A refreshers course on where it all began for the McDonalds.
Having made a great start in the competition, the Ballyroan family made it all the way to the final in second place narrowly missing out on the title to The Coneys from Tyrone.
A great achievement!
The McDonald family from Ballyroan had the perfect start on the hugely popular Ireland’s Fittest Family programme on RTE this evening.
An emphatic first place finish in the opening event was the reward for the Ballyroan family, who exhibited exceptional stamina and great teamwork to blow away the rest of the field.
Literally joined at the hip by rope, the Laois outfit were head and shoulders above the rest of the field on the seaside running and “over-under” course to qualify for the next stage and establish themselves as one of the main favourites to be crowned Ireland’s Fittest Family 2018.
The McDonalds are well known in athletics circles in Laois. Dad Martin is in his 60s and is an international mountain runner and farmer.
All three of his children are heavily involved in the sport too with Breda, who is a teacher in Heywood, and Kate, competing regularly for Ballyroan, Abbeyleix and District AC.
Cian is the youngest member of the team and is in secondary school in Heywood CS.
He has represented Ireland at international level mountain running.
The McDonalds will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of, or maybe even go one better than, the Mulhare family who competed in this a few years ago.
The Mulhare family from Portlaoise appeared in the second series of the competition.
Coached by former Olympian Derval O’Rourke, the international long distance runners made it as far as the final and were pipped at the finish line by the Kingstons of Cork.
<strong>SEE ALSO – <a href=”https://www.laoistoday.ie/2018/10/28/away-day-blues-as-portlaoise-suffer-first-loss-of-the-season/”>Disappointing day for Portlaoise rugby as they suffer first loss of the season</a></strong>
SEE ALSO – PROFILED: The McDonald family going for Ireland’s Fittest Family glory
