SkyRun the Mournes 2024 Race Director's Report
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From death to rebirth: the Mourne Skyline is BACK! Based from the coastal town of Newcastle in Northern Ireland and founded by local runners Ryan and Justin Maxwell in 2014; this iconic event was once the staple season-end event of the UK & Ireland trail and skyrunning calendar until its unfortunate discontinuation following the 2021 edition.
Myself enjoying the technical trails of the Mourne Skyline in 2016 © Ian Corless
In years gone by, many (myself included) would make the annual pilgrimage over the Irish Sea to take on the challenging Mourne Mountains – a truly unique range, made all the more imposing thanks to the indomitable Mourne Wall, which also inspired the new event logo.
A new event name and logo, inspired by the imposing Mourne Wall which features along much of the route.
As soon as I was given the opportunity to take over directorship of Skyrunning UK late last year (news item HERE), it was without hesitation that I sought to seek out possible new events to add to the National Series, and so I sprang at the opportunity to resurrect this iconic event (news item HERE).
Stay tuned for my year in review of the radically overhauled 2024 Skyrunner® UK & Ireland Series
As per my other recently renamed event; SkyRun Eryri®, the overarching event has now been renamed ‘SkyRun the Mournes’ to take into consideration its new SkyUltra® race (as well as a new 20km to be added next year). Read on to learn more about how things went from my side at this tenth anniversary edition of the event last weekend – also my first event outside of Eryri/Snowdonia!
ADAPT AND OVERCOME
The Maxwell brothers were previously quite forthcoming in the fact that one contributing factor in their decision not to host the event again after 2021 was due to financial difficulties of the event. Running the event more as a non-profit, charitable affair, when I visited in April they enthused to me that this needn’t be the case to a more commercial events operator like myself.
Route map of the epic new 50km & 3,500m+ Mourne SkyUltra®
Therefore, I reasoned the event would need to expand somehow, initially with the addition of a circa 50km ultra, having seen how adding the 14 Peaks Ultra had benefitted June’s SkyRun Eryri® (RD Report HERE). This resulted in the inception of the 50km & 3,500m+ Mourne SkyUltra®, which to my delight, garnered 119 entries in this year’s inaugural edition.
This route was quite easy to assemble: Largely based on the classic 35km & 2,700m+ Mourne Skyline, but with an added loop in the opening kilometres that features another aid station and explores the summits further south of the classic Skyline route. I thoroughly enjoyed recceing this section in April this year, notwithstanding the typically highly variable weather of the area – a brisk jaunt of high contrasts featuring blue skies, interspersed with harsh hailstone showers!
OTHER CHANGES
Another notable change to the event was replacing the old drop bag service with one/two fully stocked aid stations in each race, as per my other events – all well received by runners at this event.
In addition, as per my other events, during the entry process we offered the option to either receive a finishers medal, or opt-out and instead donate an equal-value to Mourne Mountain Rescue Team. With 95 entrants opting out of a medal, along with additional voluntary donations collecting during entry, I’m delighted to announce this year’s event raised £1,000 for MMRT!
Some big names enjoyed a bright but chilly start to the inaugural Mourne SkyUltra® © Evan Davies
Shortly after 07:00 on Saturday 12th October, the inaugural Mourne SkyUltra® set off in darkness, boasting a stellar lineup of elite runners – all of whom entered without my begging them, boding well for the future of this race!
Much of the race coverage can be relived on our Facebook Page HERE or over on Instagram HERE. Half hoping for another battle royale between Mark Darbyshire and Gavin Dale as per Lakeland 100 earlier this year, sadly Darbyshire had to withdraw due to illness, but revealed he is excited to be targeting various other Skyrunning events next year.
Men’s champion Gavin Dale attacking the first climb of the route to Slieve Donard © Evan Davies
I was surprised that following her dominant victory in the Seven Sisters Skyline 55k a few weeks ago, Nicky Spinks – a familiar face on the podium throughout this year’s series – finished 4th, exclaiming at the finish her legs were quite fatigued today and was now ready for some rest!
Many thanks for your commitment to this year’s Skyrunner® UK & Ireland Series Nicky!
