EPISODE 8, THE FINAL – THE MOUNTAIN
After starting with 16 families it’s now down to the final four families in the final of season 8 of Ireland’s Fittest Family on The Mountain.
Davy Fitzgerald’s Mahoneys from Wexford are taking on Donncha O’Callaghan’s Allens from Tipperary and Derval O’Rourke has 2 families in the final, The Mileys from Westmeath and the Cullens from Wexford.
Over an epic 2 day final these 4 families will be pushed to new heights and only 1 family will reach the summit and walk away with 15 thousand euro and the title of Ireland’s Fittest Family.
Day One of the final sees the families compete in two events for points. The families with the lowest points will compete in an eliminator at the end of day one and one family will go home.
Event One: Mountain Madness
In an Ireland’s Fittest Family first, the families will have to take on a test of serious physical endurance. Each family must work together to move 2 barrels up the side of a mountain. Once they have made it up the 300m incline, the winning family will be the one that gets both barrels over the fence and all four of their family members standing on top of a hay bale.
Event Two: The Speed Wall
The Speed Wall is a Fittest Family first and it’s all about fractions of a second with a height of 5 meters and an incline of 60 degrees each family will have to work together to get all 4 members to the top. The clock stops when all 4 family members’ 8 feet are on the other side of the barrier. This is not a test of endurance but strategy. Each family will have to figure out the best strategy in order to avoid the eliminator.
Day One Eliminator:
The eliminator starts with 4 obstacles for the families to get over, followed by a 110 meter run up the hill to 6 waiting sandbags each weighing 10 kilos. The family member must pick up at least one sandbag each and carry them 75 meters to the barbed wire tunnel where all 6 sandbags must be placed in a sledge. The sledge must be then pulled through the length of the tunnel and only then can all 4 team members sprint to their flag. The last family to the summit must leave the final of Ireland’s Fittest Family.
Day Two of the final starts with the three remaining families who must battle it out in a Time Trial called Mountain Escape.
Time Trial: Mountain Escape
Mountain Escape begins with a 350 meter run along a gravel path around a hair pin to the base of a hill where a log is waiting. All 4 family members must touch the log and get it to the top of the hill as fast as they can. There the log will be discarded and it will be a ferocious sprint through the dark forest to the end platform where all 4 family members must be standing for the clock to stop. The slowest team will be leaving the final of Ireland’s Fittest Family.
The Grand Final
The Grand Final begins with a sprint down a gravel road and 4 obstacles to hurdle over. Then the families must climb and traverse between the cargo net containers. Next it’s a crawl through the pitch black rat tunnels. Followed by a steep climb and a second cargo net obstacle to negotiate. At the bottom of the hill they must navigate a cargo net crawl and sprint to a 3 meter wall which all 4 members must clear. Finally in the shadow of the mountain they’ll finish with a run up the ramp. The first family to have all 4 members standing on top of the ramp will be Ireland’s Fittest Family.