Day 1

14 July, 2025 - Barry Murray

The plans for this weekend were put in place at last years Munster AGM. Robbie Williams informed us that Cronins Yard would not be on the calendar and that we could take the same dates for Dingle. After a few weeks of bouncing idea's back and forth we came up with the 3 x races. I knew it would be good to start with the VK , something novel and something relatively straightforward to set up.

Having planned the weekend for months, it was a delight to see that the forecast was for sunshine and heat. Since living in Kerry myself for the last 8yrs, I have an almost paradoxical relationship with the place due to the weather. So all I wanted for the weekend in the middle of the summer was blue skies, clear summits and dry air . Wednesday and Thursday gave a little taste for what was to come so I was rubbing my hands together. I then took Friday off work and headed out to Dingle to get the show on the road. Daithí met me at Conors Pass carpark and took me then out to the Mt Brandon carpark where both the VK and 1/2 started from. The two of us set off up Brandon around lunchtime in the sun and what as a manageable heat as there was a nice strong fresh breeze. I had the big case of bamboo race markers and we marked out the "off piste" section of the VK course. As we were climbing up, I couldn't believe how much of the landscape we could see, I'm only used to seeing mist and fog up there usually. In fact , for the first time, I could see the course route and peaks that the 1/2 marathon follows off the summit of Mt Brandon. Anyway, we reached the summit and took in the views, then Daithí headed back down and I continued on to mark the 1/2 marathon course.

Took me longer than expected with the big bag of markers and also just placing the markers where I felt they were needed best. Arrived back to the car in Connors Pass fairly tired, after nearly 4yrs in the hills, and then made my way to the base camp campsite. It was nice to see people arriving and pitching tents in the glorious sunshine. By this stage it was close to 6pm and I knew I needed to get back out to Brandon to help out with Registration and somehow take part in the race itself. We had Nick Hogan in charge of the van who is Mr Reliable and he had travelled up from Cork to have things set up for 6.30pm. Registration went smoothly and it was good to see that almost everyone who signed up , showed up. Its not a race that ever attracts a huge crowd which I have also experienced with the Reeks VK, but I like it for its novelty. Its very different with the finish being at the summit and it doesn't thrash the legs as you don't have to race back down.

Daithí was doing his first RD job but he might as well have done several as he had all the boxes ticked and managed everything with no fuss. Within the crowd of 35 was a nice mix of new and old heads. On the start line, we had Mr VK international, Ian Conroy, bouncing up and down as if he was getting ready for a 100m sprint. There were plenty other familiar faces from the east side too who had managed to drive across the country and arrive in time. A nice short race brief from Daithí and he set us off on the big climb. I was wrecked after 200m after already going up the same climb a few hours ago ! Ian jetted off, as did Nick Hogan, and several others so there was a good field at the front. I knew it was just going to be a slog as the legs were dead but I still wanted to take part and be there for the experience. The uphill races are a funny thing as you are never really running, yet you are sort of at your max effort ! I know the climb well but I had always summited by following the normal pilgrim path. However, after the 8th station, Daithí changed the route so that you would follow a more vertical and straight climb to the summit. It was an extra grade of steepness and some little bits of rock scrambling but it was a nice added extra to the challenge.

Ian and a tall lad went out miles in front of the rest of us, with Ian literally making a last dash towards the summit to win by a few seconds. Sorcha Loughnane was up there with some of the other good guys like Nick, JP and Donatas to be first lady home in a quick time. I was happy to just make it up for my second time in the same day a bit further back in the field than normal. Everyone was taken back with the views from the top. There was no hiding from sideways wind and rain or just looking at the fog. The photo's taken by Joe and Carol say it all. Peter and Gearoid were taking the results without having to find shelter so it was a great evening.

With the race over at the summit, it then was just a nice trot down to the cars. Myself and Peter went straight to Dingle to get the last batch of Fish n' Chips , then it was back the the campsite for beers and chats with everyone. It was a perfect start to the festivities. I then had to get all my ducks in a row for Day 2's action. Flick over to the Brandon Ridge page for that report !

Brandon Vertical

13 July, 2025 - Mick Hanney

Every good race deserves a race report.

This was fabulous. Not ideal to be doing this after a long drive down from Wicklow in a hot car, but got down early enough to relax a bit before the journey down to Ballybrack in Dingle which marked the start point of this one

I've only done a handful of uphill only races. But nothing compares to this. According to strava, the total distance ran was less than 3.7k and the elevation gain was around 770m.

In a way a race like this is an act of stubborn madness. Its hard, but there is enjoyment in the pain and there is enjoyment (and relief) in the finishing, and the downhill jog back to the start line.

It was a warm evening, with a light cooling breeze. The target mountain, or at least a false summit thereof, peaking out above the horizon.

Thank you to Daithi and his team of volunteers. Particularly those who went up the mountain to marshal, so that we could race. Some of those marshals would make a similar climb the next day doing the Brandon Ridge Half marathon. Whether their hike/recce was a bonus or not is debatable.

I believe a small field of 36 signed up, with 35 towing the start line. At the appointed time we were let off up the gravel track leading onto the open mountain. An elastic band of enthusiastic runners set off and I felt straight away I was in the back 50%, as the field quality was pretty good.

I did well to hang onto the coat tails of Alice Clancy with Micheal McSweeney omnipresent. The time and pace was irrelevant. It was more about consistent work-rate.

Up ahead Ian Conroy was to run well and get the win and a fab sub 33 min time.
Not far behind was Daniel O'Brien. Then Nick Hogan.

Sorcha Loughnane was 1st lady home in a super 38.28 time, followed by Sorcha Kearney and Kristen O'Sullivan.

Its hard to describe a race that is so short yet so steep. In my case it could be summarised by a) digging in a lot and b) run a bit, hike a bit, repeat. The running was minimal at times given the tough terrain. I took this photo in the closing 1/3 of the race which gives an indication of the steepness, as runners ahead shuffled and crawled up the mountain. https://www.imra.ie/photos/view/id/261389/

Thanks to Joe and others who have posted up lovely photos from the race, esp. the summit.

I managed to close the gap on a runner towards the summit, on less steep ground, and finish with an uphill sprint of sorts. In a race like this, the satisfaction of stopping at the top is pretty good. Finishing time irrelevant. Satisfied at least.

The views from the top were unreal. You could probably go up Brandon many a time and not get anything like these views. Well done to all those who took part.