Therefore, it was more local blood that filled the women’s podium for this race, with Irish Laura O Driscoll crossing the line first. She not only sealed victory for the day but also claimed 1st overall in the new SkyUltra® Series (rankings HERE) after similar victory at SkyRun Eryri’s inaugural 14 Peaks Ultra in June.
Irish Laura O Driscoll claims victory and becomes inaugural SkyUltra® Series champion! © Evan Davies
It was reassuring to hear from many at the finish about how they intend to target next year’s SkyUltra® Series (info HERE); confirmation that creating this new sub-series was well judged. After witnessing first-hand the rapid growth of UTS 50K under my previous directorship, the aim here is to promote Skyrunning to a broader audience base, while demonstrating that there is a full season-long series of races aimed at those seeking a longer (<16hrs) day out in big mountains, along a marked course.
THE SKYLINE RETURNS
At its previous 09:00 start time, 208 starters (a relatively high 22% no-show rate) set off towards Slieve Donard in the classic Mourne Skyline race. I made the decision to simplify this race a touch by moving the start to the same finish location in Donard Park, eschewing its previous start location on the nearby coastal promenade. Though I did admire the concept of a ‘sea to summit’ route experience, I felt that one less road closure with traffic to halt made more sense for the event, given its quite finite resources.
With both races underway, we faced some difficulties with gusting wind around finish, but it wasn’t long before we were welcoming home our leading runners.
The leading men’s trio up the first climb of the Skyline route © Evan Davies
It was a true delight to witness Caleb Nonhebel win the Men’s race, visibly overjoyed with victory! Going into the race, he had already been crowned champion in the inaugural Skyrunning U23 Series (more about why I created this in my personal post on Instagram HERE), but had only a four point lead in the overall National Series on his nearest rival; Craig Lowe, who was also racing the Skyline.
After a nail biting few hours of racing, Nonhebel emerged the victor of the day, closely followed by Irish Enda Cloake, with Craig Lowe third. I later realised this result had caused an Overall Series points tie between Nonhebel and Cloake, since only an athlete’s best three results count towards their overall standing.
Caleb Nonhebel has been a familiar face throughout this year’s Series © Evan Davies
Aged just 19 and from the Isle of Mull, off the west coast of Scotland, we can expect to see great things from Salomon-supported Nonhebel at future UK events and no doubt internationally in future. It’s been great to see him on the podium at various races throughout the season and therefore, I’m delighted to be offering him a substantial prize of £750 as joint 2024 Overall Series champion (£1,000 1st & £500 2nd combined and split with Enda Cloake), hopefully financially supporting both with their racing endeavours next year.
For next year however, a review of the series rules will be required to avoid any future possibility of final points tie and any dulling of season-end athletic narrative this causes. This might mean reinstating the previous rule that runners must race the finals at the Mourne Skyline to get a final standing, with their result here being the Overall Series points tie-break in the event of any draw.
Old friend Kasia Osipowicz finishes 2nd in the Mourne Skyline © Evan Davies
After a commanding victory in the Skyline by Isobel Oakes — a familiar name in the Irish trail and mountain running scene — storming to the finish in 04:52:07 (for 10th overall!), another personal highlight of the day was witnessing old friend and previously coached athlete and Eryri-based Kasia Osipowicz finish 2nd. With this, she secured 3rd overall in the National Series thanks to her consistency across the season, which I’ve no doubt she’ll be delighted with!
Sadly, this year’s event had to be re-routed along an extended section of road to the Fofanny Dam aid station due to ongoing works at the dam’s weir footbridge. Due to this extension in distance, we were a bit more lax with the 12:30 cut-off time here, with all runners arriving by 13:00 going on to finish.
With thoughts now turning to the pack up and long journey home, it was some time before our last finisher in the SkyUltra, Irish 55+ runner Cahal Mcauley, crossed the finish line at Donard Park, well after nightfall.
