Mondello Scooter Scramble Results!

It was noted that Mondello has never had so much fun on a lunch break – as they played host to the first ever World Polio Day Scooter Scramble, which took place on Sunday 23rd October. The event was held during the lunch hour of the Irish Rallycross Championship on the ‘Straight’ at Mondello Park.

It is not often that pitch Rallycross drivers against Mobility Scooter drivers – but we did it, with hilarious results. It seems the Rally drivers are quite a competitive bunch – as demonstrated here (video courtesy of  Leo Nulty) – but our valiant members showed every bit of tenacity known to Polio Survivors and certainly ran the cleanest race! The Rallydriver heat was won by European Champion Derek Tohill, adding Scooter Scrambler to his winning titles.

We were doubly thrilled to have special guests Ciaran Kilkenny and James McCarthy of Dublin GAA and the much revered Sam Maguire to Mondello – taking part in the final heat of the Scooter Scramble. James McCarthy held up the rear along with Post Polio Support Group CEO Fran Brennan, both on boot scooter models from Beechfield Healthcare – the compact size is valued by Polio Survivors who need to be able to transport them from place to place – but they didn’t match the speed of the large models lent to us by Lifestyle Mobility. While contentiously, non-motorised wheelchair user Peter Barron crossed the line first, it was our own Brigid Quigley O’Brien who came first in the Scooter Race with Dublin Player Ciaran Kilkenny taking second place, Polio Survivors remaining undefeated in their command of these vehicles.

To add to the success of the day our intrepid volunteers circulated the crowd collecting funds which will assist with our Winter Heating Grant for those polio survivors who struggle with the high cost of heating bills every winter.

We will announce the full amount raised soon.

A huge thank you to the Dublin GAA – Ciaran and James were so giving of their time and keen to participate and chat to our members, to the Rallycross Drivers who really got on board (literally) and had such fun with the Scramble, to our members and supporters who helped out and to Lifestyle Mobility and Beechfield Healthcare who supplied scooters. And not least of all – a heartfelt thanks to Mondello Park, particularly Declan, Phillip, Keith, Leo and Sharon – and all the staff who helped us with the running of this event.