The Cavan Kayakarun

The Cavan Kayakarun.

The late Michael Jackson has a well know hit,’ You Gotta be startin Somethin.. I’m not sure if it was the inspiration for Gabriel Shalvey and Michael Fitzpatrick when they hatched the idea of having this unique challenge, The Cavan Kayakarun, around the roads and waterways of Maudabawn and Knockbride on August 7th.
On the day of the event I did notice a Michael Jackson look-alike spinning hits at the DJ booth outside the starting area at Gallonray House. So maybe there was some celestial karma with whacko J going on somewhere in the ether.

Or was it that the Cavan GAA team had once again fell short of the getting a sniff at going anywhere in the pursuit of an All Ireland final appearance, that made local people decide to be their very own sporting heroes. Don’t depend on others, get up off the couch. Brothers and sisters are doing it for themselves.
So the event was launched. A 5k run up the Drooka road, across the savagely steep Peppers Bray.( Who’d be mad enough to want to do that?) Quite a few as it turned out. A 1km Kayak on Barnagrove Lake,( the nice bit), and finishing with a 15 km cycle around via Canning town back to Gallonray House.
.People like myself who have been cycling for well on 20 years, were delighted that we could participate in an event on our very own doorstep. We attended meetings and helped as best we could .The weekly Saturday morning Kayak practise was great fun. I and most others had never sat in a kayak before. Now were hooked to a great pastime in a locality where we have so many accessible lakes and rivers.

Despite the recession local bike shops were reporting a sudden upward spike in trade. Questions about the best tyres to use, the correct pressure to pump to, the right gear rations for the rolling cycle route, were being asked by those less familiar with the humble bicycle. Tour De France stages were being closely monitored to see how Cancellera, Contador and Lance Armstrong and Co. can make bicycles go very fast.

Trial runs were enacted, to test the logistics and for some of us participating, to set times to better on the day. Yes we could run up Peppers Bray, and walking was also an option. No problem getting out to the island on Barnagrove and back without capazing. The worst was a wet backside, but for the likes of me who was reared without an arse in my trousers, that wasn’t a problem. The local ‘Hells Angles’ with their motor bikes and Honda 50’s turned up to marshall the course ensuring a safe passage for all competitors. Some of the elite runners could even out run the Honda 50’s.

The day of the event drew closer. Boxes were ticked and plans were fell into place. Entries were filling up, coming from near and far. Things were looking good. Even the weather was promising to behave. God must love endurance events. Of course He does. Didn’t he do that famous one up Calvary with a cross on his back? Was it as steep as Peppers Bray? I doubt it.

And so as advertised on Saturday 7th of August the first ever Cavan Kayak run began shortly after 2.00pm at Gallonray House, Maudabawn. Over 200 competitors of all shapes, sizes, and ability’s stood on the start line and prepared to meet the challenge. Everyone was a winner long before they would cross the finish line. It’s the taking part that counts.
Logistically everything went smoothly. All the transition areas functioned like a well oiled machine, thanks to all of those helped out. Out on the circuit that’s the one thing that really impressed me. The number of people who gave up their time, from farmers and others who may have had better things to do on a Saturday, to help with the event. Shows the great community spirit and good will that the event attracted. You don’t get that sort of thing in every town or parish

I don’t think there was anyone one from the oldest to the youngest who didn’t finish the event or section of. We all made some new sporting friends and acquaintances in the process. There’ll be more events to get stuck into, bike tours, runs, kayak’s and raft races over the next few months.
Will there be another Kayakarun in 2011. I’d safely say that there will. But for now we can just enjoy the buzz and excitement and sense of achievement we all got form being a part of it all.

Brian Reynolds
August 2010