THE RACE IS in its third staging in Donegal – Ireland’s first 24-hour endurance event, which is over 250km. Follow here for the latest.
Right, we’re headed back to Gartan and will bring you the finish from there!
From the tracking system, all safely from Donegal and on Stage 5 are (as well as those listed below): Luke Daly, George Kelly, John Boyle, Paul Good, Arthur McMahon and Hugh Hunter. That’s open to correction!
Christina McKenzie is the leading woman and looking to add to the title she won back in 2014. She is almost in Dungloe
Olejniczak is approaching Glenveagh National Park – roughly halfway through the marathon Stage 6. Rob McDonald is second with Martin Lynch from Ramelton third.
From a Donegal perspective, Peter O’Donnell from Kilmacrennan is fifth and into his marathon, as is seventh placed Hugh Coll from Milford.
Gavin Harris is 12th and still on Stage 5, having gone through Gweedore. Kenny O’Donnell, also from Convoy is 15th, Gerard Callaghan from Letterkenny is 16th and John Connaghan from Arranmore is 17th, with the trio cycling together.
Our race leader Mariusz Olejniczak, has just started the final marathon with Rob McDonald, Paul Tierney and Martin Lynch in pursuit
— The Race (@TheRace_ie) March 5, 2016
Luke Daly on Atlantic Drive stage @Adventure1Surf@TheRace_ie#TheRace2016pic.twitter.com/Wj6oKgVRjN
— Brian Boyce (@boycieNo7) March 5, 2016
Latest, first is Olejniczak headed toward Muckish with Paul Tierney second and Rob McDonald third. We’ll be back in a little while. Please click here for the latest tracking, courtesy of therace.ie
Is this the first time we’ve seen a blue sky during the race ever?! It’s short lived! @MagnetNetworks #TheRace2016 pic.twitter.com/kz44RRb73j
— The Race (@TheRace_ie) March 5, 2016
Abina Whelan, who is in Carrigart, is the current leader of the ladies’ event.
Paul Tierney, who was first into Rathmullan earlier this morning, was snapped by Geraldine Diver
George Kelly’s fans are asking us how he is getting on on Facebook. At the minute George is getting close to home in Downings as he’s almost in Carrigart.
Latest from the course is that Olejniczak is building up a good advantage on stage 3. He’s headed towards Glenveagh National Park with Muckish next as the rest of the field only on Lough Salt
@DonegalSportHub Peter o Donnell kilmacrennan and hugh Coll from Milford are both past downings and looking strong #therace
— Joe gibbons (@Joeg153) March 5, 2016
Ok, we’re back here. Lots going on!
George Kelly’s supporters Maurice Owens and Louise Shiels are cheering on their man at #TheRace2016
We’re going to go out on the course again (and mean it this time!!) for a little while so Please click here for the latest tracking, courtesy of therace.ie – we’ll be back with photos and videos etc
Paul Carroll and Ronan Graham, caught by Geraldine Diver as they left Gartan this morning not long after 5am
Please click here for the latest tracking, courtesy of therace.ie
The top three is as you were – Tierney, Olejniczak and Doyle – perhaps two-thirds they way through Stage 2. On their trails are a group of six, with Martin Kirwin, Pablo Lopez, Rob McDonald, Martin Lynch, Hugh Coll (Milford) and Martin Carey.
Geraldine Diver is awaiting the Race in Rathmullan, where the sun is up and it’s very tranquil
Big turnout in Ramelton to see the competitors begin the paddle #TheRace2016 pic.twitter.com/fzC7POCduD
— The Race (@TheRace_ie) March 5, 2016
Sean McFadden’s video of Arthur McMahon heading for Ramelton and the kayak. McMahon is from nearby Milford
https://wwwfacebook.com/100009357970197/videos/1581199635535287/
Last year Sean McFadden from Letterkenny won the Race; this year he’s watching on in Ramelton, taking snaps of Gavin Harris.
We’re going to go out on the course again for a little while so Please click here for the latest tracking, courtesy of therace.ie – we’ll be back with photos and videos etc
From a local perspective, Milford’s Hugh Coll is fifth and Peter O’Donnell – in the same group – of Kilmacrennan is 10th. Letterkenny’s Gerard Callaghan and Gavin Harris from Convoy are in the kayaks and John Connaghan from Arranmore in about to get into the water.
Lot of activity now in Ramelton for the first transition as competitors get themselves ready for the 15km kayak Stage 2 to Rathmullan.
Maureen and Brian Fryer-Kelsey at Ballyare bridge out with tea and coffee for the runners and volunteers braving the rain, hail and sleet – Photo by Paul Doherty
5am dark wet & windy, let the race begin @focus_onfitness @TheRace_ie pic.twitter.com/vJdh8SDB4P
— Martin Kirwan (@focus_onfitness) March 5, 2016
Please click here for the latest tracking, courtesy of therace.ie
Behind Tierney, Olejniczak and Doyle there’s a group of seven – time differences to come – and Donegal’s Hugh Coll, Milford, and Peter O’Donnell from Kilmacreannan, who isn’t far from home.
Ok, in 2014 Paul Tierney was third at the end of the stage one, in a time of 1:36:52. This year he’s in the top three who are already breaking away from the field. Mariusz Olejniczak from Poland but based in Kildare has joined Tierney, as has Mark Doyle. They’re approaching Ramelton at the first transition.
If you’re not familiar with the Race, it’s broken down into six stages:
Stage 1 is a 22km jog from Gartan to Ramelton before Stage 2 – a 15km kayak on Rathmullan. Stage 3 is 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 then is a 5km scramble up and down Muckish before Stage 5 means it’s time to get back on the bike for 68km from Muckish around the Bloody Foreland and back to Doochary. Then, to finish, there’s a full marathon back to Gartan via Glenveagh National Park for Stage 6.
We’ve had a latecomer! We’ll not say who but someone missed the start by a few minutes and is playing catch-up. The story will be told later no doubt!
It’s spitting rain at Gartan Outdoor Education Centre in Donegal, with spirits high as 85 competitors get underway in the Race. It’s 5am and those involved must complete the course in 24 hours.
And they’re off …
https://wwwyoutube.com/watch?v=0RlQ-jpNQko
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