Published: Wednesday, 8th September, 2010 5:00pm

The Ulster Canal Capers Festival 2010

Some action from the soapbox racing at last year's Clones festival.

Just over a week to go until the start of the Ulster Canal Capers Festival, 2010, kindly supported by Clones Credit Union. This year's event promises to be bigger and better than last year and organisers are hoping that the weather holds for the weekend.

The action-packed weekend of fun is delivered with the assistance of Cavan-Monaghan LEADER, the Minister and Department of Community, Equality & Gaeltacht Affairs, the EU and EAFRD in part-funding this project.

The key event will once again be the 'Harte Peat' Canalball Run. This year the race will be run over three legs.

The first leg will be a practice run. There will be no obstacles and no funny business, just a straight run down the course. This is just an opportunity for the drivers to work out the race line and determine at what speed they can take the corner without overturning or losing a wheel.

In keeping with the whole canal and water theme, the second run will be the Water Challenge. Competitors have already been told to incorporate space for a bucket in their carts for this part of the race. At the start line, each racer will be given 12 litres of water for their bucket.

Every litre they lose on going down the course will result in a time penalty. During this leg, competitors must also proceed through the McCaughey's Soapy Box Car Wash, so drivers will get wet! Speed is obviously essential, but lose too much water and you will lose vital time.

The third leg will be more or less the same as last year's race, with the welcome return of the Meaty Ramp sponsored by Feldhues and AIBP. The winner will be the racer who has the best combined times for legs two and three after any time penalties have been added.

This year there will be no kids race or lawnmower race. Instead, there are extra activities including quads, remote car racing and laser wars (see ad below).

Battle in Clones

A hard fought series of battles are being planned for Saturday, September 11, when Clones stages the Hickey's Pharmacy Capers 'Paintball' challenge in Barry McGuigan Park.

This event is restricted to those aged over 16. Who will emerge triumphant? It will take a combination of courage, skill and teamwork to avoid the bitter taste of defeat.

There are laser wars in an indoor arena that will be set up in Barry McGuigan Park.

Instead of firing hard plastic paint balls, competitors will shoot totally safe laser beams at each other.

On Saturday, September 11, the town car park and surrounding area will be transformed into a carnival of colour and excitement as the Supervalu Family Fun Day kicks off. Bouncy castles for young and older children, rodeo bulls for all the cowboys and cowgirls of the town, demolition zone, street entertainment, face painting, obstacle courses, remote control car racing, BBQ and much, much more.

A quad track for juniors will be running behind the vets offices on Saturday afternoon.

Night entertainment

A group of the publicans in town (Adamson's, The Paragon, Packie Willies, The Creighton, Treanors bar and the Roost) have come together to ensure that there will be no need to go home too early during the festival weekend. On Friday night a fancy dress party will be held throughout the town with €500 going to the best outfit.

The top five best dressed will be picked from each of the three bars and the winner will be decided at the Fancy Dress Ball in the Creighton Hotel where Clones favourites, Lightning Strikes, make a welcome return to the town to entertain the crowd until the early hours.

Live music by Over the Edge in Packie Willies and a '70s, '80s and '90s disco in Club Retro.

All in all it is shaping up to be a great weekend's craic and there can be no doubt, that Clones will be the place to be! The sky's the limit during the Ulster Canal Capers festival with a Robinson 44 Helicopter being based at Alternate, Newbliss Rd, Clones during the festival weekend. Book your flight early to avoid disappointment by contacting 087-2689195.

Bungee Ireland will be coming to town on Sunday, September 12, with its 200-foot high crane, which will be erected in Fitzpatrick square and will be open to anyone brave enough to drop from this incredible height. For further information or to register for a jump, call 087-02842259.

• For further information on the festival, log on to www.clonescanalfestival.com or contact the festival offices at FJD Surveyors, Fermanagh Street or contact 047-52700 or via clonescanalfestival@hotmail.com.