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Last Updated: Aug 2nd, 2008 - 00:09:38 |
WEEKEND ROUNDUP:
By Tommy Campbell
Irish Independent, Evening Herald, Sunday Independent
Jul 31, 2008,
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© Tommy Campbell
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The end of an era at Listowel and Kilrush with the two local clubs disappearing into the west as regards promotions of cycling events. Traditionally races were held in both locations over the August Bank holiday plus the added joy was taking the ferry from Tarbert on Monday for Kilrush.
Thankfully the lycra will be seen in Carrickfergus, Mountnugent, Bellewstown (for the first time in 35 years), Clonmel and Beaufort with the ladies making a beeline for Holland.
In Clonmel, the Suir Valley Three day will build on last season's debut. The stages are very well rounded with hard climbs and fast sections of roads according to race organiser Paul O'Donoghue.
Stage 1: Clonmel Kilsheelan Carrick-On-Suir Portlaw Fiddown Piltown Owning Templeouroum Kilmaganney Faugheen Lissadobber Glenbower Ormonde Stores Clonmel.
Stage 2: Clonmel Cahir Bansha Tipperary Kilfeacle Golden Cashel Fethard Clonmel
Stage 3: Clonmel Criterium in the centre of Town and well! Hey it’s a criterium sure you can’t get lost. We have closed the streets of Clonmel and the Crit will incorporate Hot Spot Sprints.
Stage 4: Clonmel Kilmanahan Ballymacarbry Renadumpaun Ballymacarbry Clonmel 4 laps Clonmel Marlfield Knocklofty Clonmel.
Ciaran Power of Pezula and Paul Griffin of Giant Asia are the only two in the field who come from professional backgrounds. Both performed exceptionally well in the Pauline Sugrue Munster event at Easter. A lot of water has gone under the bridge since back in March, but it would a good judge to look beyond Power and Griffin. The A's have been inactive since the FBD Insurance Ras abdnd a form merchant would have difficulty in picking an overall winner. Maybe, it will come down to the number of teams who face the starter on Saturday. Last weekend in the Portaferry Three-Day Sean Downey the Junior from Banbridge caused a bit of an upset when he pulled rank on his senior counterpart in the race.
Of course the local hero and junior from Carrick Sam Bennett could equally cause an upset, but I cannot see the seniors getting the wool pulled over their eyes for a second weekend in a row.
Then of course there is the obvious carrot of a place on the Irish team for the Tour of Ireland sponsored by Failte Ireland.
For me it has to be Power with Griffin and Stephen O'Sullivan of the MyHome.ie/BDBC in a ding dong battle for the podium positions.
More details of the Suir Valley 3 Day and the Kerry Youth Tour on the next article on this website.
BELLEWSTOWN GP
Whilst the emphasis maybe on stage racing this August Bank Holiday, those who are unfortunate not to be able to sample racing over a number of days, can take comfort from the M Donnelly/Stamullen Road Club promotion. On Sunday the penultimate race in this 'Super League' in the series sponsored by the Wheel Worx Bike Shop goes to post in Bellewstown. The aforementioned location would be well known to the turf (horsey) people but this time out it is the cyclists who will take centre stage. Whereas Listowel and Kilrush have ended their participation, Bellewstown after a lengthy spell, thirty-five years to be precise are back in business, courtesy of Stamullen Road Club. And to add icing to the cake, Robert Moore who lives in the area will be receiving the race leaders jersey from the sponsor Rob Cummins. The course is 10 laps of a 4.5 mile circuit which is rolly and undulating. Start time is mid-day.
THIS TIME IT’S CYCLISTS THAT HEAD TO THE HILL IN BELLEWSTOWN TO RACE
Additional info by Kay Howard
Next Sunday 3rd August and for the first time in over 35 years, a cycle race will take place in Bellewstown, when Stamullen M Donnelly Road Club promote the Bellewstown Grand Prix.
Way back in October 2007, when the 2008 Irish Cycling Calendar was being collated, the club decided to apply for a race to be held in Bellewstown in August. At this time, they could not have realised just how important this event would turn out to be, because no sooner had the race calendar arrived on the scene, when Rob Cummins from the Wheelworx Bike Store in Dublin approached the club with an offer of a sponsorship deal. After much planning in relation to this sponsorship, it was decided and agreed that the club would run a Wheelworx sponsored SuperLeague to be held in conjunction with the clubs (5) - race promotions during the season. As it happens, the Bellewstown Grand Prix will be the 4th leg of this league.
It is hard to believe that after 3-rounds of this league, a Stamullen M Donnelly rider, Robert Moore who is a native of Bellewstown will be wearing the race leaders jersey, which will be presented to Robert on the start line in Bellewstown on Sunday by Rob Cummins of Wheelworx.
