On 31st August Violet Linton successfully completed the Denis Rankin Round, also becoming the first lady to do so.
You can read Violet’s report by clicking the Download link below. A partial GPS plot is also available here.
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Violet is the First Lady
On Saturday 30th August Violet Linton took on the challenge to become the first lady to attempt the Denis Rankin Round. Violet started at 3.30am and completed a clockwise round in 23 hours 56 minutes.
Violet completes the round
Full report to follow.
Billy & Greg’s Report
On 15th June 2014 Billy Reed & Greg Byrne became the first runners to attempt and successfully complete the inaugural Denis Rankin Round. You can read their comprehensive race report by clicking the Download link below.
Billy & Greg Complete the First Denis Rankin Round
Three runners, Billy Reed of East Antrim Harriers, plus Greg Bryne and Richard Nunan from Dublin set off at 2.00am Sunday the 15th June from Donard car park Newcastle on the first official attempt of the recently conceived Denis Rankin Round in the Mourne Mountains.
Conditions were good but some cloud on the tops made for tricky navigation in the early stages. As the day progressed the sun became more of a problem but light breezes mitigated its effects. Richard Nunan had to pull out due to injury at the Deers Meadow road crossing but Billy and Greg were going steadily as they headed towards the more tricky ground of the South Western Mournes. They kept this steady pace going throughout the day and with the support of friends who plied them with food, drink and encouragement at various stages, they were able to get back to Newcastle and the finish line just as it got dark, in a very impressive time of 20 hours, 29 minutes and 47 seconds
*This attempt is still to be ratified.
Denis Rankin Round – Course Recce
On Sept 7th 2013, a group from BARF (Belfast Association of Rock climbers and Fell runners) organized a relay run around the proposed route of the Denis Rankin Round, to test the course and timings, make a final decision on peaks to be included and order undertaken, and to check the feasibility of the challenge.
Despite atrocious weather for most of the route, the relay was completed in 23hrs, 13min and 22 sec, with a GPS measured distance of 89.86km and a total of 6137m of height gain. Given that some unnecessary distance was covered circling around a few of the more obscure tops in thick mist and/or darkness, a more efficient route is possible.
The times below are approximate and include rest and re-fueling stops at changeovers.
Section 1 – Newcastle to Silent Valley
Started 05.00 and finished at 10.45 or 5hrs 45min
Completed by Gareth Boreland,Dave Evans,Nigel Hart, Gerry Kingston, Martin Mullan and Jacqueline Toal
Section 2 – Silent Valley to Deers Meadow
Started at 10.45 and finished at 14.30 or 3hrs 45min
Completed by Dave Ewart, Gerry Kingston, Martin Mullan and Norma Rea
Section 3 – Deers Meadow to Slieve Martin
Started at 14.30 and finished at 18.15 or 3hrs 45min
Completed by Gerry Kingston, Kathleen Monteverde and Gareth McKeown
Section 4 – Slieve Martin to Spelga
Started at 18.15 and finished at 23.00 or 4 hrs 45min
Completed by Garth McKeown and Aaron Shimmons
Section 5 – Spelga to Newcastle
Started at 23.00 and finished at 04.15 on Sunday 8th Sept or 5hrs 15min
Completed by Jim Brown, Aaron Shimmons and Dawson Stelfox
