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Last Updated: 2 Apr 2018 - 8:45:17 PM |
TRACK RESURFACING IN PROGRESS
By Shane Stokes & Hugh Byrne/Track Commission press release
20 Feb 2009,
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| (l-r) Liam Walker (Track Commission), Michael Noonan (Dublin City Council: Parks Department), Tony Doyle (Track Commission), Phil Collins (Former Track Commission and 1996 Olympic Track Rider), Tony Campbell (Quantity Surveyor), Tony Egan (CLG), Brendan Dowling (CLG), Dave Cockran (Track Consultant), Eamonn Dunne (Dublin City Council:Park Department) |
The Track Commission of Cycling Ireland has given an update as to how things are progressing with the resurfacing of the Sundrive Road velodrome. Work began on February 9th, and those involved include a contractor from the UK that has a history of similar projects.
According to the Track Commission, the work is expected to be completed in time for the start of the 2009 domestic season. Riders should benefit from the better conditions, and will also gain long term from other planned work connected to velodrome.
Track racing in Ireland is likely to grow in the years ahead. David O’Loughlin has paved the way by finishing sixth in the individual pursuit at last year’s world championships, representing Ireland in Beijing, then taking silver and bronze medals in World Cups this year.
He and the rest of the team pursuit squad are making good progress in the group discipline, and an emphasis on this branch of the sport should lead to greater opportunities for strong riders.
Talk of an indoor velodrome north of the border is also encouraging, even if this project is yet to be fully approved.
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Yesterday’s full press release is as follows:
RESURFACING OF EAMON CEANNT STADIUM, SUNDRIVE ROAD
We in the Track Commission welcome this undertaking and commitment to the development of Track Cycling on this island. Track Cycling has recently been targeted as one of the prime areas of cycling where future Olympic success can be achieved and an improved facility of international standard, as this will be on completion, is a crucial part of this strategy. We would like to thank Dublin City Council and in particular the Parks Department for their resilience in ensuring that this project went ahead. We would also like to thank the Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism and the Irish Sports Council for their major input into this development. We would also like to acknowledge the work of previous commissions who initiated this process and whose endeavours in securing funding has brought us to this point.
The contactor has been on site since 9th February and all preliminary work needing to be done in preparation for the resurfacing itself is well underway and Dublin County Council have employed consultant engineer & outdoor track specialist, Dave Cockran to oversee the job to ensure the job is done to the required specification and standard. We are quite confident that this will very much be the case as the local contractor has also secures the specialist equipment and services of a UK based contractor who have huge experience in outdoor velodrome resurfacing
We see this initiative as another major step in the development of sport in Sundrive Park and we look forward to the completion of the work in readiness for the 2009 season during which we will be staging competition at local, national and international level. We also look forward to the completion of all ancillary facilities within the park for use by ourselves and our sporting partners which will be the final piece in establishing Crumlin as a centre of sporting excellence.
The Track Commission will continue to impart the skills needed for track riding (no brakes - fixed wheel on banked velodromes). We cater for riders from far and wide of all ages and abilities, with a particular interest in developing riders from youth level. We would especially welcome any added interest from youth within the area and we would hope that we could help these young people achieve their untapped potential. Our remit is to develop riders to a standard at which they can be inducted into national squads and from there we look forward to seeing Ireland taking its place among the great track nations of the world.
On behalf of the Track Commission,
Hugh Byrne (PRO)
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