With an exhausted Cahal Mcauley, final finisher of the inaugural Mourne SkyUltra® © Evan Davies
Congratulations to all who finished either race! I hope you enjoyed your day out in the majestic Mourne Mountains as much as I did hosting this year’s renaissance event. With event co-founder Ryan on the mic throughout the day, I hope it felt like the event hadn’t lost its soul under new management.
Detailed race reports by Skyrunning UK for the SkyUltra®/Skyline can be found on the Skyrunning UK website HERE & HERE, respectively. Race results for the SkyUltra®/Skyline can be viewed HERE & HERE.
Race images for the event can now be purchased via MyBibNumber HERE.
The indomitable Mourne Wall waits for another year… © Sam Davis
And so, Sunday arrived and with it a longer journey home with my good friend Dave than the usual 90mins back to Chester from Eryri! With the familiar warm glow of tiredness mixed with the satisfaction taken from a job well done, I felt a sense of delight for the future of the event.
Rest assured, it’s my full intention for this event to go on to even greater heights and enjoy a bright and lasting future. I’m super grateful for the rare opportunity to build upon the solid foundations the Maxwell Brothers established with this now classic event during their tenure since its inception over a decade ago!
WITH THANKS
At the finish, runners all enthused about their day, in particular remarking on the warmth of volunteers at aid stations and on-hill, as well as about how well the course was marked, which was thoroughly rewarding to hear. Many thanks to the following event staff and volunteers who made this event possible:
Event co-founders Ryan & Justin Maxwell — as well as ex-assistant RD for the event and previous Chairman of NIMRA, Ricky Cowan — for imparting your collective wealth of knowledge, guidance and insight into the workings of this event throughout the past nine months, all helping to ensure this year’s ‘handover’ event went as smoothly as it did.
Matthew Cooper – Route & Safety Manager (many thanks for taking on this role at such short notice and outputting such a solid result on the day!)
David Thompson – Merch & Store Manager (thanks for your ongoing help and support; from loading and unloading the van, to being someone I can always rely on to share a laugh with when I’m absolutely knackered!)
It always sounds cliché, but to our amazing Event Volunteers: we couldn’t do these events and make hundreds of other runners happy without your highly valued dedication of time, effort and enthusiasm! Undertaking a range of duties from helping at registration, to Mountain Safety & Course Marking support this year were:
Alan Stretton
Alastair Donaghy
Bronagh McInerney
Craig Bell
David Cole
Denise Mathers
Denise O'Hagan
Geoff Smyth
Jo Stevens
Johnny McKinley
Kieran Young
Kim McCourt
Liam Smyth
Matt O Reilly
Naomi Savidge
Pauline O'Hara
Peter Howie
Sarah McKay
Simon Hodge
Tabitha Watson
And finally: Photographers Evan Davies & Sam Davis (many thanks for both making the big effort to come over to shoot this event!), Kathryn Roberts & Seana Forbes (event/Skyrunning UK social media managers), Ryan Maxwell (MC), & Keri Wallace (Skyrunning UK race reports editor).
Smiles all round at this year’s renaissance edition of the Mourne Skyline! © Evan Davies
THAT’S A WRAP!
Today, I'm delighted to announce that next year's event will take place on a similar date of Saturday the 11th October 2025, with entries due to open in the coming days. The 2025 edition will also include the brand new 20km & 1,300m+ Mourne SkyTrail – set to further broaden the appeal and accessibility of the event, with a view to boosting entry numbers. Route details will be on the webpage HERE soon.
To be first to know about when entries will reopen for next year, be sure to sign up to our email newsletter via the footer area at the bottom of this page. I’ll also publish a summative ‘2024 season in review’ news item on the Skyrunning UK website in the coming weeks, to reflect on my first season of directorship for Skyrunning UK. Beyond this, my aim is to have next year’s National Series calendar confirmed and announced well in advance of December, to allow runners to start planning their seasons around a further expanded 2025 Skyrunner® UK & Ireland Series!
So there you have it. Following a few shaky years since Covid, it’s with a sense of optimism following this year’s resurrected Mourne Skyline & Co. that I can declare that not only this event, but also the Skyrunner® UK & Ireland Series have come back with a bang! And indeed, both set to be bigger and better than ever before moving forward…
