Donard & Commedagh
Sat 21 August 2010
| Donard & Commedagh | 6.8 | 11:00 |
Introduction - from Br Champ description 2007
Slieve Donard is the highest mountain in Northern Ireland at 2796 feet and together with the neighbouring peak of Slieve Commedagh (2515 feet) it dominates the skyline above the coastal town of Newcastle in County Down.The race has previously been a British Championship event in 1997, 1999 and 2004 and many championship contenders will therefore be familiar with it. As one of the classic Mourne races it has also featured in the Northern Ireland Championship on many occasions.
Course Description:
The start and finish is on the open area to the south of Donard car park known as Donard Demense. This year’s race follows the simplified route that has been used for the NI Championship events in the past few years. This means that there is no compulsory route to the first checkpoint at the quarry on the top edge of the forest and there is only one checkpoint on Slieve Commedagh at the summit cairn. There is no checkpoint on Shan Slieve, but the best descent route takes you within yards of the summit cairn anyway. These minor changes make the route more straightforward and about 3 minutes shorter.
There are two main options to checkpoint one. Either follow the path used for the descent route on the north side of the Glen River then cross the middle bridge and follow a forest road for a short distance to join small paths directly through the trees or cross at the lower bridge and follow the rough path on the south side of the river to reach the forest road. The small paths through Donard Wood then emerge on to a higher forest road which climbs to the granite quarry. There are a couple of turns and junctions on these small paths and these will be marked with tape.
From the quarry the main climb to the summit of Slieve Donard is next - almost 2000ft in 2km. Underfoot the ground is mostly heather turning to grass and patches of boulders as it steepens towards the summit. You will first see the lesser cairn, which is 250 metres before and 100 ft below the checkpoint (2) at the large summit cairn, beside the Tower at the corner of the Mourne Wall.
From here to Slieve Commedagh is around 1.6 km with a 900ft descent to the col and a 600ft climb. The Mourne Wall is followed to the col and for as far up Commedagh as you choose before heading out to the checkpoint (3) at the summit cairn which is about 300 metres north east of the wall across the flattish summit. It is a short run along the top edge of the Pot of Pulgarve with 250ft descent followed by a slight climb to Shanslieve.
The route is then down hill all the way to the finish at sea level - almost 2,200 ft of descent in 4km. The section to the checkpoint (6) at a stile on the edge of the forest is a mixture of grass and short heather with stony patches, becoming steeper with some rock approaching the forest. Take care on this descent if conditions are misty; you will need a compass bearing as the ridge is both broad and deceptive.
From the stile a firebreak leads down towards a forest road, then head right towards the Glen river and descend on small paths through the forest on the north side of the river down into Donard Park and the finish. There will be advisory markings on this section as some of the paths are small and there are a few fallen trees.
Distance 6.3 miles/3300 feet climb. Records: 62.19 Simon Bailey 2004 72.51 Angela Mudge 1999
Checkpoints
Start and Finish: Donard Park 373305
l. Quarry 370292
2. Summit Cairn - Slieve Donard 357277
4. Cairn - Slieve Commedagh 346286
6. Stile - Edge of Forest 362296
