Category Archives: Christmas Cracker

The Greatest Cracker of Them All?

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cracker2016-1

Photo courtesy of Mal McCann

Oh yes it was, oh no it wasn’t – pantomime season it is and after the heavy indulgences of Christmas and Boxing Days, the throngs descended on Castlewellan to run off some of the Christmas excess. The venue as ever was Castlewellan GAC – warm hospitality extended in all corners of the club, including music and imbibing promised to the wee small hours. To cater for the extra participants, temporary portable toiles were trucked in and money was put in the meter to ensure that there was warm water in the showers to clean off the caked mud – was it just mud? Continue reading →

Christmas Cracker Preview – Bigger and better than ever

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A preview of the 33rd Castlewellan Christmas Cracker race by Bogusboy

mathers-and-mcneillyIt’s selling out as fast as Guns n Roses at Slane! Additional places were added to the record 426 that took the line last year. At present there are just over 580 teams registered and with the limit set at 600, the event is sure to sell out – probably before this article hits the newsstands. Once again a record number of teams will take to the start for the 33rd Castlewellan Christmas Cracker pairs’ race on Tuesday 27th December. The market town will be awash with colour as 1200 competitors, many of whom will ‘dress for the occasion’, take to the streets. Ciaran Og Mussen in reducing the pressure on himself by agreeing to run in fancy dress, ‘sure they don’t expect you to win if you look daft’! This year it will as an elf, next year, who knows!!! The race has grown exponentially since it was taken over by Newcastle AC and relocated to Castlewellan in the early ‘noughties’ and remains one of the most unique and popular races in the annual ANI calendar. Building on the success of previous years, there are more mixed teams and more all-female teams. I recall clearly the 2004 race when there were 54 teams finishing. This stands as irrefutable evidence of the amazing popularity of running at present and the desire among athletes of all abilities to get out there and compete. For some it will be to win a category or record a fast time, while for others it will be the joy of finishing and the sense of accomplishment that comes from simply being able to say, ‘I did it.’ Continue reading →

Castlewellan Christmas Cracker 2016

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The Annual Castlewellan Christmas Cracker Pairs Race will take place on
Tuesday 27th December 2016 at 1:00 PM.

Provisional Results

Photos by Paul Fegan
Video by Graham McCauley

Please email any team changes to info@newcastleac.org before 5pm on Monday 26th December. NOTE – please send full details of change – Name, Phone Number, Email, Club, DOB, Next of Kin Name, Next of Kin Contact Number. Changes cannot be made without all these details.

Race Preview by Bogusboy

Entries are now CLOSED. Please note that there will be no further entries available on race day. Any downloadable entry forms from previous years races are not valid and cannot be accepted.

PLEASE NOTE:

  • All teams must pre enter using the online registration system.
  • Entry fee of £30 per team is payable at time of registration.
  • NO refunds are available.
  • There is a limit of 600 teams.
  • There will be NO entries taken on race day.
  • Team changes can be made by emailing info@newcastleac.org before 5pm on Monday 26th December.

Full Race Details can be found HERE 
All queries should be sent to info@newcastleac.org

The 32nd Christmas Cracker in Castlewellan Report

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Tales of the not so unexpected as Monaghan and Totten dominate a high class field
by Bogusboy

Results, Photos by Caolan Hawkins

With 850 competitors participating, the Castlewellan Christmas Cracker was undoubtedly the main local sporting event of the holiday season. The scene as the athletes made their way along the Main Street towards the Drumbuck Road was truly something to behold with many festooned in festive apparel.  Equally impressive was the huge crowd of spectators that lined the streets and the forest park to watch the drama unfold. This year was a vintage one with the event sold out well in advance and many of the top performers committed early to taking part. As predicted, it was going to be a close affair, with a number of pairs in contention for the win. Continue reading →