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Important Information Regarding Seven Sevens 2016.
There are a number of important changes to this year's event: 1. This year the event will be held a week later than normal on Saturday 13th August, so as not to clash with the Festival of Flight taking place in Newcastle. 2. Like last year the course will be on a fixed route, but this year starting with Slieve Donard, followed by Slieve Commedagh, Slieve Lamagan, Slieve Binnian, Ben Crom Dam, Meelbeg, Meelmore, Slieve Bearnagh then back to the finish in Donard park Newcastle. 3. We will also be using the electronic recording system again in conjunction with the green numbered plastic tabs we have used in previous years to record each walkers progress. On Saturday morning when you enter the event you will receive a set of green plastic tabs and one small white tab with your entry number on each of them. For convenience they will be held together on a treasury tie. You will also receive an electronic timing device which resembles a peg and can be strapped onto your finger or carried in a pocket. It's very important that you look after this piece of equipment well and make sure you return it when you have finished as they are quite expensive. How to use plastic tabs and electronic timing gear. 1. When ready to start the walk, go to the start marshals who will activate the electronic peg. 2. At each summit you will find an electronic control box on a white post. Insert your peg into the hole in the box and wait till you hear a beep. The peg will now have recorded the time you arrived at the top. 3. There are six marshalled positions on the route. They are, 1 - the col between Donard and Commedagh. 2 - the Hares Gap. 3 - col between Meelmore and Meel Beg. 4 - Bencrom Dam. 5 - Summit of Binnian. 6 - col between Binnian and Slieve Lamagan. Remove one green plastic tab from the treasury tie and hand it to the marshal at each of these positions. 4. At the finish hand in your electronic peg and white plastic tab. You will receive a print out of your progress around the route with split times for each summit. The white plastic tab is our way of checking that you are definitively off the hills, so even if you fail to complete the walk please make sure that you come to see us at the finish and hand in the tab and electronic peg. 5. There will be food and drink at the finish and hot showers in the pavilion Seven Sevens Objective: To climb all seven peaks in the Mourne Mountains that are 700m or more above sea level. (All heights are taken from the 1990 edition of the OS 1:25000 scale map. Other editions show only 6 peaks of over 700m).
Route: The start and finish is in Donard Car Park (grid ref 374306). Each of the Seven Summits must be visited in the order stipulated above. Navigational skills will be required, especially if weather conditions are poor. Participants must have the ability and experience to use both map and compass.
Cut-off time: There is a firm cut-off time of 2:30pm at Ben Crom dam. This is to ensure walkers complete the route before dark. Walkers missing the cut-off will be retired from the walk. WALKERS RETIRING FROM THE WALK MUST TELL THE ORGANISERS ON THEIR RETIREMENT AND ON SAFE RETURN OUT OF THE MOUNTAINS. Equipment, food and water: Participants must have the following: hill walking boots or fell shoes; whistle; waterproof coat & hood/hat; 1:25,000 map of the Mourne Mountains; compass. Food and water are the responsibility of the individual participant. Refreshments will be available at the finishing point. Entrance Forms: The event is entry on the day and payment must be made at registration in Donard car park. Entry forms are available to download below and can be filled in prior to the event. Organisation: For safety reasons the walk is only open to those over 18 years of age on the day of the walk. It is intended to have checkpoints at the following positions. Donard summit, Commedagh summit, Hares gap, Col Meelmore/Meelbeg, Bencrom Dam, Binnian summit, Col Binnian/Lamagan. Should it prove to be impossible to man a particular check point then walkers will be advised of this at check-in on the day of the walk. Please do not bring dogs on the walk, since large sections of it cross land grazed by sheep. Accommodation: Details of accommodation available in the Newcastle area is available at www.discovernorthernireland.com and from Down District Council’s Tourist Information Office in Newcastle, Tel 028 4372 2222, Email newcastle.tic@downdc.gov.uk. Transport: This is a "circular" walk and therefore walkers may leave their cars in Donard Car Park. The car park is open to the public at all times. Ulsterbus run a “Mourne Rambler” bus during July and August. The route circles the Mournes and may be useful for walkers who have to retire from the walk far from the finish. The timetable is available at http://www.translink.co.uk/ or phone 028 4372 2296. Disclaimer: Neither the Spartan Red Sox, nor any of its individual members, can be held responsible for any injury, loss or damage howsoever sustained by any participants in the Mourne Seven Sevens Challenge Walk. The club reserves the right to refuse entry to the walk. Proceeds: Proceeds after expenses are donated to local causes, usually mountain rescue teams and mountain foot path construction projects. |
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