EDITION 73, JULY 2016
FREE
2016
Pyramid Race The biggest event on Gordonvales Calender the Great Pyramid Race and Country Fair will is on once again for 2016 on August 13th. The weekend event revolves around one of the most challenging foot races in Australia and the race now attracts competitors from all around Australia as well as overseas. The race itself is a 12km run from Norman Park to the summit of Walshs’ Pyramid and return. Although an extremely challenging climb to the top, the gruelling event is usually decided in just over 1 hour and 15 minutes with the winner coming in shortly after that time. Competitors continue to flow in for the next few hours. Last years winner of the Pyramid Race was Jimmy Hilton in a time of 1 hour 19 minutes, followed by Steven Francis in a time of 1 hour 30 minutes. The first lady to cross the line was Deahane Turnbull in a time of 1 hour 43 minutes. It is expected that all three of these competitors will once again take on the hill. Combined with the Great Pyramid Race is a 5 kilometre charity race. Last years winner of the race was Neil Labinsky who is the current record holder of the larger race. Competitors in this race are encouraged to raise money for their local charity and last year the major beneficiaries were Motor Neurone Disease Australia, Out there Kowanyama and Gordonvale Primary School Chaplaincy program. Although the event is centred around the Great Pyramid race, there are many other things on the weekend for some of us that are not so physically motivated. Saturday morning kicks off early with the markets, followed by entertainment throughout the day in the park from local community groups including schools, dancing troupes, martial arts clubs and bands. There will be the usual side shows and the ever popular big boys toys. All local hotels will be offering great venues to watch the start and finish of the race. The event in previous years have attracted an extra 5000 visitors to the town to enjoy the celebrations. This is officially the 57th year that the race has been run after Local legend has it that two Gordonvale cane farmers, while quenching their thirst at the local pub, decided to settle an argument with a race to the peak of the nearby Walsh’s Pyramid. A wager was made between the two to see who could run the race in the quickest possible time and it created so much interest that the local bookie at the time took bets on the outcome. From this unlikely start has evolved “The Great Pyramid Race”. The first official race was organized in 1959 to coincide with Queensland’s Centenary Celebrations and it has become an annual event where some of the finest and fittest present themselves and strive to conquer this formidable mountain in unbelievable record times. So get down to Norman Park on the 13th of August and support the biggest event on Gordonvales calender.
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