Annalong Horseshoe (c)

Annalong Horseshoe (c)

Race 3 in the NIMRA Championship
Category: Long
Distance: 13.1 miles (21.1 km)
Climbing: 1371 metres climb

START and FINISH: Dunneywater, Head Road, Annalong, Mournes OS map grid ref J358223

Checkpoints
Start, Rourke’s Park entrance 358223

  • CP1– Chimney Rock 364257
  • CP2 – Commedagh (cairn) 346286
  • CP3 – Cove 336270
  • CP4– Slievelamagan 329260
  • CP5 – Binnian 320234

Finish at Dunneywater 358223

On descending Binnian by the wall, you must continue down the main track to the road at the Carrick Little car park (345219) , you are not allowed to cut the corner or cross fields.

Apart from visiting the above checkpoints and the above restriction on the descent from Binnian, the route choice is yours. Whilst checkpoints are on the summits, the marshals will normally be on the cols between tops to oversee the safety of the race better.

Route Description

The following route description is for guidance only.
After the start go East along the road for 30 yards, then left up the lane to the Mourne Wall. There you can either keep to the outside of the wall towards Long Seefin or continue on, cross the stile and pick up the track on the map, crossing the wall on the shoulder between Rocky and Long Seefin. Cross to Chinney Rock, climbing on heather to its south ridge where a path can be picked up taking runners to the summit. Aim for the north west tors, probably passing them on the north side and pick up descending paths towards the Mourne Wall. Then vear north towards the stile where the Brandy Pad crosses the Wall. Along the Brandy Pad cutting up to the Saddle and then to Commedagh Cairn. South west from the cairn, past the tower & over the stile to descent steep ground to the col before Slieve Beg. Over ther shoulder of Slieve Beg (no need to go to the top unless you want to stay on paths) to climb the path to Cove summit, well out to the left. A fast descent follows with a short climb to Lamagan. The descent from Lamagan is rough and is followed by a long climb up the well used track on the north ridge of Binnian. If your endurance is not great, this is where you will realise it! Contour along the ridge, keeping to the east of most of the tors, with the checkpoint on the high flat ground a few feet below the rocky summit of Binnian. Continue south off this to the small gap between the tors (where the Hill & Dale race finishes) and then turn east to descend with the wall on your right all the way to the track returning you to Carrick Little car park. Then fast along the road for almost a mile, with a short sprint uphill to the finish.

Road section
All runners are responsible for their own safety along the road. The road is not closed to traffic, so you don’t have priority over vehicles. Runners should follow the highway code:

  • If there is no pavement, keep to the right-hand side of the road so that you can see oncoming traffic. You should take extra care and be prepared to walk in single file, especially on narrow roads or in poor light keep close to the side of the road.
  • It may be safer to cross the road well before a sharp right-hand bend so that oncoming traffic has a better chance of seeing you. Cross back after the bend.
  • Help other road users to see you. Wear or carry something light-coloured, bright or fluorescent in poor daylight conditions

Registration

Please ENTER ONLINE HERE to help with administration on the day. Online entries close Wednesday 2nd May.

List of runners can be found here

Cost of entry is £10 (attached) £11 (Unattached) – On the Day Entry will be £15 (attached) £16 (Unattached)

ENTRY LIMIT 150 runners – If you don’t have a means of online payment then please contact the organisers to pre-book your place. admin@barfni.co.uk

Registration will be at Dunneywater between 9.30 -10-30 on race day where runners will receive their race numbers and hired ‘dibbers’ (SI Cards).

Equipment

All runners must carry;
a) Whistle
b) Compass
c) Map of the entire course (Mournes Outdoor Pursuits Map) Black & White photocopy not acceptable.
d) Emergency rations equivalent to one Mars Bar (minimum)
e) Waterproof garments affording complete body protection.
f) Hat and gloves

Please expect the weather to be poor and bring at least the listed kit with you as a minimum. In adverse weather conditions be prepared to carry any additional kit that you may deem necessary for your safety. Remember that runners are responsible for their own safety at all times during the race.

All runners will have their kit checked prior to the start. Anybody deemed to have inadequate gear will not be allowed to start the race. The race organisers decision is final in relation to gear.

Course

All five checkpoints must be visited in the order stated. Runners may choose their own route between checkpoints and accurate navigation is often necessary.

All checkpoints will have the SI timing units located on the summits but will not be controlled by marshals. All runners must dip their ‘dibber’s’ at all checkpoints. Failure to do this and the download shows the control was not visited, will result in a DNF recorded against the runner’s name. If you are unsure how to use a ‘dibber’ ask at registration & you will be shown.
Race numbers must be worn to the front. Runners will be responsible for their own registration at each checkpoint.

Marshals

There will be at least two marshal’s posts around the course, located in the following positions;
1. At the col between Slieve Commedagh and Slieve Beg;
2. At the col between Slieve Lamagan and Slieve Binnian.

The race organisers reserve the right to add additional marshal’s posts around the course if deemed necessary. Runners will be advised of the location of any additional marshalling posts prior to the start. Marshals may be present at the junction of the Carrick Little track and Head Road.

Retirements

All retiring runners should report to the nearest marshal’s post (if possible), return by the safest, direct route and must report to the race organisers at the finish.

Records

Annalong Horseshoe was first run in 1982 as a replacement for the race on the same day and with same route as the annual Mourne Wall Walk – of fond and often painful memories. The first race had 20 competitors with the winner Stanley Graham taking 2:20:25. It must be something about fell runners that the field included some who are still active today, including Willie John Brown, Noel Douglas, Jim Hayes, Ian Taylor. Horseshoe race organiser Denis Rankin and Jim Patterson were also competitive in 1982 but at the time of the Annalong Horseshoe had some business in the Lake District to finish (just 72 miles and 42 peaks of it, in 24 hours).

The current records of 1:56:58, set by Robbie Bryson in 1996

The 1993 race on 15th May had to use a low level course because the Mournes were covered in snow. Even the substitute course, with six inches of icy water along the Brandy Pad was distinctly unpleasant. However the proper route was thought to be so important that we ran the normal course later in the year (the 1993 results are missing because I cannot find them at present!)

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