The Committee are aware that new guidance from April 12th permits outdoor sports training and events with a maximum of 15 people participating provided all the normal rules on social distancing etc are followed.

However, the ‘stay local’ advice remains in place with a 10-mile advisory travel limit from your home and there is not yet a date announced as to when this will change.

In the short term, we will accept registrations for the DRR where we can be assured that all involved live within 10 miles of the Mournes and that recommended Covid precautions will be taken.

We would also emphasise that the mountain rescue teams remain stretched, both by the volume of call outs and operating under Covid 19 precautions, and so would emphasise the need for registrants to be fully confident of their capacity to undertake the challenge, and to have their own support package in place to minimise the likely call on the rescue teams.

Further advice will be issued as the ‘opening up’ regulations develop.

At 4.30 in the morning on 26th August i was standing at the foot of Donard framed by the famous white arches. My first supporter was with me and absolutely buzzing to get going. We set off in the dark up the Glen River and conversation flowed – last time i Saw Max was about 10 years ago at Belfast Circus School.

We made great time up Donard and the last steps to the summit were at dawn. We descended into Donard bog and day broke over the Mournes as we continued from peak to peak in the sun. Max knew the route like the back of his hand and encouraged me every step of the way. We got down to the first changeover ahead of schedule and feeling fresh. Chris and the crew from Lagan Search and Rescue sorted some food and drink for me and kicked me back out on the trail with Bill from Dublin.

We will not be accepting registarations during the current COVID-19 lockdown. A further update will be posted when the situation changes.

Stay safe.

Steven Shields record-breaking 13:37 round report is live at the link below

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o8rCQtGifvB92_H94cCBH_j0CTs6kzwQ/view?usp=sharing

Starting an hour after Gavin on his 14:22 round, a team of BARF athletes set off from Donard Park at 6 am to launch the official DRR Club Relay.

The team of five had the loose goal of getting around a clockwise round faster than the solo record time of 13:37 set by Steven Shields just a few weeks ago, but that in itself was no easy task.