History of the RMC

You have heard of the Ironman,

now we have the friendly flexible version of an Ironman.

12mile cycle, 2mile run & 18holes of golf...!

America has the Ironman -- and now Ireland has the Rubberman!

Extract from local paper in 2000:

Step forward Tony Redmond winner of the inaugural Rubberman Challenge. What’s the difference between an Ironman and a Rubberman? “We are more flexible” jokes co-founder James Bodels who finished second (out of two) in the first competition.

It all started with a bit of bar room banter between the two Bunclody friends, with each man claiming to be fitter than the other. Eventually they decided to put it to the test.

James - an Antrim man who has lived in the north Wexford town for more than 25 yrs – was a cyclist, so naturally his preferred weapon was the bicycle.

Unfair said Tony – so the two friends decided on a Triathlon. Not the classic Ironman Triathlon of cycling, running and swimming but the Irish version – cycling, running and golf.

Tony and James talked about the idea every time they meet for a pint – but after a while James began to suspect that that was as far as it would get. He decided to force the issue by seeking sponsorship and raising some money for a good cause. “My sons, Campbell and Christopher both have Cystic Fibrosis, so I will raise some funds for that”.

Tony decided to do the same and the challenge was on! They set a date and got down to serious training (drinking and talking about it) ….. and the rest is history.

Mind you as the years go by the history becomes faded and distorted, none the less the event has gone from strength to strength, with the main beneficiary being the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland and from the RMC inception, it and other charities have benefited to the tune of over €250,000.