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

 

Donard-Commedagh Preview

Fri 20 August 2010 - Ian Taylor

Championship

The final Championship race takes place this Saturday over the classic Donard-Commedagh route, as described in the forthcoming Events link.  This is your last change to complete four races in the Championship or to improve your position in the overall series, sponsored by Primo Solutions.  Over the 6.3 mile route there is 3300 feet of climb with the records set when it has been a Br Championship event, with Simon Bailey taking 62:19 in 2004 and Angela Mudge setting the ladies' record of 72:51 way back in 1999.    Local recent times have been Des Woods (63:07) and Steve Cunningham (65:57) and Fiona Maxwell (72:46) and Charlene Haugh (72:15).  However, as the route description makes clear, the route is now about 3 minutes quicker than for that used in 2004 and earlier.

 

Selection Race

The event is also our selection race for the Home International  on Saturday, 18th September on Aonach Mor, Fort William.

Teams can have up to 7 males (with 2 at U23) and 6 females (with 2 at U23) with the first five males and first four females to count.  (So if we had
no under 23s, we would have 5 males and 4 females, with all counting).  Selection will be based on current form, with particular account taken of results in Saturday's race.  Decisions on teams will need to be made within a few days.  If you are not racing on Saturday and wish to be considered please let us know immediately.

Irish Championship

Readers of the IMRA site will also realise that Saturday's race is the fifth and final one in the Irish Championships, with previous races in different provinces.  To count in the Championship you should have done at least one of the previous races.  Hence we should expect a contingint of IMRA athletes - please make them welcome.

For many years we held an All Ireland Championship at one race and we, with IMRA, are trying to recreatate it, using results from Saturday's event to count team place in a NIMRA v IMRA Challenge.  As this is a first year, we have not finally decided whether places will be decided by first finishers or if account will be taken of category winners.  All should become clear on Saturday.

 

Junior Race & Selection

THere is also a junior race over a shorter route, with the profile matching that for the Br & Irish Championship in Wicklow.  The team for the latter will be selected after Saturday's events.

The course is an out and back course as follows  

Start Donard Park to     Shepherds Lodge 357306
to     Track Junction  361299 

Turning point for U16's and U18 girls

U18 boys to Summit Drinnahilly 362302 down forest ride loop back to summit
return to Donard Park.  

Tthe juniors begin 5 minutes after the main start.

 

Volunteers

Help with the junior race would be very welcome.  Also with two teams on weekend of 18th/19th September, assistance in this area would also be considered (managers with the juniors will need to have been veted with regard to Child Protection)