Donard Challenge Start List

The final start list for the Donard Challenge is below. Please Please check your Club Name and Category are correct as some have been changed as they thought they were younger than they really are. Any issues use the contact form.

The details of the course can be found here but I have highlighted the main points of the course under the start list. Hopefully there will be a strava route map up soon – if you have one pass it on.

COURSE

Start:Donard Park,GR337330 (marked to CP1)

CP1: Quarry/wall (Drinneevar) 300m, GR376287.

CP2: Millstone Mountain summit 460m, GR373285.

CP3: Slieve Donard summit 850m, GR358277.

CP4: Quarry/gate, GR371293.

Finish: Donard Park, GR373306.

All checkpoints must be visited in order.

This course was designed to provide a testing short mountain race specifically for the British Championship Series starting and finishing in Donard Park, Newcastle, Co. Down. At 10 km with 900m of climbing taking? in Millstone Mountain before climbing to? the summit of Slieve Donard 850m (the highest mountain in Northern Ireland) then descending all the way to the finish in Donard Park at sea level. This should make your journey well worthwhile and satisfy the most discerning fell runner.

The race starts at sea level in Donard Park and follows the forest road across the Donard Bridge then taking the rough cobbled path on the south side of the Glen River before turning south-east using the forest paths to reach CP1: Quarry/wall (Drinneevar). Ascend on rough steep ground to reach CP2, Millstone Mountain summit. After making a short descent of Millstone you then make the main climb to the summit of Slieve Donard. Underfoot the ground is mostly heather turning to grass with patches of boulders as it steepens no prescription pharmacy towards the summit. You will first see the lesser cairn, which is ?250m before, and 30m below CP3 (at the large summit cairn), beside the tower at the corner of the Mourne Wall.

From here the route is downhill all the way to the finish at sea level, the section to CP4 to the small gate at the edge of the quarry/forest is ?a mixture of boulders, heather and grass with stony patches becoming steeper with some rock when approaching the forest/quarry. Take care on descent; if conditions are misty you will need a compass bearing, as the ridge is both broad and deceptive.

From here take small marked paths through Donard Wood on the south side of Glen River into Donard Park and finish.

Sections of the race course from the start ?to Checkpoint 1 and from Checkpoint 4 to ?the finish will be marked. Maps covering the area of the race route are the Mourne Country Outdoor Pursuits Map (LPS) and the Harvey Mourne Mountains map 1:25,000.

As this race is ascending to 850m in early April, Full body cover including hat and gloves will have to be carried no matter what the weather conditions. Map, compass and whistle will also be required in the compulsory kit and all runners will be checked at registration and spot checked before the race can start.

As this is a short and challenging race you must be prepared for all eventualities; especially if the weather is bad as your navigation will be tested. If you do have to pull out tell a marshal and when you get back to Donard Park tell us again so that we know you are safely off the hills.