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“Given the choice between the experience of pain and nothing, I would choose pain.” William Faulkner I think there is some relevance in that quote for what we do. If you don’t have some reservations about challenges then they may not be hard enough for you. What’s becoming more noticeable from year to year, on this event, is the broad pool (in terms of fitness) of hillwalkers that it’s appealing to and the serious intent on doing what they come to do - be it one, two or three days. It’s no surprise that there’s a mix of pleasant hysteria and trepidation on the first day but it doesn’t take long for walkers to settle into their pace. We had a great three days with no accidents or incidents. We had typical hillwalking weather. It was Summer in the sun and Autumn when the mist was down. The All-Ireland Club Challenge trophy was won by The Wayfarers Hiking Club again this year. Two new recruits to the team this year so there’s great depth in the club for challenge hillwalkers. Thank to everyone for registering, participating and donating. We are very grateful to those who sponsored food, prizes for the draw and offered financial and logistical support with venus etc. Special mention to the ladies for doing brilliant job with the catering, refreshments and entertaining banter, Mc Carra’s for the prompt buses and Lian for the presentations. Thanks for your feedback and words of kindness after the event. I’m honoured to put this on for you and my reward is seeing the delight and sense of achievement on your faces. Fantastic achievements by those increasing their days walked and all those who came for the first time and knocked it out of the park. Quote of the weekend goes to Michael; after finishing the second day in Anglesboro : “How many sticks of dynamite would it take to blow up Temple Hill?” Participant List Ger Barrett, Pat Beardmore, Pavel Madar Bodi, Marian Cahill, Paul Carroll, Karol Caulfield, Evan Causer, Fintan Cooney, Eric Crowe, Maria De Charmant, Patrick Dennis, Seán Doherty, Kevin Finn, Ian Fitzgerald, Steven Forde, Sean Francis, Sean Freeman, David Guenot, Padraig Hackett, Patrick Harraghy, Peter Hertting, Maeve Higgins, Michael Kearney, Brian Kelly, David Kiely, Cesar Lopez, Derek Lyons, Joe Mangan, David McDonnell, Aine McGirl, Daniel Mills, Michael Moroney, Alan O’Brien, Bríd O’Brien, Josephine O’Brien, Tom O’Brien, Ronan O’Byrne, Mary O’Connell, Ronan O’Connor, Fiona O’Neill, Muiris O’Suilleabhain, Andy Owens, David Power, Deirdre O’Sullivan Rafter, Pamela Ramsbottom, Gerard Sheehy, Rachel Solon, Suzanne West. Sign-In/Sign-Out, Stand-By and Catering Margo, Martha, Nuala, Eimear, Kate. Event Statistics 67 Registered 48 Participated 31 did 3 days (a record) 7 did 2 days 10 did 1 day. 19 Participants were new to the event 10 did 3 days 3 did 2 days 6 did 1 day. The Wayfarers Hiking Club had 6 members and all did 3 days. A record 18 points. Clubs and Walking Groups Represented: Ballyhoura Bears, Bishopstown Hillwalking Club, Bogtrotters, Dublin Free Hikers, Galtee Walking Club, Limerick Climbing Club, Maumturks Walking Club, Mid Tipp Hillwalkers, Na Sléibhte Hillwalking Club, Peaks Mountaineering Club, The Wayfarers Hiking Club, Tralee Hillwalking Club and Tyndall Mountain Club. Well done Steven Forde on doing every day for the last five years. It's not too late to help with a donation. You can do so by clicking 'The Money Part' tab, above. This post is for the benefit of those that have not taken part and may not fully understand what’s involved. If you’ve any questions, post them in the comments section. If previous participants want to post their words of wisdom, fire away. It takes place on 17th , 18th and 19th August 2018. I'd email those that have registered in previous years, when registration opens. Clubs are contacted about the event every year, when registration opens. It’s up to the clubs to inform their members. The full challenge involves three challenge walks back-to-back over three days. You can elect to do one, two or three days. It’s up to you. There’s no pressure to do the three. It’s for self-navigators. You sign-in at a different location each day. We bus you to the designated start and you walk back to your car. A to B, with no checkpoints, as efficiently as you can. Simple as that. It’s €75 for three days, €60 for two and €40 for one. Registration closes on the *17th July* or earlier if the limit of 75 participants is reached. Your registration fee goes to the nominated beneficiaries. The money needed to stage the event eg. insurance, busses, medals, certs, food on the Sunday etc. etc. is raised separately via donations, a grant and sponsorship. We have the support of local hillwalking clubs who provide woman/man power. When you register, you’re entered in the free draw for the five or six prizes and you’re eligible for the free ViewRanger credits. If you want/need indicative GPX tracks for the three days, we have them for those that register. An itinerary goes out to you when registration closes giving you details of sign-in/sign-out locations, parking facilities etc. You’ll be given an emergency phone number on the day(s) in case you need to come off early. How hard is it to do three days? The hardest part is getting your head around it, as hillwalking challenges tend to be one day events. You take it one day at a time, pace yourself, feed and water yourself correctly, and be smart about what you carry. You might feel like staying in bed, or turning the car around, on day two or three but once you set foot on the hill, you’re off again. If you get wet on day one or two, having a second pair of boots and change of wet gear is smart as you may not have drying facilities where you’re staying. There is also a Club Challenge. A point is awarded for each walker that completes a day, two points if you do two and three points for three. It’s about finishing a day and not about speed. A club with 10 walkers that each do one day would beat a club with three walkers that each do three days. Fifteen points won the accolade and trophy last year. We drew a line under the fundraising for 2017 and the total fund available was €4,896.
