Junior NI National Mountain Running Championship
by Phil Hodge
Announcing the Junior National Mountain Running Championship – 8th April 2017 @ 10:00am in Donard Forest, Newcastle, Co. Down.
U19 and U17 categories (no U15 or below) – age on 31st December -(U19 born in 1999, 2000 – U17 born in 2001, 2002)
This event will be used as selection for the Junior Inter Counties event in Lancashire, England on the 10th June 2017 and the Youth World Cup in Italy on the 24th June 2017
Registration – on-line registration click here – http://www.nimra.org.uk/index.php/junior-race-entry/
Route – Marked, no navigation needed.
The race starts at sea level in Donard Park, Newcastle 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).
This section is approx 3.3km of forest path with 300m climb.
Ascend on marked rough, steep ground to reach CP2, Millstone Mountain summit.
0.4km with 160m climb
Descend on a marked course over rough ground to CP3 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.
0.9km with 205m descent.
From here take small marked paths through Donard Wood on the south side of Glen River into Donard Park and finish.
approx 1.6km to the finish.
Total distance – 6.2km with 460m climbing (forest path 75%, open mountain 25%)
(A bad weather route has been planned in case of that eventuality.)
Junior race will be fully marked (marking between checkpoint 1 and 4 will be removed prior to the start of the senior race)
Race Start Time – 10.00am
Race numbers will be available from 9.00am until 9.45 in a small white marquee close to the start/finish area (this will also be the 1st aid tent after race start)
This can be found at the town end of the football pitch adjacent to Donard Carpark in Newcastle (far end of the town when travelling from Belfast direction)
Kit – FRA requirements –
Full body cover including hat, gloves and whistle will have to be carried no matter what the weather conditions.
Compulsory kit and all runners will be checked at registration and spot checked before the race can start.
Here is a good link from Pete Bland shop on what each bit of kit looks like…etc
Race Entry Cost – £3.00 – pay on day
Hilltrekker have kindly sponsored prizes for the first boy and girl in both U17 and U19
Any questions please ask and runners can contact me on philhodge@hotmail.com