2025 Series Returns to Ireland for Seven Sisters
After a spell of wet weather across Ireland, be prepared for some challenging conditions underfoot this weekend, as over 400 competitors from 17 countries head to County Donegal, Ireland for the next event in the 2025 Skyrunner® UK & Ireland Series. Race organisers Excel Sports will showcase the stunning Derryveagh Mountains — part of Glenveagh National Park — across three races. Two of these races are counters toward the Overall Series— the classic 55km Seven Sisters Skyline and shorter 30km Sky Challenge. The 55km race will also be included in the SkyUltra® Series, while the shorter race serves as the penultimate race in the U23 Series for 2025.
The 55km race takes competitors through all the Seven Sisters of the Derryveagh mountains: Errigal (751m), Mackoght (555m), Aghla More (584m), Ardloughnabrackbaddy (603m), Aghla Beg (564m), Crocknalaragagh (471m) and Muckish (666m). Though these peaks aren't giants by skyrunning standards, the race is a formidable challenge, with over 4000m of elevation gain due to its tough, undulating ascent profile and out-and-back course. Participants will enjoy technical trails and panoramic views of a vast, untamed landscape—ideal for anyone who loves wide-open spaces! Discover the route in full on our Strava account HERE and find out more about the event on its website HERE. And while you’re at it, why not also follow Skyrunning UK on social media via the Facebook Page HERE or Instagram HERE!
A whopping amount of steep climbing on these pure Skyrunning routes. ©Ian Corless
While the 30km Sky Challenge covers less distance, it definitely doesn’t lack the thrills of the longer race. Competitors will be bussed to the start line at the eastern end of the range and traverse all Seven Sisters in a linear route, beginning at Muckish and finishing below Errigal. This year the 30k race is also a counter in the Irish Skyrunning Championships in association with next month’s Mourne Skyline. Discover the route in full on our Strava account HERE and find out more about the event on its website HERE.
Though not part of the Skyrunner® UK & Ireland Series, the 16k 'feeder race' offers a great entry point for those looking to tackle longer and more demanding SkyRaces. This race kicks off at 10am, with a 9:30am bus departure. Runners will tackle a brilliant short course, which includes Errigal, the highest peak in the Derryveagh range.
Weather Watch
The forecast is looking positively uplifting for registration on Friday but sadly more unpredictable the following day. Runners can expect an overcast and possibly dry start to the race — but with rain soon to follow and winds strengthening throughout the day, things will become damp and muddy throughout. While temperatures are average for the time of year, the forecast wet weather will add an extra sprinkling of challenge to these already tough routes. It’s going to be a slippery spectacle, so make sure to keep an eye on the tracking!
The technical scramble up Errigal awaits all runners in the closing kms! ©Ian Corless
Ones to Watch
With a sizeable international field and some strong local contenders, let’s take a look at who to watch this weekend…
In the women’s 55k, we’re expecting great things from Jessica Parlett who was 2nd in the Mourne SkyUltra® 2024 (UTMB Index 590). Partlett also delivered a podium finish in the ULTRA X 50 England that same year. Irish athlete Rachel Burgess narrowly missed the podium at the Seven Sisters Skyline in 2024 (4th position) and is back for another bite at the cherry this year (UTMB Index 544). Also keep a close eye on Irish runner Bronagh O’Gara (UTMB Index 485), who is a reliable top-10 finisher in this race every year, and rising star Becky Wightman, who was 10th in 2024 and who has already achieved a top-10 finish in the Skye Trail Ultra this spring (UTMB Index 454).
Jessica Partlett flying to the podium at last year’s Mourne Skyline © Evan Davies
In the men’s ultra, all eyes will be on Brit Spencer Shaw (UTMB Index 731), who has had several strong performances in the series so far, including a joint win at Scafell Sky Ultra. Shaw is currently sitting at 6th in the overall ranking. Maciej Dzieledziak from Poland (UTMB Index 638) will also be looking for a top spot, after finishing 3rd in this race last year. There are a number of Seven Sisters Skyline 2024 finishers who will all be looking to improve on previous performances, including Irish athlete Jonathan O’Hagan (14th in 2024; UTMB index 598) and Sebastian Wisniewski (11th in 2023; UTMB index 542). And as always, in this classic mountain running event, a huge Irish contingent will be toeing this start line, with many accomplished athletes among them, including Richard Bradley (UTMB Index 551) and Shane McLaughlin (UTMB Index 519).
Live GPS tracking is available to view HERE and regular updates throughout the day will be shared on the Skyrunning UK Facebook Page HERE or Instagram HERE.
Spencer Shaw negotiates Crib Goch at the 14 Peaks Ultra in June © Tanya Raab
In the men’s 30K race, Irish boomerang Shaun Stewart will be shaping up for a win after coming back to this race every year for the last three years, achieving top-10 results each time and a podium spot in 2022. This year he comes to the start line with the highest UTMB index in the field, 678. However, he has some stiff competition in the form of two strong Polish athletes, Robert Jankowski (UTMB Index 649) and Piotr Bergel (UTMB Index 638) and visiting runner Bryan Dooley (UTMB Index 651). Dooley has scored some solid finishes in the series so far and has a number of international races bolstering his ranking.
Multisport athlete Shaun Stewart will be vying for victory in tomorrow’s 30km Sky Challenge
In the women’s race, Bernadette Quinn, who finished 2nd in the Seven Sisters Skyline 55k and top-10 in the Mourne Skyline last year, will be looking to take the win this weekend (UTMB Index 563). On paper she is closely matched with Karen Wilton (UTMB Index 562) however, who finished 7th in 2024 but who has had some really strong performances already this year, including a podium finish in the Montane Summer Spine Sprint (North). The women’s field is unsurprisingly dominated by Irish athletes and there’s plenty of strong locals who’ll have eyes on the prize, including Ava Battles (UTMB Index 477) and Olivia Harte (UTMB Index 458). Battles crossed the line in 5th last year and will no doubt be pushing for a podium finish this time around.
Bernadette Quinn in action at the 2019 Seven Sisters Skyline © Ian Corless
There are plenty of reasons for digging-deep this weekend, with €200/€100/€50 up for grabs for the top 3 M/F finishers, as well as prizes for age cat winners U23 and V40 upwards. See full details of the Skyrunner® UK & Ireland Series ranking and prize pool HERE.
Only two race weekends left in the 2025 Skyrunner® UK & Ireland Series!
Follow the Action Live
For the dedicated dot-watchers out there, make sure you’ve got the live GPS tracking link HERE ready — don’t miss a moment of the action! We’ll be posting regular updates throughout the day on the Skyrunning UK Facebook Page HERE and Instagram HERE, so stay tuned.
Skyrunning UK Director, Mike Jones will be at the finish line, so if you’re joining us at this event, do say hello!
Keep an eye out for our in-depth race reports dropping early next week…
