ON TOP OF HIS WORLD Pictured showing no adverse signs from the recent two week celebration that followed his wedding with childhood sweetheart Danielle Ruddy on October 18 last, Eoghan Cunningham from Knockranny in Westport was keen to show that marriage changes everything and took on the challenge of Sea to Summit last Saturday. In his toughest physical endeavour since birth, Eoghan finished the Spirit race in a commendable two-and-a-half hours. He is pictured approaching the shoulder of Croagh Patrick trailing Noel Kelly, also from Westport. ?Pic: Gerry Galvin
Second Sea2Summit reaches new heights as over 1,000 athletes take part
Áine Ryan
OVER 1,000 athletes competed in the extreme sports adventure race, the Sea2Summit, held in Westport at the weekend. Organised by the Plaza and Castlecourt Hotel Resort, and run by Paul O’Brien of Bootcamp West, this is the second year of the race, which incorporates the new Greenway, Croagh Patrick, Clew Bay and the Sheefrey mountains.
Speaking to The Mayo News yesterday, Paul O’Brien was very happy with how the event went.
“This year’s Sea2Summit surpassed all our expectations and weather conditions were ideal for Saturday’s race, with 960 out of over 1,000 entrants finishing the course. Fortunately, there were no serious accidents and the team of volunteers, including Mayo Mountain Rescue and the Order of Malta, were just fantastic.”
He confirmed the event was a good tourism boost during the low season and there are plans to run it again next year.
The race which had two courses – the Supreme and the Spirit – attracted participants from all over the country with a big contingent traveling from northern Ireland.
Winners in the Supreme Course were Westport’s Anthony Murray (03:00:39) and Kathleen Barry, of Ballinrobe (03:42:03), while the Spirit Course winners were Tom Gill, of Westport, (01:49:04) and Marie Boyle of Spiddal, County Galway, (02:00:11).
Westport native, Anthony Murray was last year’s Spirit Winner and challenged his fitness level even further with this year’s overall win.
The Supreme Course is a grueling 56km trek, which starts at the hotels and involves an intense series of road-running, mountain cycling and a run up Croagh Patrick. It culminates with an intricate obstacle challenge before crossing the finish line at the Mall.
Among this year’s participants were All-Ireland winning Tyrone footballers, Stephen O’Neill (03:38:54) and Enda McGinley (03:42:52).
