Annagh Hill
| Author | Date | Message |
|---|---|---|
| Mick Hanney | Jan 13 2024, 11:00am | Race route on Annagh this year will be 95% the same as the last time. Keeping all the favorite bits. 2 slight additions to keep people on their toes. I'll load route map up in due course. If people were planning their spring league and wanted to slot themselves in early as volunteers, that would be good too. |
| Mick Hanney | Jan 26 2024, 12:59pm | Annagh race route for early April is online. Grateful for volunteers if people can signup. |
| Imogen Boaden | Feb 2 2024, 12:54pm | Hi Mick, Happy to help mark the route and clean up afterwards. Give me a buzz on 087 2450155. |
| Mick Hanney | Feb 5 2024, 11:28am | Short course route confirmed. 6.8k. Follow same route out until gate on ridge - see photo. Then turnaround and run back along ridge, following purple waymarked trail signs to finish. Map of short course added as photo also. |
| Mick Hanney | Feb 18 2024, 5:37pm | Early shout out please for volunteers for Annagh. Thanks to those that have signed up to help early. A laptop person would be good. We need a couple more volunteers willing to marshal. Also, some volunteers to help pre and post-race. Ideally non-running. Also, a couple of volunteers who can help with parking. This would suit a running volunteer. I have updated race details in terms of early start and short course. Early start is only for long course runners. <b> NB </b> In a change from other years the early start will start opposite the pub. This is to facilitate registration logistics, particularly for the RD (so I don't have to be in 2 places at once). Short course runners will start at the same time as the main race. |
| Mick Hanney | Mar 1 2024, 7:43am | Thanks to the volunteers who have put their name down to help at Annagh. I will email all concerned in the week before the race to confirm roles. We still have a no. of positions to fill. We don't have a laptop operator. It is not an absolute must, but ideal if we have someone. If someone hasn't done laptop before, they could perhaps be given an overview by someone who intends running. I can also assist. We need a couple of running volunteers who can coordinate parking for runners across from the pub. Car-pooling will obviously help. Lastly, we need 1-2 more non-running volunteers. Thanks in advance. |
| Nora Lalor | Mar 1 2024, 10:29am | Happy to Marshall usual spot top of wall out & back |
| Mick Hanney | Mar 1 2024, 3:28pm | Thanks Nora |
| Mick Hanney | Mar 3 2024, 2:44pm | After 6 races so far some league positions are secured but many are up for grabs in the senior and age categories. All will be decided at Annagh hill in early April. |
| Mick Hanney | Mar 19 2024, 7:10pm | Entries for Annagh will open 1st April. April Fools day :-) A laptop operator OR, failing that, another non-running volunteer would be welcome. Then we'll have a full complement of volunteers for this race. |
| Mick Hanney | Mar 23 2024, 10:21pm | Thanks Paul McRedmond for adding your name to the list. We are ok for non running volunteers. I wouldn't say no to 1 more running volunteer, thanks. Annagh History Snapshot First ran in 2011. Kevin Keane was the inaugural men's race winner. Suzanne Kenny was the first ladies winner. It was the first time IMRA runners came face to face with the daunting wall climb, that Alan Ayling loves. The original race was a muddy and wet affair as the hill was still mainly forested and contained running pools a plenty, of indeterminate depth. It was here that Eoin Keith took an unfortunate fall when in a podium position, and used a piece of flotsam wood as a walking aid, down from the now named Enduro Falls. More snapshots in time to follow. |
| Mick Hanney | Mar 23 2024, 10:27pm | In 2012, Karen O'Hanlon and Turlough Conway took the spoils and a very overcast day that hid (saved) the runners from seeing the climb ahead of them. First runners reaching the top, emerging from the mist: https://studio.youtube.com/video/m-c8Bprt5ec/edit First runners thru the old ridge pools, now just a memory https://studio.youtube.com/video/BVcJTEack8o/edit Shades of Ballinastoe. |
