Karalee McBride claims podium place as local runners impress at Amalfi Positano and Isle of Jura events!

Local mountain runners impress at Amalfi Positano and Isle of Jura events:

Emerging Mourne Runners Karalee McBride produced the performance of her life to secure a 3rd place finish at the well-known Amalfi Positano 55k Ultra-Trail Race in Italy at the weekend (Sunday 27th May 2018).

Karalee completed the gruelling course, which included approximately 10,000ft of ascent, in 9:22:54.

Karalee will now look ahead to the Garmin Mourne Skyline Mountain-Trail Race in Northern Ireland in October (2018) – the event is part of the Skyrunning UK National Series.

Newcastle AC’s Declan Faulkner took 25th place in the men’s race in 9:22:58.

Elsewhere this weekend… (by Lee Maginnis)

On Saturday the 26th of May, intrepid adventurers Dale and Denise Mathers (Mourne Runners) took on the infamous Isle of Jura Fell Race.

Sailing from Ballycastle across to the Scottish coast, the couple warmed up for their race by cycling to catch the ferry over to the Isle of Jura where amid stunning scenery, their challenge awaited – a 28k course, famous for rough terrain, brutal climbs and tricky (or should that be downright dangerous) descents? There were seven summits in total, including the Paps of Jura, a combined total of 2370m climb.

Dale, fresh from missing the early morning milking for the first time in months, finished 63rd overall in a time of 4:37.36 – this was a superb 8th M50! Denise, not to be outdone, had a fantastic run, finishing 166th overall, which was 4th F50, in 5:44.19! All the recent heat acclimitisation work in Tandragee obviously paid dividends!

Those paying attention to the shipping news on Saturday may have heard how the Larne ferry was required to take evasive action when it came across a small pleasure craft adrift, with no power, somewhere between Northern Ireland and Scotland!

Unfortunately we have to report that this RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) contained athletes Clive Coffey, Trevor Wilson, Declan Magrellis along with Stephen and Helen Cassidy! Clive had also brought along his wife and two kids for good measure! And two crew members were also present.

Bound for Jura, unfortunately their belts snapped (presumably this refers to the RIB’s fan belts) resulting in the craft bobbing around for two hours while repairs took place, presenting a hazard to shipping!

Due to the ocean swell, one or two members of the party toed the line looking rather green when they finally made land: likely slightly malnourished after the amount of BARFing that reportedly went on!

Well done on making it, and next year consider joining the Mathers’!

Clive, 115th finishing in 5:16.15. Stephen, 124th in 5:20.42. Declan, 168th in 5:47.41. Helen was 174th which was 7th F40, and Trevor finished 176th in 5:56.34.

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