Leinster is obviously the place to be this Sunday with road races scheduled for counties, Wexford Wicklow and Louth.
Those wishing to avoid the 'gladiators' can take themselves to Dowdallshill (Dundalk) for the annual Traders Cup organised by Cuchulainnn with a start up time of 1.00 o'clock. According to Karl Dolan the event is basically for all bar the Senior A's.
In Camross Co. Wexford the Frank O'Rourke Memorial promoted by Wexford Wheelers will be the big draw for underage racing and the Senior 3's only. The seniors will do four laps of a 20kms circuit. The underage gets the days activities off to a start after 11 with the main race at mid-day. Camaross is on the New Ross/Wexford Road and there is no fear of anybody going astray as the location for the action will be signposted.
One of the premier races, the Shay Elliott on the cycling calender goes on the roads of Co. Wicklow for what can be described as a tough and daunting 150kms of racing. The event is promoted by the Bray Wheelers and the Crean brothers Declan and Anthony are at the helm.
Naturally, it is a race that the Irish have a strong relationship with. Unfortunately for the last number of years the tide has turned in favour of the visitors.
Against all the odds, Malcolm Elliott wrote a piece of history when winning the event at the tender age of age of 45 last year. And, he's back in Defence of his title and it would take a brave individual to ignore the former professionals credentials. Added to that he will have the backing of a strong Pinarello outfit from England.
Mounting a strong home challenge will be members of the Pezula Racing Team and last year's runner up, Paul Griffin from Tralee just back from the Tour of Java in Asia last week.
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How times have changed! The promoting club Bray Wheelers on this occasion have no sponsor for the event. Also, there is respite for the motoring public with the event finishing in Newtownmountkennedy, thus avoiding those tailbacks for the travelling public on the Wicklow Road.
Past winners includes former Irish Olympians, Irish Internationals, and professionals including Sean Kelly, Martin Early, Andy Roche. Ciaran Power, David McCann (both absent because of international duty), David O’Loughlin and current UCI President Pat McQuaid.
A change from recent years will see the race headquarters and sign-on move to the Bray Wheelers Clubhouse on Schools Road, Boghall in Bray. Registration will be open from 9am – 10am (no pre entry, sign on fee €10.00) with the race leaving the clubhouse at 10.30am for a rolling start on the N11.
Trade teams are restricted to 5 riders with club teams allowed to enter as many riders as they wish. The race organisers hope that this will lead to closer and more exciting racing.
The tough and demanding course will take the riders on a 145km loop through some of the hardest roads in County Wicklow. The race will start in Bray and sees the riders head southward towards Arklow and the steep ascent of the “Old Wicklow Gap” before turning to head back to the new finish on the southern end of Newtownmountkenedy village, passing over the daunting climb of Drumgoff and past the Shay Elliott Memorial at the summit on the way.
The race was first run in 1958 and was known as the “Route de Cill Mhantain” but was renamed the Shay Elliott Memorial in 1968.
It was a bold step forty years ago as custom and practice decreed that you should honour the departed. Well! it was Joe Loughman a long servant of the 'Wheelers' who had the vision to go where others dared not.
The tough event has a reputation for providing great racing and deserving champions and is a race that all riders would like to add to their list of victories. The race always attracts a quality field of domestic and foreign riders with numerous professional teams taking part in recent years
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Some other bits of information sent in to us.
FULL PROGRAM OF YOUTH RACES AT DROMORE THIS SATURDAY
Ulster Saturday 19th
Full Programme of Youth Racing - Not advertised in CI Handbook
John Beggs Memorial Scout Hall, Dromore
All grades 12 noon
Banbridge CC Stephen Curran 02840626882
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UCD Sports Scholarship in Cycling:
Friday 25th of April is the deadline for applying for a U.C.D. Sport Scholarship in Cycling for the 2008/09 academic year.
Interested applicants are advised to contact U.C.D. Cycling Club President, Maoilíosa Ó Dubhthaigh (a.k.a. Mil) at ucdcc@hotmail.com for further information without delay.
Louise Moriarty (track/road) is currently enjoying her second year as a Sports Scholar with U.C.D.C.C. while Oisín Boydell (MTB) is a Club Scholar.
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