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Doing it the Wicklow Way

John McBride / 15.04.2003

The third race of the Irish Championships Series was held in County Wicklow starting in the historical and picturesque setting of Glendalough. This part of Ireland is renown for its high and long mountain passes and the racers would certainly be introduced to a few.

The race proper started with some step aerobics as the teams hiked the bikes up a set of forest steps. The first bike section saw most teams managing to go down a dead-end before correcting and getting back on course. Even at this early stage the teams were beginning to spread and it was clear that ‘Thomas Cook’ intended to set the pace. ‘Spirit of Setanta’ with a serious amount of good biking quickly tucked into second place. Meanwhile ‘Surf Mountain’ did an extra kilometre before getting back into the chase in third place.

All teams came into PC1 and headed off on the trekking section – although one team managed to do the first trekking control on bikes – (seems a bit like using a kayak in a swimming contest?) - the rest used their feet. The main goal of this section was Lugnaquilla (and for all the Munro baggers this is one of only 5 in Ireland). The teams wound their way upwards with at least one opting for the long ridge rather than heading directly upwqards. By now each team was working hard with the lead still being held (and extended) by Thomas Cook, followed by ‘Spirit of Setanta’ and ‘Surf Mountain’.

Back to the bikes for what was to be an interesting but hard bike section. At CP5 ‘Surf Mountain’ caught up with ‘Spirit of Setanta’ only to see another fine turn of biking take them away again. After dipping into the kit boxes at PC3 it was back on the bikes and out towards Blessington Lake. Along a track and then a short hike a bike, another CP and onto the Wicklow Gap road.

Missed CP

‘Thomas Cook’ had reached the lake ahead of the kayak spray decks and had to wait for 30 minutes, while ‘Spirit of Setanta’ waited 6 minutes. (This time was allowed for.) Because teams were coming through ahead of the estimated course times the kayaking section was extended! ‘Thomas Cook’ looked every bit the slick kayakers they are and they hammered round the lake. ‘Spirit of Setanta’ meanwhile were out on the water – going considerably slower. This worked to the advantage of ‘Surf Mountain’ as they started to cut back time lost on the bikes and eventually added some time in their favour.

When ‘Surf Mountain’ and ‘Setanta’ made it to the far end of the lake ‘Thomas Cook’ were just leaving heading for the last CP. Unknown to both teams ‘Thomas Cook’ had not found the CP and had assumed it wasn’t there. This was tragic as every team after them that went for the CP found it. With the rules stating that a team cannot rank higher than a team that has got all of the CPs it meant ‘Thomas Cook’ could not now win. But they kept going showing true adventure racing character.

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