MANILA, Philippines - The unique sport of roller racing makes its debut in the Philippines with the staging of the first Rollapaluza Roller Racing demonstration event on June 25 at the second level of the Festival Mall in Alabang starting at 4 p.m.
An event that was very popular in Great Britain in the 1950s, the sport has two cyclists battling it out on a pair of custom rollers connected to a huge clock over a simulated 500-meter course at speeds in excess of 50 mph with the first cyclist to get his watch hand to go all the way around the clock winning the race.
Rollapaluza, the group responsible for reviving the sport at the turn of the century, presently holds over 75 races a year in the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe. It has granted an Asian franchise to expatriate businessman-sportman David Charlton to promote the event in the Philippines.
Charlton plans to hold a series of roller racing competitions in major malls after the demo event with the David’s Salon chain of hair salons and Union Jack Tavern, an English food restaurant at the Festival Mall, as major sponsors for both the demo event and the competitions that will follow.
Briton Chris Hoy, a three-time gold medalist in the cycling event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, is one of the serious international athletes who has also competed in roller races in Great Britain but his best time of 19.44 seconds in the simulated 500m course, is only third fastest in the world behind Matt Crampton’s world record of 17.90 seconds and Craig McClean’s 18.94 seconds.
Caspar Hughes and Paul Churchill, the people behind Rollapaluza and the resurgence of roller racing, are arriving in the Philippines for the demo event which is also supported by host venue Festival Mall, Rudy Project, A & F Magazine, Mellow Touch 94.7, Dan’s Bike Shop, Glaxo Smithkline, Matrix, and Loreal.
“I wanted to introduce something new to local sports and fitness enthusiasts here and I believe roller racing has the potential to be a big hit in the country, “ said Charlton, a multi-disciplined athlete whose passion for sports prompted him to initiate talks with Rollapaluza about this unique cycling sport.
Among those invited to be part of the demonstration event are members of the national triathlon and duathlon teams, Polo Tri, Sunkist Tri, David’s Salon All Women’s cycling team, Gerry’s Grill, Yellow Cab, Bike King, and individual adventure sports enthusiasts.
The event is open to the public with a registration fee of P250, inclusive already of a drink from Union Jack tavern and a specially-designed event t-shirt and a chance to win other prizes in actual competition and fun events with the invited celebrities.