Diarmuid Kavanagh took on the Everesting challenge at the weekend when he aimed to break the Irish record and was successful in doing so.

Unfortunately for Kavanagh, his time at the top of the Irish record list was short-lived as former An Post-Chainreaction and international rider Ronan McLaughlin did a storming ride on Mamore Gap, Co Donegal, the following day.

However, Kavanagh still broke the record and held the Irish marker for 24 hours, between Saturday and Sunday, when McLaughlin popped up and did a ride for the ages.

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Kavanagh, who rode for Bioracer-DHL-FR Services last season, did his effort on a 3.8km section of Slieve Mann, Co Wicklow on Saturday; riding that section 31 times for a total elevation of 8,850 metres and recording a time of 10hrs 42mins.

That was 17 minutes faster than the previous best Irish time, by Peter McLean, and it meant Kavanagh was the Irish record holder until McLaughlin stepped up and put in an epic ride on Sunday.

Another man who entered the Irish Everesting top 10 list at the weekend was Declan Ward. He chose Bencroy, Co Leitrim, to do his challenge on Saturday.

He clocked a time of 14hrs 16mins over 205km and 9,018 metres of elevation; a very good ride that puts him in 7th place in the Irish Everesting standings at present.

Irish Everesting: New Top 15 Fastest

1. Ronan McLaughlin: Mamore Gap, Co Donegal, Sunday, July 12th, 2020. Time recorded 8hrs 9mins over 158km with 8,946 metres of elevation on gradient of 11.3 per cent.
2. Diarmuid Kavanagh: Slieve Mann, Co Wicklow, Saturday, July 11th, 2020. Time recorded of 10hrs 42mins over 225km with 8,850 metres of elevation.
3. Peter McLean: Shay Elliot Drumgoff, Co Wicklow, June 28th, 2020. Time recorded of 10hrs 59mins over 209km with 8,899 metres of elevation on a gradient of 8.6 per cent.
4. Benny Cassidy: Ballaghasheen Pass, June 21st, 2020. Time recorded of 11hrs 13mins over 225km with 9,128 metres of elevation on a gradient of 7.88 per cent.
5. Roger Brown: Limavady, Northern Ireland, June 27th, 2020. Time recorded of 12hrs 38mins over 229km with 8,848 metres of elevation on a gradient of 7.7 per cent.
6. Liam McCarthy: Stocking Lane, Rathfarnham, June 26th, 2020. Time recorded of 13hrs 11mins over 236km with 8,915 metres of elevation on a gradient of 7.9 per cent.
7. Declan Ward: Bencroy, Co Leitrim, Saturday, July 11th, 2020. Time recorded 14hrs 16mins, over 205km with 9,018 elevation gain at 9.6 per cent gradient.
8. Dave O’Shea: Shay Elliot Climb, Co Wicklow, August 29th, 2015. Time recorded of 14hrs 47mins over 239km with 9,339 metres of elevation on a gradient of 8.1 per cent.
9. Anthony Clarke: Quarry Road, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, April 13th, 2020. Time recorded of 14hrs 56mins over 206km with 9,288 metres of elevation on a gradient of 8.71 per cent.
10. Greg Clarke: Quarry Road, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, April 13th, 2020. Time recorded of 14hrs 57mins over 205km with 8,898 metres of elevation on a gradient of 8.71 per cent.
11. Dan Wolfe: Quarry Road, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, May 19th, 2020. Time recorded of 14hrs 57mins over 209km with 9,106 metres of elevation on a gradient of 8.71 per cent.
12. Mark Murphy: Military Road, Co Wicklow, July 4th, 2019. Time recorded 15hrs 15mins over 228km with 9,038 metres of elevation on gradient of 8.5 per cent.
13. Peter O’Farrell: Kilmashogue Lane, Stillorgan, south Dublin, June 2nd, 2019. Time recorded 15hrs 45mins over 198km with 9,039 metres of elevation on gradient of 9.65 per cent.
14. Pa Crowley: Conor Pass, Killanoordrane, Co Kerry, August 1st, 2019. Time recorded 15hrs 50mins over 272km with 8,876 metres of elevation on gradient of 6.59 per cent.
15. Alek Nowak: Ticknock, Co Dublin, July 14th, 2017. Time recorded 16hrs 07mins over 188km with 8,928 metres of elevation on gradient of 9.5 per cent.