Tipperary lady the Knock Me Down Supreme Champion
The annual Knock Me Down adventure race includes cycling, kayaking, and running
Clogheen lady Kealey Tideswell was the deserving overall winner in the women’s category of the 10th annual Knock Me Down adventure race, taking the title of Female Supreme Champion in 2:58:31.
Ms Tideswell edged out her closest competitor Kelly-Anne Speight by just 45 seconds after almost three hours of racing.
This year’s race brought a new course record with it as Niall Corless completed the MÓR in 2:33:23, taking around three minutes off the previous best to finish as the race’s overall male winner and Male Supreme Champion. Kealey Tideswell was the overall female winner and Female Supreme Champion in 2:58:31.
On the Challenge course, Ciarán Slattery took the overall male win and Male Supreme Champion title in 1:27:35 for that event, while Ger Kelly was the overall female winner and Female Supreme Champion in 1:39:28f for the Challenge.
Each of the four Supreme Champions will also receive a personalised piece of race art created by artist Greg Dylan as part of their prize.
This year’s race on Saturday, 22 August marked ten years since it was first held.
Both distances begin with a 15km cycle from Newcastle to Kilballyboy Wood, followed by a 2.5km run to Bay Lough, a kayak circuit and the return run to Kilballyboy. Challenge competitors then cycle back to Newcastle, while the MÓR continues with a 21km cycle to Mount Melleray, a further 7.5km run and a final 13km cycle to the finish. Among those who travelled specifically to take part were Dieter Vernaillen and Stijn Vandamme from Belgium.
The race depends on a huge team of vounteers beforehand and on the day, and by Saturday, more than 150 volunteers were working hard. Key teams across the course kept everything running smoothly including John McCarra and his team at HQ; Joe Byrne and his team at the transition zone in Kilballyboy; Mark Rylands and his team were in charge of everything at Bay Lough; and Grainne Moynihan and her team at the Melleray section.
Medical and first-aid cover was provided by the Civil Defence and Newcastle First Responders, with marshals stationed throughout the courses. Newcastle GAA remained busy throughout the day as race headquarters and the site of a race village around the start and finish.
Congratulations were paid to all the organisers, and especially the competitors. Roll on next year!