| Mick Hanney | Mar 24 2024, 8:52pm | Jumping forward to 2013 we were treated to one of Annagh's maddest races. A Leinster Champs 5k only, but a nasty one up along the wall, out the ridge a-ways, and back, with a steep steep descent to the finish line, which was hotly contested between a group of 4 men with only 11 secs separating the local Bernard from Jason, Brian and Adrian. Niamh O'Ceallaigh was first woman home. In 2016 we were back in the Spring league and for the first time we did the loop of Connahill at the end of the ridge. Des Kennedy and Kate Cronin took the honours, and there are nice race reports there of the day, which will have to make up for the lack of photographer first time around on the back hill. In 2017 we ran the same route and this time the brother was armed and ready with the camera for some lovely pics on Connahill, including this classic - https://www.imra.ie/photos/view/id/131298/ - which might be a good tactic in 2 weeks time. Bernard and Becky won the day. Interesting to note too, the prevalence of veteran winners in the race histories across the men and women. If you are M40 or F40 the odds are on your side. Another snapshot to follow in a few days. |
| Mick Hanney | Mar 26 2024, 12:51pm | I’ll fly through my last lookback of Annagh results as fast as Warren did the Enduro falls downhill in 2012. 2018. Connahill (the hill at the far end of the route) made its first slippy downhill appearance as the many photos of runners on their backsides show. Link: https://www.imra.ie/photos/view/id/136938/ In the race Tom Hogan and Becky Quinn took the honours. 2019. Becky was back to win again. So too did the great Robbie Bryson. This year featured another full climb of Connahill, which was food and drink to Robbie. If memory serves Peter Bell had a great climb here too, between a no. of tourist excursions off the race route. Link: https://www.imra.ie/photos/view/id/147933/ In an unusual 2021 we had an August Annagh race and we were treated to a good battlle between Wexford-local Paddy O’Leary, visiting from the US, and another Wexford-local Enda Cloake. Paddy set a slew of strava crowns to win the day. Caroline Harney won the ladies race. Fast forward to 2022 and we were back to a Spring league Annagh. Enda banished his result of last year to win comfortably. Lisa Hegarty made the long journey from Cork to be first woman over the line. Great fun was had slipping and sliding down the top half of Connahill Link: https://www.imra.ie/photos/view/id/175730/ Roll on 7th April for the 10th Annagh Hill race (not counting the Nav Challenge event in 2015). We have had a lot of run racing and hosting events here and we look forward to more. Note: we are good now for volunteers for the race. |
| Mick Hanney | Mar 26 2024, 7:54pm | PARKING Can we try avoid single occupancy cars going to Annagh hill. Yes, its a decent drive from Dublin so all the more sense to team up with friends you know or others you don't, using the car pool option. We don't want to turn away cars but preference in the main car park will be given to cars with a couple or more occupants. Thanks Angela for leading the way on the car pool. |
| Mick Hanney | Mar 27 2024, 8:13pm | Volunteers. Thanks again in advance. I'll send out an email early next week with instructions. |
| Mick Hanney | Mar 28 2024, 9:21pm | Set your reminders for Monday. Shop for Annagh Hill entries opens Monday 9am. |
| Mick Hanney | Mar 29 2024, 11:35am | If you are considering running Annagh Hill next week please take a few mins to read over the event details. Also, the consult the map. Its primarily an out and back route, but on the way back we take in a little loop to visit a new climb. Annagh hill is a tough event. Winning time last year was just under 54 mins, with longest time out on the course of c. 2 hours. So it shouldn't be underestimated. INOV8 x-talons or something equivalent in terms of grip is recommended. If you are wearing road runners you won't have traction in places. There will be an early start option - for runners normally > 160% of winners time. And only for long course runners. There will be a short course option. This is 6.8k with c.300m of climb. This will start 5 mins after the main race start at 12.05. Short course is suitable for juniors over 14 years old. On the short course you run out the ridge to a gate, or at least where there once was a gate between 2 stone pillars. This is at 3.3k in the race. Short coursers turn around at this point and run back the route. This point is planned to be marshalled. Long course runners carry on thru this gate. At the race registration runners should confirm early start or not, long or short course. Share a car if you can. The good news is the Gap pub still has its 2 pints and a pizza deal, which is perfect post-race fare, for the car passengers! |
| Mick Hanney | Apr 1 2024, 10:37am | Shop is open. If anything is unclear on the event instructions please don't hesitate to ask. I'll email volunteers later today. |
| Mick Hanney | Apr 1 2024, 12:36pm | I've emailed volunteers, if you can check your inbox or spam folder. Nice to see cars available in the car pool, if anyone needs a lift to the race, |
