Rat Racing in Ireland – North and South

Rob Howard / 20.04.2008

The Rat Race concept has crossed the Irish Sea and the announcement of races in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland has added to the growing list of 9 to 5 Rat Races.

First comes the Belfast race, to be held on August 9th and this was recently given a spectacular launch when Jim Mee of detail events abseiled off the ‘Belfast Eye’ passing details of the event to the Mayor, who was in one of the cabins, on his way down.

Mee was enthusiastic about the opportunities for urban racing the city offers. “Belfast offers a really eclectic mix of adventure opportunities for the Rat Race. From the obvious facets such as Cave Hill and the river, to more overtly urban features such as the re-generated city centre and the wealth of landmarks scattered around the city, The Rat Race in Belfast will reveal so many different layers of adventure within the city in a manner never really experienced before.

“Whether it’s zipping around the Cathedral Quarter on a bike or getting to grips with some aquatic pursuits, or simply revelling in the hustle and bustle of the city whilst hunting for quirky checkpoints we have set up with local venues and businesses, this event is really going to entertain. We aim to showcase Belfast’s industrial past alongside the fast-paced urban development of the present day and this quirky event gives us the opportunity to really shine a different sort of light on the city, to residents and visitors alike. We think there is a superb mixture of sights and sounds on and off the beaten track that we can feature in the event. This is an exciting event to plan, which means it will be even more exciting to take part in!”

Also at the launch was the new Race Director, Brian Elliot, who some will remember as the organiser of Adrenalin Rush and the former British Adventure Racing Championships.

The second Irish Rat Race will be in the Republic, in the city of Galway (and so will be the first international outing for Rat Racing). This event is set to take place on Sept. 6th in what is described as, “one of the fastest-growing cities in Europe” with a “youthful, vibrant and cosmopolitan nature.”

Details and online entry for both events are available on the Rat Race website.