Connemara Rough Diamond Report

Mayo team crowned All-Ireland Adventure Race Champions

In perfect racing conditions a team from Mayo triumphed over nearly 500 competitors to win the inaugural All-Ireland Adventure Race Championship, which was held as part of the 2011 Connemara Rough Diamond on Saturday 4th June. The Connemara Rough Diamond adventure race starts with the John Wayne Steeplechase on Lettergesh Beach, then Mountain runs, a woodland obstacle course, testing bike sections and ends in Clifden. Both expert and sport courses provided fantastic views over Connemara’s coastline, peaks and islands.

The pre-race favourites for the team competition in the expert category were Mayo & Carlow and the Mayo team pulled it off in fine style. The Mayo team included Padraig Marrey, Noel Gibbons, Mary Mulchrone and Kathleen Barry from the Western Lakes cycling club and they combined their times to win the first All-Ireland Ireland Adventure Race Championship in the expert category. In the sport category the Galway Old Shams team performed well and lead the way home in front of the Dublin (Mostly Leinster) team.
 
Three waves of competitors in Sport (39K) and Expert (56K) categories headed off from Lettergesh Beach on a course that impressed the best in the business. Padraig Marrey (Expert) and Noel Brady (Sport) went off as favourites in the individual class did not disappoint the crowd that braved the north east wind to watch the spectacle at the starting line. Mary Mulchrone (Expert) and Marie Boyle (Sport) also reaffirmed their favourites tag in the Ladies Individual class with fine performances that saw them take the spoils.

In the expert race the tough mountain run tested the field early on but pre-race favourites Padraig Marrey and Paul Mahon led the way off the mountain, through the obstacle course and onto the bikes. Two strong bike legs (one over the sky road into Clifden) and a strong run up Diamond Mountain gave Padraig Marrey a deserved victory. Local hero David Kearney performed well to come in 12th. In the ladies section Mary Mulchrone from Mayo led from start to finish, despite strong challenges from Susie Mitchell and Kathleen Barry.

Tides suit perfectly for the June Bank holiday again next year for some more Connemara Rough Diamond Craic. Check www.connemararoughdiamond.com for more information.

Connemara Rough Diamond – All-Ireland Team Competition (Expert)

1st Mayo (Western Lakes)
2nd Carlow
3rd Galway (Pebbledash)

Connemara Rough Diamond – All-Ireland Team Competition (Sport)

1st Galway (Old Shams)
2nd Dublin (Mostly Leinster)
3rd Galway (Letterfrack)

Connemara Rough Diamond – Expert (Men)

1st Padraig Marrey (Western Lakes) (2:53:10)
2nd Paul Mahon (MSAI) ( 2:59:07)
3rd Noel Gibbons (Western Lakes) (3:00:09)

Connemara Rough Diamond – Expert (Women)

1st Mary Mulchrone (Western Lakes) (3:16:21)
2nd Susie Mitchell (Carlow) (3:34:00)
3rd Kathleen Barry (Western Lakes) (3:43:08)

Connemara Rough Diamond – Sport (Men)

1st Noel Brady (1:40:08)
2nd Brendan Murphy (1:46:08)
3rd Brendan Scullion (1:47:23)

Connemara Rough Diamond – Sport (Women)

1st Marie Boyle (1:51:19)
2nd Michelle Traynor (2:06:16)
3rd Sinnead Oakes (2:13:24)