As organisers race to complete preparations for Pomona’s big event of the year – the gruelling run up and down 439m Mt Cooroora this weekend – one thing is certain. The annual race to the top and back will be more difficult and will set new records, but not necessarily shorter times.
That’s because the race will start from a new location in 2022 and will follow a different path, testing participants’ endurance like never before.
Due to changes required by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, the King of the Mountain runners, and the general public, are no longer able to use the trail between the base of the mountain and where the metal stairs start. The decision was made to protect the mountain after severe erosion.
To the tune King of the Mountain song made famous by the legendary band Midnight Oil, about 80 adult and 50 child competitors will parade before an expected crowd on Sunday 24 July before bunching under the starter’s gun to tackle the Bendigo Bank International Mountain Challenge and junior races.
For racers familiar with the old course, the new route is tougher and almost 1km longer. The main event course is 5.2km in length and incorporates a 390m vertical ascent. The new start point is Hospital Street at the top of Stan Topper Park.
The race had its origins in 1958 when Bruce Samuels, a local footballer and railway porter, ran to the top of Mt Cooroora as a hangover cure. He had a competitor a year later and the mountain race legend had begun.
The King of the Mountain remains Australia’s premier mountain footrace and the community is invited to come and watch the race at 2pm.
“We had to cancel the race in 2020, due to the pandemic, and scaled back last year’s event because of ongoing restrictions, but now we have reset the dial and the whole town is buzzing in anticipation,” King Of The Mountain chairperson Heather Manders said.
“We are very lucky that Bendigo Bank Cooroy and Zinc 96, our major sponsors, have stuck with us, and we are grateful to Noosa Council for our event funding which allows us to put on this wonderful community event. Also we would like to acknowledge our local business sponsors for supporting the other event attractions listed below.”
This year, the Zinc 96 Prince and Princess runners will start their race 30 seconds after the adult runners have departed. Prince and Princess runners will follow the main race courses past the Cooroy-Pomona Lion’s Den and out to the base of the mountain, where they will turn left and do a small loop before joining back onto the main track back to the finish line. The total course distance for the young ones is 2.8km, with 100m of vertical gain. The course is designed for nine-13 year olds.
The race is the main event but there is more to enjoy.
Venture Cycles Bike Ride through the Noosa Trails and Yurol Forestry is a fun ride for the entire family, registrations will commence 8am at the Pomona State School – bottom gate entrance. Ride begins at 9am. Entry fees for adults cost $10, juniors (16 & under) $5, Family $20 (5 people max). Categories include:- beginners/novice, intermediate, advanced and ebikes are welcomed in any category.
Come along with your chairs, picnic blankets and enjoy local entertainment, The Vibe, on the Pomona IGA main stage from 11.30am.
Raine & Horne Noosa Hinterland is sponsoring the animal farm and pony rides, starting at 11.30am. This is a lovely family activity for the whole family to enjoy.
Based in Noosa, Dennis Massoud is a world champion sand sculptor and has turned sand sculpting into a performing art. This year Livelife Pharmacy Pomona is sponsoring the sand sculpture and sand play, starting at 1pm.
Come along and checkout the vintage cars at the Pomona True Value Hardware car display and the historical engines starting at 11am. The event program also includes the Pomona Fire Station open day and demonstration starting at noon.
Destash for cash is hosted by the Pomona Community House at the Pomona Memorial Hall. Great bargains will be on offer from the many stalls selling arts, crafts supplies and other special treasures over King of the Mountain weekend.
The King of the Mountain event has been immortalised in film. Screening at The Majestic Theatre will be the film, Still Running. It tells the story of Pomona’s legendary race from its humble beginnings in the 1950s, as a bet among mates at the former Railway Hotel through to the huge festival that changed the hinterland town forever. Doors open at 10am. Tickets cost $10 and are available on-line.
A special mention to Coe Vines who will be returning to run the mountain this year, celebrating his 26th run, taking him to the most consecutive runs, surpassing Norm Harwood 25 runs in 2015.
Entrants this year so far include multiple time King Mark Bourne, 2019 King Boaz Clark and defending King Jorge Navarro which would see plenty of speed up front.
Heather Manders said organisers did not know what the new race benchmark time would be for the male and female runners taking part over a longer distance.
“Whoever wins, it will be the new race record,” she said.
The 2021 race for King was won by Jorge Hernaez Navarro in a time of 27min.11secs, just over two minutes ahead of second placegetter, Callan Blanchknox, who narrowly held out a fast-closing Daniel Kerekes. Leslie Saunders ran to the finish line to loud cheers from the crowd to clinch her third title as Mountain Queen and the first Masters female to claim the Queen title in a time of 33:04.
Leslie Saunders summed up the event.
“King of the Mountain has given me so much more than just that urge to get out there and train to run the best I can. It has given me some of the best friends whom I see outside of race day, train with and compete with in other events. Being a teacher in Pomona, this is so special to our community, and I really appreciate all the work that goes on in the background organising the event,” she said.
For more information, checkout the website kingofthemountain.com.au
