Carlingford Lough Endurance Challenge Race Report by Johnny McCabe

The teams head for the Kayaks and 6k of relay paddle.....water is choppy but the wind is not as bad as earlier .... One team member must run across to the other side of the bay and be there before the other two team members arrive in the Kayak , once there the cards are punched and a change over is made before setting off out to the buoy which looks miles away.... into a head wind with choppy seas...... its not long before legs are cramping again and arms are hanging off ... Team pass each other in the opposite direction... turning at the buoy and heading for the sailing club... Closed eyes and keep digging the paddle into the water... must get to the shore..must get to the shore.... arrive at the slipway another change over, four to go, map punched..... in the boat and head off... ..break into a jog.... and its off to the castle again.... punch the map and its off again.

Last change over, out and rounding the buoy...... home is in sight....
hitting the slipway at the sailing club, all three members Mahon, McCluskey and Lawlor reunited for the final run along the sea front........ on to the castle... up the steps....and a quick loop through the centre of Carlingford... Satisfied with a job well done, not far to the finish now and turning the corner into the sailing club... delighted to finish. First team finishing in a time of 4 hours 59 minutes and the final team, the local men, Oliver Murphy (smiling all the way, almost !) Vincent Loughran and Michael Hanlon arriving in in a time of 7 hours 39 minutes.... a very good day out.

 After a wonderful steak BBQ in the Sailing Club....the night was only starting and the party just begun with 'the Willing Fools' providing a great nights entertainment.

Thanks once again to the Carlingford Piped Band for a wonderful pre-battle march, the local Garda, Carlingford Red Cross and Gabriel O'Loughlin, Outdoor Xchange, Tony Kelly from Sustainablehomes.ie & JADE Events, Carlingford Sailing Club, Fyffee's, Dundalk Canoe Club, Laura McCabe And Paddy Bell time keepers for the day and all the other Volunteers on the day.
It simply would not happen without them !!! Next Year, for sure, where the normal limits will not apply !!!!!!!!!
 
 
Results:-
1st Paul Mahon; Beth Mc Cluskey; Gery Lawlor (Mixed) 4 hours 59 mins
2nd Eoin Keith; Bob Boles, Chris Caughfield (Male) 5 hours 04 mins
3rd David McKeown; Ray O'Shaughnessy; Seamus Byrne (Male) 5 hours 18 mins
4th Kevin Lynch; Cathel McCreevey; Paul McArthur (Male) 5 hours 28 mins
 
1st Female Team - Fiona Barrett; Jackie Howard; Pauline Brady - 6 hours 35 mins
2nd " " - Una May; Mary O'Connell; Zoe Melling - 6 hours 58 mins
 
2nd Mixed Team - Melanie Earwaker; Niall Donovan; John Casey
3rd " " - Greg Byrne; Grainne Connor; Aisling Corkery

For more information on the Carlingford Endurance Challenge please visit the website at: www.clec.ie or click on the following link!