| Mick Hanney | Apr 1 2024, 4:38pm | For stats lovers, these are the main climbs in Annagh. Good luck (esp. on Connahill) Segment Distance (k) Gain Grade Who When Wall climb 1.17 205m 17% Paddy O'Leary 2021 Connahill climb 0.38 106m 27.5% Des Kennedy 2016 Enduro uphill 0.32 60m 17% Padraig Somers 2010 Ridge climb 0.98 75m 7.7% Paddy O'Leary 2021 |
| Mick Hanney | Apr 2 2024, 1:51pm | In copycat Barkley marathons style, condolences to those who have entered this race. Looking forward to seeing you Sun. Plenty of time for more victims, sorry, entries. Share a car to the race if you can. |
| Mick Hanney | Apr 2 2024, 8:36pm | Entries ticking over nicely. Did a run on the route this evening and underfoot conditions are heavy in places. You will need your grippiest pair of runners. |
| Michael Dowling | Apr 4 2024, 6:34am | If you're looking for that proper off road race, then look no further...... the course is wild... It has everything and then some. Good lugs, legs and lungs are all required for Sunday |
| Mick Hanney | Apr 4 2024, 12:57pm | There are a few car pooling options open for those travelling down from Dublin. Shop will remain open until Saturday evening, but earlier registration helps the RD get a better handle on race numbers. |
| Phil behan | Apr 4 2024, 2:16pm | Hi Mick, just confirming that there is no race for U14 Juniors on this course ? Thanks.Phil |
| Mick Hanney | Apr 4 2024, 3:18pm | Hi Phil, afraid so yes. Given the short course distance the 14 and over limit applies. |
| Mick Hanney | Apr 5 2024, 11:23am | For those new to Annagh hill I have added a photo showing the route from the pub to the race start. Its about 500m or so. Starts (and ends) at barrier on fire-road just into left of forestry entrance. No parking please along road to start or at entrance to forest. |
| Mick Hanney | Apr 5 2024, 11:45am | For those on Strava, this is a flyby of the route from a recce I did. https://labs.strava.com/flyby/viewer/#11026482279?c=gc7knezn&z=F&t=1b-_km&s=5a This is the gist of the route description - will make sense if you read this when looking at map or flyby. Useful to look at this whether you are new to route or familiar from previous years (it will be mostly familiar). 1. From start, its straight out this fire road to the gap in the Annagh wall. Go thru gap and climb to top on the grassy side of wall. 2. Nora Lalor will marshal at the top to guide you back over the wall and onto the ridge trail which is the core of the route, mostly hand-railing the wall out and back 3. Short course / Junior turn is 3.3k into race. Matthew should be marshalling here to turn around any short coursers. The turn is an obvious gate. See photos. 4. Long course runners, continue heading straight, until the the next marshal (Imogen) to guide runners thru a gap in the wall down a grassy/muddy track. 5. Andre will marshal at bottom of this track guiding runners right, thru a single track in the forestry, emerging onto a muddy track (thanks Coillte), crossing fire-road to a beautiful grassy trail. Follow this until it turns right. A caution for runners sharing this section out and back. 6. You are now on Connahill. It is steep. It is slippy. You run to the bottom of the hill (staying to the right as you descend). Philip will be marshal at the bottom. Andrew will be there taking photos. Runners turn and go back up the same hill. Again staying to the right. A stick might be useful going up for traction!! 7. You go back the way you came until Andre's marshalling spot but continue straight past him. Taking next left turn onto a fire-road section before another left turn onto a tight single track (elbows out). This will turn sharply and steeply left up the hill to Matthew's marshalling point. 8. From here its back along the ridge, to where Nora is, then its left down the zigzag trail to the finish line. Be alert for the turns. This section is along an existing waymarked trail with purple arrows. Show your race no. as you cross the finish line. Then its back to pub for refreshments, where we'll do prize-giving. |
| Jason Dowling | Apr 5 2024, 12:03pm | Hi Mick, My comments below relate to all wider IMRA events but just commenting on the below. That is an excellent piece of information about the Annagh Hill event. Could the event page be updated with this information and maybe provide a link to it in the forum stating what information has been updated? This will get users, especially new users, to get use to going to the event page for information. If a question is not answered on the event page, then the answer should be added to the existing detail and an update published in the forum notifying people what new information has been added to the event page. This helps the RD for the subsequent year(s) as all the information for the event is in one location and people don't have to scour the forum for event related details. It also benefits the general core group of people who answer a lot of general event queries in that the amount of queries should be reduced. Ultimately, it benefits future participants in that they get all the event information in one location. |
