Crackin’ effort Belfast Racers,
4 cities ratified and only 2 more to go in the series! Belfast yet again welcomed us with open arms and played host superbly, creating another great weekend of ratty adventure in this diverse urban environment. Back with 2 days of physical, mental, weird and wonderful challenges, The Belfast Rat Race filled it’s boots with fun for 2009.
1. Race Director's Report
2. Results
3. Upcoming Events – Entry Offer for Galway Rat Racers
4. Thank You's
5. Reports and SleepMonsters Photos
7. Prizes, Series Prize & Spirit of The Rat Race prize
9. Rat Race Store offer
10. End Notes
1. Race Director's Report
Having had such a warm reception last year The Rat Race returned in its more accustomed 2 day format allowing the event to take advantage of more of what this great city has to offer and it duly delivered.
Set in the heart of the city centre with the fantastic backdrop of the City Hall in all its splendour, the event really fed off the buzz and life Belfast always seems to have, enhancing the excitement and eager anticipation of what lay ahead for the The Rat Race. The Saturday’s Mean Streets event debuted and sampled much of the City Centre as well as branching East over the River Lagan to visit George Best’s mural and a comedy football challenge, and also as far south as Queen’s University Belfast with teams getting their hair cut, having some spicy curry, getting wet and visiting the now legendary ‘tattoo’ parlour. On the Sunday it was along the Lagan Valley corridor for kayaking, getting soaked, sandy and dirty before taking in Victoria Square for an aerial shopping experience. An out-and-back loop East taking in some bowling, shooting & the impressive Stormont Estate finished proceedings for the day.
Some safety observations from the course: Please be courteous to other users of the roads & cycleway, control your speed and do not deviate from the route. The route and rules are there for a reason. Otherwise, the infinitesimally small incident count suggests that you are all highly talented adventurers. A credit to the Rat Racing nation.
From the planning and directorial side, it was great to see a mix of familiar faces and a big show of hands for people taking part for the very first time! There was some very close racing at the front and lots of smiling faces all the way through the event and great to hear so many positive comments. Spread the word, as people don’t know what they’re missing! The speed at which the course was gobbled up will definitely mean the course will up it’s game for next year!
2. Results 
Comprehensive results are shown on the Belfast Rat Race results page here. Study and behold the variations and pleasures of the weekend, in an analytical sense that is, in yet another super close Rat Race for 2009!
At the end of the “Mean Streets” event on Saturday night many of you blitzed the course putting you on an even starting position for Sunday - think we’ll have to extend the challenge for you lot next year – you’re just too good! This even starting meant a hot head-to-head battle at the front with 4 teams vying for the top spots. Failable Checkpoints played their part meaning that despite ‘No Frontiers Abu’ finishing 10mins ahead of ‘Tango & Cash and the Warrior Princess’, because they failed an extra checkpoint they were pipped at the post by just 6secs! The closest ever finish in Rat Race history. Tango & Cash retain their crown as overall winners.
Results Summary:
Weekender (Mean Streets + Nine2Five)
1st Overall Tango & Cash and the Warrior Princess 1388.5 points
Mixed teams
1st Tango & Cash and the Warrior Princess 1388.5 points
2nd Average Joes in the Buff 1373.0 points
3rd Epic Rats 1283.5 points
1st all Male team
No Frontiers Abu (2nd Overall) 1388.4 points
1st all Female team
Dynamic Duo 1280.5 points
Mean Streets (only)
1st 3 Blind Mice 400 points
Nine2Five (only)
1st HO-MOS 990 points
3. Upcoming Events – Entry Offer for Galway Rat Racers
Loved the Belfast Rat Race and can’t wait for the next city to sink your claws into? Well you don’t have too long to wait. Our next exciting event is being held in Galway on the 5th & 6th of September. Last years event saw competitors kayaking on the Corrib, climbing through Barna Woods plus lots of other great urban adventures, just as you did last weekend in Belfast! So if the muscles have healed, the team are still talking to each other and you are looking for a great city to spend a weekend, get yourselves to the city of the tribes! To get a 10% discount on your entry to Galway Rat Race enter the code BELFAST101. Enter here.
4. Thank You's
This event in particular incorporated some very special operators and venues. We think they are all here in the list below to thank. Take a look back at their websites and give them a call or visit in the future. Great people, great venues, great partnerships, continuing to make the Rat Race the most exciting urban adventure out there.
Belfast City Council - www.belfastcity.gov.uk
The Belfast Telegraph -www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
The Court Barbour’s
The Dept. of Culture Arts and Leisure - www.dcalni.gov.uk
Dundonald Ice Bowl - www.theicebowl.com/home.asp
The Empire Comedy Club - www.thebelfastempire.com
Fitness First - www.fitnessfirst.co.uk
Foo Kin Express – www.fookinexpress.co.uk
Lagan Valley Orienteers – www.lvo.org.uk
Lagan Valley Regional Parks - www.laganvalley.co.uk
N.I. Athletics (Mary Peters Track) - www.niathletics.org
N.I. Tourist Board - www.discovernorthernireland.com
Sir Thomas & Lady Dixon Park www.belfastcity.gov.uk/parksandopenspaces
Skinworks - www.tommygunns.co.uk
Stormont Estates - www.dfpni.gov.uk/
Tiso – www.tiso.com
Ulster Hall - www.belfastcity.gov.uk/ulsterhall/index.aspx
Urban Assault – www.battlefieldsportsni.com
Victoria Square Shopping Centre – www.victoriasquare.com
The hard working and resourceful marshals (event crew) deserve a BIG thank you for making it all work on the night, and day.
5. SleepMonsters Reports and Photos
Relive your amazing weekend through reports and photos by SleepMonsters. Their expert photographers were all over the finish line on Sunday Nine2Five event, and many parts of the course that day. Click here to purchase high resolution photos of yourself, friends, or just crackin’ general shots to reminisce over. Also read a report written by eventual winners Tango & Cash and the Warrior Princess here. Finally check out the video on Belfast Telegraph created by Gary Grattan here.
6. Prizes, Series Prize & Spirit of The Rat Race prize
Well done to the winners for their superlatively quick times. And well done to you all for your endeavours this weekend. We were peeling our eyes for the Spirit of the Rat Race prize, awarded to the team who we feel embodies the spirit of the event. A nomination is made from each city and then at the end of the season we will draw the winner, who will be off for an Alpine treat courtesy of our friends at Adventure Base in Chamonix, staying at one of their luxury chalet with their mates on a £2500 holiday.
The Rat Race tests each team in many ways from physical exertion, mental problems, navigational challenges and many thrive, prosper and enjoy themselves overcoming all hurdles in their way. For one all females team in Belfast, Blondes on Bikes, there proved to be a few more unplanned hurdles than usual due to one of their bikes, to the point where they could no longer continue with it. However, instead of calling it quits, in true Rat Race style they popped their home nearby, picked up another bike and carried on! True spirit of the Rat Race.
7. Rat Race Store offer
Those with an eye for a bargain might want to sign up for the Rat Race Store Email Newsletter - not only will you receive 10% off all orders and free UK postage, but later this month all members of the Special Offers list will receive discount codes which will entitle them to a whopping 25% off all stock Gore Running Wear and Ronhill Apparel! Sign up here!
8. End Notes 
We hope to see you in Galway on 5th and 6th September or at our sensational series closer in London on 26th and 27th September. For those wanting to keep the Rat alive through the autumn, get yourself down under for Perth or Melbourne in November!
Rat’s all for now from us,
The Laganside Rats
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