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IT’S back and already business people and politicians are in training for Tralee’s third Annual Christmas Office Chair Racing Competition in aid of St Vincent de Paul.

Following on from the success of the event over the past two years, the racing will return to Neil Armstrong Way, outside Siamsa Tíre Theatre, from 1pm on Friday, December 23.

Kerry TDs Danny and Michael Healy-Rae, John Brassil and Martin Ferris have already signed-up to take part in the event and while Deputy Brendan Griffin will not be present, he will donate €50 to St Vincent de Paul.

Shops, banks, hotels, pubs, restaurants, law firms, hospitals, schools, politicians and sports clubs have been asked to take part in what promises to be a hilarious event on the last weekend before Christmas.

Anyone interested in taking part or sponsoring a chair can do so for only €50 and all proceeds will go to St Vincent de Paul.

The President of Tralee Chamber Alliance, John Drummey, said: “St Vincent de Paul continues to be inundated with requests for help from people in our community, not just at Christmas, but all year round and the money raised from this event will help us to help them. This is a fun event to head into the Christmas holidays and wind-down after a busy year.”

The rules are simple: All the chairs (which will be supplied) have wheels and in order to win a race, the competitors must keep their bottoms firmly on the seat of the chair and only use their legs to propel themselves forward towards the finish line.

Depending on the number of entries, the participants will take part in preliminary heats and ultimately the last two sitting will battle it out for the title - the 2015 winner was Paul Keane from Moriarty Civil Engineering in Monavalley Business Park.

Entries will be accepted up to 12pm of the day of the Office Chair Racing on Saturday, December 23.

Please send the name of your Office Chair Racer to John Drummey (on behalf of Tralee Chamber Alliance) - info@JohnDrummey.ie or Junior Locke, President of the Tralee Society of St Vincent de Paul – SVPTraleeArea@gmail.com.

For more information on how to take part, contact Junior Locke on 087-9667442.