Penultimate Series races blow away Skyrunners at Seven Sisters!
The 2026 edition of the Seven Sisters Skyline in the Derryveagh Mountains of Donegal has come and gone, and it didn’t disappoint! Although high winds forced some alterations to the exposed route, racers in the 55K Skyline and 30K Sky Challenge still got plenty of bang for buck from this challenging course. A mix of technical, rocky terrain and heavy bog sections required a range of skills and a great deal of strength from all contestants. The favourites came out on top in the 55K main event, with previous winner Ellen Vitting dominating yet again for the women, and Overall Series leader Ed Brewer scoring another dominant victor in the men’s race. The 30K race had more surprises in store, with Derry woman (based in Scotland), Clare White taking the win in her first ever SkyRace. It was a wins all-round for Northern Irish runners, as Mark Stephens of Mourne Runners took top honours in the men’s 30K race.
The events introductory race, the Atlan Castle 16K, also didn’t disappoint, with Declan Ferry and Karen Crean taking the wins there. Elsewhere, runners from near and far fought their own personal battles with this arduous route. Hearty congratulations to all finishers!
Seven Sisters Skyline
The 55K Skyline got underway first, at 6:30 a.m. The out-and-back route traditionally takes in the full range – Mackoght (555m), Aghla Mór (584m), Aghla Bheag South (602m), Aghla Bheag North (564m), Leargacha (470m), and Muckish (666m) and the way out; returning via the same route with the addition of Errigal (751m) at the finish. For safety reasons due to adverse winds, the route had to be modified and no longer summited Errigal on the return leg, but still covered more than 50km with around 4,260m of climbing.
In the women’s race, it was no surprise that Ireland’s Ellen Vitting set off with an early lead. Vitting previously won the race in 2022 and has podiumed here on three other occasions. This time, she romped home in seven hours and 58 minutes, almost 30 minutes clear of the next woman. She said after, “I was leading from the start but it’s hard to know where you are. The first out-and-back I knew I had a few minutes on the rest of the girls, and then there’s a long stretch where you don’t see anyone. And then on Muckish I felt like there was a girl right behind me, but we were kind of mixed up with the 30K runners, so I didn’t really know where I was at that point.”
Ellen Vitting descending to another dominant victory in the Seven Sisters Skyline © Excel Sports
Vitting last placed second in this race in 2023, and in her two-year hiatus she has navigated some injuries and said: “I broke my ankle last year... The ankle isn’t really giving any trouble, there’s a few screws and a bit of metal in there, so in my head it’s stronger than anything now!” She was also racing on a foot injury at the weekend, which she plans to rest up now. We wish her a speedy recovery!
Eimear Lynch from Cork took second in the 55K in 8:27 and finished beaming from ear to ear. She said, “I’m covered in mud, sweat and blood and everything else, but it was great. Really enjoyed the first half, probably a bit too much and then had to work hard in the second half.” She added, “Very wet conditions, but it’s all part of it, it was great.” This was Lynch’s first taste of skyrunning, but as an experienced ultrarunner and hill runner she was well prepared for the challenge.
In third was Ireland’s Bronagh O’Gara in 8:56, also the top 45 -49. Rachel Burgess was the first F55+ in 9:02, also taking fourth overall in the women’s race, and Poland’s Anna Kwapisz was the first 50-54 in 11:16. Vitting doubled up on her win, also taking first 40-44.
Local runner Bronagh O’Gara smilkes her way to third place in the Seven Sisters Skyline © Excel Sports
In the men’s race, it was no surprise to see England’s Ed Brewer come out on top, winning by another big margin in six hours and four minutes, 26 minutes clear of second. Brewer is having a fantastic season, having already won the Scafell Sky Race and then reset his own course record at the Snowdon SkyRace. However, it throws a spanner in the works that he will be unable to attend the Mourne Skyline Series Finals next month, which leaves the men’s Overall Series win still open to other contenders.
A muddied Ed Brewer storming to victory in the Seven Sisters Skyline © Excel Sports
Reflecting on his victory, Brewer says: “I was planning on keeping it controlled in the first half, then stepping on it on the way back, which means I got to run with Alistair and Sam on the way out… I could see Sam was strong descending Muckish, so was worried I wouldn’t be able to break away. So I decided to skip the aid station after Muckish and managed to get a small gap which slowly built. I tried to finish strong, but we had a hard headwind on the return leg which was tough, along with the bogs!”
