So you think you are an athlete?

Have you ever given thought to being a performance artist?

In the Paddy Games maximum physical expression is the aim as you will find yourself doing the backwards triple jump, the donkey vault or the hop-along 100metres.

EVENT SUMMARY:

1. Retro Running (i.e. Backwards running)

Official Guiness World Record time to beat: 13.6 secs

100m and 400m race. Athletes must run backwards for the entire distance. Athletes shall travel in the direction of the athlete’s back with the back of the athlete foremost to the finishing line at all times.

2. 3-Legged Race

New Official Guinness World Record attempt for 100m event – 20 secs min. requirement

100m and 1mile (1,609m). Athletes shall compete in pairs and be tied together below the knee at a distance of no more than 6 inches. The pair shall interlock arms or place arms over the shoulder and around the waist of one another. If the cord comes undone a pair is disqualified.

3. Crawling

100m and 400m. Athletes shall crawl on all fours. If at any stage during the race the soles of an athlete’s feet touch the ground he is disqualified.

4. Under the Hurdle

100m and 400m. Instead of being required to jump over each hurdle, athletes shall go under each hurdle.  An athlete is disqualified if he jumps over any hurdle.

5. Stilt Sprint

100m. Athletes must conduct the race on stilts. An athlete is disqualified if during the race a foot touches the ground. Although not a necessity, athletes are encouraged to bring their own stilts. Both hand-held and peg-stilts are permitted.

6.  Broken leg sprint

100m. Athletes shall have a leg set in Plaster of Paris covering both the ankle and knee joint. No hand aides, like crutches, may be used.

7.  Blindfold Dash 100m

New Official Guinness World Record attempt

Athletes must wear a blindfold over both eyes for the entire race and be unable to see. In order to qualify for Guinness World Record, athletes must not cross over into another lane during the race and they must complete the full distance without the use of sighted guides.

8. Skateboard Dash

100m. Athletes must have one leg on the skateboard at all times. Where possible athletes must bring their own standard skateboard, though a number of skateboards will be available on the day. Longboards are not allowed.

9. Tricycle Race

100m.  Athletes must be seated on a tricycle and propel the tricycle by using the tricycle’s pedals.  It is prohibited to use the feet on the ground for forward motion. Although not a necessity, athletes are encouraged to bring their own children’s trike.

10.  Welly Hop

100m. Athletes shall wear wellington boots on both feet for the duration of the race and shall only touch the ground with one foot. If a boot falls off an athlete is disqualified. Contestants are required to bring their own wellingtons.

11.  Irish Dancing Hurdles

100m. Athletes must wear their “Sunday Best” and, stylistically speaking, must be judged to be Irish dancing throughout the race except for when jumping over the hurdles.

12.  Hand of Henry

100m. Athletes shall navigate through cones while dribbling a soccer ball at the feet. At the end of the course is a goalpost into which the athlete must kick the ball. An athlete shall complete the course when the ball hits the back of the net. Although an athlete may not handle the ball he is expected to do so, at least once, before scoring a goal. At the end of the race the athlete is urged to celebrate the goal as though he never handled the ball. If the Umpire threatens to disqualify the athlete for handling the ball the athlete must vigorously protest that the ball was never handled.

13. Relays (all 4 x 100m)

a. Inter-species
Relay

A team shall comprise two humans and two land animals. The baton may either be attached to the animal or carried in its mouth. A relay team shall not be disqualified by virtue of an animal digressing between lanes during the race so long as the take-over zones are ultimately complied with.

b. Retro Running Relay

Official Guiness World Record time to beat: 62.55 secs

Athletes must run backwards per Retro Running.

c. Fireman Carry Relay

Each team bring their own lady (over 18) who replaces a baton. At no stage of the race may the lady touch the ground as this would mean automatic disqualification.

d. Skateboard Relay

Athletes must at all times have one foot on a skateboard but when the racing athlete enters the hand-over zone, he may step off the board to avoid colliding with a team member.  Normal baton-passing rules shall apply. Although not a necessity, athletes are encouraged to bring their own standard skateboard. Longboards are not allowed.

e. Blindfold Relay

Blindfold rules shall apply. Each team is allowed to have an assistant who is allowed to see and who may guide athletes from behind by providing verbal directions. If anybody touches a competing athlete (other than fellow athletes) a team is disqualified.

f. Crawling Relay

Crawling Rules apply.

14. Donkey Vault

Similar to the long jump with the difference that a wooden donkey is in the way. An athlete springs off a spring-board which is positioned in front of the behind of a wooden ass. After take-off an athlete may use his hands to leap-frog over the wooden ass before landing in the sand pit.

15. Backwards triple jump

New Official Guinness World Record attempt – 5m min requirement

Athletes shall complete the triple jump while travelling in the direction of the athlete’s back with the back of the athlete foremost to the sand pit at all times.

16. Pogo Stick High Jump

Athletes shall carry out the high jump by taking off the ground from a pogo stick and landing in a controlled manner. Although not a necessity, athletes are encouraged to bring their own pogo stick.

17. Mobile Phone throwing

Competitors throw mobile phones instead of the discus from the discus cage. There will be a limited number of phones on the day. For best results we advise competitors to bring their own aerodynamic mobile phone in the size and weight to suit their skill.

18.  Strait-jacket wrestling

This is like sumo with the exception that instead of wearing a sumo nappy, athletes must wear a strait-jacket. An athlete who pushes his opponent out of the technical area or forces any part of his opponent’s body, other than the soles of his feet, to touch the ground within the technical area, shall be the winner.

19.  Belly Bashing

This is like sumo with the exception that athletes shall wear either shorts or trousers.  An athlete may only make contact with his opponent by using his stomach.  An athlete who pushes his opponent (with his belly) out of the technical area or forces any part of his opponents body, other than the soles of his feet, to touch the ground within the technical area, shall be the winner.

20. Loudest Roar

From the shot-put ring, athletes shall roar as loud as they can. The loudest roar picked up by a decibel metre shall be the winner.

21. Cow pat spitting

Athletes shall be stationed at the javelin starting position and project from their mouth chewed cud. The winner shall be he whose largest piece of chewed cud spat from the mouth travels furthest.

22. Bicycle tyre floor routine

This is rhythmic gymnastics performed in a rectangular space to music using a bicycle tyre instead of a hoola hoop. Contestants are expected to bring their own audio CD for the routine, and have a maximum of 1.5 minute (90 seconds) to present their skill.

23. Bog Roll Gymnastics

This is rhythmic gymnastics performed in a rectangular space to music using a bog roll instead of a ribbon. Contestants are expected to bring their own audio CD for the routine, and have a maximum of 1.5 minute (90 seconds) to present their skill.

24. Inter-species freestyle dance

This event is similar to ballroom dancing except that it allows for creative interaction between dogs and their owners. The event is a mixture of obedience, tricks and dance focusing on a dog’s ability to perform artistic positions and a variety of tricks and other obedience talents with its handler. All dance routines are made up of one human and one canine and shall last no longer than 2minutes. The handler and dog must remain close to each other at all times and sending the dog away or doing distance work is not allowed.  The dog should appear invisibly tethered to his handler demonstrating loyalty.