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SEVEN SISTERS SKYLINE 2022: VICTORIES FOR OLIVIA AMBER (USA) AND RUAIRI LONG (IRL) AT 1st STAGE WMRA WORLD CUP 2022
SEVEN SISTERS SKYLINE 2022: VICTORIES FOR OLIVIA AMBER (USA) AND RUAIRI LONG (IRL) AT 1st STAGE WMRA WORLD CUP 2022. Our WMRA section bring us today the news about the first stage of this 2022 WMRA World Cup.
This weekend traveled to Ireland, at Seven Sisters Skyline under race of 30 Km and 2134 M+, with vitories for Olivia Amber (USA) and Ruairi Long (IRL) setting course records.
Seven Sisters Skyline 202. Photo: Richard Bolt
SEVEN SISTERS SKYLINE 2022:
VICTORIES FOR OLIVIA AMBER (USA) AND RUAIRI LONG (IRL)
The old adage ‘if you don’t like the weather; just wait 5 minutes’ held true in the rugged, windswept Derryveagh mountains of County Donegal, Ireland at the 5th running of the Seven Sisters Skyline 30K and 55K races.
Over 500 hearty mountain runners faced temperatures barely breaking into the double digits (centigrade), drizzle, wind, cloud covered mountain tops and even a touch of sun along their journey over seven craggy mountains. Further challenging runners, what little flat ground could be found along the 30K route was wet, boggy and uneven.
SEVEN SISTERS SKYLINE 2022: THE ROUTE 30KM | 2134M+
Donegal is a mystical, magical place, which boasts wild rugged unspoilt landscapes, and an incredible coastline with some of the most spectacular views in Europe. The Derryveagh mountains are the major mountain range in Donegal. Commonly known as the “Seven Sisters”, each of the seven mountains have their own gaelic names of Errigal (751m), Mackoght a.k.a. Little Errigal (555m), Aghla More (584m), Ardloughnabrackbaddy (603m), Aghla Beg (564m), Crocknalaragagh (471m) and Muckish (666m).
Like its namesake suggests, the 30 km race route with over 2134m of total vertical climbing, runs along the top of all of the Seven Sisters from Muckish to Errigal. The technical course is renowned for its variabile terrain and amazing beauty, along with a route that is very demanding on wild open mountains.
The route also has many wonderful features, and makes this course unique in Ireland. The miners path, Heart-attack Hill, Altan Castle, Mackoght with amazing views of Errigal.
SEVEN SISTERS SKYLINE 2022: RACE CHRONICLE
The 30K point-to-point event with 2134 meters of total ascent and descent kicked off the 2022 Valsir Mountain Running World Cup – a series of 17 races in 10 countries.
The start took place at the foot of Muckish (666m), in an area where old mines have been reclaimed by a blanket of lush green bog. High energy music got runners rocking to stay warm prior to the 8:15 am start up a short section of pavement that soon gave way to a steep trail.
Seven Sisters Skyline 202. Photo: Richard Bolt
A few hundred spectators and aid station volunteers greeted runners at the 8K mark after they zig-zagged down off Muckish for a brief respite before heading uphill again to Crocknalaragagh (471m). It was here where Ruairi Long (IRL), Paddy O’Leary (IRL) and Shaun Stewart (IRL) were separated by less than 1 minute.
On the women’s side, Olivia Amber (USA) made her mark early with a healthy margin over Kathryn O’Regan (USA) and Sarah Brady (IRL). Except for the GPS enabled live tracking, this would be the last time these runners would be seen until after all seven sisters had been crossed and only 5K remained to the finish.
By the time Ruairi Long reached the final aid station at the Dunlewey Viewpoint, he had a healthy margin over Paddy O’Leary who had moved into a solid second place. A few minutes later, Shaun Stewart trundled over the road crossing and into a mucky downhill for the final 5K around Dunlewey Lough (Lake) and up to the finish.
Just as runners departed the far side of Muckish to the sound of music, they could hear the sound of the finish long before it came into view around a bend in the road. The finish arch framed a picture perfect view of Errigal (751m) as it welcomed runners to the end of the Seven Sisters Skyline. Job well done; burgers and craft beer from race sponsor Kinnegar brewery helped refuel those who completed this first and northern most event in the 2022 Mountain Running World Cup.
Women’s Podium
1st – Olivia Amber (USA) – 4:07:36
2nd – Kathryn O’Regan (USA) – 4:33:14
3rd – Sarah Brady (IRL) – 4:47:18
Seven Sisters Skyline 202. Photo: Richard Bolt
Men’s Podium
1st – Ruairi Long (IRL) – 3:29:59
2nd – Paddy O’Leary (IRL) – 3:36:46
3rd – Shaun Stewart (IRL) – 3:37:35
Seven Sisters Skyline 202. Photo: Richard Bolt
Complete Seven Sisters Skyline race results can be found at: https://live.primaltracking.com/skychallenge22/
WMRA MOUNTAIN RUNNING WORLD CUP 2022
On top of the 12 World Cup Gold Label races, this year we are introducing 5 World Cup Silver Label races, giving athletes further opportunities to earn World Cup points in countries such as Perú, Czech Republic, Ireland, Slovenia and Portugal.
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