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History of The Wellie Race

 

 

Originally started in 1978 the Powley (an area in the hills surrounding Castlecomer) men decided, while playing cards, on St Stephen's day (Boxing day for British readers) to run off the Christmas excess by having a race over a cross country circuit. Not being the type of men that would be caught dead in a pair of Nike’s or Addidas runners, let alone actually own a pair, the most obvious foot wear for this type of event was yes you guessed it WELLINGTONS.

 

Now the less said about the amount of alcohol that had been consumed prior to this momentous decision the better but the history books will record that Paddy Phelan became the first winner of the first ever Wellington race. 


1981 is a year remembered for many events.

More about 1981 is available in another part of the site, but with out a doubt the most sensational event was the powley men bringing the Wellington race to 'comer (an affectionate abbreviation for the town of Castlecomer). Following an offer by local publican Jim Bollard to offer a perpetual cup to the winner.

 

The first Castlecomer Wellington Race took place over the Kiltown circuit on New Years day 1981. The circuit is a demanding 5 km country road with two severe inclines and was an instant hit with the people of Castlecomer.


A number of important rules were decided upon and many of these still serve us today.
Standard Wellingtons must be worn (no sawn off jobs)


Runners will be handicapped according to age and sex

 

All runners must register and have there card marked at the half way point


Walkers cannot win any of the race prizes except the best fancy dress prize.

Sixty-two people ran that year and £1,200 was raised for the "Lourdes Invalid Fund" and the first winner of the new route was David Farrell, the first Lady winner was Caroline Coogan. From here the event blossomed and the following year 1982 saw the first float parade and the winning float was the "Pope Mobile". The number of runners had increased to 230 and the amount of money raised was £3000 by it’s third year the number of runners was almost 400.


The monies raised each year have been donated to a wide range of local, national and international charities, unfortunately exact amounts are not available but estimates of £200,000 over the 20 years to date would not be too far off the mark.

In the early years a certificate acknowledging participation was given to all participants and the top ten men and women received trophies as well as the top three veteran men and senior ladies. Then rosettes were given as a memento of the occasion and various county colours were used, last year as part of the millennium celebrations as well as the rosette a commemorative medal was given to participants in both the float parade and the race.


Wellington Race Winners of the last

Twenty Five Years

Year

1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001

2002

2003

2004

2005 

Personality

Martin Campion
L. Forristal
Fr. Kearns
Christy Heffernan
Joe Lynch
Kieran Fitzgerald
Fr. Ml. Cleary
D. O Dualaing
M. Tynan
Liam Nolan
Jimmy Magee
Denise Murphy
Michael Carruth
M O Muircheartaigh
Mick Dowling
Ronan Collins
Riche Kavanagh
David Mitchell
Martina Stanley
Jim Bolger
Andy Comerford
Ian Wilson

Paul Collins

Maclean Burke

Orla O Shea

Race Winner

David Farrell
Liam Murphy
Ollie O Neill
Tom Lawrence
David Buggy
Martin Connolly

Martin Boran
Tom Laurence
Marty Connelly
Fergus Kealy
Marty Connely
Tom Laurence
Fergus Kealy
Jessie Nolan
Martin Boran
Billy o Neill
Tom Hourigan
Brendan Dukes
Martin Kelly
Jim O Brien
Billy O Neill

Billy O Neill

Martin Kelly

Sean Dowling

Ladies Winner

Caroline Coogan
Mary Murphy
Kay Doyle
Kay Doyle
Ann Bourke


Mary O Shea
Ann Walsh
Agnes Brennan
Mary O Shea
Mary O Shea
Kathleen Boyle
Caroline Keane
Roseligh Comerford
Niamh Maher
Martina Brennan
Margaret Dillon
Kate O Neill
Lucia Brennan
Eilish Hayes
Eilish Hayes

Eilish Hayes

Eilish Hayes

Laura Brennan

Float Winner

No float compitition
The Pope
Monks
Shuttle
Powley Dew


Skehana Coal
Comer Auld Times
Day at Races
The Batchelors
Firoda China
The Scouts
Gullivers Travelles
Road to peace
007and a half
1920's America
Powley Utd. Men
Firoda Fashions
Sporting Heroes
Firoda Book Club 
The Hilly Alliance 

Treasure Island

Celebrity Farm

The Boys From the Lots

 



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