Scotland’s Sam Fisher put in a big performance to take second in 6:30. He was still with Brewer at the halfway point, until Brewer started to pull away on the return leg. Hillrunner Fisher has some experience of skyracing back the years, having completed the Ring of Steall SkyRace in 2018 and the Matterhorn Ultraks Extreme in 2019, but he’s really levelled up his form in more recent years. We hope to see more of him at the Skyrunner® UK & Ireland Series going forward. The UK’s Alistair Thornton was a close third in 6:34.
The first under 23, also taking fourth overall, was Ireland’s Ciaran Goss, who finished in a stellar 6:42. Jonathan Cunningham was the first 40-44 in 8:57, and Trevor Costello took the 45-49 honours in 8:06. The 50-54 category was won by Poland’s Sebastian Wisniewski in 8:54, and England’s Jason McKay was the first 55+ in 8:25.
Full provisional results can now be found online HERE.
Seven Sisters Sky Challenge
The 30K Sky Challenge got underway at 8:15a.m. and rain wasn’t enough to dampen the spirits of the hardy souls who lined up for the start! The point-to-point race usually takes in the full range, summiting Muckish (666m), Leargacha (470m), Aghla Bheag North (564m), Aghla Bheag South (602m), Aghla Mór (584m), Mackoght (555m) and Errigal (751m). As with the 55K, some modifications to the course were needed to allow for the weather, removing the final summit of Errigal, but there was still plenty there to challenge folk.
The women’s race had a surprise winner. Clare White, making her skyrunning debut, won by a 12-minute margin in 4:42. She said after that she “Loved it… It was fun seeing all the other people from the other races too, it was beautiful.” White is originally from Derry but has been living in Scotland. We are sure to see her name pop up again in future skyrunning events.
Ireland’s Rosy Temple, second in 30K, said: “It was great fun, really enjoyed it. Bit of a damp start but it cleared, bit of wind made it more exciting, great camaraderie on the course and just loved it!” She said the adjusted course “still felt really testing. I didn’t feel like I’d been short-changed anyway!”
Women’s podium for the Seven Sisters Sky Challenge © Skyrunning UK
Ireland’s Mark Stephens won the 30K men’s race and reported disappearing into bog, and sliding on his back through mucky terrain, but seemed to enjoy every bit of it! He said: “It was good, the weather worked out really nicely.” It was a close men’s race and he said, “Up Muckish there was a wee bit of back and forth and then I just started to pull away a bit. I tried to keep it conservative for the first half but it’s always hard when you’re neck and neck with people. You have to put a bit of effort in.” Stephens will be racing next month’s Mourne Skyline. As a local to the Mournes, he might be hard to beat there too.
Mark Stephens en route to winning the 30km Seven Sisters Sky Challenge © Excel Sports
Taking second in the men’s race in 3:42, and also winning the 45-49 age category, was Ireland’s Denis McGlynn. McGlynn had given Stephens a run for his money earlier on, before settling into second place. Taking third in 4:01 was Stephens’ clubmate and training partner, James Millar.
The first 40-44 was Barry O’Mahony, finishing in 4:26. Stanislaw Chromik was the top 50-54 in 4:39, and Ivan Millar took the top 55+ honours in 5:08.
Full provisional results can now be found online HERE.
Although not part of the Skyrunner® UK & Ireland Series, the Altan Castle 16K was a well-received addition to proceedings. It was won by Declan Ferry in 1:24 and Karen Crean in 1:57. Full provisional results are online HERE.
Next month, the 2026 Skyrunner® UK & Ireland Series will conclude at SkyRun the Mournes in Northern Ireland, featuring the classic 35km Mourne Skyline, the 20km Mourne SkyTrail and beastly 50km Mourne SkyUltra. Entries are still open HERE until midnight next Friday for this iconic event – your last chance to be a part of this most memorable season of skyrunning. So enter soon if you want to join the action!
The 2026 Skyrunner UK & Ireland Series concludes next month in the Mourne Mountains — See you there?!
Organisers Apex Running are also very much still on the hunt for volunteers who might be able to assist at aid stations, or with course marking. If this might be for you instead, please head over to HERE and sign up as a volunteer.
See you there!
