The Beast of Ballyhoura
Getting to Grips with the Beast
Rob Howard / 02.08.2013
Mystery, surprise, challenge, culture, history and strategy will part of The Beast of Ballyhoura this year for the 20 teams taking part.
When they received their race packs and route they were presented with a course over 6 stages, built around a minimum distance of 255km to be covered over the 40 hours of the race. The backbone of the race are the mandatory checkpoints, each of which is worth 1000 points. (The race is based on a score orienteering system and will be decided on points.) In addition to these there are optional checkpoints worth 20 to 60 points which teams can choose whether to visit not, depending on their strategy and how fast they are moving. The aim is to offer all the teams a course to keep them fully occupied for the 40 hours, whatever their ability level.
They won’t know everything that lies ahead, there are a few secrets and surprises in store and they will get to visit some of iconic locations of the area, including Cahir and Lismore Castles. In outline the route is as follows;
Start; Blackwater Castle 02.00
Stage 1; 10k Night Trail Run; Teams must add the numbers at checkpoints to find a total which will give them access to the transition on return. There is a “twist” promised for this stage too ...
Transition 1; Blackwater Castle
Stage 2; Bike/Bonus Mountain Bike Orienteering (MTBO)/Swim (50km minimum); There is one mandatory CP on the way to the MTBO which has 6 optional checkpoints on Nagles Mountain. The 150m swim in the Knockananig reservoir does not open until 06.00 and closes at 10.00. All must swim (250 points penalty for not swimming).
Transition 2; Fermoy Leisure Centre
Stage 3; Kayak/Bonus Foot Orienteering (minimum 33km); Kayak down the Blackwater river, including a possible weir portage and small rapid, with a stop for a bonus orienteering section at Lismore Castle (5 checkpoints).
Transition 3; Cappoquin Community Centre
Stage 4; Bike/Bonus Hill Run & Secret Task (Shortest Distance 60km); A riding stage to Cahir Castle via the Knockmealdown Mountains with the option of a bonus hill run up Sugarloaf Hill. There is a secret challenge at one of the mandatory checkpoints along the way and teams won’t know what this is until they arrive.
Transition 4; Cahir Castle
Stage 5; Trek (shortest distance 42km); Teams will be on this trek across the Galtee Mountains during the night, and must follow a marked route of 10km to the secret location of TA5 to finish.
Transition 5; Somewhere secret
Stage 6; Bike/Clay Pigeon Shooting/Bonus Run & Bonus Bike (Shortest distance 60km); Cycle back to Blackwater Castle with stops at the Lazy Dog shooting centre and Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Trail Centre. Most of the checkpoints on the final stage are optional, and there is also a 30 minute final surprise task just before the finish.
There is a course map, information on each stage and google earth route flyover videos on the live race website where you can also track the progress of the teams.
See http://www.beastofballyhoura.com/
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