I travelled to Northern Ireland on Saturday the 10th for the Silent Valley fell race in the Mourne Mountains Northern Ireland. The course was a tough technical 10mi/4500ft taking in the summits up Slieve Binnion, Doan, Carn and Slieve Muck beginning and ending on the dam wall of Silent Valley Reservoir.The climbs up Slieve Binnion and Doan were killers and the descents off the lower slopes of Slieve Binnion and the whole descent off Slieve Muck were rocky and boggy but also great fun. If you ever get the chance to run in the Mournes then do it as it is a beautiful area easily up with the Lakes. As for my run I started well and apart from an average climb up Doan I did ok coming in 25th place and was quite pleased to get some points in my first British Champs race.
Gary Jones
