Team Geared Up

DUBLIN (Geared Up Blog) - A new irish round was announced on the imra site last night. It looks like its going to be a very tough one to complete! There will hopefully be a geared up attempt at this round in the new year at some stage. Most likely closer to the summer when the weather gets better and days a good bit longer. I’m very excited about the prospect of this and the best part is that its self-supported which will truly make it a really tough test…

Following the success of the Bob Graham Round (see http://www.bobgrahamround.co.uk/ ) many mountain areas set up their own round. The secretary on IMRA is often asked is there an Irish Round. Finally the answer is yes. IMRA is setting up the IWR ( IMRA Wicklow Round)
The course will be 100 km (measured in a straight line, optimum route will be longer and will involve much preparation) with 27 peaks to be visited in order. Unlike other rounds this is offered at three different standards, Gold in 12 hours, Silver in 15 and Bronze in 24.

We will have a long list of rules, solo or group allowed, no transport of any kind, no other person carrying your gear or doing nav. (unlike in other rounds). The 12 and 15 hours round are extremely difficult, there are very few people that will be able to do it, that is the whole point. We want to set up a round in Ireland that has a reputation internationally of being very very difficult. Most of our members would unlikely be capable of doing the silver, none I believe at the moment the gold. There is the consolation prize of the bronze, which the BG does not offer. It is not a race or an event it is part of an international lists of rounds and we want our one to be hard, very hard.

The full details of this round will be presented to the membership at the AGM. There is a requirement that participants must apply for ratification two weeks in advance with evidence to support the standard they wish to attempt therefore the earliest date for an attempt would be Dec. 1st. This however would be unwise with light at its worst levels and no time for investigating all the optimum route choices.