The feature event, the 32 km handicapped run, is supported by several other events which include: a 32 km walking race, a 4 x 8 km teams walking relay and a 4 x 8 km running relay. Each race begins on the Sunday morning at the picturesque seaside hamlet of Naracoopa on the east coast of King Island. The course winds its way across the Island to finish on the west coast at the main township of Currie.

The King Island Imperial 20 is more than just a race. Festivities begin on the Saturday with a 3km warm-up run followed by the Carbo-Feast and Auction of the runners. Following the race on Sunday a Presentation Dinner is held where competitors and visitors have the opportunity to indulge in the finest of King Island beef, cheese and seafood.

The King Island Imperial 20 cannot claim to be the biggest running event in Australia but it does claim to be one of the friendliest and best-organized events on the calendar.

A unique event in a unique setting! Visit the Race Website for more information.

Contact details: Ph: Fax: (03) 6462 1929 E-mail: info@kingislandrace.org.au

The King Island Imperial 20 marathon encourages participation at a junior level. A tremendous amount of support is received by Rod Griffins for both team and individual participants. Rod is our very own Bruce McAvaney.

Functions supporting the event held over the March weekend and promoting King Island delights include a Calcutta and Carbo night on the Saturday and a presentation night on the Sunday catering for in excess of 200 people. A feature of the weekend is the Free Willies dash for cash - always a topic of conversation! Entry by donation and all funds donated to a local charity.

The weekend activities consumes the lives of many volunteers for at least 6 months of the year and for that of past race co-ordinator and founder, Robert Cooper, part of his life experiences for the past 8 years. On race day volunteers man drink stations, officiate events, crew ambulances and massage those tight muscles. A great community effort for the 200 odd volunteers!

Well known running fraternity personalities who have competed in King Island’s Imperial 20 include :-

• Yannis Kouras, ultra marathon legend participated 1994 - 1998
• Tania Warwick competed in 1997 (winner of 1995 and 1996 Point to Pinnacle event in Hobart and 1997 New Zealand marathon winner)
• Michael McIntyre winner of Imperial 20 in 1996 and 1998. (First Australian to finish 1995 Sydney Marathon. Won the Japanese Marathon in 1996 - 4 days after winning Imperial 20. Runner-up in 1998 Melbourne Marathon.
• Other familiar faces of the running fraternity include David Ross, Tim Sloan, Frank Sheulin, Vin McCarthy, and Vic Veterans Association.

KING ISLAND OPEN - GOLF
Situated in Currie, set amid coastal dunes meeting the Southern Ocean, King Island's links have been described as resembling St Andrew's of Scotland, with rolling fairways carved from the natural undulations.

Golf was first played at Currie in 1910, when about 30 enthusiasts engaged in the game for a period when the grass was short enough to enjoy the sport without it deteriorating to a game of 'find the ball.'

The King Island Golf Club was formed in 1931 and after a bowling green was established in 1959 the two clubs amalgamated to come the King Island Golf & Bowling Club. Today's clubhouse with its breathtaking views of the King Island coastline and Southern Ocean was constructed in the late 1960's.

QUEENSCLIFF TO GRASSY YACHT RACE - March long weekend
The Queenscliff to Grassy Yacht Race was first sailed in the 1970's and since then has become a major fixture on the Australian Ocean Racing calendar.

The race is organized by the Ocean Racing Yacht Club of Victoria in conjunction with the King Island Boat Club and sailed on the Victorian Labour Day long weekend in March.

KING ISLAND HORSE RACING CARNIVAL November/January
The King Island Race Club Inc. holds seven race meetings each season at the North Road Racecourse Complex in Currie. These are held during the December/January period with a field of approximately 40 gallopers and 25 harness horses. Every New Years Day, the King Island Cups are run in the galloping and pacing codes on the 1600m turf track.

It is a unique day of racing, having both codes running on the same day. In the early days, it was nothing for a horse to arrive pulling the jinker with the family aboard and then run in one or even two races and then pull the jinker home, so the present program seems quite natural to the older community.

The King Island Race Club has been established for over 100 years with the first meeting held on donated land at Porky's Flat (near Loorana) on 1st January, 1882. Only two races were held that day followed by a turkey lunch and an afternoon of various sporting events. From this start, racing became a very important social and sporting event for the people of the Island. Many different venues were used initially, Sea Elephant Bay to name one, until the present site was established.

Most of the first races were flat races and hurdles and in 1896 the first trotting race was included in the program. Races were chosen according to the horses ability and the capability of the riders who were usually the owner or his son or someone who worked for the owner. Membership was 10 shillings and 6 pence (at the time kangaroo skins sold for 14 shillings a dozen and sometimes payment was made with skins). More and more settlers became involved as time passed and by New Years Day 1910 there were 500 in attendance. By this time betting was allowed on the course and ladies were allowed to become Honary Members. Also the cost of membership had decreased to 7 shillings - because there were so many members!

Race Days are relaxed community gatherings with refreshments and food readily available. The King Island Race Club boasts full TOTE and Sky Channel facilities, a bookmaker and race broadcaster.