LOCAL TEAM TRIUMPHS
Published: 27 September, 2009
A team from the Dromintee/Jonesborough area has come first in the Oxfam Trailtrekker challenge. The team led by Kevin Donegan completed the 100 km course in 18hrs 51mins. Kevin and his two nephews, Ciaran McMullan and Cillian Murray faced stiff competition from 96 other teams.
Starting at Rostrevor at 7.30am on Saturday morning the teams including some from America, Europe and Hong Kong hiked over the mountain to Warrenpoint. Having crossed Carlingford Lough in small craft they headed for Camloch stopping briefly at St. Pauls to check in and replenish their fluids. Slieve Gullion Courtyard was their next stop where they could avail of a massage for their taut muscles and stock up on water before crossing the mountain to Mullaghban. Ti Chulainn was the venue for their next check in. By now four teams had pulled ahead of the rest of the field. It was late evening and the headlamps of the teams could be seen spread out acoss Slieve Gullion
like fire-flies.
Onwards to Jonesborough where the next Oxfam checkpoint was based at the Enterprise Centre before hiking through Ravensdale, across the mountain and down into Carlingford.
Kevin and his nephews ran the last mile into Carlingford, crossing the finish line
at 2.21am Sunday morning to rapturous applause from the gathered Oxfam volunteers.
Cillian Murray at 17yrs old crossed the line first. Describing the scene Cillian stated," It was the best welcome i've ever had."
Kevin thanked those that helped organise the event and raise the 2000 euro needed to enter. " A special thanks to our back-up team who were there for us during a hard 100km." he said
Local Sinn Féin councillor Packie McDonald congratulated all those that took part in the challenge. He commended Oxfam Ireland for organizing the event, the first time it has been held in Ireland.
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