Record entry for Tipperary's Knock ME Down Adventure running, cycling and kayaking races

The Knockmealdown Mountains will be the stunning backdrop to the 7th annual Knock Me Down Adventure Races, which take place this Saturday morning (August 26) and have attracted a record entry of 660 athletes from all over Ireland and abroad.

Such has been the demand to compete in the two running, cycling and kayaking races that the organisers stopped taking entries six weeks ago and a cancellation waiting list is in place.

The popular endurance races, run by the volunteers of Knockmealdown Active since 2016, comprise the 35km Knock ME Down Challenge and the more difficult 62km Knock ME Down Mór.

Both races start and finish at Newcastle GAA Club.

The Challenge event comprises a 15km cycle from Newcastle to Kilballyboy Wood followed by a 2.5km run/walk from Kilbally Wood to Baylough and a 0.5km kayak around Baylough Lake. Competitors then return to the car park with a 2.5km run/walk via a different route.

The race finishes with a 15km cycle back to Newcastle.

The 35km Challenge race starts at 10am and is suitable for all age ranges and fitness levels and boasts three age categories: Under 40, ages 40 to 60 and Over 60 for both male and female participants.

The Mór event, meanwhile, starts at 8.30am and includes the 35km challenge events, apart from the final 15km cycle. Instead of this, the race takes a left over the Vee for two extra cycling stages (21km and 13km) either side of a 7.5km loop run in the beautiful surrounds of Mount Melleray Abbey.

The final 13km leg of the race comprises a cycle climb uphill from Mount Melleray, concluding with a breath-taking mountain descent back to Newcastle village.

The age categories for this race are male and female Under 40 and male and female Over 40.

Prizes for overall winners, male and female, will also be awarded in both racs.

Knockmealdown Active’s members are delighted with the huge popularity of the event. The group’s PRO Diarmaid Condon said over the past six weeks since entries closed there has been a huge demand from people looking for a cancellation place.

He said the races attract a lot of triathlon athletes as well as cyclists.

As expected there are a lot of entries from counties Tipperary and Cork but also from much farther afield ranging from Offaly and Galway to Donegal and England.

Refreshments along with a sauna and recovery boots will be laid on for athletes at the finishing point at Newcastle GAA Club where the prizegiving ceremony will take place in the early afternoon.

Meanwhile, Knockmealdown Active’s new Weekend Kayaking venture at Baylough finished after a busy summer last weekend. Members from three GAA clubs were among those who enjoyed kayaking on the lake last l weekend.