Pomona King of the Mountain
Residents and visitors of Pomona have the opportunity to join in on a little fun for the whole family next month. The King of the Mountain Festival and Race in Pomona, about 20 miles outside Noosa, takes place on Sunday July 25, 2010. Each year on the fourth Sunday in July, Pomona hosts its annual family fun festival, where guests can enjoy a number of events and activities, before the famous Zinc FM International Mountain Challenge begins. The Challenge consists of a race to scale and descend Mount Cooroora in the fastest time.
This free annual event, which attracts people from all over the world to participate in the race and enjoy the festivities, began with a boast in 1958, by one Bruce Samuels, who claimed to have run to the top of Mount Cooroora in less than an hour. Locals didn’t believe him, and he proved it by once again scaling the mountain and returning in roughly forty minutes. The next year, he had a challenger, Barry Webb, who felt he could beat Samuels’ time, which he actually did, and made some money in the process. The crowd was larger this time, as more locals wanted to witness the event. Samuels decided he would try to reclaim his title as “king” and from there, as of 1959, the traditional race was established. It became an annual Pomona event in 1979.
This year, the race begins at 3:00 PM and is broken down into categories: junior, open male, open women, veteran, and masters. There can be up to one hundred entrants in the race, which is the main event of the festival. And it isn’t an easy race by any means. The climb up Cooroora is almost a vertical incline from the ground, on a relatively narrow path.
But if that’s too much for you, there are other races that patrons can participate in. The Living Valley Springs Quarter Marathon begins promptly at 8:00 AM, and takes the runners around the town full circle. The Cooroy Rag 3km Family Fun Run is actually ideal for families to take part in. Even little ones can participate; it’s a great way to promote fitness for the whole family. This race starts at 9:00 AM. The Energy Electrical Primary School Relays begin at 10:00 AM, and is for children, participating from various primary schools. There can be several hundred children participating in this race.
This year, beginning at 7:00 AM and ending around 6:00 PM, the festival will host various activities, some requiring a fee to take part in. The fun begins with the Bush Poets’ breakfast barbeque, where bush poets can come out and entertain and enlighten dining visitors with their poetic talents. There is a talent contest at 12:30 PM, complete with three judges, and a Thong Throwing contest at 1:00 PM. Other attractions include helicopter and other rides, live music and entertainment, and a guided tour of Mount Cooroora.
The King of the Mountain Festival and Race allows visitors and residents to come out and have a good time competing, listening to music, viewing the display of various vendors, and eating various foods. There are several events to enjoy during the festival. As always, it will be a real treat for the family.
