Episode 7 – The Swamp
After battling through ‘The Forest’ and ‘The Lake’, six families have reached the semi-final of Ireland’s Fittest Family which takes place in ‘The Swamp’ as they compete to be one of four families in the final on ‘The Mountain’.
Derval O’Rourke has an unbeaten record and arrives in the semi-final with four families, the Kulczynskis from Clare, the Mileys from Kildare, the O’Rourkes from Galway, and the Cullens from Wexford. They will compete against Davy Fitzgerald’s Mahoneys from Wexford and Donncha O’Callaghan’s Allens from Tipperary. Anna Geary crashed out of the competition in the quarter-finals.
Tonight’s semi-final is separated into two heats with three families pitted against each other in a time trial in each one. The winning family of each heat will make it through to the final while the two losing families go head to head in an eliminator. So, yes, that means we have not one but two eliminators in tonight’s semi-final. It’s going to be an exciting day here in ‘The Swamp’.
Heat One: 3 families – Swamp Trek
The time trial starts with a trek through 100 metres of energy-sapping bog. Next it’s out over a ladder where they face a 120 metre dash before a jump into the water. From there, it’s a swim to the platform. The clock stops when all four members of the family are standing up on the platform in the water.
Eliminator One:
This eliminator starts with a 100-metre sprint by the swamp with a log. It’s onto a series of obstacles and small walls that are close together, then the families run around a hay bale and onto the horizontal rat tunnels which are off the ground. Ahead of them then lies the biggest cargo net crawl we’ve ever had, it’s onto a freezing cold ice bath to slow them down, and if that isn’t enough it’s onto our 10-foot wall followed by our signature ramps. The family at the top first wins the race and a place in the final and the loser is eliminated.
Heat Two: Three families – Devil’s Creek
This time trial begins with a test of balance as they make their way across the beams. Then right to edge, the monkey bars over the swamp. They must attempt these three times before they can move on. Next up is a cargo net climb. And as if that isn’t enough, the swamp awaits. The families must wade their way through 50m of treacherous swamp and collect a log and sprint to the finish line to stop the clock.
Eliminator Two:
This eliminator starts with a 100-metre sprint by the swamp with a log. It’s onto a series of obstacles and small walls that are close together, then the families run around a hay bale and onto the horizontal rat tunnels which are off the ground. Ahead of them then lies the biggest cargo net crawl we’ve ever had, it’s onto a freezing cold ice bath to slow them down and if that isn’t enough it’s onto our 10 foot wall followed by our signature ramps. The family at the top first wins the race and a place in the final and the loser is eliminated.
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