One of the more unusual sporting events on Lanzarote this year saw over 700 competitors setting off on the 23rd January from the African coast and racing the 100 miles or so to Lanzarote. The cash prize for the first one home was a healthy 6000 Euros, so competition was fierce with only the very fittest and fastest in with a chance of winning.

Believe it or not the 14th Derby de Pichones is a pigeon race. Perhaps a sport more usually associated with Northern England, the warmer climates of the Canaries make it a perfect location for some early season races. This traditional event has a long history and welcomes birds from other countries too. There was a special prize for the first Lanzarote-based pigeon home. What seems odd is that pigeons which don't normally reside on the island will be expected to fly back there once they are released, so perhaps there's more to pigeon racing that first meets the eye.

The most recent sporting event to take place on the island was the annual Lanzarote marathon held at the end of November. The full marathon distance was based on a 4 lap circuit in the La Santa area and saw 130 men and 26 women racing for the prizes. Fastest man was Spaniard Jose Antonio Requejo with a time of 2hrs 31minutes, but the British were very well represented with George Taylor finishing 5th and Scott Taylor close behind in 6th place. The races certainly qualified as a hit with the veterans as only 5 of the men's field and one of the women's being younger than 30 years of age. Start planning ahead now if you fancy adding the race to your schedule this year.

Of course Lanzarote's biggest sporting event is the Ironman Triathlon held during May. Entries for the 2010 are already complete, with only reserved professional slots to be decided, so planning even further ahead is required if one of Europe's best triathlons is to find its place on your sporting palmares

Flythomascook.com operate flights to Lanzarote all year round on a comprehensive schedule.