Spelga Skyline [L] (NC/NL)
Spelga Skyline
Race Information
NIMRA Championship – Long distance race
Date: Saturday 4th July 2026
ENTRIES OPEN: Mid June 2026
Registration: 9:45-10:30 am
Race Director: Vicky Ward (Long); Mike & Steven Morgan (Short)
Race HQ: Spelga Dam (NI Water Carpark)
Long Course (NIMRA Championship)
Start: 11am
Distance: 20km (subject to route choice)
Ascent: 1800m
Cut Off: 13:15am at Deers Meadow Road Crossing
Short Course (NIMRA Championship)
Start: 11.15am
Distance: 11km (subject to route choice)
Ascent: 750m
Results: Provisional results will be streamed live here (3G coverage permitting)
Long Course:
The route will follow the same route as per last year, excepting with the addition of one more summit! It will start on the track on the lower slopes of Slievenamuck, and will visit 9 summits along the skyline around Spelga reservoir: Slievenamuck, Ott, Loughshannagh, Muck, Slievemoughanmore, Eagle, Rocky, Cock and Slievenamiskan. From Slievenamiskan the run to the finish passes below the dam before a last short climb up to the car park. There are two mandatory road crossings but the rest of the course is off-road.
It is mandatory for runners to use the stile at Ott Car Park at the start of the Ott Track; runners are not permitted to cross the fence that runs parallel to the Slievenaman Road at any other point.
Competitors must visit all of the checkpoints in the correct order, with the route between checkpoints being at the runners’ discretion. The course is not marked.
This is an arduous mountain race on open mountains and entrants should have the necessary required fitness levels and experience before submitting an entry. In bad weather and/or poor visibility navigation skills and experience is an essential requirement for all entrants. This is not a suitable race for novices or new entrants to the sport of mountain running. The race organisers reserve the right to refuse a starting place to anybody whom they deem to not have the requisite experience and/or fitness. The minimum entry age is 18yrs on the day.
Competitors must visit all of the checkpoints below in the correct order, with the route between checkpoints being at the runners’ discretion. The checkpoints marked as “Timed” have control boxes which must be dibbed. All Irish Grid Ref are square J.
CP Grid Ref J Description
1 268 274 Start – Inside gate
2 275 279 Slievenamuck summit / Butter Mountain
3 281 279 Stile at Start of Ott Track
4 283 269 Ott Mountain summit (Timed)
5 294 273 Slieve Loughshannagh summit (Timed)
6 282 250 Slieve Muck summit (Timed)
7 271 254 Deer’s Meadow Road crossing – Cut off 13:15
8 249 241 Slievemoughanmore summit (Timed)
9 244 229 Eagle summit (Timed)
10 234 259 Rocky Mountain summit (Timed)
12 254 268 Cock Mountain summit (Timed)
13 259 272 Slievenamiskan summit (Timed)
14 265 273 Bridge below Spelga Dam
15 267 274 Finish – Spelga car park
Short Course
This year, BARF have added a shorter race route which is part of the new NIMRA league. A less arduous, and easier to navigate variation of the Spelga Skyline, it is intended to more accessible to new runners and those not wishing to compete in a long race.
This route begins on the track on the lower slopes of Slievenamuck and follows the skyline around Spelga Reservoir, visiting five summits along the way. After reaching the summit of Slievenamuck, the route descends along the Ulster Way to the start of the Ott Track, continuing until it meets the wall. From here, participants may follow the wall toward Muck Summit—this is not mandatory, but it offers the simplest navigation. From Muck Summit, the route follows the western wall down to Deer’s Meadow before climbing again to Pigeon Summit. It then continues along rough incontiguous paths heading northwest to Cock Summit, and from there turns northeast toward Slievenamiskan.
The final section passes below the dam at Spelga Reservoir, followed by a short climb up to the car park, where the route finishes.
Although less arduous and easier navigationally than the longer race, this is still an unmarked race across rough mountain terrain and entrants should have the necessary required fitness levels and experience before submitting an entry. In bad weather and/or poor visibility navigation skills and experience is an essential requirement for all entrants. The minimum entry age is 18 on the day.
Competitors must visit all of the checkpoints below in the correct order, with the route between checkpoints being at the runners’ discretion. The checkpoints marked as “Timed” have control boxes which must be dibbed. All Irish Grid Ref are square J.
