The countdown is on until the starter gun cracks and about 100 runners take part in this year’s King of the Mountain race up Mount Cooroora in Pomona on Sunday 28 July. The Bendigo Bank International Mountain Challenge is the main attraction in a weekend of events at Pomona organised by the Cooroy Pomona Lions Club.
On Saturday 27 July the future champions of Australia’s mountain running could well be unveiled during the Zinc 96 Prince and Princess race for 9-13 year old which takes place at 2pm. Registration is via the King of the Mountain website.
When the sun rises early on Sunday 28 July, there will be a flurry of activities. The King of the Mountain Bike Ride, supported by True Value Hardware, gets going at 9am with registration from 8am at Rose Gum Road. The ride will be on the Noosa Trail Network trails 8 and 6 and provides three levels of difficulty.
Those who would prefer to run, can enter the Nestle 3km easy family fun run which starts at 9am with registration from 8am.The primary school relays hosted by Reid Signage Services are open to all schools in South East Queensland. Last year more than 400 children participated. Each child powers through a 700m loop of Stan Topper Park handing on the baton.For corporate groups the Raine and Horne Tug-o-War challenge is a must with local businesses and sporting clubs vying for the title of ‘King of the Rope’.
If you’ve got an eye for fine crafts and antiques, pop in and see Clive and Jane Ford at the Antiques and Collectables Fair while other highlights include the heritage markets, art exhibitions, Cooroy Rag animal farm, LiveLife Pharmacy Skate Park competition, amusement rides, local cuisine and entertainment on the Pomona IGA stage.The festival culminates in the Bendigo Bank International Mountain Challenge starting with the introduction of the runners from 2pm. The epic race sees competitors scrambling uphill to a trail that slows to a crawl and a single track at times. Runners jostle for position to the top before holding their nerve and rapidly descending down the trail holding onto the chain for dear life. The atmosphere is electric with a certain ‘Hecklers Hill’ bringing home every runner with chants and banter. While the festival has now become a hallmark event for Pomona, it began with a dare between mates in 1958 at the bar of the old Railway Hotel. Local footballer and railway porter Bruce Samuels claimed he ran to the top of Mount Cooroora in under an hour. His claim was met with a challenge on March 22, 1958 and punters placed their bets.
Astonished locals saw Samuels return in just 40 minutes to collect his 100 pound wager and earn the nickname ‘Hilary’ Samuels. A year later 21 year hotel punter Barry Webb from Brisbane set out to beat Samuel’s time, and a race was set. With a time of 35 minutes, Webb was the winner. Samuels congratulated Webb then called for a rematch and the Pomona King of the Mountain race was born.
For more information on the festival visit the website at www.kingofthemountain.com.au
