ONCE AGAIN, THE RACE proved itself to not be for the faint hearted.
A 33-year-old Pole named Mariusz Olejniczak, who has been based in Ireland for 10 years and owns No 1 fitness in Kilcullen, Co Kildare, completed the course in a record time of 15 hours one minute and 45 seconds.
In the women’s event, Christina McKenzie from Scotland was the first two-time winner – in a time of 20:02:55 – having won the inaugural event in 2014.
From a Donegal perspective, Martin Lynch from Ramelton was third overall with a time of 15:41:01 ahead of fifth placed Peter O’Donnell from Kilmacrennan (pictured above by Geraldine Diver) in 1:49:22. Their training partner Hugh Coll, Milford, was eighth home with 16:47:44.
Convoy native Kenny O’Donnell clocked 18:49:01 for 14th, Arranmore’s John Connaghan got 19:09.43 for 17th. Just behind him was John Ward, Letterkenny on 19:26:10 and the came Gavin Harris from Convoy with 19:31:59.
Letterkenny’s Gerard Callaghan was 21st with 19:48:18 and 30th place, in 21:24:05 went to Graham Sterritt from Dunfanaghy. In 37th was Paul Good of Ramelton in 22:03:01 with Luke Daly, Letterkenny, taking 40th in 22:07:41. With 22:31:13 was Cranford’s Hugh Hunter and Arthur McMahon from Milford was 49th with 22:39:30.
In 59th place was John Boyce, Downings, in 23:01:15 and George Kelly, who is also from Downings, was one place back from there on 23:01:15. Gweedore’s Eamonn Diver came 63rd on 23:09:40.
Stage 1 (Run 1 below) was a 22km jog from Gartan to Ramelton before Stage 2 (Kayak) – a 15km kayak onto Rathmullan. Stage 3 (Bike 1) then was the first of two cycles, some 96km from Rathmullan over Knockalla to the Atlantic Drive, over Lough Salt and into the base of Muckish.
Stage 4 (Muckish) consisted of a 5km scramble up and down Muckish before Stage 5 (Bike 2) meant it was time to get back on the bike for 68km from Muckish around the Bloody Foreland and back to Doochary. Then, to finish, a full marathon back to Gartan via Glenveagh National Park for Stage 6 (Run 2).
Donegal competitors in bold
| Pos | No | Name | Gender | Finish | Run 1 | Trans 1 | Kayak | Bike 1 | Muckish | Trans 2 | Bike 2 | Trans 3 | Run 2 | ||||
| 1 | 56 | Mariusz | Olejniczak | Male | 15:01:45 | 1:42:06 | 0:03:28 | 01:37:17 | 3:59:04 | 01:02:37 | 0:11:03 | 02:25:37 | 0:10:52 | 03:49:46 | |||
| 2 | 84 | Rob | McDonald | Male | 15:34:13 | 1:48:20 | 0:08:39 | 01:37:16 | 4:10:40 | 00:56:37 | 0:08:43 | 02:28:18 | 0:08:48 | 04:06:55 | |||
| 3 | 63 | Martin | Lynch | Male | 15:41:01 | 1:47:00 | 0:08:16 | 01:41:30 | 4:20:26 | 00:53:45 | 0:10:35 | 02:30:11 | 0:07:15 | 04:02:06 | |||
| 4 | 80 | Paul | Tierney | Male | 16:07:17 | 1:41:49 | 0:03:08 | 01:37:21 | 4:23:11 | 00:58:44 | 0:08:07 | 02:38:11 | 0:07:35 | 04:29:14 | |||
