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35km multi-disciplinary event consisting of:
15km Cycle – 2.5km Run – 500m Kayak – 2.5km Run – 15km Cycle – Total 35km
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 Baylough
- 0.5km kayak around Baylough
- 2.5km run/walk from Baylough to Kilballyboy Wood car park (different return route)
- 15km Cycle back to Newcastle
Event Overview:
At 10.15am the first bunch of competitors will set off on their bikes. Time slots will run up to 12pm or until all competitors are on their way. Time slots are available on a first booked, first served basis – when they are fully booked they 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 fill up 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
Having started from Newcastle GAA Grounds, 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. There is also a water stop at each changeover point.
Up At The Lake…..
The staggered starting time slots are to avoid delays waiting for Kayaks at the Baylough lake section. This year we will continue with the extended dedicated pontoon used in 2021 to help streamline the Kayak entry and exit points. There is no time-out at Baylough, unless totally necessary. Hopefully it won’t be needed.
All Kayaks in the 2022 event are single competitor, rather than double, crafts.
All Kayaks and associated safety equipment will be provided by the Knock ME Down 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 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.
Route map for Knock Me Down Challenge by Diarmaid Condon on plotaroute.com
If you can’t see the route above, you can find the course on Plot-a-route here. You can also download the GPX files for both events here. Download and unzip them, then upload the required route to your app.
At the Finish
Shower facilities and changing rooms await you in Newcastle. So you’ll have no excuses when heading to the GAA Hall. Here you can enjoy your well earned refreshments outside the hall and view the up-to-the-minute results on screen while you await the return and results of other competitors.
Prize Categories
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
There are now also ‘Overall Winner’ categories for Male and Female.
You will be asked for your category when signing up for the event.
Event Pricing
Pricing for the 2023 event is €95 each (includes event participation, tee shirt, medal, back pack & post event refreshments).
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, Back Pack & Completion Medal
35km Knock ME Down Challenge – Standard Event (still quite challenging)