Mountain record in sights
ANYTHING the mighty Queensland State of Origin team can do, Sippy Downs flyer Neil Labinsky can do, too, as he sets his big heart to break the all-time Pomona King of the Mountain record this Sunday.
And the form guide and the experts say don't bet against the in-form Labinsky running through the usual mountain of pain up Mount Cooroora again for a startling seven conquests.
Even as Labinsky crossed last year for his six in a row he was gunning to break the joint record of six of the best held by George Sewtrell and Kiwi legend Barry Prosser.
There seemed to be an air of confidence about Labinsky then, as can be seen by the photo, with him holding up seven fingers to serve a warning to this year's rivals.
"Actually I thought I was holding up only six," said the fleet-footed fruit picker who turned 33 yesterday.
"I was aware of the record, though, and I'm aware of the State of Origin record as well.
"I never set out to break any records but now that I'm this close I might as well have a go at it."
Labinsky confirmed the verdict by Pomona King of the Mountain Festival organisers that his lead-up form was red hot.
He has been averaging three runs up the 438m mountain every week in recent months and his times are faster than last year.
"Some people don't like to run it too many times before the race, but there are not many mountain races in the world like this one and I find it helps," Labinsky said.
"Most mountain races are not such a steep climb. They are more hills that you can actually run up. But this takes it to another degree." One certainty is Labinsky will not be admiring the view from the top or nodding to anyone he passes on what is a full pelt at heart-in-the-mouth pace.
"You just have to watch exactly where you will be putting your feet," said the gun, who has not fallen in this race to date.
The Cooroora challenge, which Labinsky makes look like a mole hill, is a world-class event inspired by local footballer and railway porter Bruce Samuels' run up the mountain for a lark back in 1958.
Samuels' claim in the Railway Hotel that he had been to the top of the mountain and back in less than an hour had so many doubting Thomases that he repeated his feat in front of witnesses and soon a race was born.
The sheer audacity of the run had enough legs to take it into the 1960s, only to lapse before being revived by Cooroy-Pomona Lions Club in 1979.
The 34th King of the Mountain festival is a free-for-all of fantastic events, heritage markets, amusement and helicopter rides over the mountain and live music including Uncle Bob's Jug Band.
The festival is home to Queensland's largest school relay event, the Nestle Primary School Relays, which attract schools from Hervey Bay to Brisbane. There is the CQUniversity 3km Family Fun Run, the Zinc 96.1FM Mountain Dash, which is a 2.4km run from the main race starting point to the base of Cooroora Mountain and back, the Raine & Horne Tug of War and the Cooroy Rag World Thong Throwing Competition, which once earned a spot in the Guinness World Records.
Other distractions include the Poet's Breakfast at Majestic Theatre, Pomona Palette Exhibition at Old Railway Station Gallery and the Antiques and Collectibles Fair at Memorial Hall. The festival starts at 7am and ends at 5pm. For details visit kingofthemountain.com.au.
