Hundreds tackle the fearsome Banna Beast

IT’S hard to believe that this is only the second year of the Banna Beast challenge, such is the huge popularity that the obstacle course event has garnered locally, nationally and even internationally.

This year’s event, the second of 2017 alone, attracted up to 800 people who put themselves to the ultimate test as they clambered over hay bales, waded through pools of water, crawled under nets, carried heavy logs and even took on the aptly named ‘stairway to hell’.

While this may all sound like the dastardly plan of a fiendish mind, organiser Mairead McMahon insists that it’s all about fun at the end of the day.

“It was fantastic. We had a great turnout and people seemed to really enjoy it, the feedback that we got was excellent. We had a few new and different obstacles like the ‘stairway to hell’ and the ‘log carry’ and people seemed to enjoy them” she said with a laugh when talking to The Kerryman on Monday.

“It’s all about having a bit of fun at the end of the day. If you’re doing the competitive side of the course, there’s going to be pressure obviously; when you’re just there for the day out though, there’s a good laugh to be had with people helping each other out with the nets and climbing the wall, It’s a challenge, but a do-able one,” she said.

“We’re definitely going to be back next year, probably in the spring some time, so we hope that we’ll see some new faces there next time around as well” she said.

All photos by Fergus Dennehy. Hardy competitors wade through one of the water-filled obstacles that lined Banna Beach on Saturday morning as part of the fun filled Banna Beast obstacle course challenge.

ABOVE: Tracy Moriarty, Norma O’Donoghue, Bogna Kuleszewicz and Noreen Moriarty all decked out and ready for action.

LEFT: Runners crawl through energy sapping nets as the rain begins to fall at the Banna Beast challenge on Saturday morning.

Charlene Tydings and Niamh Finucane feeling ready for action at the Banna Beast challenge on Saturday morning.

Carol McGlynn, Martina Cronin and Mary Barrett getting ready for road at the Banna Beast obstacle course on Saturday morning.