A Wicklow Mountains Point to Point

31 August, 2025 - Mick Hanney

This Mullaghcleevaun route was conceived by Liam Vines. A point to point open mountain race, starting at Glenmacnass waterfall and finishing at Zellors in Lacken. Derek Hay played a blinder, stepping up to race direct the event wtih aplomb. Not a straightforward event to organise. Due to the potential of erosion after Mullaghcleevaun we had a plan-b route, in the event of wet weather, which diverted runners off the open mountain. Recces of most of both course options done in fine dry weather in later August. Thankfully the wet weather route wasn't needed. But it serves to show the kind of work done behind the scenes to stage races on our hills. So to the day itself. The forecast was showing the possibility of rain and wind, but thankfully the skies were mainly blue and visibility was good. Carparked to Lacken wtih Joan. Registration and gear check done and onto the bus for the journey back to Glenmacnass for the c. 11am start. A turnout of 35ish runners was commendable given the event congestion and the difficulty of the race versus your standard marked routes. After a race briefing from Chloe we were set off for c. 2k on the road, before turning onto the offroad track, destination Carrigshouk. There is no easy path upt this hill. A hike over rough steep ground and checkpoint 1 was in the bag. Mullaghcleevaun was next target checkpoint. Via Stony Hill. I was joined, well led, on this section by a strong running Gareth Little. The hood came up momentarily as a shower of rain broke out and the wind got stronger as we got higher, but the wind was to be at our backs throughout the day, helping us on the uphills. Visibility across to the intended route was good and the recce was a good confidence builder. Approaching Mullaghcleevaun we were joined by Niamh O Boyle, who was running really well. Through Mullaghclleevaun, we started initially on the correct track, but the peat hags had other ideas and we went off track onto less favourable ground. Its frustrating going up and over peat hags when you know the more runnable track is tantalisingly close by. . Eventually found it for brief decent running before the slog towards Black hill. A fair bit of water on the ground but it wasn't boggy and we still had the wind at our backs. At this stage I was 3rd in a group behnid Niamh and Gareth. From Black hill I was left behind as I don't have the speed over the rocky track that I cursed as I ran along . Reached the road at the Ballynultagh gap with a tough climb to Sorrell hill to come. Gareth and Niamh had put distance on me, and looking around I didn't see any runners nearby. Walked/ran to Sorrell. Very windy at the top. Decided to run the mass path option to the finish. Nearly took 2 wrong runs were the signage was iffy or non-existent. Lots of gates towards the finish slowed progress and I got a start when I saw a fast pursung Lakeshore striders runner but I managed to do enough to stay ahead at the finish in Zellors car park. A post race beer, sandwiches and cocktail sausages at the finish line with lots of banter about the route and some options people had taken. Feedback on the race was terrific and hopefully it'll be back when Derek Hay and Liam Vines can take part in the race. A super day. Thanks to Derek, Chloe, Jack, Lillian and other helpers. Congrats to the winners John Bell and Niamh O'Boyle and to all who took part. Next and last Leinster champs race is the formidable Aughavanagh race in a couple of weeks time.