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Last Updated: Mar 14th, 2008 - 17:51:04 |
St PATRICK'S DAY EVENTS:
By Tommy Campbell
Irish Independent, Evening Herald, Sunday Independent
Mar 14, 2008,
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© Tommy Campbell
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On St. Patrick's day the attention turns to Carrick-on-Suir which is etched on the minds and hearts of anybody remotely interested in cycling as 'Sean Kelly Country.'
The Dan Morrissey/Carrick Wheelers CC are promoting the "Carrick Cabs Cup" which has a schedule start of one o'clock for the A's and B's plus a combined race for the other categories with a blast off at ten past one.
Both events will be run over the Glenbowere circuit which is 21 miles in distance and has to negotiated on three occasions.
According to race organiser Paul Lonergan, " this is the start of a busy period for the club with races in different locations over this weekend and then no sooner has the dust settled than we are on our way to Ras Mumhan over the Easter period.
"But, first and foremost we have the Carrick Cabs Cup to run and to cater for the visiting cyclists. "In the past we have not been blessed with good weather for the event. Maybe our new sponsor, Liam Hanrahan who came in last year to sponsor a number of our promotions that he'll entice the sun to come out for us. "Two good wins since the season started has put us in good form and we are hoping that we'll be capable of keeping some of the prizes in the club.
"Martin O'Loughlin had a good win in the Lacey Cup in Tralee, but last Sunday was music to our ears when Sam Bennett a second year junior coasted home to a solo victory in the Cahill Memorial event in Banteer. "Last season he finished runner up in the MDonnelly Junior Tour and that was a fabulous achievement. Maybe he'll stop the sequence of wins that the visitors have built up in the last number of years.
"All the facilities with the event will be at the Carrick Davin's GAA Club on the Clonmel Road," said Paul. The defending champion is a former member of the club, but now with MyHome.ie/Cycleways/BDCB, Brian Kenneally. Last week's hero Sam Bennett will race in the combined event where he'll have the company of his team mates, Rory Wyley and Martin O'Loughlin.
And, since it is Cheltenham week, maybe a visit to the local Bookmaker for odds on Sam Bennett winning the MDonnelly Junior Tour in July.
That Junior Tour since Martin Donnelly got involved has gone from strength. Kai Rees a world junior champion and now Robert Gesink on the verge of following in the footsteps of Sean Kelly as a Paris-Nice winner?
Usher Irish Road Club promote their first race of the season on Monday, St. Patricks Day. The event will be centred in Batterstown with dressing accommodation at the Blackhall Gaels GAA Hall.
The promoters run the event off on a handicap basis which gives the limit group an opportunity to feel their way into the event, before the heavyweights from the scratch group maake inroads into their advantage.
In the last number of years the advantage has been with the early starters courtesy of the handicapper. According to Alice Sherratt, "normally we get a big crowd. It is important that everybody is in with a shout of winning. The event will be held over two laps of the 'Doreys Forge' circuit which is 20 miles per circuit. "Hopefully we'll have the weather on our side for this Paddys Day event which has been on the go for more years than I can remember.
"Plus it will, also see the A Team cranking up their specialities for cycling. It is also important prior to the Bertoni Gorey Three Day at Easter that they are fully wound up! The 'Gorey' as you know is rather special.
"It is not only the competitors who''ll be racing but the A Team are also on the line," said Alice.
Racing gets under way at 11 o'clock.
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ULSTER WEEKEND ROUNDUP:
Courtesy of Tommy Lamb
Cycling Ulster have selected their team for the 2nd and 3rd category Saint Patrick's Classic which takes place on Sunday from Downpatrick to Armagh. The team will be led by the experienced Paul Kane (Northern/Dave Kane Cycles) ably supported by Thomas Martin (Clann Eireann-Linen Green), Darren Weir (Dromara CC) and the Ballymena duo of Leo McAllister and Ryan Bankhead. The team will be managed by Lurgan's Michael Murray with Harry Martin as mechanic. The 60 mile race begins in Downpatrick at 10-30am and will make its way to Armagh through Ballynahinch, Dromore, Lurgan, Charlemont and Blackwaterstown before finishing on the outskirts of Armagh.
Ulster have a history of success in this event but Leinster's Sean Bracken or Lisburn Junior Peter Wilson could prove the dangermen and the team will have to pull out all the stops to secure victory. Other riders capable of winning this 'B' Classic include Gordon Scott (East Antrim), Mark Greer (Maryland Wheelers) and Shaun Gray (Juiced/ Orchard CC).
All the top riders in Ulster will be present in Carlow on Sunday for the 1st category classic event the Des Hanlon Memorial. This race is recognised as one of the most prestigious events in Ireland and attracts all the top competitors from throughout the country. Last year's winner Ciaran Power will be unable to defend his title as he is currently competing abroad for the professional Pezula outfit.
However, Pezula will be represented on the startline by Belfast's Adam Armstrong and Ryan Connor from Ballymena who have dominated the local cycling scene from the start of the season.
The Cycling Ulster junior squad received a massive boost this week with news that they will be sponsored by Total Cycling for the 2008 season. The first representative event will be the Tour of the North at Easter and the team selected; Peter Wilson (Maryland), Stuart Henry (North Down), Leo McAllister (Ballymena-Scott Tiles) and Peter Williams (Juiced/Orchard CC). Missing from the team is Banbridge CC's Sean Downey who has been selected to lead an Irish national team in the 4 day event. Downey is currently based at the World Cycling Centre of Excellence in Switzerland but will return home for the Easter holiday period. Total Cycling are a well known cycling company based in Derry and proprietor Mike McLoone is delighted at his involvement with the Junior squad. 'These lads are the future of our sport and I am more than delighted to help out in any way. Ulster is currently producing the best juniors in Ireland and if my sponsorship helps them to build on that I will be more than satisfied,' he said.
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2008 Tommy Campbell,
IrishCycling.com.
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