| 5 | 83 | Peter | O Donnell | Male | 16:11:58 | 1:49:22 | 0:05:55 | 01:41:58 | 4:34:32 | 01:00:39 | 0:10:39 | 02:39:43 | 0:12:42 | 03:56:31 | |||
| 6 | 61 | Martin | Kirwan | Male | 16:21:28 | 1:46:21 | 0:04:52 | 01:44:23 | 4:21:38 | 01:11:00 | 0:29:14 | 02:46:43 | 0:12:38 | 03:44:41 | |||
| 7 | 69 | Pablo | Lopez | Male | 16:47:44 | 01:49:48 | 00:03:25 | 01:44:19 | 04:30:36 | 01:03:12 | 00:16:31 | 02:38:41 | 00:17:05 | 04:24:11 | |||
| 8 | 37 | Hugh | Coll | Male | 17:20:14 | 1:46:59 | 0:07:23 | 01:42:59 | 4:42:57 | 01:11:04 | 0:14:25 | 02:38:32 | 0:15:02 | 04:40:56 | |||
| 9 | 66 | John | Mollohan | Male | 18:06:15 | 2:05:49 | 0:05:06 | 01:41:47 | 4:52:28 | 00:55:32 | 0:16:03 | 02:48:30 | 0:18:43 | 05:02:20 | |||
| 10 | 21 | Derek | Kiely | Male | 18:09:53 | 1:59:45 | 0:02:32 | 01:53:01 | 4:53:04 | 01:14:59 | 0:14:48 | 02:52:48 | 0:16:38 | 04:42:24 | |||
| 11 | 93 | Stephen | Geraghty | Male | 18:09:53 | 1:59:43 | 0:02:47 | 01:55:16 | 4:52:58 | 01:02:30 | 0:25:54 | 02:51:38 | 0:20:11 | 04:39:00 | |||
| 12 | 62 | Martin | Carey | Male | 18:09:54 | 1:49:25 | 0:04:03 | 02:04:10 | 4:53:11 | 01:13:01 | 0:14:20 | 02:52:40 | 0:20:21 | 04:38:47 | |||
| 13 | 7 | Brian | Meskell | Male | 18:43:34 | 2:00:25 | 0:07:29 | 02:20:33 | 4:50:13 | 1:09:57 | 0:10:10 | 2:55:06 | 0:25:50 | 4:43:55 | |||
| 14 | 52 | Kenny | O Donnell | Male | 18:49:01 | 1:59:44 | 0:04:47 | 02:25:17 | 4:56:30 | 01:06:35 | 0:19:18 | 02:50:29 | 0:19:06 | 04:47:18 | |||
| 15 | 4 | Brendan | Doyle | Male | 18:55:43 | 2:04:14 | 0:03:51 | 01:57:22 | 4:48:44 | 01:23:15 | 0:34:35 | 02:47:55 | 0:25:04 | 04:50:47 | |||
| 16 | 91 | Sebastien | Giraud | Male | 19:03:14 | 1:52:52 | 0:07:48 | 01:48:37 | 4:55:55 | 01:06:31 | 0:15:13 | 02:55:43 | 0:18:47 | 05:41:52 | |||
| 17 | 43 | John | Connaghan | Male | 19:09:43 | 2:05:08 | 0:07:31 | 01:51:37 | 5:15:27 | 01:11:02 | 0:21:39 | 03:00:14 | 0:18:44 | 04:58:25 | |||
| 18 | 8 | Brian | Ward | Male | 19:26:10 | 2:05:41 | 0:09:51 | 01:57:13 | 5:12:12 | 01:29:27 | 0:14:49 | 03:04:40 | 0:20:08 | 04:52:13 | |||
| 19 | 28 | Gavin | Harris | Male | 19:31:59 | 2:01:35 | 0:01:46 | 02:08:19 | 4:48:41 | 01:34:53 | 0:12:24 | 02:47:44 | 0:17:29 | 05:39:12 | |||
| 20 | 95 | Tony | O Doherty | Male | 19:31:59 | 2:05:46 | 0:09:24 | 02:05:53 | 4:39:40 | 01:45:22 | 0:11:43 | 02:34:16 | 0:32:42 | 05:27:16 | |||
| 21 | 32 | Gerard | Callaghan | Male | 19:48:18 | 2:01:35 | 0:02:11 | 01:58:07 | 4:58:30 | 01:34:53 | 0:13:58 | 03:03:21 | 0:12:14 | 05:43:33 | |||
| 22 | 30 | Ger | Griffin | Male | 19:51:42 | 2:05:32 | 0:10:27 | 01:50:01 | 4:45:32 | 01:24:15 | 0:35:54 | 02:44:40 | 0:28:29 | 05:46:55 | |||
| 23 | 9 | Christina | Mackenzie | Female | 20:02:55 | 2:08:52 | 0:06:38 | 02:23:56 | 4:54:56 | 01:22:05 | 0:13:25 | 02:55:16 | 0:16:36 | 05:41:15 | |||