So, half of that is ring fenced for the 'Mend The Mountain Fund' and the balance is divided equally between - Ballyporeen Community Council Ltd., Good Morning South Tipperary and Grange Community Council Ltd. We'll present them with those drafts for €816 each in the next week or so. Well done hillwalkers, and everyone else associated with the event. And, Thank You!!! You can still support/donate, as we'll run it again next year.  Cross the length of the Comeragh Mountains. Cross the length of the Galtee Mountains. Cross the length of the Knockmealdown Mountains . . . . .
Indeed, traverse the length of all three mountain ranges over three intense days. This is the ask, so as to complete the Triple Crossing that is the incredible Fei Sheehy Challenge. . . . With Hurricane Gert howling at the ankles - Jim Holmes describes this year's Fei Sheehy Challenge! Read on... If you surround yourself with people who reflect who you want to be and how you want to feel, you run the risk of generating energies that are contagious.This is what happens when hillwalkers assemble in numbers. You just get swept along in a happy place. The legs may be hungover but that will wane and participants will focus on the fact that they’ve done something good, for themselves and others. I’m very happy with the way things went over the three days. That doesn’t happen without having really good walkers on the hills or help on the ground. You can see from the stats below that we’re improving each year and hopefully your friends and club colleagues will drift towards this event at some stage in the future. It’s so heartwarming to see walkers reunited and new friendships formed. All we need is a location and the hills are the perfect place to do that. We all do this for different reasons and bring our own sense of uniqueness to the mountains, but we share a passion; and that’s what binds. The weather was ‘mixed’ (ahem!!) but sure if everyday was clear you’d have no reason to revisit Knockanaffrin Ridge or the entire Knockmealdowns again. The event All-Ireland Club Challenge trophy was won by The Wayfarers Hiking Club. They threw down the gauntlet 12 months ago and stopped the treble by Peaks Mountaineering Club. If any club is going to have a shot at the title they have to nearly make up their mind now and put in the work. It’s going to get harder to win and/or retain. Thank you all. For registering, participating, donating, sponsoring and fundraising. Special mention to the girls for doing another great job with the catering and refreshments. ‘the two Pat’s’ for the emergency ferrying and Laurence & John McCarra for the buses . It was an absolute pleasure to put this on for you. Participant List Pavel Madar Bodi, David Browne, Liam Burke, Wendy Conlon, Albert Connaughton, Mary Connaughton, Fintan Cooney, John Cusack, Ulla Dawidowska, Patrick Dennis, Maurice Fehilly, Kevin Finn, Steven Forde, Sean Freeman, David Guenot, Patrick Harraghy, Con Heagney, Ann Herwood, Maeve Higgins, Anna Hinz, Jim Holmes, Sinéad Keogh, David Kiely, Sinéad Loftus, Joe Mangan, Pat McCarthy, Aine McGirl, Gerry McVeigh, Daniel Mills, Michael Moroney, Alan O’Brien, Josephine O’Brien, John O’Connell, Mary O’Connell, Bridie O’Connor, John O’Connor, Kevin O’Connor, Marie O’Connor, Ronan O’Connor, Muiris O’Suilleabhain, Dermot O’Sullivan, Andy Owens, Denis Phelan, Ken Quinlivan, Deirdre O’Sullivan Rafter, Pamela Ramsbottom, Michael Rea, Marzena Rosiak, Joe Ryan, Gerard Sheehy, Lian Sheehy, Bryanna Sweeney and Mark Vesey. Sign-In/Sign-Out, Stand-By and Catering Margo, Martha, Tom, the two Pat’s, Nuala, Eimear, Kate. Event Stats. 71 Registered 53 Participated 29 did 3 days 10 did 2 days 14 did 1 day. 30 Participants were new to the event 17 did 3 days 4 did 2 days 9 did 1 day. The Wayfarers Hiking Club had 5 members and all did 3 days. 1 participant did the treble in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. Well done Steven. It's not too late to help with a donation. You can do so by clicking 'The Money Part' tab, above. There is a perpetual cup on offer for any club that is interested in taking on this challenge. The current holders of the trophy are Peaks Mountaineering Club Clonmel. In 2016 they took the title with 15 points (a point for each day that a walker completed a crossing). 3 of their members did 3 days (9 points), and 2 of them did 2 days (4 points) and 2 did 1 day (2 points). If you and your club are interested in taking this Club Challenge on, please contact me via Email, Twitter of FaceBook. Details on Home Page.  I've opened up registration for 2017 as I know some of you like to commit early. The registration fees are the same (€50, €40 and €25). 3 days walking for €50, where else would you get it. No pseudo inflation here.
Some of you will probably want to gift a registration to a walking buddy as a stocking filler. Imagine their delight when they hear you've signed them up for (up to) three days challenge level hill walking next August. If you're in a club you might want to 'adopt a walker' as your good deed for 2017. I know there are club members that want to take part but just need a bit of encouragement. Take them under your wing. You'll feel good. They'll feel good. Win. Win. I haven't decided on a beneficiary(s) yet. Dates are : 18th, 19th and 20th of August 2017 It's limited to 75 walkers. http://www.feisheehychallenge.net/registration.html |
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