| Liam Vines | Apr 5 2024, 4:18pm | Anyone running on Sunday bring any extra timing chips that you have around the house with you and give them in. Soon they will be of no good to you. Also anyone who hasn’t claimed a winning race voucher for the winter/Spring league Sunday is your last chance to collect it or get somebody to collect it. Just don’t ask me to collect it for you….. What a race to be finishing the league on.. |
| Mick Hanney | Apr 5 2024, 8:31pm | With 2 days to go please look at the carpool opportunities available - thanks to the drivers in question. Failing that, try carpool with a friend so we reduce the impact on parking. Priority for parking nearest the pub will be given to vehicles with more than 1 person. |
| Mick Hanney | Apr 6 2024, 7:29pm | Last minute reminders:- - If you have run already this year, bring your race no. - We won't be doing chip timing tomorrow. - Bring grippy runners. - Don't forget your jacket. - If you are running the long course, there is an early start option. - Or, there is a short course option open to anyone / juniors. Starts with the main race. - Registration will take place in the Gap pub. Thanks to Sean and crew there who are also very welcoming. |
| Andrew Hanney | Apr 6 2024, 10:11pm | Added another carpool option from Kilcoole/Greystones & Kilpedder. I have two with me and can take one or two more. |
| Mick Hanney | Apr 7 2024, 8:32am | Its windy and can be expected to be cold on the exposed ridge. All runners should carry/wear - Jacket - Hat or buff - Gloves |
| Mick Hanney | Apr 7 2024, 4:11pm | Results are winging their way to the Results secretary. Great to see a fab turn-out today for the 10th Annagh Hill race in better than expected conditions. I look forward to seeing the photos and seeing some race reports. Nudge nudge. Thanks to all the volunteers today without whom we cannot do this. Thanks also to the Gap pub who are ever supportive of our events. And, we will be back at the Gap in the coming months for the Croghan Half Marathon. |
| Alan Kennedy | Apr 7 2024, 4:11pm | Wow, what a course that was. We were lucky to have perfect weather to run in but under foot was something else. We all thought Mick was joking about using sticks on the climb back up after the turnaround but that was just crazy descent and the. Impossible climb back up. Andy will have lots embarrassing photos and for once it won’t just be Tommy!! Course had everything as promised and Marshalls were excellent as always. Thanks to Mick and crew for the great build up to the last race and for a brilliant Winter / Sping League. Soup and sambos after we’re pergevt and we had two cakes to finish it off. Happy Birthdaybagain to Alice and to the amazing Tommy on race 801. Roll on Wed night league now. |
| Richard Leahy | Apr 7 2024, 5:43pm | Hats off to Mick and all the team for another killer edition of the Annagh Hill epic. To all those who stayed upright for the entire route, ye mustn't have been trying hard enough. |
| Colm Hassett | Apr 7 2024, 5:51pm | Thanks to all the team for putting this race together and all at The Gap Pub for the hospitality, what a faantastic tough slippy fun race |
| Phil behan | Apr 7 2024, 5:58pm | Take this stick… Why ? In 5 minutes you’ll see. Thanks to Mick and all the volunteers what an incredible event. |
| Mick Hanney | Apr 7 2024, 7:47pm | Snippet from race instruction... "The route - particularly the long course - is NOT recommended for beginners At start line, asked the gathered masses "Who is running their first hill race today?". Cue about 15 hands in the air. My response began with the word why... Also, in dealing with some result corrections late this afternoon, can I remind runners that if you sign up for regular start and take early, and vice versa, that the RD / Laptop operator need to be informed. |
| Warren Swords | Apr 7 2024, 8:00pm | Thanks to Mick and volunteers for a great afternoon on the hill. Course really tested most aspects of hill running. Leaves you battered but smiling. Lovely welcome and hospitality at the gap pub. Sure what else could you ask for. |
| Karl Richards | Apr 7 2024, 8:12pm | Massive thank you to Mick and the team of volunteers. Incredible race! Well done to everyone for surviving another Annagh Hill |