| 24 | 3 | Barry | maguire | Male | 20:11:15 | 2:05:09 | 0:09:56 | 02:27:47 | 5:06:33 | 01:17:48 | 0:24:30 | 02:44:54 | 0:25:57 | 05:28:44 | |||
| 25 | 68 | Oisin | Weldon | Male | 20:15:31 | 2:08:43 | 0:07:13 | 02:02:59 | 5:12:46 | 01:26:01 | 0:22:02 | 03:12:25 | 0:33:24 | 05:10:01 | |||
| 26 | 33 | Gerritt | Durnin | Male | 20:15:51 | 2:01:20 | 0:07:16 | 02:11:30 | 5:12:48 | 01:24:50 | 0:22:02 | 03:12:17 | 0:33:32 | 05:10:21 | |||
| 27 | 5 | Gerard | Prendergast | Male | 20:20:16 | 2:01:21 | 0:06:06 | 01:58:47 | 5:03:43 | 01:19:02 | 0:47:31 | 03:25:39 | 0:37:11 | 05:00:59 | |||
| 28 | 85 | Ronan | Graham | Male | 20:29:47 | 2:05:49 | 0:07:23 | 01:59:32 | 5:26:40 | 01:17:03 | 0:21:12 | 03:19:08 | 0:30:21 | 05:22:41 | |||
| 29 | 67 | Neville | McGroarty | Male | 20:48:40 | 2:12:33 | 0:07:57 | 01:55:19 | 5:42:43 | 01:24:23 | 0:30:57 | 03:25:14 | 0:32:32 | 04:57:07 | |||
| 30 | 35 | Graham | Sterritt | Male | 21:04:25 | 2:06:01 | 0:10:37 | 02:26:31 | 4:56:49 | 01:22:11 | 0:22:07 | 02:52:49 | 0:25:38 | 06:21:48 | |||
| 31 | 12 | Conor | Doris | Male | 21:13:45 | 2:25:46 | 0:16:15 | 03:23:46 | 4:51:04 | 01:08:27 | 0:24:41 | 03:00:40 | 0:26:31 | 05:16:38 | |||
| 32 | 51 | Ken | Eustace | Male | 21:15:05 | 2:12:39 | 0:09:05 | 02:10:30 | 4:56:03 | 01:34:35 | 0:27:39 | 03:11:00 | 0:34:29 | 05:59:10 | |||
| 33 | 42 | John | Coade | Male | 21:31:29 | 2:04:14 | 0:06:05 | 02:10:03 | 5:11:10 | 01:26:13 | 0:18:40 | 03:24:57 | 00:15:17 | 06:34:54 | |||
| 34 | 60 | Martin | Christie | Male | 21:31:30 | 2:18:49 | 0:03:41 | 02:02:25 | 5:24:31 | 01:17:46 | 0:24:30 | 03:11:22 | 0:25:58 | 06:22:31 | |||
| 35 | 1 | Abina | Whelan | Female | 21:45:24 | 2:20:26 | 0:03:47 | 01:55:25 | 5:32:48 | 01:36:34 | 0:16:47 | 03:13:49 | 0:14:45 | 06:31:05 | |||
| 36 | 27 | Una | Hall | Female | 21:48:05 | 2:12:32 | 0:06:18 | 02:17:51 | 5:52:49 | 01:11:16 | 0:19:08 | 03:30:30 | 0:40:10 | 05:37:35 | |||
| 37 | 81 | Paul | Good | Male | 22:03:01 | 2:05:45 | 0:09:28 | 02:22:16 | 5:41:51 | 01:18:55 | 0:18:21 | 03:19:26 | 0:33:17 | 06:13:45 | |||
| 38 | 6 | Brendan | Cross | Male | 22:05:20 | 2:08:28 | 0:11:33 | 02:07:46 | 5:51:44 | 01:12:58 | 0:27:22 | 03:11:20 | 00:17:45 | 06:36:28 | |||
| 39 | 34 | Gerry | McGuckin | Male | 22:05:20 | 2:09:37 | 0:07:47 | 02:18:07 | 5:25:43 | 01:41:54 | 0:19:16 | 03:15:35 | 0:26:22 | 06:21:02 | |||
| 40 | 55 | Luke | Daly | Male | 22:07:41 | 2:09:36 | 0:06:53 | 02:00:54 | 5:16:38 | 01:39:23 | 0:19:27 | 03:05:01 | 0:29:18 | 07:00:34 | |||
| 41 | 36 | Heather | Irvine | Female | 22:15:45 | 2:12:55 | 0:06:34 | 02:13:38 | 5:34:28 | 01:26:10 | 0:24:25 | 03:37:53 | 0:40:24 | 05:59:22 | |||
| 42 | 75 | Patrick | Snelgar | Male | 22:15:46 | 2:12:56 | 0:06:37 | 02:02:07 | 5:45:54 | 01:26:09 | 0:24:28 | 03:38:56 | 0:39:22 | 05:59:20 | |||
