Booking for the ‘Knock ME Down’ Adventure Challenge and Knock ME Down MÓR on September 7th 2019 is now open.
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If you know what it is all about, booking is now online at https://bit.ly/2m4h6y2. If you don’t know what it involves, just read on.
Following the growing success of the 2016 and 2017 events, and the exceptional success of the Knock ME Down MÓR in 2018, we are very much looking forward to the Knock ME Down Challenge 2019 which takes place on Saturday September 7th around the scenic Knockmealdown Mountains.
New For 2019
In 2019 there will be extra age categories in the Challenge event. In previous years we had Male and Female Over and Under 40 Categories. This year, due to ongoing demand and to expand the event’s appeal to all sectors, we’re introducing prizes for Male and Female over 60 age categories. The Knock ME Down MÓR, as in 2018, will only have prizes for the top two Male and Female finishers.
This year we will be adding extra boarding and disembarking facilities for Kayaks at Baylough to accomodate extra participants and a quicker throughput. There will, therefore, be no time-out at the lake this year as there was in previous years.
We’ve worked with Newcastle GAA to upgrade the showers, so everybody will be able to avail of an after event hot shower.
We’re expanding the numbers this year, so we should avoid so many people being disappointed at missing out.
We will also be using a new timing system this year, no more need for dibbers, you’ll be timed automatically using electronic ‘Timing Tags’.
We are also expanding the participation in the ultra-challenging event Knock ME Down MÓR – which adds to the Challenge running and cycling routes bringing it to an exceptionally challenging 57km event.
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This multi-disciplinary event involves Cycling, Running, (or walking) and Kayaking. As multi-sport events go, this is well suited to anybody with a reasonable level of fitness. The entire course is on well marked roads and forestry tracks so getting lost will not be an issue. The start and finish of the challenge is at Newcastle GAA Hall (E91 W324 you can save this Google Maps link to your phone) at the GAA field in the village of Newcastle, not too far from the towns of Clonmel and Cahir, Co. Tipperary. You can find an outline of the course below.
Sign-In on the morning of the event will be in the GAA Hall for the time of the wave you choose. Starting time slots are available in waves from 8.50am for MÓR and 10am for Challenge participants. There are changing and shower facilities available at the GAA grounds.
The breakdown of the Knock ME Down Challenge event is as follows:
• 15km Cycle from Newcastle to Kilballyboy Wood car park/picnic site on Vee Road outside Clogheen
• 2.5km run/walk from Kilballyboy Wood to Bay Lough
• 0.5km kayak around Bay Lough
• 2.5km run/walk from Bay Lough to Kilballyboy Wood car park (different return route)
• 15km Cycle back to Newcastle
Here’s the route for the Knock ME Down Challenge (the route for the Knock ME Down MÓR is further down the page):
The breakdown of the Knock ME Down MÓR event is as follows:
- 4km Loop Run out of and back to Newcastle
- 15km Cycle from Newcastle to Kilballyboy Wood car park/picnic site on Vee Road outside Clogheen
- 2.5km run/walk from Kilballyboy Wood to Baylough
- 0.5km kayak around Baylough
- 2.5km run/walk from Baylough to Kilballyboy Wood car park (different return route)
- 33km Cycle via the Vee and Mount Melleray back to Newcastle
Knock ME Down Challenge Event Description:
At 10am the first 60 competitors in Wave 1 will be set off on their bikes. Waves 2, 3 and 4, each with 60 participants, will follow shortly after until all competitors are on their way. Waves are available on a first booked, first served basis – when a wave is fully booked it will become unavailable on the system. You can book up to 6 participants at a time. If you do want to book in groups but are booking separately, try to book later time slots as these book more slowly.
You must have appropriate footwear for the event and a proper cycling helmet must be worn for the cycling section. The type of bike used is up to you. With all cycling on tarred surfaces, a racing bike will probably be the fastest, while a mountain bike with off-road tyres probably being the slowest! It’s your choice but it must be road-worthy at the very least!
The Bike Part
After the first 15km cycle you will be automatically timed in the Kilballyboy Wood car park/ picnic area along the Vee road outside Clogheen. There will be bike stands set up here where you simply hang your bike by the saddle on a bar and off you go on your scenic 2.5k run to Baylough lake. Don’t worry about your bike, there will be plenty of marshals at this location to keep them safe (and there will be a service vehicle available should you have any mechanical difficulties.) There is also a water stop at each changeover point.
