Cooley Raid
Cooley Raid
Paul Mahon / 14.11.2009
The event was actually made up of 2 races – the 8 hour Cuchulainn Challenge and the 24 hour Cooley Raid which would commence with the same course as the 8 hour competitions and then was to restart 2 hours after the finish of the shorter event and was due to run for a further 16 to 18 hours.
An added element to the race was provided by the presence of a Danish team some of whom are also due to race in Abu Dhabi.
Saturday's race proved to be a competitive affair and our team was in the thick of the action toward the front of the large field as we set out along the streets of Carlingford to collect our kayaks at the sailing club.
We were joint first team out of the water after the 7km paddle with Irish AR Denny but a faster transition saw us head out on the first bike leg in the lead.
We were soon joined by local pairing Deliverance Brothers who were everyone's favourites for the 8 hour pairs crown with local knowledge and known speed particularly on the mountain bike sections.
We exchanged the lead several times over the next couple of transitions as we had opted for running shoes and toeclips but they eeked out a lead over a long MTB leg.
The run leg to Eagle's Rock summit was to prove the most elusive of the day in the heavy mist and several teams had to return to the transition area without having found the summit marshall.
We were joined in transition by the top navigating Passing Wind team, two of whom have successfully joined us in races earlier this year.
The options then were a bike or run orienteering bonus loops and with big Peter in fine climbing and towing form we opted for the long haul up the road to the exposed summit of Black Mountain on bike. Despite the wind and driving hail it proved to be a good decision and we gained over an hour in net bonuses by taking this option.
From there it was a return to the Windy Gap transition area, a single foot orienteering bonus control and then the dash for home just in time to make the final bike bonus on the way.
In the end we finished only a minute behind the winning Deliverance Brothers pairing tho they had a slight delay after a crash with a local dog and so were worthy winners.
Not too far behind us were the all male Passing Wind team who had a puncture close to the finish and for sure would have been close on our heels if that had not happened to them.
The soup and sambos were welcomed by all and such was the warmth and attractiveness of the Foy Centre that several of the 24 hour teams decided to call it a day.
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