VE NEWS
MULGR
Edition 31, August 2012
“Letting the local people know”
GREAT PYRAMID MOUNTAIN RACE It began 53 years ago, in a local Gordonvale pub, with two cane farmers having an ‘argument’ after the end of a hard day’s work. They decided to settle this ‘argument’, with a race to the peak of the nearby Walsh’s Pyramid. This was (and still is) no ordinary race, and is often described as “a never ending uphill scramble and a ‘controlled’ downhill free fall”. A wager was made between the two cane farmers to see who could run up in the quickest possible time. This race created so much interest that the local bookie took bets on which cane farmer was ‘right’. From this humorous start, it has grown to a full day event with the “Great Pyramid Mountain Race” now having up to 150 runners. Since the race began, the training for the competition has gone from “no training at all and chasing wild pigs in the scrub”, to “intense training programmes for dedicated athletes”. Now recognized on the National Race Endurance Calendar and part of the Australian Mountain Running Association Calendar and with TransTasman links and other international attention, it has made this Mountain Challenge a “Great Race”. The Great Pyramid Race and Country Fair is now held every year in August in the small community of Gordonvale, 24kms south of Cairns, attracting several thousand spectators - local, interstate and international tourists. Festival activities include the main event - the Great Pyramid Race, as well as
other sporting activities on this day include a 5km Road Race, and a 1500 metre dash around Norman Park. There will also be a diverse selection of performers, musicians, workshops and roving entertainers to keep the crowds enthralled. This year sees great representation from local businesses, organisations, school groups and individuals – all committed to showcasing the unique community of Gordonvale, culminating in Fireworks and a headlining Act. The current record for the 12km race stands at 1:15:34 set in 2007 by Neil Labinsky, a mountain specialist runner from the Sunshine Coast. Last year the race was won by local ultratrail runner Chris White who also came 2nd in 2010. Also lining up is current world ultra-ironman champion Mike La Roux also having his run on the mountain. The women’s record is more long standing, being set in 1997 (1:32:06) by local runner Anita Appleby. Deahanne Turnbull from Townsville came to within seconds of this time in 2010. There has also been keen interest
from many interstate runners, and being unknown to the local running scene, any one of them could surprise on the day. This year’s event is shaping up to be a vibrant celebration of the community. There will be plenty of fun with a diverse selection of free workshops running all day with Drum Up Big and Circus, performers, musicians, jumping castles, pony rides, roving entertainers including the Cairns Festival ‘Gremlins’ and mural painting run by the Gordonvale Hub. Not to mention market stalls and delicious food! The 2012 Pyramid Race program kicks off at 7am Saturday August 11 with the markets, followed by a full days entertainment in Norman Park and of course the great Pyramid race at 2pm. Once again a special thank you to our sponsors, Cairns Regional Council, Mulgrave Central Mill, Marino Moller Lawyers, Gordonvale RSL, National Australia Bank, Walters IGA, Great Northern Hotel, Channel 7, Parkview Tavern, Geckos Screen Print and Design, NQ Civil, Impress Art and Cairns Crocs.
Contact John for a quote Ph: 07 4056 3712 Mob: 0412 772 585 E: pearcepainters@bigpond.com BSA 52012
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