Up At The Lake…..
The wave starting time slots are to avoid delays waiting for Kayaks at the Baylough section. This year we will have a dedicated pontoon to help streamline the Kayak entry and exit points. There is no time-out at Baylough this year, it won’t be needed.
All Kayaks and associated safety equipment will be provided by the Knockmealdown Active team. Once you have been installed on the ‘sit on’ Kayak, you can paddle around the lake. There will be floating markers placed around the lake which you will have to stay inside. Local folklore dictates that the lake is bottomless. You may also need to keep a lookout for a lady called ‘Petticoat Loose’ who, if the stories are to be believed, will come up out of the lake and pull you under……. So best keep as close as you can to the edge, just in case! If anyone gets in trouble out there we have a Cahir River Rescue team on standby so there is really nothing to worry about. If you really don’t fancy the Kayak section you can skip it entirely. On doing this you will get the slowest Kayak time on the day, with another 10 mins added to cancel out any advantage you may gain with all that extra energy saved! The Kayak section should take, on average, about 7 minutes to complete.
What Goes Up………
As you get out of your Kayak… with your hands crying out for a break, its time to get back onto the tracks and start your run/walk back down to the Kilballyboy Wood car park. It’s a different track down so keep following the signs and follow instructions from the friendly marshals.
Home Straight
Once you get back to the Bike Park at Kilballyboy Wood, you have the satisfaction of knowing that you now have a 1.5km descent towards Clogheen to look forward to before you cycle the remaining 13.5km of a generally flat road back to Newcastle.
At the Finish
A cool-down massage will be available, along with shower facilities (all hot this year, we promise) and changing rooms. So you’ll have no excuses when heading to GAA Hall. Here you can enjoy your well earned refreshments in the hall and view the up-to-the-minute results on screen while you await the return and results of other competitors. We will also be looping video of participants as they compete at a variety of video spots along the route. Be sure to wave to the cameras.
Prizes
in the Knock ME Down Challenge there are prizes for
- Male Over 60 Winner & Runner Up
- Female Over 60 Winner & Runner Up
- Male 40 to 60 Winner & Runner Up
- Female 40 to 60 Winner & Runner Up
- Male Under 40 Winner & Runner Up
- Female Under 40 Winner & Runner Up
Event Pricing
Tickets for the event, both Challenge and MÓR, are €65 each.
The Entry Fee cost covers:
- Kayak, paddle & boating safety equipment – competitors cannot use their own.
- Trained guides & River Rescue on standby
- Refreshments at the conclusion of the event
- Promotional T Shirt & Completion Medal
Knock ME Down MÓR Event Description:
The Knock ME Down MÓR event has all of the original Knock ME Down Challenge event but with an added running route at the start and an extended cycling route at the end.
Start Times: For obvious timing reasons, the MÓR event takes the first time slots from 8.50am.
At the Start: Before the first cycle, MÓR participants will take a 4km loop run out of Newcastle and back to the GAA hall. Don’t forget to bring your running gear with you on the cycle, you’ll have two more running sections to complete after this.
From here the participants will then undertake the full Knock ME Down Challenge route as far as the Bike Park at Kilballyboy Wood.
At the End: On leaving the bike park at Kilballyboy Wood, instead of turning right and heading back to Newcastle, Knock ME Down MÓR participants will turn left. This road travels upward over the picturesque Vee, past Baylough, on to the former Cats Bar. Here there is a left turn, climbing past Mount Melleray to the crest of the hill over Newcastle. The event finishes with a breathtaking descent back to Newcastle village.
Prizes
For the Knock ME Down MÓR there are prizes for:
- Male Winner & Runner Up
- Female Winner & Runner UP
Event Pricing
Tickets for the event, both Challenge and MÓR, are €65 each.
The Entry Fee cost covers:
- Kayak, paddle & boating safety equipment – competitors cannot use their own.
- Trained guides & River Rescue on standby
- Refreshments at the conclusion of the event
- Promotional T Shirt & Completion Medal
