Niamh Wins Staff Olympics

Niamh upset the odds and won the first ever staff Olympics with an emphatic display of stamina and fitness. Babs claimed the silver medal with Gareth picking up the bronze.

Each competitor had to take part in four separate disciplines in succession – 500 metres on the cross training, a 1000 metre run, 500 skips and 10 lengths of the swimming pool (220 metres). The combined time for the four phases counted as their score.

In the gym section of the challenge Claire and Lorraine set fast times in practice on the cross trainer but on the day Chris came out on top with a time of 4 minutes and 2 seconds for the 500m distance. Babs was fastest for skipping with a time of 3 minutes and 29 seconds. Gareth proved to be the fastest runner with a time of 4 minutes and 4 seconds over the 1000 metre distance. However Niamh’s consistency over the three phases helped her to build a narrow 27 second lead over Babs going into the swimming phase.

The swimming proved to be Niamh’s strongpoint however as she put in a performance that would have done Michael Phelps proud. Her time of 4 minutes and 8 seconds for the 10 lengths set an impossible standard for the other competitors. After the swimming Niamh’s combined time was 17 minutes and 45 seconds with Babs in second at 19 minutes and 41 seconds and Gareth in third just 30 seconds further back.

The event proved to be a source of great fun and friendly rivalry for all who took part. Everyone can point to where they could have done better and are already planning ways to shave some seconds off their times next time around. For the time being though we would all like to congratulate Niamh on her great win.

Smarmore Staff Olympics - Meet the competitors

As the epic event got underway we had an quick chat with the competitors to get their views on a number of key questions:

1. State Strongest Discipline & reason why?
2. State Weakest Discipline & reason why?
3. Who do you think is your biggest threat & why?
4. What advantage do you feel you have over the rest of the competitors?
5. What do you hope to achieve by completing this challenge?

GARETH – Trains 4 to 5 times a week

1. Running –As I train with the Dorsey Emmets in Armagh working on stamina. This also gives me my lovely shapely legs which I know Barbara is jealous of ( already a psychological advantage).
2. Skipping—It’s not something I’m used to doing as I’ve never needed to do it.
3. Everyone. Despite all of us being good friends it’s clear everyone’s taking it very seriously. Barbara is a definite threat as she has been training and is the one to watch. Chris is also naturally athletic & will push everyone.
4. I’m already quite fit from training with the Gaelic team so that has to help.
5. I hope to WIN. It’ll be a good opportunity to show our younger members of staff who they have to look up to.

BABS Trains—3-4 times a week

1. Skipping - My dad trained boxers & skipping was a big part of their training hence my nickname “Mrs Rocky”.
2. Running—I’m built for stamina not speed.
3. Gareth because if it kills him, he’ll try to win although I don’t know how he’ll cope when I beat him.
4. I have web toes so I can swim like a fish.
5. To Win of course. I also believe in girl power, so come on Lorraine, Niamh & Claire.

CHRIS Trains - Not often

1. Running as I’m used to sports. I play soccer & golf!!!!
2. Skipping & swimming. Not used to skipping & haven’t built up my endurance level for swimming.
3. Lorraine as she has a big advantage at swimming and Barbara at skipping.
3. I can drink more than them on a night out & take a size 10 in shoes.
4. I hope it will get me back training fully & boost my fitness levels.

NIAMH Trains—Sporadically

1. Getting changed from my exercise gear into my swimsuit. I know if I focus I can do this.
2. Crosstrainering. Can’t stop myself from pedalling backwards.
3. Lidl and it’s wide range of rich creamy chocolate.
4. I have no doubt I will be the best fuelled given the amount of food I’ll tell myself I need to eat in order to compete.
5. I hope to survive but mostly I’m looking forward to the amount of laughing and fun we’re going to have.

CLAIRE Trains—Enough

1. Skipping, it’s a girls thing.
2. Cross trainer because I find using my legs & arms at the same time tough.
3. Nobody threatens me, I’m invincible.
4. As I’m the youngest I don’t need to train as much as the oldies.
5. I hope to shut Barbara up!

LORRAINE Trains-3 times a week

1. Swimming. My height is an advantage amongst all the little people I work with.
2. Skipping. I have no rhythm, not like Mrs Rocky.
3. Niamh because she’s a dark horse.
4. Us women can multi task so we can show the lad’s how it’s done.
5. Improve my fitness and beat the rest of them.

Now that the talking is over the events can begin. Full details to follow.

Olympic fever reaches Smarmore

Olympic fever has reached our leisure club this month as our fitness team and members are taking part in the first “Smarmore Olympics”. Inspired by the efforts of athletes in Beijing our staff have organised a series of events to help everyone get fit while having a bit of fun.

The first part of the “Smarmore Olympics" is a special staff only event. It consists of four phases (cross trainer and treadmill challenges, skipping and swimming) with the gold medal being awarded to the person who completes the events in the quickest time.

This event will show that our fitness team really can practice what they preach and should motivate our members to take up a similar challenge later in the month.

Back from holiday

Apologies to readers for the lack of postings over the past few weeks. The Smarmore Castle blog is back in business now and will bring you all the news from one of Ireland's oldest castles from now on. Despite the wet weather we have had a wide range of guests from all corners of the globe this year. The castle has always been popular with guests from the USA and the UK but this year we were delighted to welcome a record number of visitors from Germany, Switzerland, France, Canada and Austria.

Speaking of Austria, the picture shows one of the places I visited this summer, the Mirabell gardens in Salzburg. Austria has a long association with Smarmore Castle through the exploits of the Taaffe family. One member of the family was Prime Minister of Austria in the early 20th century. Salzburg is famous for its association with Baroque music and the annual Ardee Baroque festival will take place again this November.