon event started in Donard Park (Newcastle) and brought competitors to Rostrevor and the atmospheric finish area. Newcastle AC’s Patrick Higgins was a well-deserved winner – the experienced mountain and trail runner broke the tape in 3:19:51 (1st place). His club mate, Rita Devlin (Newcastle AC), also impressed with a 4:36.10 (1st place) finish for 1st place in the ladies race.
The half marathon was the most popular event of the day. It started on Slievenaman Road just above Fofanny Dam and took competitors downhill past Spelga Dam and onto the Mourne Way across to Kilbroney Park. Thomas O’Gorman (Club Unknown) put in a strong performance to win in 1:35:09 (1st place) – North Belfast Harriers’ NI mountain running international Martsje Hell won the ladies race in 1:43:42; this was enough to see Martsje claim 7th place overall.
The 10k event started on the Sandbank Road above Rostrevor and took participants on a relatively fast trail course to to Kilbroney Park. In-form athlete Dermot Mathers (Unattached) enjoyed a relatively comfortable win, clocking 36:40 for 1st place, while in the ladies race, Sarah McAlinden (Unattached) led the field home in 44:25 (1st place).
Full Results: 26extreme Mourne Way Marathon Events 2017 Results
