D-Day has arrived for the clubs in our parish as we will shortly know who will be proclaimed from the top of Knockalough "The fittest club in the parish"!!!.
This fundraiser is one of the primary sources of income for our club and as you know its expensive run a voluntary organisation in modern Ireland. We are currently looking to add to our ball wall with astro turf facilities and also we need to ensure the lighting for games is improved in our ground.
The dogs will race around the track from 8pm and then the course will clear and the club members will step out onto the sand.
The criteria is straight forward, 4 players per team, one lap of the track to overcome obstacles. Minimum of one person over 40 per team and minimum of one female per team. The clubs frantically assembled their best in the last couple of weeks.
Jerry O Dwyer, of Modern Man barbers in Thurles, has designed the course and its fair to say it will be a thorough test of each clubs resolve and determination to succeed.
No club will want to finish in second place, never mind last!!
Of the teams assembled word this week is that the Golf society appear to be favourites going into the event.
Their over 40, Michael Carey, ran the Dublin city marathon last bank holiday and has been seen running around Ballyboy with a wheelbarrow full of cement this week practicing for whats in store. Mary Bourke and Gavin Ryan will be focused and Paul Shanahan, who is due to train with the Tipp footballers on Sunday morning, will look at the obstacle race as good prep for Liam Kearns county football training!!
Second favourites Gurtahoola Racketball club see family members Donal and Dean Carew combine with Kathleen Mockler and Church hurler Gerard Fogarty and the racketballers will surely be in the running for the title.
The Raparees see experienced over 40s pair and veterans of greyhound stadium events past Conor O Dwyer and Willie Shanahan combine with Ollie Carr who was firing over points in Sean Treacys famous victory last April against Cashel in the West Intermediate hurling final. Marie Murray is the voice of reason there and will be the key to ensure the Raparees are in the running at the end.
The climbing wall will have a big height to overcome. Una Ryan and Adam Challen combine with Michael Barry and Eoin Fitzpatrick and it will be interesting to see how they get on and can they climb over all obstacles..
The cycling club will look to get ahead early as the bike will be used to cycle three quarters of the track before the other obstacles take over. This team features their leader Peter Ryan and experienced runner Mike Gleeson along with Mary Kate Burke and Joe Clohessy. If they get an early lead in the cycling they will be hard to stop..
The farmers will be determined to win the event too and will come close. Shauna Carey and Eoin Shanahan will be out to get off to a good start. Veteran hero LT Ryan has been doing some hardcore prep running around Moher and Gurtkelly for months now while John Ryan Jerry will be looking to contribute some serious horse power to mow down the opposition!!
The two oldest, most established clubs in the parish will go head to head too. Clodiagh Rangers FC see over 40 and former title winning captain PJ Kennedy join up with Catheriona Shortt and current players Louglin Ryan and Eamon Fogarty who will look to fill the coal bag this time instead of the onion bag they look to rattle every Sunday.
Pat Phelan of Lacken leads his younger GAA teammates into the searing coldness of the Greyhound track in November. Pat will take young Mikey Lee, Emer Ryan and Conor Fahy under his wing and direct them knowing the club honour rests on their shoulders. Take em one at a time will be the mantra!
The show kicks off once the greyhounds have finished. The scene is set. The best club in the parish will win. Three, two, one....here we go..
