If you didn't qualify for Rio this year, perhaps you might like to set your sights on the the Fei Sheehy Challenge in August by joining other hill walking 'Olympians' on the Comeragh, Galty and Knockmealdown Mountains. You can choose to do one, two or three days of the fundraising challenge, depending on your fitness level. 

To be fair, you have a better chance of collecting a medal  at our event, as all you have to do is get from A to B and 1st, 2nd's or 3rd's are irrelevant. Of course, there is the small matter of navigating a bit of distance and height gain in between, but that should be no problem to a good hill walker like you. The closing day of the Rio Olympics coincides with the last day of the challenge. 

There's also the 'Club Challenge' to consider. It's just a matter of a group of like minded walkers, within a club, getting together and declaring an interest in the event, in advance. Last year, Peaks Mountaineering Club carried off the title and trophy after putting in the work before and during the event. Rumour has it that they're recruiting an even bigger group, from the ranks of their 'A' and 'B' walkers to assist with retaining the crown.

If distance/accommodation are a major impediment to a club taking part in the 'Club Challenge' then they should contact me. If there is a demand, we should be able to accommodate some home-stays with other hill walkers in the area. A small donation towards the fundraising would be fair for this type of service, I think.   

Registration is now open and numbers are limited. There are no refunds but the registration fee will go to the nominated charities if you can't make it.  Come the opening day of the Olympics proper on the 5th August you'll be just brimming with fitness and energy and looking for a release outlet. By then it will be too late to register so commit early and keep it in focus. 

Gerard.
  

A total of €8,633.33 was raised by the event so each of the five charities will receive €1,726.67.

Well done to all those who registered, participated, fund raised, sponsored products, donated and assisted with the smooth organisation and running of the event.

The following is the text of a piece Gerry McVeigh wrote for the Mountain Views website. 

Three splendid days with wonderful people on magnificent mountains

4What makes an event? The people do, everything else is secondary. Their spirit, humour, enthusiasm and the way they look at life. The Comeragh, Galty and Knockmealdown Mountains were alive with said qualities over the weekend.

There were some exceptional personal achievements by walkers; surpassing anything they’ve done on the hills to date, by a country mile. The fatigue and soreness of the body was dismissed immediately after the event as talk turned to next year.

Some walkers had really done their homework on route choice this year. It was brilliant to see the lines that they were taking, watching and learning from these. No matter how many times you’d look at the map beforehand, you only see the logic of a route on the ground.     

The weather was unrehearsed and like Mr. Gump’s box of chocolates. The 10 day forecast was more accurate than the 24 hour one. But, it doesn’t matter to seasoned hill walkers as they just dress for what the elements throw at them and curse the weight of the ‘heavy’ coat etc. when the rain doesn’t come.

A massive ‘Thanks!!’ to everyone that supported the event. They’re just too numerous to mention individually and the risk of leaving someone out is too high. As I said last year, if I communicated with you about the challenge you helped me. It was a huge effort by everyone involved. It’ll be another two weeks before I have a final figure on the fundraising and I’ll keep you posted on that. Thanks for taking sponsorship cards, donating and thanks to those who sponsored walkers.

Hats off to the members of the Peaks Mountaineering Club in Clonmel for embracing the Club Challenge. They registered, took their chances, put the work in and walked as a united club. I think Ken Quinlivan gave a masterclass in leadership and pace setting. I’ll tell you this, it’ll be fair difficult to pry that trophy from his hands next year.

I often think about whether Fei would have liked the hill walking; I think she would. And, I especially think she would have loved the people.

Participant List

Pat Beardmore, Pavel Bodi, David Browne, Carmel Carey, William Carey, Kevin Finn, Steven Forde, Sean Freeman, Angela Hennessy, Enda Lynch, Noreen McCarthy, Ray McConnell, Martin McKenzie, Gerry McVeigh, Daniel Mills, Josephine O’Brien, John O’Connell, Mary O’Connell, Bridie O’Connor, Muiris O’Suilleabhain, Michelle O’Sullivan, Andy Owens, Ken Quinlivan, Michael Rea, Pat Ring, Billy Sheehan, Gerard Sheehy and William Smyth.  

Sign-In/Sign-Out and Stand-By

Margo Kelly, Martha Beardmore, Nuala O’Connell, Eimear Power, Tom Lyons, Michael Desmond, Pat Fahey, Kevin O’Donnell.

Event Mascot (and official Club Challenge trophy presenter) - Lian Sheehy


“Winning isn't about finishing in first place. It isn't about beating the others. It is about overcoming yourself. Overcoming your body, your limitations, and your fears. Winning means surpassing yourself and turning your dreams into reality.”

• Killian Jornet 

Event Stats.
 
56 Registered
29 Participated
15 did 3 days
5 did 2 days
9 did 1 day.

16 Participants were new to the event
7 did 3 days
2 did 2 days
7 did 1 day.

Peaks Mountaineering Club had 5 that did 3 days and 2 that did 2 days.

7 participants did the treble in 2014 and 2015.

Tomorrow morning I will transfer the proceeds of the registration fees, sponsorship and donations that were raised on the Fei Sheehy Challenge.

A total of €11,512.62 was collected so that means that each of the following 5 beneficiaries will receive €2,302.52

- Paediatric Unit South Tipperary General Hospital
- Make-A-Wish Foundation
- Cappagh Hospital Foundation
- South East Mountain Rescue and 
- Mountain Meitheal

A HUGE thank you to all those who registered, participated, fund raised, donated and had any hand, act or part in the smooth organisation and running of the event. It's absolutely fantastic that we can give a little back, doing something that we love. Massive credit to you all.

