Ireland

Teams travel from all over Europe for ‘Beast of Ballyhoura’ race

40-hour non-stop race covered tricky terrain across Cork, Limerick and Tipperary

Finding the right balance..Team ‘One Track Mind’ Sean McDonnell, Caroline Reid, Denis Fletcher and Peter Barry, canyoning in the Clare Glens, Co Tipperary. Photograph: Valerie O’Sullivan
Finding the right balance..Team ‘One Track Mind’ Sean McDonnell, Caroline Reid, Denis Fletcher and Peter Barry, canyoning in the Clare Glens, Co Tipperary. Photograph: Valerie O’Sullivan
Sun Aug 03 2014 - 18:46

One of Ireland’s most gruelling adventure races, The Beast of Ballyhoura, took place at the weekend, with athletes competing in a 40-hour non-stop race, covering north Cork, Limerick and Tipperary and more than 300km of terrain.

The race began at 2pm on Saturday and included mountain biking, swimming, kayaking, abseiling and night-time orienteering on the Galtee Mountains, before finishing yesterday evening at Blackwater Castle, Castletownroche, Co Cork.

For the glory of tackling the “Beast”, four-person team travelled from many parts of Europe, including the UK, Denmark, Switzerland, France and Slovenia.

Team Mind for Adventure, from Sweden, kayaking Lough Derg, Co Clare. Photograph: Valerie O’Sullivan
Team Mind for Adventure, from Sweden, kayaking Lough Derg, Co Clare. Photograph: Valerie O’Sullivan
Teams preparing for a night swim at Lough Derg, Killaloe, Co Clare. Photograph: Valerie O’Sullivan
Teams preparing for a night swim at Lough Derg, Killaloe, Co Clare. Photograph: Valerie O’Sullivan

Teams have to navigate the best route and determine the optimum level of equipment, food and pace to win, according to Fergal Somers, manager of Ballyhoura Failte.