With October just over a day away, Halloween may be front and centre, but Christmas will be here before we know it and so will one of Ulster’s favourite festive races. Entries for the 2025 Castlewellan Christmas Cracker opened at 6 pm today, and the 750 team slots will vanish faster than a tin of Roses in a primary school staff room.
This year’s race is set for Saturday 27 December at 1pm, starting from the usual spot at Castlewellan GAC. It’s a pairs affair, so you’ll need a willing partner to share the mud, the climbs and the questionable post-turkey fitness levels.
The course? Roughly 8½ miles of roads, forest tracks and soggy fields with a few lung-testing hills to burn off the Quality Street. The exact route is a closely guarded secret, but you can bank on a mix of lakeside trails, forest paths and the odd knee-deep puddle to keep things lively.
Expect soup and rolls at the finish and a good-natured crowd in everything from Santa hats to full-blown fancy dress. Prizes go to the fastest men’s, women’s and mixed teams, plus a few spot awards for costumes that raise eyebrows.
If you fancy working off those Christmas calories and enjoying one last hurrah before the New Year, don’t dither. Entry link is live now and it always sells out in a flash, so enter now. Grab a (willing) and prepare for a festive mud-bath in County Down!
Image: Alastair King
