Gael Force Storms Irish Adventure Sport
Rob Howard / 26.08.2009
The 4th Gael Force West Adventure Race took place on Saturday and with over 2000 finishers was the biggest race of it’s kind in Ireland … if not in the world.The format has developed over the past couple of years into a multi-sport race over a fixed 65km route, traversing the spectacular mountains, countryside and coast of Ireland’s west coast, and the response from Irish athletes has been staggering. From under 200 entries two years ago Gael Force West has grown ten fold and entries were closed early this year.
Those on the start line this year included walkers, runners, triathletes, elite adventure racers and many who had never attempted a challenge of this nature before. After leaving their bikes at the Delphi Adventure Centre on Friday night all were bussed from the attractive coastal town of Westport to the start on the remote beach at Glassilaun on Saturday morning. The race had to hire 63 busses, and for the elite, who were the first to start, it was an early morning, catching the bus at 05.30 and starting at 07.00.
They had the best of the conditions for the first 12km run along the coast of Killary Fjord. There was some early sunshine (but that was all for the day then), and conditions were calm as they arrived the Killary Outdoor Centre for the 1.6km kayak across the harbour. Racers paired up to make the paddle and a small armada of boats ferried back strings of kayaks for later racers to use, doing so for the next 6 hours! (The last of 7 mass starts was not until 10.00am.)
The route then continued across waterlogged ground to the Delphi Centre, where bikes were picked up for the 32.5km cycling stage to the foot of Croagh Patrick mountain. This was a fast road cycle with big climbs and descents traversing the Doolough Valley and the Sheeffry hills, mostly on closed roads.
As they rode up to the final section up to the Mountain Rescue post to the south of Croagh Patrick there was an intimidating view of the mountain ahead. It’s conical summit is fiercely steep, rising alone and scarred by the huge, broken path. Croagh Patrick is an iconic mountain for Ireland and County Mayo, and the well worn path is the pilgrims trail, taken by many thousands each year. While the weather remained clear, as it did for the competitors earlier in the day, the chapel on the summit could clearly be seen , and so could the severity of the ascent.
