Yet another New Year and yet another successful Castlecomer Wellington Race. The Gods were surely looking down on us this year. Following torrential rain on New Year’s Eve, 2004 started with clear skies and sunshine.

As we have come to expect the day was full to the brim with fun craic and no small amount of competitive edge. The real winners will however be the beneficiaries when the monies will be distributed in March.

The float parade was as usual colourful and proved to be a difficult task for the judges to decide upon. Eamon Brennan chairman of the judging panel summed it up when he declared all participants to be winners. What with rapping Egyptians, Dublin Vikings, The new Firoda Equestrian centre and its first race meeting, Celebrity Farm the rerun, the real story of Saddam Hussain’s capture, Culchies running amok, The new Radio na Powley (culchie language station), a real Majorette group instead of our own major regrets group, a shock appearance of the invisible man, Disney characters spraying the crowd with glitter and bubbles, Erin’s Own Hurling Club displaying their trophy haul from the past season, a re enactment of the cannonball run movie, The Red and Yellow M&M’s, a Mars Lunar Buggy and much much more it certainly was not a parade to be missed. We have uploaded a small example of the colour and wit of the day in our photo section, please peruse at your leisure.

The Official 2004 Wellington Race result was:

The Wellington Race itself was a hard fought event. The winning runner covered the route in 20 minutes approx was Mr Martin Kelly. Ms Eilish Hayes completed a fourth year on the trot victory in the ladies race, Mr Martin Boran won the Veteran Men’s section while Joan Stephenson won the Senior Ladies section.

Paul Brophy Chairman.