The race will start at 12 o’clock in Bellewstown and will cover 11 laps of a 4.15 mile circuit, taking in Legganhall, travelling up to the crossroads, turning left and making it’s way to Lisdornan cross, where it makes it’s final left turn before heading back to the start/finish area.
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| The triangular 4.15 mile course in Bellewstown |
This course should allow for some very exciting racing, with it’s undulating terrain, coupled with the fact that there are only a handful of points dividing the first 10 riders on the Super-League table. All of the locals will be trying their best to win this inaugural GP
By kind permission of the Racecourse Chairman and Committee, the sign-on will be in the Racecourse Enclosure. Following the race which is expected to be around 1:45, the prize presentation will take place in the Bellewstown Inn where there will be food, and music which will be provided by the well known group - SNAZ. Everyone is welcome to come along and enjoy the craic. It’s a free party on the ‘hill’. This will be a totally new experience for both the Stamullen club, as promoters, the cyclists, who are always anxious to test out ‘new ground’ and the local people in Bellewstown, who will get an opportunity to see cycle racing at it’s best.
The 5th and final leg of the Wheelworx SuperLeague will be held on Sunday August 17th, when the club promotes the Brendan Campbell Memorial in Donore.
The best way to find Bellewstown, is to come through Stamullen village and it will be sign-posted from here, a distance of about 2.5 miles.
WOMEN'S TEAM TO HOLLAND
This weekend an Irish Development Team will be travelling to Holland for races in Usqert - in the North of the country. The team will be headed by Heather Wilson and Kate Rudd, who have been recently guesting on the Dutch based Moving Ladies Team. Heather Boyle and Sarah Piner make up the rest of the team, which will be managed by Jenny McCauley.
On Saturday the Team will race in a 128km Classic Race, and on Sunday they will compete in a 9km TT in the morning with a 60km crit in the afternoon.
This year the Women's Commission have been organising training days at home and camps in Belgium for members of the Development Squad, and recently announced their teams for races in Holland and Germany. History will be made in Germany - when Ireland will race their first Junior Women's Team overseas.
The Rás na mBan Team will be announced in mid August.
Irish Development Team for Holland
Heather Wilson (Maryland Wheelers)
Kate Rudd (MyHome.ie)
Heather Boyle (Ravens)
Sarah Piner (Lakeside Wheelers)
Manager
Jenny McCauley (Bray Wheelers).
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Ras na mBan 2008
WOMEN'S 3 DAY INTERNATIONAL MOVES TO SNEEM CO.KERRY WITH NEW SPONSORSHIP FROM SNEEM HOTEL
The Women's Commission of Cycling Ireland will again host "Rás na mBan", a three day women's international road race this year consisting of four stages and based in the village of Sneem, Co. Kerry. This year the event will be a 'Festival of Women's Cycling' for all women cyclists from senior's down to the very young. The event will take place in the beautiful Ring of Kerry on Friday 12th, Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th September 2008. The race headquarters will be in Sneem Hotel.
SPONSORSHIP
We are delighted to announce the new race sponsor for Rás na mBan is Sneem Hotel in Golden's Cove, Sneem, Co, Kerry. Louis Moriarty who is the proprietor of Sneem Hotel has been largely responsible for the smooth running and success of Rás na mBan over the past three years and is widely acknowledged for his generous support of cycling.
FESTIVAL OF WOMEN'S CYCLING
Rás na mBan has become a very popular and well respected women-only International Road Race in Ireland. Already Riders from Germany, Holland and the UK have confirmed their 2008 participation.
The combination of county riders and overseas competitors ensures great racing, with the Irish riders raising their game, in a bid to score highly in the top county rider ranking. There are prizes on offer for the top 5 county riders over the line.
Stage 1 (Fri 12/09/08) - Road Race, 60km
Stage 2 (Sat 1309/08) - Time Trial, 5km
Stage 3 (Sat 13/09/08) - Road Race, 80km
Stage 4 (Sun 14/09/08) - Road Race, 90km
We would like to encourage Clubs throughout Ireland to enter riders in teams as they are guaranteed to enjoy the weekend, regardless of their level.
YOUTH ACTIVITIES:
There will also be girls' underage races, following last year's success, and new this year we are planning some short fun events in the village green for the younger kids. We want to cater for all riders from the very young to the under 16s.
Event Website: www.womenscycling.ie
For further information contact:
Valerie Considine tel: +353 (0)86 3825842 email: valerieconsidine@gmail.com
Louis Moriarty tel: +353 (0)86 8387342 email: louis@sneemhotel.com
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IMPORTANT: All articles,
quotes and results which appear on this page are strictly © Copyright
2008 Tommy Campbell,
IrishCycling.com.
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