The fifth Fermanagh Endurance Adventure Race, organised by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council in partnership with the district’s emergency services, attracted a record entry of 300 intrepid athletes to the scenic surroundings of Derrygonnelly and West Fermanagh on Saturday October 7, 2017.
Better known by its acronym FEAR, the endurance race was devised in 2013 as a ‘home grown’ event, primarily with the aim of attracting visitors to Derrygonnelly and West Fermanagh. 
The people of the area have truly embraced the event and the Council is grateful to Derrygonnelly & District Community Partnership and the management of Derrygonnelly Community Centre for their wholehearted support.
The challenging race route incorporated the hills of Knockmore, Big Dog Forest, the iconic Lough Navar viewpoint and cliff path, Magho shore and Garrison village. 
Starting and finishing at Derrygonnelly Community Centre, FEAR featured trail running and cycling, over a long course of 74 Km, or what was described as a ‘short’ course of 35 Km. 
Unfortunately, the short kayaking section at Magho jetty had to be excluded from the event due to rough conditions on Lough Erne, but the remainder of the event went ahead as scheduled.
Damp conditions on Saturday morning did not diminish the colourful spectacle of the mass start of both races outside the Community Centre. 
The Eddie Hoy and Mick Duffy Memorial Traditional Music Festival was also taking place in Derrygonnelly over the weekend, adding to the feel good factor which FEARmanagh generates in the locality.
The challenge for the long race competitors was to unseat reigning champion and king of FEARmanagh Robbie Bryson, who was going for a phenomenal four-in-a-row. 
The king had to relinquish his crown this year, with a young pretender, Shaun Stewart, winning the long race in 2 hrs, 58 mins and 47 secs (02:58:47). 
Second was Gareth Gallagher, who finished in 03:00:21, but Robbie was not far off the pace in third place, with a highly impressive time of 03:01:19.
Top male veteran over fifty was Derek Somerville with a time of 03:26:57 while the over forty title was claimed by Colin Kelly, in a time of 03:02:59.
The keenly contested female long race was won by Joan Flanagan with a time of 03:42:09. 
Maeve McKenna’s time of 03:45:06 was good enough for second place while Jenny McCready completed the top three with a time of 03:51:18. 
Annette Hughes won the female over forty race in 04:06:07 and Rose Reilly was the over 50 winner with 05:04:53.
In the short race the top three females were Helen Flanagan who secured third place in 01:59:26, Alice Funston with 01:57:45 was runner up and Caroline Greene was crowned Women’s Short-Race winner, in a time of 01;54:14. Mary Duffy was the female over 40 winner and Louise Togneri won the over 50 prize.
Anthony McGibney was the male winner in the short race with a time of 1:33:24, Adrian Farrell’s 01:34:56 earned him the runner up spot and Barry King came in third with 01:41:36. 
Peter Turkington was the male over 60 winner, Gerry Murphy was top male over 50 and Jonny Gregg won the prize for quickest Male over 40.
In the team events, the Secret Trainers came out on top in the long race, Team CF won the short race and The Firefighters won the Emergency Services team award. 
Barry King was the winner of the annual Ciaran Murphy Memorial Trophy, presented by Ciaran’s family in recognition of his courageous struggle with Cystic Fybrosis, to raise awareness of the disease and to encourage organ donation.