| 43 | 65 | Martin | Hennessy | Male | 22:17:40 | 02:06:47 | 00:10:03 | 03:14:57 | 05:58:22 | 01:14:05 | 00:06:42 | 02:55:10 | 00:45:10 | 05:46:29 | |||
| 44 | 26 | Eoin | Ryan | Male | 22:21:14 | 02:20:27 | 0:03:07 | 02:33:53 | 06:11:42 | 01:20:23 | 00:09:48 | 03:36:43 | 00:30:46 | 05:34:29 | |||
| 45 | 38 | Hugh | Hunter | Male | 22:31:13 | 02:30:31 | 0:12:26 | 01:45:08 | 06:41:23 | 01:24:58 | 00:19:08 | 03:31:37 | 00:28:51 | 05:37:15 | |||
| 46 | 79 | Paul | Syder | Male | 22:32:29 | 02:12:16 | 0:10:40 | 02:21:44 | 05:17:48 | 01:20:17 | 00:29:27 | 03:03:56 | 00:26:57 | 07:09:27 | |||
| 47 | 86 | Ronan | O’Brien | Male | 22:34:52 | 01:59:47 | 0:09:10 | 02:26:28 | 5:46:57 | 01:21:47 | 0:19:50 | 03:23:48 | 00:44:47 | 06:22:21 | |||
| 48 | 18 | David | Downes | Male | 22:38:57 | 02:25:59 | 0:05:20 | 02:33:33 | 5:35:48 | 01:32:18 | 00:11:00 | 03:33:58 | 00:15:36 | 06:25:30 | |||
| 49 | 45 | Arthur | McMahon | Male | 22:39:30 | 02:31:43 | 0:12:18 | 01:43:29 | 5:29:17 | 01:42:03 | 0:25:49 | 03:07:07 | 00:32:16 | 06:55:31 | |||
| 50 | 25 | Enda | McNicholas | Male | 22:41:54 | 02:08:53 | 0:16:41 | 02:12:03 | 05:58:49 | 01:29:11 | 00:42:38 | 03:28:11 | 00:36:04 | 05:49:28 | |||
| 51 | 76 | Paul | Canavan | Male | 22:46:34 | 02:25:58 | 0:04:21 | 02:15:31 | 05:55:32 | 01:31:31 | 00:27:31 | 03:26:36 | 00:13:22 | 06:26:17 | |||
| 52 | 78 | Paul | Carroll | Male | 22:47:41 | 02:05:42 | 0:07:09 | 02:07:40 | 6:13:26 | 01:33:25 | 0:29:32 | 03:21:08 | 00:19:00 | 06:30:43 | |||
| 53 | 82 | Peter | Murtagh | Male | 22:48:23 | 02:25:56 | 0:16:12 | 02:05:17 | 05:36:40 | 01:17:09 | 00:19:17 | 03:06:49 | 00:29:15 | 07:11:52 | |||
| 54 | 2 | Barry | Collins | Male | 22:48:23 | 02:25:55 | 0:15:30 | 02:01:51 | 5:31:10 | 01:25:22 | 0:18:52 | 03:13:27 | 00:38:03 | 06:58:16 | |||
| 55 | 14 | Damian | Campbell | Male | 22:59:01 | 02:24:13 | 0:07:45 | 02:51:06 | 05:35:27 | 01:30:20 | 00:25:54 | 03:31:34 | 00:40:11 | 05:52:35 | |||
| 56 | 48 | Karl | Fallon | Male | 22:59:01 | 02:24:04 | 0:07:51 | 02:26:28 | 6:00:07 | 01:29:45 | 0:26:43 | 03:30:40 | 0:40:37 | 05:52:50 | |||
| 57 | 53 | Liam | Campbell | Male | 22:59:21 | 02:04:18 | 0:04:56 | 02:23:09 | 6:00:08 | 01:27:13 | 0:16:27 | 03:33:18 | 0:30:02 | 06:39:54 | |||
| 58 | 39 | Joe | Laffan | Male | 22:59:40 | 02:08:30 | 0:11:32 | 02:43:48 | 6:09:48 | 01:09:45 | 0:27:40 | 03:25:30 | 00:34:09 | 06:09:03 | |||
| 59 | 41 | John | Boyce | Male | 23:01:15 | 02:31:17 | 0:10:49 | 01:45:42 | 05:37:38 | 01:24:50 | 00:25:03 | 03:16:18 | 00:34:37 | 07:15:06 | |||
| 60 | 29 | George | Kelly | Male | 23:01:15 | 02:31:20 | 0:10:45 | 01:44:30 | 5:38:53 | 01:25:03 | 0:24:42 | 03:14:23 | 00:37:02 | 07:14:42 | |||
