Lost Worlds Causeway Crossing 2015

Pete Clayden for Lost Worlds Racing / 11.06.2015

With a field of over 150 competitors, and an enviable location, the 4th edition of the Causeway Crossing, organized by Primal Challenges and promoted by Lost Worlds Racing was always destined to be a memorable event, and the overwhelming pre-race feedback from the racers confirmed this.

The rising popularity of ‘going long’ and running distances of 50 kilometers or more, which qualifies them as ultra-marathons, and also of racing in more unusual locations was also reflected in a field which had travelled from as afar afield as Israel, Canada and the USA.

Based on the North Atlantic coast of Ireland, near the famous Bushmill’s distillery, the race start for the 100k and 50k runners was in Larry Bane Quarry, (regularly used as a location in Game of Thrones).

The 20 runners in the 100k began by heading inland through the Breen Forest on a mix of country roads and good quality trails, before heading back to the quarry, where soon after the first 100k runners passed by, the 50k runners joined them.

They were setting off on what must be one of the finest coastal paths in the world, including a long beach run, rock-hopping, a cave and then through the spires of the Amphitheatre before climbing up to the cliffs overlooking the Giants Causeway and on to the turn at the incredibly situated Dunluce Castle, where the runners in the 25k started.

Though the early 100k starters began their day in cool overcast conditions, with a threat of rain, the clouds soon lifted and the sun came out, revealing views across the walled fields and scattered white cottages which characterize this part of County Antrim. At the first checkpoint, an early advantage had been taken by Nicki McPeak and Ron Peacock in the men’s race, with Canadian Matt Burdette close behind. In the women’s race, Joanne Curran had taken a narrow lead over Fran McFadden and the two came into the halfway feed station at Ballintoy almost neck and neck, but clearly enjoying each other’s company.

As the runners began the real 5 star section of the race, along the cliff-tops, the sun came out and what little wind there was dropped completely, so most runners were stopping occasionally to either take in the view, take pictures or just get their breath back. The last runner across the top of the Giants Causeway on the outward leg was Swedish veteran, Gunnar Nilson, who was hoping to rack up his 29th ultra-marathon finish in a unique country, taking him one step closer to membership of the elite 30 in 30 group, for people who have run an ultra-marathon in 30 different countries.

The return leg from Dunluce Castle took the runners down into the actual Giants Causeway, surely one of the most remarkable geological sights in the UK, where, for a few, the slow moving tourists forced a reduction of pace. Frustrating though this seemed at first, it allowed a little recovery before probably the hardest single section of the race – the Shepherds Steps, which pitched up at nearly 45 degrees in places climbing the 400 vertical feet from sea level back up to the cliff path.

By now, runners from all three distances were mixed together and heading back to the finish. In a fiercely contested lead group in the 25k, local runners Neil Weir and Simon Reeve had opened a slight lead over Yaron Yeger and Sagi Friedman – both part of a strong team from Israel competing in Ireland for the first time.

As the afternoon drew on and the clouds returned, a handful of the 100k runners began to realize that the threat of elimination was becoming very real and were encouraged to push themselves on the somewhat easier return leg of the race, but with dusk coming, and heavy rain falling, a tough decision was made by the race director to stop some competitors just before a very slippery rocky section which joined the coastal path and a beach, as it had simply become too risky.

Fortunately, this only affected a very small number of runners who were picked up and brought to the finish very quickly.

The final podium positions were:-

100k (men)

1st Nicki McPeak                         11:34:24

2nd Ronald Peacock                   12:02:26

3rd Matthew Burdette              12:41:25

100k (women)

1st  Joanne Curran                      13:25:05                         

2nd Fran McFadden                    13:30:14

50k (men)

1st  Peter Cromie                         4:08:55

2nd Mark Walker                         4:25:43

3rd Paul McKenzie                      4:58:54

50k (Women)

1st Emma Louise Kirk              6:03:09

2nd Shannon McKinnon           6:11:17 (joint place)

2nd Denise Rispolie                    6:11:17 (joint place)

25k (Men)

1st Neill Weir                                1:52:06

2nd Simon Reeve                         1:53:32

3rd Yaron Yeger                           1:55:59

25k (Women)

1st Adva Lubrany                        2:24:00

2nd Judith Worthington           2:33:55

3rd Pamela-Jane Feeney          2:48:19                            

As an adventure run in a beautiful location, the event undoubtedly ticked everyone’s boxes, and the spirit of friendship and good sportsmanship was obvious throughout the race, due in no small part to the laid back but efficient organization by race Director Rowan MacMahon and his small team.

Many runners also commented on how friendly local people had been out on the course, with Nicole Paine, a UK based physiotherapist originally from Canada, saying how a spectator reached out and gave her his bar of chocolate, on the grounds that she might need it more than him!

Others made sure to step aside to let runners through, or took time out to comment to your reporter on the diversity of national origins, ages and their surprise at seeing so many women running – in fact women runners made up nearly 40 percent of the field.  Ireland proved once again to be a great place to run, and as you might expect, the post race ‘craic’ was also very memorable!

Plans are already well advanced for next year’s event which will take place on 21st May. See you there!

For details of Lost Worlds Racing events see http://www.lostworldsracing.com/

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