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The Turas Continues from Gougane Barra Through The 'Form Shaping' Beara Peninsula
An exciting night at Gougane Barra as fireworks lit up the skies and
Turas teams wheeled in on their bikes. Proprietors Neil and Katie Lucey
put on a huge show of live music featuring Elanor Shanley, and bonfires
by the lake for the traditional Feile Tine. Never in an adventure race
has there been such a warm welcome for teams as they come into transition.
First across the gates of Ostan Gougane Barra was Team Sport
2000-Vibram-La Fuma from France. They zoomed in the driveway lit with
flashing blue lights to a huge crowd of cheers as people ran out of the
bar and marquee to see the long awaited arrival of the lead team. Into
the transition tent they had were put into ‘jail’ for 8 minutes where
they paid a time penalty accrued from Stage 1 in Dingle. As soon as they
paid their sentence, they changed clothes, packed up their bikes got
some food and headed out into an absolutely gruelling night hike of
100km. As punishing a 100km hike is on a beautiful day, imagine how
challenging it would be in the rain, wind and dark of night!
About 40 minutes after La Fuma passed through the transition last night,
the lead Kiwi team, Orion Health followed in suit. We were all ears as
the first thing out of their mouths was “We want to protest!” They
turned themselves in admitting they didn’t follow the prescribed route
and took a shorter course through Bantry town, they called Lafumas bluff
too who also took a detour to the race route! Orion Health decided to
pay their 3 hour penalty in the comfort of Gougane Barra, out of the
wind and rain and recharge their batteries.
As we sit here in Gougane Barra about 13 hours after the first team
arrived, teams are still meandering through the transition area and we
caught up with a few of them as they grab a cup of coffee in the dining
room. At about 7.15am this morning team Irish AR Denny got to Gougane
Barra looking a bit tired as they housed one member who was feeling
particularly washed out after a gruelling night on the hills. "We are
doing ok, we just need to look after him and get him ready to go out
there again" siad 'Bionic Woman' Roisin Mac Donnell. Margot Buckhorn
from Irish team Midlands AR has just walked in the door with a big smile
on her face “I’ve been having such a good time, I can’t believe we are
doing so well, we are holding up really well”. As they sit at the table
next to us, they are in cheery spirits and catching up with the previous
night’s gossip and race reports from the operations crew. They found the
orienteering at night very difficult. It was like a blanket search out
there, all we could see were little lights from head torches bobbing
around the place” team leader Pat Marhshall. They will continue to race
despite missing some checkpoints and are going to head out and look for
them! Go guys! The remaining Irish team to check in at Gougane Barra is
Team Gaeilgoir.
Team Buff Coolmax from Spain have officially retired from the race due
to non serious medical reasons.
As the Turas packs up in Gougane Barra we are moving on to Kilmacillogue
and Sneem where there will be further festivities and shenanigans. The
excitement continues!
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