Under challenging November weather conditions the Westport Sea2Summit pushed the country’s leading adventure runners through their limits for the top sporting challenge. Taking in an intense 56.5km over a series of road running, mountain cycling, and running up the challenging terrain of Croagh Patrick with the backdrop of Clew Bay, the summit included a sea dash in Clew Bay and intricate obstacle challenge before finishing in the Fairgreen Westport
The event offered competitors a choice of two categories; the supreme course (56.5kms ) and the spirit route (27.5kms ). Colm Staunton, Westport, was the first competitor over the line in the men’s category of the supreme course. The Westport native completed the race in a time of three hours three minutes. Emma Donlon, Raheny in Dublin, finished in the supreme race in three hours 36 minutes to win the female category. In the spirit route course, Anthony Murray, Westport, crossed the line in one hour and 47 minutes, while Mary Mulchrone, Westport, won the women’s category in a time of two hours three minutes.
Padraig Marrey, overall winner of both the 2010 Gael Force and Achill Roar Adventure Race, was director of the Westport Sea2Summit. “The success of the event has been phenomenal,” Marrey said after the race. “Participation expectancy exceeded initial figures by 100 per cent with 600 contestants today completing a gruelling challenge of road racing, cycle, mountain run on Croagh Patrick in difficult conditions. Thanks to the supporters who came out in droves to cheer on participants and feedback on the course had been excellent, despite a few aching muscles.”
The intense sporting challenge attracted the crème de la crème of adventure race runners from across Ireland and the UK, including Robbie Bryson, former World Champion mountain runner, who finished second in the men’s supreme challenge, and Derval Devaney from Galway, the ladies’ winner of Gaelforce and Achill Roar 2010, who came in second in the ladies’ supreme. “This is also a testament to the quality of the course and the class of the Westport Sea2Summit challenge, when you see the calibre of athletes who took part on the day,” added Marrey.
Race results and imagery from the Westport Sea2Summit can be viewed on www.westportsea2summit.ie in the coming days or follow the Westport Sea2Summit Adventure Race on Facebook.