| 61 | 49 | Keith | Ranalow | Male | 23:09:38 | 02:07:36 | 0:10:13 | 02:52:21 | 5:55:24 | 01:29:19 | 0:16:20 | 03:34:54 | 00:27:17 | 06:16:18 | |||
| 62 | 31 | Ger | O’Connor | Male | 23:09:39 | 02:30:16 | 0:23:02 | 02:19:50 | 05:59:21 | 01:11:52 | 00:26:04 | 04:07:24 | 00:27:12 | 05:44:42 | |||
| 63 | 23 | Eamonn | Diver | Male | 23:09:40 | 02:40:51 | 00:13:58 | 02:38:43 | 05:15:05 | 00:07:32 | 01:33:07 | 03:37:34 | 00:32:57 | 06:29:56 | |||
| 64 | 87 | Seamus | Morris | Male | 23:24:50 | 02:18:51 | 00:14:42 | 02:57:21 | 05:20:07 | 01:28:21 | 00:33:22 | 03:22:42 | 00:37:16 | 06:32:13 | |||
| 65 | 88 | Seamus | Mc Loughlin | Male | 23:29:40 | 02:12:25 | 00:06:22 | 02:28:34 | 06:17:52 | 01:43:15 | 00:09:26 | 04:11:04 | 00:19:34 | 06:01:12 | |||
| 66 | 54 | Loren | Harnett | Male | 23:31:25 | 02:15:53 | 00:07:13 | 02:22:21 | 05:51:58 | 01:23:16 | 00:32:32 | 03:29:39 | 00:40:12 | 06:48:27 | |||
| 67 | 17 | Dave | Riordan | Male | 23:33:42 | 02:26:46 | 00:15:35 | 02:17:35 | 05:50:01 | 01:23:22 | 00:39:35 | 03:55:02 | 00:40:10 | 06:05:40 | |||
| 68 | 46 | Trevor | Slattery | Male | 23:35:51 | 02:18:27 | 00:09:57 | 02:04:51 | 06:23:44 | 01:26:01 | 00:24:00 | 03:58:03 | 00:38:26 | 06:12:27 | |||
| DNF | 10 | Ciaran | Corcoran | Male | 02:43:26 | 00:13:00 | 02:27:57 | 05:47:35 | 00:02:08 | ||||||||
| DNF | 11 | Claire | Gleeson | Female | 02:25:57 | 00:07:03 | 03:17:47 | 06:10:45 | |||||||||
| DNF | 13 | Damian | Rogers | Male | 02:09:34 | 00:12:29 | 02:18:20 | ||||||||||
| DNF | 16 | Dave | Gowan | Male | 02:19:47 | 00:08:09 | 02:08:27 | 06:31:15 | 00:00:50 | ||||||||
| DNF | 19 | Dean | Rudd | Male | 02:22:12 | 00:09:47 | |||||||||||
| DNF | 20 | Declan | Faulkner | Male | 02:03:59 | 00:06:48 | |||||||||||
| DNF | 22 | Dermot | Keating | Male | 02:30:16 | 00:12:03 | 03:23:28 | 06:15:41 | |||||||||
| DNF | 24 | Edward | Matts | Male | 02:17:31 | 00:05:01 | 02:16:03 | 06:51:48 | |||||||||
| DNF | 40 | John | Magee | Male | 02:30:41 | 00:21:23 | 02:34:28 | ||||||||||
| DNF | 47 | Jose | Nicolas | Male | 02:23:58 | 00:12:26 | 02:25:51 | ||||||||||
| DNF | 50 | Keith | O Halloran | Male | 02:04:21 | 00:01:54 | |||||||||||
| DNF | 58 | Mark | Doyle | Male | 01:41:50 | 00:02:17 | 01:46:02 | 04:19:58 | 01:14:42 | ||||||||
| DNF | 71 | Pascal | Dorney | Male | 02:24:43 | 00:07:06 | |||||||||||
| DNF | 73 | Patrick | O’Doherty | Male | 02:43:16 | 00:08:34 | 02:25:32 | ||||||||||
| DNF | 77 | Paul | Knapp | Male | 02:18:28 | 00:09:57 | 02:15:13 | 06:14:16 | 01:29:01 | 00:20:01 | 04:05:03 | 00:31:29 | |||||
| DNF | 89 | Sean | Farrell | Male | 02:31:22 | 00:11:56 | 02:33:04 | 06:20:53 | 00:02:40 | 00:02:36 | |||||||
| DNF | 90 | Sean | Mason | Male | 02:24:40 | 00:09:38 | |||||||||||
| DNF | 94 | Terence | McDonagh | Male | 02:12:34 | 00:05:48 | 03:39:24 |
