BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//6.6.4.4//EN TZID:Europe/London X-WR-TIMEZONE:Europe/London BEGIN:VEVENT UID:0-839@lvo.org.uk DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260808T063000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260808T200000 DTSTAMP:20260611T091029Z URL:https://lvo.org.uk/allfixtures/the-original-mourne-seven-sevens-challe nge-walk-2026/ SUMMARY:The Original Mourne Seven Sevens Challenge Walk 2026 DESCRIPTION:8th August 2026\nEntries Open: Saturday 14th February 2026\nEnt ries Close: Monday 27th July (or when full)\n\nVenue: Shimna Integrated Co llege The Lawnfield\, King Street\, Newcastle\, Co Down\, BT33 0HD\n\n\n\n FINAL INSTRUCTIONS will be published here 2 weeks before the event\n\nIt i s important to note that this site is for the Challenge Walk only. If you want to enter the mountain race which is run as a separate event then you should consult the Northern Ireland Mountain Running Association (NIMRA) w ebsite.\n\nParticipants must have the skills\, fitness and experience to c omplete a walk of this length in the high mountains. Navigation skills are essential in poor weather.\nPreparation\nEquipment\, food and water\nThe event is not supported along the route. Participants must carry all the eq uipment and supplies they need for the day. Participants must have the fol lowing minimum kit which will be checked at registration:\n\n hiking boot s/shoes or fell shoes (no trainers)\n waterproof coat with hood\n waterp roof trousers\n hat\n food and drink sufficient for a long day hiking  (water is not provided en route)\n 1:25\,000 map of the Mourne Mountains ¹\n\n compass &\; whistle ¹ ²\n First Aid kit ²\n survival bag ( a foil bag is good but no space blankets) ²\n\nNote 1 - Smart phones must not be used as the only means of navigation.\nNote 2  - If walking in a group - the map\, compass\, whistle\, first aid kit and survival bag may b e shared between up to 3 people. Groups will need to do kit check together and then stay together throughout the day.\n\nThese items are required re gardless of the weather forecast as mountain conditions in Britain and Ire land can change dramatically with little warning. Anyone failing the kit-c heck at registration will not be allowed to start. The Organiser's decisio n will be final and there will be no recompense for this decision.\n\n Pa rticipants should be familiar with the dangers and signs of hypothermia an d hyperthermia and what action to take. Please read these FRA leaflets for more info – Hyperthermia  and  Hypothermia. \n Ticks &\; Lyme d isease - are another hazard in our uplands. Be sure to check yourself care fully after the walk and have a removal card or tweezers to hand. For more info click here.\n\nDogs\nDogs are not allowed on the walk\, since large sections of it cross land grazed by sheep.\nOn the Day\nParking\nParking i s available in Donard car park\, Newcastle. Parking is free. Follow signs &\; tape from the south end of the car park through to Shimna College. Please do not drive directly to the venue.\nToilets\nToilets are available at the north end of Donard car park and in the venue.\nRegistration\nRegi stration opens on Saturday morning at 06:00. You will need to hand in the Registration Form with details of your car registration\, walking companio ns (if any)\, contact details\, etc. These details will only be used for e vent admin or emergencies on the day and will be securely disposed of afte r the event. (Please print out and complete this in advance so as to minim ise queuing time). DOWNLOAD FORM HERE\nTiming\nYou will be given an electr onic timing chip (aka dibber) on a lanyard. Please look after this -  the replacement cost is £30. You will also receive a numbered tag to attach to your rucksack.\n\n\n\n\nHow to use the electronic timing gear...when yo u are ready to start your walk\, go to the start marshals who will activat e the timing chip (dibber). At each summit you will find an electronic SI Control Box on a post with an orange and white flag. Insert your dibber in to the hole in the SI box and wait until you hear a beep. The dibber will now have recorded the time you arrived at the top. Click here for more inf o on the timing system.\nStart\nStarts are open between 06:30 and 08:00. T he start of the walk will be a short distance from Registration. \nMarsha ls\nThere are six marshalled positions along the route in cols between sum mits where you will be required to give your participant number. N.B. The NIMRA 77s race starts at 10am and uses the same checkpoints. Runners will be wearing race bibs\nRoute\nThe 2026 route is anti-clockwise around each of the seven summits which must be visited in the order stipulated below p lus the marshalled checkpoints (MCPs). This challenge walk is not guided o r way-marked along the route. Navigational skills will be required\, espec ially if weather conditions are poor so participants must have the ability and experience to use both map and compass. Navigation using only a smart phone app is not allowed.\n\nPlease do not walk on the Mourne Wall. This i s to protect our national treasure from damage. Stiles should be used to c ross the wall where available or if necessary the wall can be climbed over with care where it is sturdy.