Into the wild: the 2024 Skyrunner® National Series heads back to County Donegal, IRL
After a period of warm, dry weather in the UK mountains recently, we’re expecting some incredible racing conditions this weekend as 386 competitors from 21 different nationalities make the journey to County Donegal, Ireland for the next instalment of the Skyrunner® UK & Ireland Series. Race organisers, Excel Sports, will be showcasing the the Derryveagh mountains (situated within the Glenveagh National Park), across three races this weekend. Two of these races are overall series counters - the classic Seven Sisters Skyline 55k and the newer Seven Sisters Skyline 30k. The 55k will also be part of the SkyUltra® sub-series, while the sub-ultra event marks the final race in the U23 Series.
The full 55km race route takes-in all of the Seven Sisters in the Derryveagh mountains; Errigal (751 m), Mackoght a.k.a. Little Errigal (555 m), Aghla More (584 m), Ardloughnabrackbaddy (603 m), Aghla Beg (564 m), Crocknalaragagh (471 m) and Muckish (666 m). For mountains of modest height, this race packs a punch with over 4,000m+ of vert, resulting from a tough undulating ascent profile and out-n-back course. The route offers spectacular technical skyrunning and magnificent panoramic views of a vast wild area, which will delight anyone who loves wide-open spaces! Discover the route in full on our Strava account HERE and find out more about the event on its website HERE. And while you’re at it, why not also follow Skyrunning UK on social media via the Facebook Page HERE or Instagram HERE!
Competitors in the 30km SkyRace may be racing less distance this weekend, but they will miss none of the excitement of the longer race! Runners will be taken by bus to a start-line at the eastern end of the range and will also traverse all Seven Sisters, but in a linear route starting with Muckish and finishing below Errigal. Discover the route in full on our Strava account HERE and find out more about the event on its website HERE.
Despite not being part of the Skyrunner® UK & Ireland Series, shorter ‘feeder races’ provide a stepping-stone into the longer, harder SkyRaces. This weekend the Seven Sisters Skyline 16km trail race will begin with a 9:30 bus journey for a 10am start. We’re sure competitors will enjoy this brilliant short course, taking-in Errigal, the highest of the Derryveagh Mountains.
The weather forecast for this weekend makes for uplifting reading! Expect warm temperatures and dry conditions underfoot but with a fresh E/NE wind and cloud-cover, giving rise to cooler temperatures than we’ve seen of late. It’s going to be a gripping spectacle, watching lead runners put down some fast times on these dry courses — so get dot-watching! It may still be a hot day on the hills though, so the organisers are recommending that runners carry plenty of fluids.
Tough climbs and lots of them on the Seven Sisters Skyline weekend 2019 © Ian Corless
Ones to Watch
With a big international field and some strong local contenders, let’s take a look at who to watch this weekend…
In the women’s 55k, we’re expecting great things legend of UK trail running Nicky Spinks (ITRA Index 649) but she’ll surely be challenged by Irish athlete Rosy Temple, who finished 4th in the Seven Sisters Skyline 2023, and who will be itching to get on that podium (ITRA Index 556)! Other top athletes to watch include Irish runners Aine McCarthy (ITRA Index 547) and Rachel Burgess (ITRA Index 543). Burgess is a top-10 finisher from the 2023 field, back for another bite at the cherry.
In the men’s ultra, all eyes will be on Joseph Bond from the Isle of Man (ITRA Index 681) who’ll no doubt be looking for a top spot, after finishing 5th in the recent Snowdon SkyRace. There are a number of Seven Sisters Skyline 2023 finishers who will all be looking to improve on previous performances, including Darren Mc Cool (7th in 2023) and Marek Wojnarowski from Poland (18th in 2023). Lastly, a huge Irish contingent will be toeing this start line this year, with many accomplished athletes among them, including Peter Linney (ITRA Index 648) and Tomasz Jezierski (ITRA Index 635).
Live GPS tracking is available to view HERE and regular updates throughout the day will be shared on the Skyrunning UK Facebook Page HERE and Instagram HERE.
Embrace the wild and rugged landscape of the Derryveagh Mountains © Ian Corless
In the men’s 30k race it is all to play for, as rising star and U23 Portuguese athlete Tiago Viera will no longer be on the start line — leaving space for young, local athletes to shine! Stand-out names in the senior 30k race include Philip Rutter (ITRA Index 751), winner of the recent Pinnacle Ridge Extreme and 2023 Glen Coe Skyline as well as Irish athlete Enda Cloake (ITRA Index 762), who finished 3rd on this course in 2023 and 2nd in the recent Snowdon SkyRace. Another familiar face who will be making the most of his home advantage is impressive local runner Shaun Stewart, who has won the Seven Sisters Skyline 55k previously and came 4th in the 30k last year. Stewart scored an impressive 3rd place in the 2022 WMRA World Cup over the 30k distance, so will be gunning for a podium finish with the support of his home crowd!
The Mineral Experts: Wassen harnesses the power of nature's minerals to provide scientifically selected, sustainable and ethically sourced nutritional supplements.
In the women’s field, we’re expecting big things from Victoria Thomson (ITRA Index 661), who is currently 2nd in the Overall Series ranking and won the recent Snowdon SkyRace (2024 Skyrunning UK National Championships race), however Grace Doohan from Falcarragh will be looking to defend her title after winning the 30k race last year. But she may be in for a battle, as Polish athlete Kasia Osipowicz (winner of the 55km Seven Sisters Skyline in 2019 and Overall Series Champion that same year) continues her return to the sport. Osipowicz is showing good form over these shorter distances so far this year, most recently winning the St. Sunday Mountain Race in the Lake District fells in July. In the U23 race, Rebecca Line (ITRA index 472 and second in the U23 ranking) will be chasing a top spot, after a strong finish in the recent Copper SkyTrail.
Live GPS tracking is available to view HERE and regular updates throughout the day will be shared on the Skyrunning UK Facebook Page HERE or Instagram HERE.
Overall Series winner Kasia Osipowicz on the Seven Sisters Skyline 55k in 2019 © Ian Corless
There are plenty of reasons for digging deep this weekend, with £125/£75/£50 up for grabs for the top 3 M/F finishers, as well as prizes for age cat winners U23 and V40 upwards. See full details of the Skyrunner® UK & Ireland Series ranking and prize pool HERE.
Only two race weekends left in the 2024 Skyrunner® UK & Ireland Series!
Follow Along Online
If you’re a devoted dot-watcher then make sure you have the live GPS tracking links above at your fingertips at all times! Regular updates with be shared throughout the day on the Skyrunning UK Facebook Page HERE and Instagram HERE.
UK Skyrunning Director, Mike Jones will be at the finish line (green with jealousy), so don’t forget to say Hi and learn more about this year’s National Series, where for the first time there’s a huge £1,000/£500/£250 up for grabs for the M/F Overall Series champions!
Beyond the weekend, stay tuned for our in-depth race reports arriving early next week for the exclusive on how the weekend’s action played out…
