Ballyhoura Failte Ltd along with Race organisers Causeway Coast Adventure Racing had 50 teams of four registered for the race which ran from July 30th- August 3rd, and not just from around Europe, as there were 2 South African entries as well. The entry list included teams from 15 nations in all, making the race one the most international adventure races anywhere in the world! The entry included the most experienced Irish and UK teams, including Team Adidas TERREX (UK), who won the European title in Turkey last year and took the European Title again in Ballyhoura in 2015. There were strong Swedish entries, which included
SWECO, who are 10th in the AR World Series rankings and entries from Czech Republic, Spain, Holland, France, Denmark, Estonia, and Switzerland. Feedback from all the participants has been fantastic with everyone so enthused about the race route, the scenery and the standard, the response to the section of bike trails at the Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Park was excellent, with some claiming it was the “best tracks they had ever ridden”! Ballyhoura Failte wish to congratulate all participants and indeed thank everyone who helped put in hours of work marshalling and stewarding across the race route and through the night and early mornings. A huge thank you to the amazing
Ballyhoura Hostel for looking after the participants at the finish line in Kilfinane for food and showers and some much needed comforts, 8 Degrees brewing for providing sustenance of a different nature at the finish line for all racers!; Temple Dairy for providing chocolate protein milk to the racers on their 72 hour endurance race, the City and County Councils in Waterford, Cork, Limerick & Tipperary for their support and help, Coillte for access to all sites, the community centres in Kilbehenny, Ballymacarbry & Kilfinane, UL sports hall & arena, Mitchelstown Caves for their control point, and all the medics, stewards, marshals, search & rescue at all locations across the 500km terrain.
The event has captured the imagination of media internationally and was a great boost to the profile of the Ballyhoura Region!