\nOrder of Summits for 2026 (approx 32km\, 2 600m)\n\n\n\nCheckpoint\nGrid Ref *\n\nMarshals / Timed\n\n\nStart – Shi mna College\nJ 373 301\nStart Control Box\n\n\nSlieve Donard 853m\nJ 357 2 76\nControl Box\n\n\n\nCol Donard-Commedagh\nJ 349 279\nMarshalled Check P oint\n\n\nSlieve Commedagh (summit) 765m\nJ 345 286\nControl Box\n\n\n\nHa res Gap\n\nJ 322 286\nMarshalled Check Point\n\n\nSlieve Bearnagh (inside corner of wall) 739m\nJ 312 280\nControl Box\n\n\n\nSlieve Meelmore (outsi de wall) 687m\nJ 305 285\nControl Box\n\n\n\nCol Meelmore-Meelbeg Cut-Off 13:00\nJ 303 281\nMarshalled Check Point\n\n\nSlieve Meelbeg (inside wall) 708m\nJ 300 279\nControl Box\n\n\n\nBen Crom Dam (NW end) Cut-Off Time 14 :00\nJ 313 256\nControl Box + Marshalled Check Point\n\n\n\nSlieve Binnian (South Summit) 747m\nJ 320 233\nControl Box\n\n\n\nCol Binnian-Lamagan Cu t-Off Time 16:30\nJ 320 255\nMarshalled Check Point\n\n\nSlieve Lamagan 70 4m\nJ 328 260\nControl Box\n\n\n\nCol Donard-Commedagh\nJ 349 279\nControl Box + Marshalled Check Point \n\n\n\nFinish – Shimna College\nJ 373 301 \nFinish Control Box\n\n\n\n*  N.B. 6 figure grid references refer to the bottom left corner of a 100m square. Click here for more information on g rid references and some other navigational tips.\nCut-off times &\; Ret irements\nThere are three checkpoints with cut-off times: Meelbeg-Meelmore Col\, Ben Crom Dam and Lamagan-Binnian Col. These are to ensure walkers c omplete the route before dark and that our marshals can also safely get of f the mountains. Walkers missing a cut-off will be retired from the event and should return directly to the event centre in Donard Park. N.B. Retire ments are marked RTD on the results with no times and no certificate issue d.\n\nN.B. Controls in each section of the course will be taken in shortly after the cut-off time for the section.\nTime and Distance\nIf you look a t previous years' results you will note that the Ben Crom dam is consisten tly half way around the course for most people\, regardless of their finis h time. Slow or leisurely walkers take up to 14hrs to finish the course. I f you fall into this category you need to be starting no later than 7am in order to reach the dam by the 2pm cut-off. The Meels Col is also consiste ntly 2/5ths (40%) of the circuit and the Lam-Bin Col is 2/3rds (66%) of it – so you should do the maths for your own particular walking pace and w ork out a start time.\n\nRetirees at any stage of the event must report as soon as possible either to a marshal or via text to base and return direc tly to the event centre to return their dibbers and register that they are safely off the mountains.\n\nFinish\nDownload At the finish and hand in y our dibber. You will receive a print out of your progress around the route with split times for each summit plus a certificate of completion. Finish times will be published online.\nFacilities\n\n Refreshments will be ava ilable at the finish from 2pm. Please state any dietary preferences on the entry form.\n Showers - Available\n Toilets - Available\n\n\nDisclaimer \nHillwalking is an activity with a danger of personal injury\, death and loss of or damage to property. Participants must be be over 18 years old and must be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their o wn actions and involvement. Neither Lagan Valley Orienteers\, nor any of i ts individual members\, can be held responsible for any injury\, loss or d amage (to individuals or to property) howsoever sustained by participation in the event. The club reserves the right to refuse entry to the walk to anyone deemed unprepared for the event on the day and to force retirement from the event of anyone breaching either the rules of the event or the NI Countryside Code.\nPrivacy Policy\nIn order to organise this event we nee d to ask you for some Personal Data. Please read our Privacy Policy here b efore entering the event.\nEntries\nThis event accepts online entry only a nd there will be no entries on the day. The entry fee is £50 (includes £ 5 non-refundable deposit). Minimum age 18 years old on the day.\n\n\n\nCan cellations &\; Changes\nYou may cancel your entry via the SI Entries up until Friday 31st July\, and refunds will be offered as follows\n\n Up to Saturday 23rd May - £45\n Up to  Tuesday 30th June - £40\n 1st -   31st July - £30\n No Refunds after Friday 31st July\n\n\n\n \;\n \nSubstitutions and start time changes can also be made via SI Entries (at no charge) but please be sure to amend all the required details. You rema in the owner of any entries even if you have swaped yourself out.  You ca n now also "sell" your entry to a friend which alleviates you of all respo nsibility for it. No changes allowed after 31st July.\n\n\n\nOr email us a t:\n\n\nEvent Cancellation\nIf we are forced to cancel the event we will r efund the entry fee less £5 to cover our non-recoverable costs. We will n ot be liable for any incidental costs incurred by the Participant\, includ ing (but not limited to) travel\, accommodation\, food or equipment.\n\nCo mmunity Support\nLagan Valley Orienteers are always grateful for the suppo rt we get from local communities when we hold events in their area. For th is event we are pleased to be able to donate some of the proceeds each yea r to local charities. Previous beneficiaries have included:  Womens Aid N I\, Mourne Heritage Trust and the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team.\n\nMore Inf ormation\n\n For more info and tips -see our FAQ Page\n For past results - see our Finishers Archive\n\n\n ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://i0.wp.com/lvo.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/ Mournes-7x7s-Home-1.png?fit=1680%2C720&ssl=1 LOCATION:Newcastle - Donard Park\, Donard Park\, Newcastle\, BT33 0HL\, Nor thern Ireland GEO:54.2061229;-5.893984600000067 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Donard Park\, Newcastle\, B T33 0HL\, Northern Ireland;X-APPLE-RADIUS=100;X-TITLE=Newcastle - Donard P ark:geo:54.2061229,-5.893984600000067 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Europe/London X-LIC-LOCATION:Europe/London BEGIN:DAYLIGHT DTSTART:20260329T020000 TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:BST END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE END:VCALENDAR