GAELFORCE WEST APRIL 2009

Gaelforce fever has hit the country with nearly 1000 of you entered already! The whole weekend is shaping up fantastically and looks set to unleash what looks like the best after party yet - more to come on this next month! The West is alive this year with lots of adventures to choose from, so get out there and enjoy!

1. Distance breakdown

2. Categories & Team Names

3. Killary Cruises

4. Galway Volvo Ocean Race Festival

5. Killary Adventure GFW Training Weekend

6. Burrishoole Walking Festival

7. Leenane Mountain Walking Festival

1. Distance breakdown

Many of you have been asking exactly what you are in for along the GF6 route in regard to disciplines and distances. So here is a complete breakdown for you:

Running/Walking: 20km Approx

Cycling: 44km Approx

Kayaking: 1.6km Max

The detailed breakdown, nature and sequence of activity is as follows:

Stage 1: Beach, Trail and Road Run 12km

Stage 2: Kayaking across Killary Harbour 1.6km

Stage 3: Trail and Road Run 3.5km

Stage 4: Cycling 32.5km

Stage 5: Mountain Run/Hike 4.5km

Stage 6: Cycling 12.5km

So make sure to practise cross-training between the different disciplines.

 

2. Categories & Team Names

 As many of you know we are asking you to select which category you would like to be in when you enter. These categories are - Elite, Runner, Jogger and Walker. The main reason for these categories is so we can organise the time that starting waves leave the beach on the morning of the event. Also, if you are starting with others at your rough level of ability, it will be more enjoyable for you. Closer to the date of the event, once entry numbers reach their upper limits, we will issue you with the exact times of these starting waves. To help you choose which category you would like to race in, here are the approximate finishing times for each category:

Elite 3.5- 4 hrs

Runners 4 - 5.5 hrs

Joggers/Walkers 5.5 - 10 hrs

Please be careful which category you choose because with so many of you taking part it is not possible to change them afterwards.

Many people are planning to race as a team with their friends and training partner, we would just like to let you know that we will try our best, but we cannot guarantee that you will be in the same wave. If you have any questions on the above please contact Siobhan in the office at info@gaelforcewest.ie.

 

3. Killary Cruises

 Killary Cruises, the only sightseeing boat on Killary Fjord, are kindly providing a FREE Cruise on the morning of GF6 for any spectators that you maybe bringing with you for the weekend! The luxury cruise will be running from 8am - 10am and will give spectators a great view of the kayak section of the race. It's an amazing cruise with a restaurant on board, so treat yourself to a nice fresh scone or an Irish coffee as you enjoy the views and watch the GF racers in action! Check out all Killary Cruise's events and details here. NB: The special GFW morning cruise is only open to 110 people, and you must pre-book your place! Please click here to book your place!

4. Galway Volvo Ocean Race Festival

Running from May 23-June 6 the Galway Volvo Ocean Race Festival will be the biggest free festival ever to be hosted in Ireland and approximately 200,000 people are expected to visit Galway during the two-week festival.

The Volvo Ocean Race is the premier race for professional crews around the world and this event is ranked as the sixth biggest sporting event in the world; viewed by 1.8 billion people worldwide. As the only UK & Ireland stopover port, Galway has been preparing for 18 months to host a world class festival to welcome this prestigious sporting event to Ireland and with on-the-water activities, open air concerts, street entertainment, cultural events and much, much more Galway promises to have something to suit all tastes during this summer spectacle with all events free of charge. Come join us in Galway to celebrate this unique event!

Full festival details are available at www.galwayvolvooceanrace.com where you will also get up to the minute information on the arrivals of the yachts over the weekend of 23/24 May.

 

5. Killary Adventure Training Weekend

 Killary Adventure held their first training weekend for Gaelforce West on the weekend of the 18th & 19th of April. The sun was splitting the stones and all participants had a great weekend, with some superb comments coming back from those taking part:

-Good all round package of training and accommodation

-All the instructors were a world of wisdom and very easy to learn from

-Got a real feel of what is expected from the event

Over the weekend the participants discussed gear, food, training schedules etc. and got to experience different parts of the course itself including getting some good kayak practice on the Killary itself .And of course you couldn't have a weekend in the West without visiting the local establishment! A great weekend had by all! The next training weekend will be held between the 12th - 14th of June. This will be the final weekend of training available from Killary so make sure to book early! For full details contact Killary Adventure at 095 43411 or email: adventure@killary.com.

6. Burrishoole Walking Festival

Looking for something to do for the June Bank Holiday? The annual Burrishoole Walking Festival, takes place over the June bank Holiday weekend (May 30th-June 1st). Burrishoole spans the area between the villages of Mulranney and Newport in West Mayo, it is enclosed by the Nephin beg mountain range to the north, and by the Clew bay to the south. A unique feature of the Festival is the celebration of mass at the Ochilly Mass Rock, over 300 people of all denominations attended last year’s service, most of whom walked up to the Mass Rock, but for those unable to do so, they were transported on a quad by the local farmers. For more details email Tom at tcarolan@southmayo.com

7. Leenane Mountain Walking festival

Leenane has a new bridge and they are planning on showing it off this weekend at the Leenane Mountain Walking Festival. They still have some spaces left for the festival, which looks set to be another great success. It is a walking festival with something for all levels of Walkers:

-Guided walks up Mweelrea Mountain (the highest in Connacht!), Leenane Mountain, Devils Mother & Ben Gorm led by Michael Gibbons the well know archaeologist, Gerry Greensmyth and others, assisted by local Leenane villagers with manys the stories to tell on life in Leenane!

- Low Level guided walks along the Famine Tracks & the Western Way

- Self guided short walks for the family

- Special Activity deals at Delphi & Killary Adventure Centre for the weekend

- Talks & Music

- Public insurance for all walkers

- No problem on any of the guided walks with access

For the full event programme click here and for accommodation deals and more info on Leenane village check out www.leenanevillage.com. To book your place contact Linda on 095 43411.