Northern Ireland Mountain Running Association
www.nimra.org.uk

 

Donard Commedagh Update

Thu 29 March 2007 - Ian Taylor

Press Release

Former World Mountain Running Champion Angela Mudge of Carnethy Hill Runners and current British Champions Rob Jebb and Natalie White head a superb line up for the opening race of the British Championship in the Mournes on Saturday.

 

The NI Mountain Runners Association are hosting the prestigious event and over 200 leading mountain runners from throughout the British Isles will be running up and down Northern Ireland?s highest peak Slieve Donard and the neighbouring peak of Slieve Commedagh.

 

 

Eight times Slieve Donard winner Deon McNeilly of Newcastle AC, NI Champion Neil Carty of North Belfast Harriers and last year?s Donard ? Commedagh winners Des Woods and Fiona Maxwell of Mourne Runners lead the local challenge in what will be the biggest race of the local season.  The Donard ? Commedagh race covers a distance 6 miles with 3, 300 feet of climb and starts from Donard Park in Newcastle at 12 noon. It is the first of six races in the British Championship and is also the second event of the Northern Ireland Championship.

Brian Ervine


Route
The route is as described elsewhere on these web pages.  It is as used in 2004, with checkpoints at the Quarry, top of Donard, tower on Commedagh, top of Commedagh, Shanslieve and stile.  The fiourth and fifth points were omitted from the web description by mistake but were listed in the Fellrunner route.  The routes out of the forest and on the return are marked and must be followed.  There are some  branches on the return route left by the Forestry Service but we expect them to be cleared today, Thursday.   At the request of the National Trust the route goes to the right of the cairn at the top of Donard rather than going round it and takes you away from the wall for a few yards.  Also there will be some tape keeping you away from the wall on the ascent of Commedagh, where there has been serious erosion in the past.

Kit Check
There will be a kit check at the start of the event, on your entry to start area.  Normal rules for gear for a medium race apply, regardless of the weather.  ie windproof whole body cover, map copy & compass, whistle.   The weather forecast is for a dry day with occasional sunny spells. 

Entries on the day are welcome.  Registration opens at 10 am in the marquee on the grass in Donard Park, at the far end of the Car Park.

See you on Saturday

Ian