Participants in this year's Marmotte faced temperatures nearing 50°C, leading to many dropouts along the way. Tom Weymes shares his struggle through the day, when many others would have given up far sooner, he battled on!

When Dave Mc suggested running a 200km audax in March, he didn't expect quite so many Orwell members to be eager to flay themselves so early in the year. 32 members signed on, including the ever-prolific Billy Parker, who provides us with an excellent account of the day below!

Those familiar with Billy Parker's writings know he's not one for brevity, but he has outdone himself. Clear your schedule to digest this emotional rollercoaster of a ride up and down the Tourmalet, a skirmish with hypothermia, and (hopefully!) the final ascent of the Hautacam!

A weekend with something for everybody in it. A very large contingent turned out to support the Joe Daly Memorial Cycle in aid of Simpsons hospital while others opted to test themselves against the Dragon in Enniscorthy and yet others still haven't had enough of the Wicklow Peaks.

Reports from the sun-scorched Mount Leinster Challenge and Lap the Gaps below, as well as a slightly more Irish affair at the Etape Mourne! Thanks to Eamonn Eaton, Eileen Byrne, Sinead Kennedy and Dave Carroll for the always welcome contributions!

Updated: now with a Mount Leinster report from Billy Parker

Coming in at under 2,000 words, this is one of Billy Parker's shorter novellas, but a worthy read nonetheless! He takes us through his multi-faceted Orwell experience of this year's Wicklow 200. Accompanying his written account is Eileen Byne's wonderful video composition. Have a read and a watch!

With talk turning to the Marmotte 2015, it's time to start publishing Garret Connolly's opus detailing the 2014 edition. 16 Orwell members tackled it, which is coincidentally nearly the number of pages in Garret's piece. We've published the first part below!