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Last Updated: Nov 22nd, 2007 - 18:08:11 |
DWCC PLANS FOR 75th CELEBRATIONS NEXT YEAR
By Wes Murphy, Club Secretary
Nov 22, 2007,
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The Dublin Wheelers Cycling Club (DWCC) were founded in 1933 and plan to hold a number of events in 2008 to commemorate milestone.
The club is still going strong with 50+ members out training and racing every weekend come rain or shine.
Originally the club would meet outside the Irish Press offices in Dublin and hundreds would go for training spins and weekends away. The meeting place has changed but a lot of the spins are exactly the same.
Our main event is the Gala Dinner on Feb 1st 2008 in Springfield House in Leixlip, a black tie evening of fun and fond memories for all club members past and present. Some past members have fallen off our radar of late so if any are out there could they contact John Heery on 0876409192.
John is also putting together a presentation of club and cycling memorabilia from 1933 through to present day, if you have anything you could add to the collection, please contact John.
The club was founded by 6 friends on a cycling weekend away to Rostrevor in 1933. On Feb 16th, we hope to re-enact that weekend and follow the same route.
On July 20th we plan on having a special road race open to all categories of riders in and around Dublin.
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DUBLIN WHEELERS HISTORY
Established 1933 On a weekend away cycling in Rostrevor, six friends;Eric Mason, David Perkins, Jim Doogue, Joe Walsh, Tommy and Leo McManmon decided to form a cycling club. Thus Dublin Wheelers Cycling Club was born. The year was 1933 at a time when the bicycle was very popular.Not many people had access to cars and the bicycle was an easy form of escape to the countryside. There were many cycling clubs in Dublin at this time, but it was not long before over a hundred members would meet every Sunday morning outside the Irish Press Offices on Burgh Quay. Tours would head off for the day, sometimes in two groups and quite often finish with tea and a dance. The Springfield, Butlers, Skerries, Dalkey, Bray and the White Heather Tea Rooms were regularly visited.In summer, evenings spins were organised on a Wednesday. It was not long before a racing section developed and much success was achieved with riders like Johnny Downs, Matt Hegarty and Ned Dunphy.
In 1939 Johnny Downs, who was one of seven family members, had a famous victory in an interclub race between Cork & Co Dublin and Dublin Wheelers cycling clubs. During the war years, due to a lack of spare parts coming into the country, cycling numbers declined but in the late forties and early fifties, the numbers swelled again. With Matt and Paddy Marlow, Jack Ryan and Martin Hannsey much success was achieved.
The Touring Section also went on hostelling and camping trips. Willie Marks, Pascal Brogan and Eddy Kennedy were the main leaders.New destinations in the UK and on the continent were visited. To be continued..................
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