Office Chair Racing is coming to Tralee on Saturday December 20 with all proceeds raised going to St Vincent de Paul. Pictured with Santa at the launch were – Nicola O’Sullivan (Fels Point Hotel Tralee), Christy Lynch (St Vincent de Paul) , Helen Locke, Tommy Leahy and Pat Herlihy. Photo by Domnick Walsh
THE Mayor of Tralee Jim Finucane and the Executive Chair of the Rose of Tralee International Festival, Anthony O’Gara, are among 18 competitors who will take part in tomorrow’s Office Chair Racing in Tralee.
The event, sponsored by Radley’s Business Systems, will take place outside Siamsa Tíre Theatre, from 2pm on Saturday, December 20 and all proceeds will go to the Society of St Vincent de Paul in Kerry.
There will be six heats featuring 18 local business people and elected representatives, including Labour TD Arthur Spring (who is minding his seat), in what promises to be a fun family pre-Christmas event.
A number of Disney characters from Kingdom Party Pals will be at the Office Chair Racing to pose for photos with any youngsters who might be attending the event to cheer on the competitors.
Only two ladies – Cllr Toireasa Ferris and Tralee Solicitor Miriam McGillicuddy – were brave enough to put their names forward but they are both looking forward to toughing it out against the men in their respective races.
All the chairs have wheels and in order to win a race, the competitors must keep their bottoms firmly on the seat of the chair and only use their legs to propel themselves forward towards the finish line.
The full line-up for the heats are:
In Heat 1: Cllr Pat McCarthy, Cllr Sam Locke and Niall Lucey
In Heat 2: Miriam McGillicuddy; Cllr Terry O’Brien and Mayor of Tralee Jim Finucane.
In Heat 3: Christy Murray; Deputy Arthur Spring TD and Cllr Pa Daly.
In Heat 4: Cathaoirleach KCC John Brassil; Cllr Toireasa Ferris and Aidan Kelly.
In Heat 5: Cllr Graham Spring; Daniel Giles and Fintan Ryan
In Heat 6: Danny Leane JNR; Anthony O’Gara and John Cashell
The winners of each heat will race in the semi-finals and ultimately, two qualifiers will battle it out in the Grand Final to win a luxury office chair worth up to €100.
The President of the Tralee Area of St Vincent de Paul, Junior Locke, said: “We are delighted that so many high profile business people and public representatives have taken the time to enter this fun event. St Vincent de Paul continues to be inundated with requests for help from people in our community, not just at Christmas, but all year round and the money raised from this event will help us to help them.”
Subject to the weather playing ball (the forecast is good for Saturday) the fun will get underway at 2pm on the Neil Armstrong Way, outside Siamsa Tíre Theatre.
