National AR Points Series

Series points now updated with those for the West Wicklow Roar in addition to those for WAR Glendalough
Current National Adventure Race Series leaders are John Caffrey ahead of Niall Somers in the men's and Jenny Mc Cauley who is just a point ahead of Derval Devany in the women's but all to play for in the remaining 3 races in the series with 4 to count out of a possible 5 events.

Next race in the series promises to be the most competitive of all to date with over 3,000 entered in the Gaelforce on 21st August which is now sold out.

 Whilst with the changes to the course this year it is highly unlikely that any course records will fall the scene is set now for the 2010 Gaelforce with the publication of the entry list.

Leading contenders include last year's winner (& winner here also in 2006 & 2007) Peter O Farrell, WAR Glendalough winner (& winner here in 2008) Eoin Keith and last year's 2nd Ruaidhri Geraghty who is reputed to be flying down west this season. Local Mayo man Padraig Marrey who was a bit off form when 4th last year has been showing great form with recent victories in the Swinford half ironman and the Ballyhoura Blitz and is expected to go close this year. Niall Somers who was a close second in West Wicklow ROAR recently will be helped by the shorter kayaking leg whilst others likely to figure in the results include Cork's Diarmuid Collins who already this year has won in Waterford and Dingle as well as coming a close second to Mayo's Chris Caulfield in the Connemara Adventure Challenge. Caulfield himself should also figure as should proven mountain runners Gary Bailey and Martin Bradshaw but only if their biking is up to the high standard that Geraghty and Marrey are sure to set. Last year's 3rd Paul Mahon has missed most of the season with injury so at best will be aiming for a good vet category placing behind Keith with a likely close battle with the evergreen Mayoman Noel Brady and Cork's Kevin Murphy for minor placings.

In the junior category Noel's son James looks likely to repeat his win of last year given his recent super form on the triathlon circuit which included a podium finish in his age group at the European Triathlon championships in Athlone last month.

In the ladies category it appears wide open in the absence of last year's clear winner Mary Mulchrone and others like West Wicklow Roar winner Jenny Mc Cauley and Beth Mc Cluskey. Last year's 2nd and 3rd Fiona Roche and WAR winner Derval Devaney are the obvious leading contenders with Devaney the likely favourite providing she has recovered sufficiently from the injury that kept her out of the European Tri Champs in Athlone. An entrant of note in a later wave (and therefore not eligible to win overall) is the ever modest Emma Donlon who was the winner in West Wicklow Roar (Sport), Dingle and more recently was the won the Tulfarris 10 mile road race and Hellfire Duathlon so is definitely in form. In the ladies vet cat last year's winner Mary Walsh will be hard pressed by former international mountain runner Laura Flynn who easily won the WAR Glendalough Sport category and others likely to compete hard in this category include Pauline Brady and the improving Hilary Jenkinson.

The race itself is likely to be the most competitive and hard fought ever with tactics more straightforward now that there is no timeout and single kayaks are provided.

It is likely that Keith will employ similar hard running tactics that worked so successfully in WAR but the likes of Geraghty, O Farrell, Somers, Marrey, Bailey, Collins and Bradshaw are in good running form so that will not trouble them and it is likely that the field will be close on arrival at Delphi transition before the bike section where Geraghty and Marrey will have to break free of the proven mountain runners if they are to have a chance of holding onto a lead on the Holy mountain.

 It is likely that only Keith, Somers and O' Farrell will have the biking legs to stick with Geraghty and Marrey (providing Marrey has made it to Delphi with the leading group of course) and that quintet are set to do battle for honours on the slopes of Croagh Patrick. This situation should favour the mountain runners Keith and O Farrell but surely Geraghty in particular should have improved on his run in this section last year where he lost almost 10 minutes to O Farrell having got to the mountain with a lead of 5 minutes. If the strong cyclists can stay in touch coming down then it possible for them to make up a small deficit on the race for home providing no-one suffers from the dreaded puncture on the final off road descent section as all will most likely be taking that chance with selection of road bikes.

 It promises to be a fascinating battle up front which could in the end be dictated by punctures as has happened previously though that of course is part of the attraction and tactical bike selection process of the race :-)!

http://www.msai.ie/adventure-race-ireland-organiser-points-series.php

Paul Mahon
Phone: 086-3503994
Website: www.msai.ie
Skype: mahonpaul1