Three in a row! County council wins 2019 Fittest Company title
Westmeath County Council are officially Westmeath’s Fittest Company as they won – for the third successive year – the final of the contest on Saturday April 27.
The popular corporate challenge event, now in its sixth year, took place at Lilliput Adventure Centre on Lough Ennell.
Despite various weather warnings and mixed conditions on the day, 25 company teams from Athlone to Collinstown to Mullingar and the rest of the county competed.
The defending champions lined up with determination alongside teams from DPD, Annebrook House Hotel, Writech, Medtronic, Bloomfield House Hotel, Westmeath Examiner, KCI Manufacturing, Trend Technologies, Chris Lynch Recycling, Shanette Sheds, Reilly Mushrooms, TEG, LIDL and Decotek Automotive Ltd.
New challenges introduced to this year’s event included ‘hang tough’, where two contestants from each team had to hang from a bar for as long as they could. The standout contestant here was Justin Kelpsa from Chris Lynch Waste Management, who held on for (easily the longest) just over four minutes.
Due to strong offshore winds the kayaking section was replaced by a medicine ball throwing strength challenge, and Joe Kinahan of Team DPD excelled, throwing the 8kg ball just over 10 metres.
After that show of strength, the obstacle and bog course was a gruelling test of endurance and strength.
However, despite these exceptional individual performances, it was team work and consistency that won the day, and none were more consistent team than Westmeath County Council, who took home the open category title for the third year running.
The ladies title also went to Westmeath County Council, who defeated defending ladies champions Trend Technology in a close battle to reclaiming the title they last won in 2017.
DPD Athlone were runners up in an excellent display of teamwork and newcomers Shanette Sheds from Kilbeggan were third.
This year’s winners took home €400 in cash sponsored by Maurice Looby Fitness, a €150 voucher from Derrymore Springs, for a full days fishing and boat hire, and the trophy.
The ladies team won €200 cash sponsored by Maurice Looby Fitness and vouchers to the value of €500 sponsored by Annie in Profile Hair Design.
No one left empty handed though as all participants received their coveted Westmeath Fittest Company medals, sponsored by Maurice Looby Fitness.
There was a huge fundraising effort by the teams (final total to be confirmed later in the week) for various charities, including LARCC, RehabCare, Jigsaw and Good2Talk. Prizes for the company and individual to raise the most were sponsored by KC Sports and Fuji Coffee in Mullingar.
Principal event organiser Maurice Looby said: “Despite the inclement weather, this year’s event was our most exciting and hard fought yet. Thanks must go to so many people who helped make it happen. Cross Fit Cu Chulainn for supporting in helping teams prepare, Franky Wright at Lilliput Adventure our event host, our video sponsor this year Studio 93, Midlands 103 and Westmeath Examiner our media partners. Maureen Staunton Ahern for event photography.
“Special thanks to Kevin Kelleher from Health Step Physiotherapy, who looked after any pre- or post-race niggles. CLR Chris Lynch Recycling sponsored the commercial bins, helping to keep the Lilliput clean and tidy on the day, and thanks too to the Order of Malta. “And, not least, thanks to the crew including Seamus Goonery, Sandra Kennedy, Alannah Looby, Christopher Cribbin and Des Seepersad (Number 4 from RTÉ 2’s Ultimate Hell Week, Special Forces).”
Is there a Company team that can beat Westmeath County Council? If you missed out on this year’s event and would like to register interest in participating in 2020, see Westmeath’s Fittest Company on Facebook.