Noble effort but Brackens lose out in Fittest Family

A gruelling day’s action finished in disappointment for the Bracken family from Ballinabrackey in Sunday night’s quarter final of Ireland’s Fittest Family.

That disappointment was all the more acute due to the fact that their defeat was so narrow: the gap between them and the O’Rourke family was just 2.5 seconds, and it came in the final leg of the final stage, as Andrew Bracken and opponent Fiona O’Rourke attempted to join their three teammates at the top of the ramp.

As Fiona was dragged to the platform by the O’Rourke family team members, Andrew, realising it was game over, slid to the bottom, although nobly, he opted to repeat that stage to formally complete the race.

The Brackens were heartbroken. “Devastated. That is all there is to say. It’s devastating,” said Ruaidhrí Bracken, the disappointment etched on his face.

“Gutted – absolutely gutted,” was the reaction of Andrew, father of Ruaidhrí (18), Eoghan (20) and Ailbhe (16).

“We didn’t really want to be in the eliminator, and it’s grand if you come out on top, you’ll put up with it. But if you don’t, you are gutted,” he stated.

Ailbhe chose the same word as her father to describe her reaction, saying that she too was gutted. “There are no words…,” she said.

Team mentor Anna Geary reckoned it all came down to “that little bit of luck”.

The competitors were really put through their paces, and Anna Geary, the Brackens’ mentor, was full of praise for them for having given it their all.

The element of the competition that elicits the most interest is ‘Hanging Tough’, where competitors attempt to hang on for as long as possible to a bar hanging over the water. In this, it was youngest team member, Ailbhe, who lasted longest.