GAZHARPERPHOTOS.BLOG: August 2009

Thursday 27 August 2009

The Mourne Challenge Hare`s Gap

www.themournechallenge.com

The event seen competitors race the 21 miles (approx) of the Mourne Way from Newcastle to Rostrevor, Co Down. This route is a linear route, almost entirely off road, traversing the foothills of the Mourne Mountains passing Tollymore Forest, Fofanny Dam, Spelga Dam, Leitrim Lodge and Yellow Water before arriving at the finish in Kilbroney Park in Rostrevor.

Sunday 23 August 2009

65th Slieve Donard Mountain Race

1st lady back was Charlene Haugh in 19th place with a new Ladies record 01:05:26

The 65th birthday of the Sl Donard race was celebrated on last Friday night, among the many guests were...Sky Sports. Yes the Sky Sports outside sports team, that had been looking to cover the Hill and Dale series, rolled into town with 4 cameras on the mountain and 1 at the start/finish outside the Newcastle Centre. As word spread, many of the runners panicked with the thoughts of being on “the box” and had a pre race shower, redesigned hair styles, added a little blusher, added some new lippy and that was just the men. Mourne Runners, I suspect had some inside information, as they arrived in their recently acquired tops and some of them even looked (from a distance) to be clean.
At 7.30pm the runners headed off down the main street with the excitement of the kids heading to last week’s concert, but the more experienced watchers of this event and there are a large number of regulars, knew that the return journey would be somewhat different for many of them.Back at base camp Sky Sports were interviewing ex winners, people who claimed to have ran the race before, any of the important race officials children eating ice creams but even with the addition of a florescent jacket "Father" Joe Mc Cann was not called to the pulpit.

With just over 53 mins on the clock Woods was spotted on the main street and gathering strength from the crowd and the boost that you get from being the lead runner Des crossed the line to retain his title from last year and to set a new record of 54.49. This was a time that 40 in the field would fail to beat to the top of Donard but with all of the field at the top in under 66 mins these folk have to be admired

Teddy Bears Picnic Event 2009

www.banbridge.gov.uk/news_detail.asp?id=717&area=1&pid=10

If you go down to the woods today, You'd better not go alone
It's lovely down in the woods today, But safer to stay at home.

For ev'ry bear that ever there was, Will gather there for certain, because
Today's the day the Teddy Bears have their picnic.