CP Grid Ref J Description
1 268 274 Start – Inside gate
2 275 279 Slievenamuck summit / Butter Mountain
3 281 279 Stile at Start of Ott Track
4 291 268 Stile at Top of Ott Track
5 281 250 Slieve Muck summit (Timed)
6 271 254 Deer’s Meadow Road crossing – Cut off 13:15
7 261 250 Pigeon summit (Timed)
8 254 268 Cock Mountain summit (Timed)
9 259 272 Slievenamiskan summit (Timed)
10 265 273 Bridge below Spelga Dam
11 267 274 Finish – Spelga car park
For both course there will be a cut off time of 13:15 at the marshalled checkpoint at the Deers Meadow road crossing. All runners must report to this checkpoint and ensure that their race number is recorded before continuing on the race route. Any runners arriving at the checkpoint after the cut-off time will be requested by the marshals to proceed to the finish area via the road. Any runners disobeying this instruction and continuing on the race route will be disqualified and barred from entry to future B.A.R.F. organised events. Marshals will remain in position until 13:30. Any runners who can’t reach the the Deers Meadow by this time or arrive there after must return directly to the race HQ via the safest route and MUST NOT continue along the race route. If possible, they should also advise the Race Organiser of their retirement, location and return route via the contact number below.
Parking: Runners should park below the dam in the ‘runners only’ car park. Please do not use the public car park or the NI Water car park. Entrance to the runners’ car park is at map ref: 264 274. Marshalls will direct the runners to the car park area. All vehicles and contents are left at the owner’s risk.
Toilets are available at the Spelga public toilets.
This race will be run under Athletics NI and FRA rules. The minimum safety kit to be carried will be as described in Section 3 of the FRA rules for runners.
Race Number BIBs
Must be worn to the front and be easily read by the marshals at checkpoints along the route.
All runners must report to the race control at the finish area and return their SI Cards, whether they have completed the course or not.
Equipment
This race will be run under permit from NIMRA and in accordance with FRA rules The minimum safety kit to be carried will be:
• Waterproof whole body cover (with taped seams and integrated atached hood)
• Hat
• Gloves
• Whistle
• Map covering the entire course **
• Compass**
• Thermal (foil) blanket or bag
** Map and compass must be physical and not electronic – Use of GPS devices for navigation is not permitted. Suitable maps are the OSNI 1:25,000 Activity Map or Harvey 1:25,000 Mourne Mountains.
( N.B. Walking poles are not permitted under NIMRA rules )
The above is a minimum requirement. A rigorous kit check will be undertaken of each competitor’s safety kit prior to the start. Any competitor not complying with the minimum safety kit will not be permitted to start the race.
Race Number BIBs
Must be worn to the front and be easily read by the marshals at checkpoints along the route.
Water
Sources of water are limited along the route. Competitors may leave us with a drink bottle which we will transport to the Deers Meadow checkpoint. Please mark your bottle distinctly – it is your own responsibility to ensure you grab the right bottle.
Weather conditions in mountain areas can be very unpredictable and can swing between extremes. Runners should be familiar with the dangers and signs of hypothermia and hyperthermia and what action to take. Please read these leaflets on the FRA website – Hyperthermia Hypothermia – and be prepared.
Timing
Will be by SPORTident SI Cards (aka dibbers) and Control Boxes. Any runners losing their SI Card will be charged a £30 replacement fee. (see here for an outline of the SPORTident timing system).
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.
Once competitors have punched the finish control, please proceed promptly to the download desk to record your time and return your SI Card.
Refreshments – will be served at the finish.
History
The first Spelga Skyline race was held in May 1981 and was won by Denis Rankin with Jim Hayes second.
Entries Fees
Long course: £15 for affiliated, £17 for unaffiliated. Over 65’s free.
Short course: £12 for affiliated, £14 for unaffiliated. Over 65’s free.
Registration will be pre-entry only, no registration will be available on the day. Race entries will open on Sunday 7th June and close on Thursday 2nd July or sooner, if entries are full.
(Entry links at the top of the page)
Race numbers will be restricted to 150 people.
Age is determined as the entrant’s age on the day of the race.
There will be no safety pins provided at this event – competitors are advised to have a means of securely fixing their race number to the front of their vest.
Race Emergency Contact number: 07919155432
All inquiries should be emailed to: admin@barfni.co.uk
For details please see BARF website