| Mick Hanney | Apr 7 2024, 8:12pm | @Warren - did you fall in the exact same spot again. See Andrew's great photos. |
| Warren Swords | Apr 7 2024, 8:28pm | @mick. Pretty much! It’s an honour to make Andrew’s hall of shame once again. Falling with style |
| Andrew Hanney | Apr 7 2024, 8:50pm | Photos from the hill slide are up! Lots of techniques on display! Well done everyone. |
| Alan Kennedy | Apr 7 2024, 9:17pm | Brilliant photos, even if the laughs are at our expense! |
| Alice Clancy | Apr 7 2024, 9:36pm | Thank you Mick and team of volunteers for such a divilish race today!!! That was great fun, and really well organised….the food after was lovely too. Thanks to Andy for such meticulous photographic documentation of all the mud shenanigans! And a big shoutout to Ange for the delicious cake! :-) |
| James H Cahill | Apr 7 2024, 10:28pm | Thank you Mick and all the marshals, and volunteers for a great fun day on Annagh Hill. What a route, and the Director's cut made it extra "special". Thank you Derek for cleaning up my scratches and scrapes post Annagh. Congratulations Tommy on 801 recorded IMRA races......what a record and IMRA stalwart (although I could have done without Tommy passing me at about 8km......just saying!). |
| Peter Doyle | Apr 7 2024, 10:57pm | Thanks to organisers and volunteers for a great event. First time doing Annagh Hill (been on the round-to-it list for a few years now) and it certainly didn't disappoint with the infamous vertical descent/ ascent hill living up to its reputation. The song Slip Sliding Away been stuck in my mind ever since :-) |
| Andy Keeling | Apr 8 2024, 6:59am | Brilliant race yesterday at Annagh hill. Well done to Mick and Volunteers/ Press ganged Family for running the show. Very entertaining photos from Andy and Fortune. Massive thanks also to Rob Tobin who was kind enough to kind me his brand new Dynafits to run the race in. I was so excited to bring my very grippy Vj's on an outing that I left them at the front door :I Great in pub post race refreshments and chats. I'll definitely be back, hopefully in my own shoes next time. |
| Alan Kennedy | Apr 8 2024, 9:45am | Love that photo with Tommy, Vivian and John, that's over 2,000 races between them, Amazing. |
| Mick Hanney | Apr 8 2024, 3:28pm | Thanks Declan for the super report. Any other report writers in our midst? Alice Clancy perhaps? ;-) |
| Mick Hanney | Apr 8 2024, 10:11pm | Following on from the recent Awards season we now have the inaugural Annaghs. Special Awards for yesterday's race. Sorry to those that didn't win. Better luck next year. The "I fell on the flat bit before the climb" award - Joint winners - James Cahill and Peter Bell. Cut his knee virtually at the start line award - James Cahill (again) Finishing with one functioning shoe award - Liam Vines The Crawling backwards downhill award - Liam Bowe Insulting the Race Director (in a good way) at the finish line award - Alice Clancy Best backside slide award - Group award, too many to mention Strava Crown despite backside slide award - Enda Cloake Best 2 stick uphill technique award - Niamh Murphy Questionable use of stick going downhill award - Will Blumlein Gandalf Award (repeat winner) - Joe Lalor Sightseeing Award - Group award (anonymous) The “I fall here every year” award - Warren Swords Use of tree going downhill award - Stephen Lavelle |
| Francis Conroy | Apr 9 2024, 2:25pm | What about d best photographer prize - photos from ski slope brilliant |
| Mick Hanney | Apr 9 2024, 4:45pm | You are right Francis. Super pics. |
| Mick Hanney | Apr 9 2024, 5:14pm | Check this out. It may inspire some more reports. https://runrepublic.com/news/conquering-annagh-hill-a-gruelling-triumph-in-the-imra-spring-league-2024 |
| Enda Cloake | Apr 9 2024, 10:27pm | Report added by myself. Thanks again to Mick & Co for another slick operation. |
| Mick Hanney | Apr 10 2024, 7:14am | Class report. (consults map to figure out the ultra for 2028) |
| Mick Hanney | Apr 10 2024, 7:46pm | Thanks Warren, funny you should mention that last downhill strava segment :-) Any reports from the ladies? |
| Mick Hanney | Apr 11 2024, 8:01pm | Next year this could be part of the night league with Maulin. |
| Alice Clancy | Apr 12 2024, 10:03am | Careful what you wish for Mick, report up! Thanks to Declan, Enda and Warren for the entertaining reports….mine reads more like a dirge…. Thank you again Mick to you and your volunteers. Like Warren David, I refuse to learn any lessons and will be back next year to grapple with Annagh Hill for sure! |
| Mick Hanney | Apr 12 2024, 10:24am | Terrific report Alice. On now to the delights of the Dargle 4 lakes, sorry 4 peaks. |
