Peter O'Farrell

14 May, 2023

The Slieve Donard race is a stone cold classic and has had a few variations over the years but the constant theme remains a full on assault up up up, and then more up, to the highest point in Ulster. This year's variation started and finished at the very top of the former parking field and so had both a lovely laid back atmosphere and plenty of lush green grass to collapse onto after that bone jarring descent from the summit.
Full race results are available on the Newcastle AC webpage and for the IMRA only results well done to Andrew Tees (BARF) and Becky Quinn on being the first IMRA runners home. Becky was followed by Roisin Howley and Aoife Conroy with Jonny Steede (Glens Runners) and Jack Proctor (BARF) in 2nd and 3rd respectively for the menfolk.
Patrick McDaid (Newcastle and District AC) had a great race to be first junior.

As to myself, I had the best pre race recce ever and finally found the absolute optimal best line through the forest from the Quarry to the finish after finding 2 felled paths and an abandoned tent on another felled path. . This was confirmed as the 4 locals ahead of me on the descent all took it! It's a great race, a great day out too.