Running and kayaking the Wild Atlantic Way

TEAK TOUGH ULTRA-RACERS MAKE IT TO KILLARNEY

AFTER a week of gruelling and intense outdoor pursuits, the ITERA Expedition Race has finally come to an end in Killarney.

The race was a leg on the AR World Series, and with the Gleneagle Hotel serving as the competition’s base, the Kerry town was showcased once more on an international stage.

Teams from all over the world travelled to Ireland for the non-stop, fast-paced journey which traversed the entire Wild Atlantic Way to its finish line near Lough Leane in Killarney.

Teams were transported from Killarney at 6.30am last Wednesday, to Westport House in Mayo, the race’s starting point.

It was the French team, 33 FMR, that was first to cross the line on Sunday morning, finishing the 600km race in an incredible time of 90 hours, 56 minutes and 17 seconds, but Kerry’s Team Dar Dingle, consisting of Noel O Leary, Ailise Deane, Caroline Bullard and David Spence, also impressed. They finished their expedition on Monday afternoon, having braced the unfavourable elements on Carrauntoohil and across the McGillicuddy Reeks.

Heather Snelgar from Dublin competed in the race, and she said her team was hugely impressed by Killarney.

“I’d been to Killarney before, but two of my team, including my husband who is South African, had not. They’ll be back – they were very taken by its beauty and its people.”

“While we were up on the reeks, the weather wasn’t great, unfortunately, but the following day the sun was out, so we visited the lakes. The place was looking terrific.

“It wouldn’t have mattered though if the weather hadn’t picked up, because the craic we had with the people of the town was one of the highlights of the race.”

Rob Howard of ITERA Ireland commended each of the teams who were determined to finish the gruelling challenge.

“They’ve survived the worst possible August weather and while it made for a more challenging race, it didn’t stop most of the competitors making the finish line,” he said.

The groups celebrated at the Gleneagle and will take a hard earned rest over the coming week - and a hot shower!

What a view..after the horrendous conditions of the past week teams enjoyed the views on the last stage of the ITERA Adventure Expedition Race, canoeing on the Lakes of Killarney

All photos by Valerie O’Sullivan Noel O’Leary, Ailise Deane, Caroline Bullard and David Spence, Team 7 DAR Dingle, on the Twelve Bens, Connemara, competing in the ITERA World Expedition Race 2016, a non stop 600km journey, starting at Westport and travelling the Wild Atlantic Way,...