I spent yesterday reflecting on the previous three days and tidying up a few challenge related loose ends. I was tired. The caffeine buzz from the energy gel was finally wearing off.

I knew I had to write something but I didn't know where to start. There's no doubt in my mind that I'm a bit obsessed with this hill walking lark. Is it a good obsession? I don't know.

Johnny made me smile (he always does) after arriving on Galtymore on Saturday. The weather was miserable and he said that the only way he got up was to keep telling himself "Don't look up. Don't look up...." He (jokingly) reckoned that I was going to cure a lot of people of their walking 'sickness' after the three days. From the messages and comments I've been getting since, we're all still infected.

Friday morning was overcast in Clonmel. The setting of Raheen House Hotel was as beautiful as ever though. As the bus made its way to Dungarvan the skies cleared. Those that hadn't walked the Comeragh's before were going to be in for a scenic treat.

I thought that walkers would take it handy on day one as it was a step into the unknown, in terms of fitness and endurance, for most. Foolish me, the handbrake was off on the track up to Crohaun.

At Coumfea, the vast majority of walkers headed for Carrignagower and Knockanaffrin Ridge. I had thought they all might have elected to go via the Nire Car Park and save a bit of energy. Again, I was wrong. They could 'cross' the mountain ranges any way they wanted to. Go from point A to point B with no checkpoints in between. If they could make it easier on themselves by navigating a certain route, fair play to them.

Water was running low, or gone, by the time walkers reached the Holy Year Cross. It was hot; and it's hard to balance the quantity and weight for long distance hikes. Your spirit doesn't sink though, as you've got entertaining company all the way home.

My heart sank when I saw the forecast for Saturday. We were going to get destroyed. Were Met Eireann wrong? Was YR.NO wrong? Between 10mm and 14mm of rain!!?Seriously!!? They couldn't be right. I put two coats in the bag.

I wondered who wouldn't show up after seeing the forecast. They were all there in a cold and dreary Anglesboro and we had a few more participants. I'm not mad; because all these other walkers couldn't be mad too. Again, by the time we got to Cahir the sky looked better.

It was a tough day in the Galty's but thankfully we didn't get all the rain. Maybe we had a little  guardian angel looking after us. I told Johnny and Mary that if we met anyone on Galtymore, who asked where we were coming from, to tell them Dungarvan. It wouldn't have been a fib.

Now, I've heard that there was a guy playing the bagpipes at the end of the Galty Challenge one year. But, we were treated to the sounds of Thin Lizzy and AC DC, courtesy of a biker convention. The girls were there to greet us in 'the field' and had homemade scones and chocolates to give us a boost. The girls are great. All walkers arrive home safe. It is so comforting from an organisational point of view to have competent and self-sufficient walkers on the mountain.

Day three would bring us to Ballyporeen for sign-in and then the bus to Keane's Bridge where we would be set loose on the Knockmealdown's.  A goat and a sheep walked casually by us, on the main street in the village, as we congregated. Hill walkers everywhere.

It was another good day, weather wise. Two showers and the sun beating down at its strongest when you were climbing to 630m from the Baylough car park. It’s always at its hottest when you have to exert yourself that little bit more.

David was on fire. Taking in three summits that were surplus to requirements. Why? Because that's how he rolls. All the navigational strategies and tactics, in reducing distance and height gain, for us lesser walking mortals would be for nought. He'd be home first anyway.

I walked alone from Knockclugga to Ballyporeen. Bridie had told me to walk on while she got something out of her rucksack. I saw Pavel and Andy off to my left and I was slightly ahead of them so I decided to put the boot down. I was thinking of Fei and I know she would have been urging me on. I was walking hard into my home town with tears in my eyes. I was glad I was on my own, but I’m never alone on the hills.

This challenge was in her memory, she was a tough cookie, determined and fiercely brave. You have to be tough, determined and brave to take on a challenge like this. If you had 95kms and 4,200m height gain clocked on your boots over three days, I don't think you'll be forgetting her name very quickly.

My mother and the other ladies from the local ICA treated us to tea/coffee, sandwiches and cakes while we relaxed and reflected on the three days. No signs of tiredness, that would come tomorrow.

I’m not going to do a thank you list of people and businesses. I’m sure to leave a few out and I don’t want to offend anyone. From the initial idea to closing the doors at the community hall in Ballyporeen there were many many supporters. Suffice to say, if I spoke or wrote to you about this, you helped me. Thank You.

The feedback to date has been fantastic and I’m very humbled by your kind and wonderful comments. There’s no doubt about it, I just love a challenging hillwalk and the people that participate and push themselves. If you know someone who works for Johnson & Johnson, tell them they're welcome for the spike in sales of Compeed.

Please leave some feedback in the comments section.

Participant List

Martha Beardmore, Pat Beardmore, Pavel Bodi, Luke Bourke, Kevin Bowen, David Browne, Seamus Dorney, Steven Forde, Connor Hackett, Dorina Iacov, Kieran Johnson, Sinéad Johnson, Sinéad Keogh, David Kiely, Liam McNally, Gerry McVeigh, Paula Mollohan, Michael Moroney, Frank Nash, Josephine O’Brien, John O’Connell, Mary O’Connell, Bridie O’Connor, Josephine O’Donnell, Noreen O’Halloran, Andy Owens, Ken Quinlivan, Niall Quinlivan, Michael Rea, Owen Ryan, Gerard Sheehy.  

Sign-In/Sign-Out and Stand-By

Margo Kelly, Martha Beradmore, Tom Lyons, Michael Desmond, Pat Fahey, Sinéad McGrath.