Pomona King of the Mountain Festival & Race
The famous King of the Mountain Festival and Race is Noosa's major hinterland festival held in Pomona on the fourth Sunday of July each year.
The picturesque hinterland town of Pomona, nestled in the heart of the Noosa hinterland, boasts a warm and friendly atmosphere, where its buildings reflect early settlement days.
One day each year, the fourth Sunday in July, this picturesque town hosts the King of the Mountain Festival. The population of Pomona on this day swells 10 fold. The festival is a community based family fun day, where the aim is to provide activities and entertainment for every age.
The day starts at 7.30am with the famous poet’s breakfast. At 8.00am the10Km Quarter Marathon run and the 3Km family jog get underway. Primary school relays follow later in the morning as entertainment continues in the park with live bands, clowns, side show ally, a great variety of food and drink and many special events. These special events will be posted on the ‘latest news bulletin’ as agreements and contracts are entered into.
The day climaxes at 3.00pm with the International Mountain Race. Runners from many parts of the world assemble to try to conquer this short but probably one of the world’s most gruelling races.
The King of the Mountain Festival offers you a great fun day for the whole family. We hope to see you there!!!
Bendigo Bank International Mt. Challenge
In 1979 the Cooroy-Pomona Lions Club formed the King of the Mountain Committee to revive and make the race an annual event. The race is now run on the Fourth Sunday of July each year and has become a major Internationally recognised sporting event on the Sunshine Coast Calendar.
The race runs from the centre of Pomona township, past streets crowded with well-wishers and supporters, then heads 'bush' towards the mountain. The runners commence climbing a set of low hills before confronting the mountain. The track up the mountain is little more than a goat track, with parts now modified with steps. In some places, it is only wide enough for one or two runners.
The mountain provides a steep almost vertical climb. The return down the mountain requires strength, agility, a good sense of balance, and an immunity to fear. The course, and indeed the race, has to be seen to be believed! Entrants in the King of the Mountain come from all over Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Rim and the United Kingdom. There is a strong rivalry between Australia and New Zealand participants.
The race record was set in 1987 by Graham Baralett of Queensland who completed the course in 22 minutes 50 seconds. In 2009, 22 years since the record was set, Neil Labinsky, 4th year consecutive winner, broke the record and recorded a time of 22 minutes 43 seconds.
The race has 5 categories, Junior, Open Male, Open Women, Veteran, Masters and is sponsored by the Bendigo Bank, our local community bank with branches in Cooroy andTewantin.
View the complete list of previous categorised winners.