The Beast of Ballyhoura 2015 Has Begun

Rob Howard / 30.07.2015

It wasn’t the most organised start to the day at the Beast of Ballyhoura, but then it was 5am and a fair number of teams probably had trouble sleeping.

With the buses due to leave at 05.30 it was an early morning call to get the teams moving, or maybe it should have been an early morning shout as some were slow to get organised, but eventually the buses were full and moving, on their way to the start near Waterford.

It was a 2 hour journey so there was time to doze and munch breakfast on the way, but not to stop ... so there was a mad rush for the toilets and the portaloos when the 3 coaches arrived at Curraghmore House on the estate of Lord Waterford.

This is an imposing square mansion which is said to have been built around an original 12 Century fortification and the facade is topped by an immense stone statue of a red deer. The teams disgorged from the coaches in the vast courtyard in front of the house, having arrived just after the 8am start time, and it took a while for everyone to find a toilet and get ready.

There was time for last minute embraces with supporters and team mates, a few photos with the backdrop of the house and by 08.35 everyone was lined up across the courtyard and the race began!

There was a bit of congestion as teams funnelled out of the gate in a cloud of dust and then they were off on stage one, following the marked trail run route. This took them uphill into the estate fields and back down to a track that ran past the ornamental lake and gardens behind the house. It was an impressive view over the lake to the formal gardens with the house behind and the sun had come out for the start to show it off to best effect.

Bringing up the rear of field, chatting happily and stopping to enjoy the view and take a photo were the Lunar Chicks and they followed the rest of the teams out of the estate and towards the river where they set off to paddle downstream into the city of Waterford.

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