Milestone for Tipp adventure race

On Saturday, August 22, the Knock Me Down Adventure Race marked 10 years since it was first held. Competitors returned in droves for the local fixture, organised by Knockmealdown Active and based at Newcastle GAA in Co Tipperary. The race offers two distances: the Challenge (35km) sends competitors from road cycling to woodland running to kayaking on Bay Lough, and on the MÓR (62km) the route pushes deeper into the Knockmealdowns via Mount Melleray.

The anniversary brought a new course record with it. Niall Corless completed the MÓR in 2:33:23, taking around three minutes off the previous best to finish as the race’s overall male winner and Male Supreme Champion.

Kealey Tideswell was the overall female winner and Female Supreme Champion in 2:58:31, edging out Kelly-Anne Speight by just 45 seconds after almost three hours of racing.

On the Challenge course, Ciarán Slattery took the overall male win and Male Supreme Champion title in 1:27:35, while Ger Kelly was the overall female winner and Female Supreme Champion in 1:39:28.

Each of the four Supreme Champions will also receive a personalised piece of race art created by artist Greg Dylan as part of their prize.

Both distances begin with a 15km cycle from Newcastle to Kilballyboy Wood, followed by a 2.5km run to Bay Lough, a kayak circuit and the return run to Kilballyboy. Challenge competitors then cycle back to Newcastle, while the MÓR continues with a 21km cycle to Mount Melleray, a further 7.5km run and a final 13km cycle to the finish.

The event also attracted competitors from further afield. Among those who travelled specifically to take part were Dieter Vernaillen and Stijn Vandamme from Belgium.

While the racing takes place over a single day, preparations begin months beforehand. Race Director Anthony Murphy led the organisation alongside the Knockmealdown Active Committee, with Cahir Media supporting registration, administration, communications and media work.

In the days immediately before the race, John McCarra and his setup team prepared Newcastle GAA for race day. By Saturday, more than 150 volunteers were working across registration, course marshalling, transition areas, refreshments and the start and finish, as well as at points throughout the Challenge and MÓR routes. Key teams across the course kept everything running smoothly: John McCarra and his team at HQ made sure everyone started efficiently, encouraged everyone over the line, and presented all finishers with a special limited-edition medal; Joe Byrne and his team at the transition zone in Kilballyboy kept the show on the road; Mark Rylands and his team were in charge of everything at Bay Lough for the kayaking leg; and Grainne Moynihan and her team ensured everyone navigated the Melleray section seamlessly.

Knockmealdown Active Chairperson Joe Byrne paid tribute to those behind the event:

“What a marvelous day! A huge success on our 10th anniversary. A big shoutout to all the volunteers, the event simply couldn't happen without you, as well as the hardworking Knockmealdown Active committee, Cahir Media, John O'Neill, the Newcastle and Melleray Communities, and anyone who helped out in any way.”

Medical and first-aid cover was provided by the Civil Defence and Newcastle First Responders, with marshals stationed throughout the courses. The cycling stages take place on public roads open to normal traffic, while the running sections take competitors onto woodland, rough ground and mountain terrain. Professional race timing was provided by Sports Timing.

Newcastle GAA remained busy throughout the day as race headquarters and the site of a race village around the start and finish. Seamus Hennesy handled MC duties and music, Micheal Kearney and his team at Fire & Feast Catering looked after food for competitors, and those coming off the course could make use of massage, ice baths, sauna and compression booths in the recovery area. Adventure Racing Ireland also had a tent in the village, with Knock Me Down forming part of its Adventure Race Ireland Series.

The ten-year anniversary comes during a busy 2026 for Knockmealdown Active, with the group also behind St. Declan’s Way, Bay Lough Kayaking and the Adventure Run.

For Race Director Anthony Murphy, the milestone reflected the people behind the event as much as the racing itself:

“Ten years on, the KnockMeDown Adventure Race continues to prove what can happen when communities pull together.”