from Harlequin Hotel Young Con Doherty from Westport put older and far more experienced athletes to the sword at the Adventure Duathlon, 16 year old Con showed his running prowess when he obliterated the field with a blistering run up to the Booster station at Glenisland some1450feet above sea level.
Anthony Murray who won the Sea 2 Summit race in November was the only one that could keep pace to Con with David Sands from Ballina making it a clean sweep for Mayo athletes in third.
In the Ladies event Marie Boyle from Spiddle had to work hard on the second bike leg to put day light between herself and Helen Gibbs from Buckinghamshire, Rachael Maloney from Foxford took the final podium position to get third.
Ger Deere Major of Castlebar paid tribute to the organisers and said that “ outdoor activity is the way forward for Mayo tourism and events like the Harlequin A.D. will only enhance to outsiders what a beautiful and scenic place Mayo is by using the beauty hot spots we have, he urged organisations to get behind outdoor events such as AdventureRaces as they bring great business to the area”.
The event was blessed with the beautiful sunny weather and for the hundreds that took part most could enjoy the views without been overwhelmed by the tough course.
This event was the first round of the National Adventure Races Sports series, the next round will be held in Wicklow April 16th and the next round to be held in the West will be on June 4thin Letterfrack/ Clifden see www.connemararoughdiamond.com .
Details of the full series can be found on www.msai.ie
The event organisers would like to thank race sponsors the Harlequin Hotel, Marrey Bikes and Exposure Castlebar. This event was supported by Mayo county council, Castlebar Town council, the Civil defence, Coillte, Western Lakes and Covey Westport cycling clubs and the Gardai
Males overall
1st Con Doherty Westport 1.41.40
2nd Anthony Murray Westport 1.45.14
3rd David Sands Ballina 1.51.54
4th John Lenehan Westport 1.53.12
5th Jamie Fitzmaurice 1.53.32
6th Paul Mahon Dublin 1.56.03
1st Junior
Brendan Scullion Clifden 2.03.02
1st Over 40
Kevin Roache Swinford 1.58.07
1st over 50
PJ Hall Ballyvary 2.10.41
Ladies overall
1st Marie Boyle Spiddle 2.08.06
2nd Helen Gibbs Buckinghamshire 2.12.08
3rd Rachael Maloney Foxford 2.15.37
4th Kathleen Barry Partry 2.16.12
5th Alison Nohilly 2.17.36
6th Ann Marie Egan Westport 2.24.18
1st Over 40
Mary Walsh Westport 2.24.18
1st Over 50
Daphne Mc Grath Westport
Padraig Marrey
Email: padraigmarrey@gmail.com
Ph: 00353 877992857
Web: www.marreytrainingsystems.com