RUN A MUCK CHALLENGE

Run A Muck In Aid Of Niall Mellon Township Trust 

It was another successful Run A Muck Challenge on Saturday14th May on Loius Robinson’s farm just outside Johnstownbridge in Co. Kildare. This time it was run for the Niall Mellon Township Trust and all the competitors raised funds for the charity – In excess of €30,000 was raised. There were about 500 muck seekers that took part with the majority doing one lap of 5km whilst the Serious Muckers took on a 10km Challenge including net climbs, mud scrambles and numerous ditches and large bale obstacles. Great fun for a great cause with photos making several national newspapers. The next Runamuck is on October 15th – Full details on the event website.

Connemara Adv Challenge

Connemara Adventure Challenge Race Report:-May  7th

It was probably the highest class field ever for a Sport event as many of the top placings were taken by those usually seen competing in the Expert sections of National Adv Race Series events.

The event itself was based at the Killary Adventure Centre in the super setting overlooking Killary fjord and was organised by Gaelforce Events.

In the Men’s section Army man Diarmuid Collins set a frantic pace from the off, determined to improve on his close second of last year when a puncture surely cost him victory. He was kept company by Kerryman Gerry O Sullivan whilst pre-race favourite Padraid Marrey was not far behind after the mountain run section ahead of myself and last year’s winner Chris Caulfield. On the bike section Marrey took the chance many others did not by selecting a road bike and he safely powered through this section to establish a lead of over 3 minutes ahead of O’Sullivan with Collins now in third.

Marrey maintained his lead whilst O’ Sullivan lost over a minute and second place to Collins in the kayak section and despite losing some time to the chasing duo on the final run to the finish Marrey had a comfortable victory of almost 2 minutes over Collins with O’Sullivan a further minute behind in third and Caulfield a further 2 mins behind in fourth with sixth placed Noel Brady taking the Vets title.

In the ladies the 2010 Gaelforce form was again to prove the best guide with Derval Devaney leading from the start  ahead of former international cyclist Marie Boyle and Michelle Ryan. Despite an impressive cycle by Boyle when catching and passing Devaney on the bike leg and maintaining a narrow advantage over the kayak section, Devaney’s blistering last run left her with over 3 mins to spare over the vet Boyle who was 2 mins ahead of another vet Betty Walsh in third and Ryan a further minute behind in fourth.

The race for me was a little disappointing as I picked up 2 punctures on the bike leg and finished riding home on a flat so that cost me maybe 14 mins and moved me well down in the placings. I was pleased enough though on reflection with good times and placings on the kayak and final run legs. My next day out competing at the races will be back to Connemara again for The Rough Diamond Expert Challenge on 4th June ahead of a return to Dingle Adventure Race  on 11th June. Not sure that the form or the opposition will allow me to repeat my good results of 2010 but I will certainly be giving it a good lash!

In the interim I have plenty of work to do on events like the Runamuck in aid of the Niall Mellon Township Trust this Sat. I then will be helping my buddy Gearoid with his DARE (Dublin’s Urban Adventure Race) on 21st May and manning a stand with the Total Experience lads at the Adventure Show Weekend in the RDS from 20th to 21st May.

The next race on the Adventure Race National Points Series is West Wicklow Roar on 28th May so get your entry in soon – The discount code “MSAIFriend” will get you a tenner off!

MONSTER MAC

MonsterMac Adventure Challenge

The last day of April was a glorious sunny one in Millstreet Co. Cork where the inaugural MonsterMAC Adventure Challenge took place. We were based at The Millstreet Country Park a few km from the town at the foot of the Boggeragh Mountains. There were two race levels the longer Expert race and the shorter Sport.

Expert Start

Sport Race

Munster on the Move!!

It was a challenging course for both races but those taking part were very satisfied crossing the finish line. The Kayak leg was an entertaining element for spectators and competitors as you can see from the photos.

Alternative Kayak Style

The Splash to the Finish Line

The MonsterMac was a great sucess for all involved. The local help we received was fantastic and with all the encouragement given to competitors it gave this event a unique appeal.

For full results check out MonsterMAC

War Glendalough Report

The WAR Glendalough race last Saturday is probably the hardest in the series and Wicklow native Noelie Kavanagh produced an outstanding performance despite a puncture at the Sally Gap to come home just 31seconds clear of the pre-race favourite Padraig Marrey from Mayo with the Limerick duo of Mick O Brien in third and early leader Adrian Hennessy in fourth. Cork’s Kevin Murphy picked up the vets title finishing 9th overall.

In the ladies WAR race it was much more straightforward for pre-race favourite Emma Donlon from Dublin after some late withdrawals of rivals left her to enjoy an easy win and an impressive 20th position overall with a gap of 21 minutes to second placed Roundwood resident Lorraine Creane and German native Sonja Furhman in third ahead of Carlow’s Susie Mitchell who enjoyed and indulged in the company of Wicklow Tourism’s cameraman and interviewer at several stages in the race. Carlow’s Hilary Jenkinson was the winner in the vet ladies category with her 7th overall finish.

In the sports event there was an exciting tussle throughout with the lead being exchanges several times and at the final transition 17 year old Galway native Brendan Scullion led only to be overtaken by both John Dunne (1st) and Aiden Campbell (2nd) in the last 3.5km run with Michael Grimes the first vet home.

In the ladies race it again proved an exciting tustle with the Dublin based tri of Catherin Devitt proving strongest on the day ahead of Deirdre O toole and 2010 winner Laura flynn with Roundwood taking yet more glory with Louise Cullen repeating her 2010 win in the vet ladies category.

National Points Series tables will be updated in the next few days with the WAR results.

Next event in the series in the Monster Mac on 30th April based in the Millstreet Country Park in north Co Cork.

With somewhat shorter courses than WAR (Wining times anticipated are 1h 40 mins for sport and 3hrs for Experts) and a likely turnout of about 250 between both races the points will be easier earned than in WAR so be sure not to miss out on what should be a great event in a largely undiscovered area.