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Last Updated: Mar 20th, 2008 - 19:51:12 |
FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR EASTER WEEKEND:
By Tommy Campbell
Irish Independent, Evening Herald, Sunday Independent
Mar 20, 2008,
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© Tommy Campbell
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Declarations have been made for all three stage events this Easter! Unfortunately the Easter time may have come that bit sooner for the majority of the cyclists. Normally heretofore, they would have had the advantage of at least four to five weekends of racing in their legs. Not so this Easter, but at least they can tell their kin that racing took place over this period.
Maybe in time, the table quizzes that are held on a regular basis to fund raise for various charities will have a question for the participants! "Name the winners' of the 'Pauline Sugrue Auctioneer Ras Mumhan/Bertoni Gorey Three-Day/PO Tour of the North' who raced at Easter when on the previous Monday, St. Patrick's Day was celebrated? I would say that would be a six marker at least? And, none better to direct the question at the 'Memory Man' Jimmy Magee. Their fitness could be called into play and that cutting edge may desert them over their respective stage events.
Hopefully 'Mother Nature' smiles on the competitors who will be in action in three of the four Provinces, Munster. Leinster and Ulster. Easter tends to be cold and breezy with the winds coming in off the Atlantic Ocean and sweeping over this Isle of ours. Anyhow believe it or not, these cyclists who'll be in action don't pamper to the elements. They just get on their bikes and race. Not for the first time and it will not be the last that the Bertoni Gorey Three-Day has the distinction of assembling a record turnout of 186.
Included in that line up are three ladies team which goes to show you that the Ladies despite not been grant aided for elite ladies' are still knuckling down and doing their talking on the bike. Three women's teams have entered the fray! Leinster are entering a team - for the first time in several years, Orwell Wheelers have put together a challenge team, and there is an Isle of Man team travelling over to race also! From the Women's Commission's point of view it is very exciting to see so many girls racing.
He's been in from the start, back in 1966, and he's still around calling the pipers tune, Sam Darcy. As we all know he's a larger than life character and as always he enthuses about the sport and particularly the Gorey. Today he is fortunate that the A team are helping to steer this magnificent event which caters for all bar the head honchos of cycling. The roll call of winners is very impressive and none more so that Mark Scanlon who went on to win a world junior championship on the road in Valkenburgh, Holland. To think that it is almost ten years that the Sligo cyclist lit up the world of Irish cycling after the heroes of the 'Road' Sean Kelly and Stephen Roche had laid their steeds of the road in solitude and peace. One thing is guaranteed that the name of the winner this year will feature in the various media sections for many years to come!
Not for the first time and certainly it will not be the last time that Mary Concannon will be at the helm of the 'Pauline Sugrue Auctioneer Ras Mumhan' which will take to the roads in South Kerry starting on Good Friday. Every race organiser relies on a team of dedicated workers and in this department she has not been found wanting.
"The presence of a star studded field makes it very worthwhile and according to the Met Service, I am reliably informed that the 'Kingdom' will be the place this weekend. "Considering there are three major races over the Easter period, an entry of a 100 plus speaks volumes. "Not only for the organisation, but in particular for our anchor sponsor, Pauline Sugrue Auctioneer in Cahersiveen. Her support plus the sponsors of the other categories involved in a stage race of this size is greatly appreciated, " said Mary.
Last Easter, Denis Dunworth of the Killorglin Credit Union Cycling Club was a big hit when he won the Bertoni Gorey Three Day. Now the youngster is part of the An Post Development Squad and back on terrain that he is very familiar with. He'll be joined on the team by Isaac Speirs, Mark Cassidy, Ronan McLaughlin and Tom Martin. The An Post boys will have a mountain to climb, but their training regime since the New Year will stand them in good stead and a podium position is not beyond their goal.
Brian Kenneally the defending champion is back for more success! He has a very strong squad and there are pluses for him. He'll be aided and abetted by two former winners of Ras Mumhan, Stephen O'Sullivan and Eugene Moriarty of the MyHome.ie/Cycleways/BDCB team. Just getting back to form is Paul Griffin of the Giant Asia team who took a fall in late January which upset his racing programme. Still, there were signs last Monday in Carrick-on-Suir in the 'Carraig Cabs Cup' that he will be in the shake come up come Monday afternoon.
Another one who cannot be discounted is Sean Lacey who in his new colours of EuroBaby-EuroCycles. Pezula Racing Team have Ciaran Power as their leader and it would take a brave man not to exclude him from the overall victory. On paper, this Pezula outfit could and should dominate proceedings, but in racing certain things happen which can turn a form book upside down.
Also at the start line will be the Dutch FORTE JUNE TRANSLATIONS. The team is led by Tino Hakaman who made a big impression here two years ago. Norwegian rider Ger Bisgard is another who will make a big showing, but the presence of Linus Murphy is a big plus for Bisgard. The Surrey team led by Toby Neave who won a stage in 2005 looked formidable and could be the dark horses.
The Earl of Desmond will have Tom O Flaherty, Niall Brosnan and Brendan Lacey in their team. While Michael Lucey will carry the Killarney hopes and Micheal Concannon will be in the promoting club colours. Others with good form at the moment are Tom Shanahan (Limerick CC), David Brennan (Castlebar CC) plus Vincent Gleeson (West Clare CC).
Naturally there is a great interest in the two South Kerry Stages, but you will be in the heartland of GAA country, where, if you stood on the side of the road and waved a stick! It would not be beyond the realms that you would not observe a house that would not have had custody the Sam Maguire Cup in occupancy in any given year.
which will take the riders over some of the toughest racing territory in Ireland. On Saturday the race will start and finish in Cahirsiveen. The competitors will go on to Valentia and the Glen which will take in 6 climbs on the 84 mile route.
On Sunday it is Waterville for the start and finish.There are 5 climbs over the 63 mile trip including the final two nearest the finish, Bealach Beama and Bealach Oisin which are both category 1 climbs. Surely the overall picture will be clear that evening in Waterville .
The race finishes up on Monday morning with the usual 63 mile stage in Killorglin. But first we have the opener on Good Friday afternoon for a testing 47 miles.
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2008 Tommy Campbell,
IrishCycling.com.
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