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Last Updated: 2 Apr 2018 - 8:45:17 PM |
National Criterium Championships
By email to Letters2006@irishcycling.com
16 Jun 2006,
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Letter added: 16th June
In response/support of Aidan Crowley’s comment and appeal for the National Champs, I believe that there seems to be a two speed race going on within the organizations of the Irish cycling calendar.
Not so long ago a group of well established members of Irish Cycling tried to put together the ‘’Suire Valley 3 day’’ on the bank holiday weekend.
All organization details, sponsorship and the backing of the Clonmel corporation etc. This event was including stage finishes in the town centre and even a proposed Criterium on the closed town centre.
Foreign/british regional teams had been contacted and had shown great interest in participating.
Such an event in the heartland of ‘King Kelly country’ would be great at a time when the calendar is usually lacking something special in the after match of the RAS slump.
However, this event was denied A status as the national champs were on over the same weekend.
The organizers, despite their disappointment, willingly downgraded to a second cat + event to come in line with the request of cycling Ireland.
How then can another ‘A’ race be run.
Eddy O’Donoghue
Suire Valley Native.
Letter added: 15th June
While I'd agree with some of Aidan's recent thoughts on the crit champs in many ways, I'd like to express an alternative view that too much "organisation" by promoters of the calendar can be a slippery slope. Free competition is probably actually better. If there is such good money, organisation, and fun, down at the crit champs, then the riders who this matters for will go. Some others, with other time constraints and less hope of doing well might or might not, and then they still have something. This is the first I really heard about the crit champs about being so good an event -- so events need to get the word out.
But in the end, more choice for riders will always be better, and the races that are top will eventually get a reputation as such and people will make the effort to go (I wouldn't skip the road champs for Mt Nugent?).
Greg Swinand
Original Post: 14th June
Dear Editor,
My colleagues at Midleton Cycling Club in County Cork, asked for and attained the “Privilege” of running the National Criterium Championships this year and received the date Saturday August 5th. They have gone away, planned it, discussed with police and got sponsors to put up the bones of 2000 euro in prize money. All riders have the potential to win something during the race as is, in the nature of this club. With the circuit in the center of town, it would be the perfect showcase to the young for the sport to get new members.
They have now recently found out that on this day there is also a race in Mountnugent, that has just received authorization from Cycling Ireland that they can run a race for the A Graders. Does this not downgrade the Criterium Champs in some way?
The fact that there is a race on also in Swords the following day within Leinster, numbers will already be down considerably, does this small club now go on with, what was meant to be an important race on the Irish Cycling Calendar where a national championship jersey is up for grabs [Eugene Moriarty rode in it in the last stage of the Tour of Britain last year] but now has really being downgraded with the other organizers being allowed by the governing body to run an A race the same day. Would this be allowed for the National Road Race Champs!
Why potentially put on a race of importance for 20-30 riders which may not include too many A riders. This is another example of the cycling calendar being messed up, when there is potentially a great race with apart from the medals, great prize money on offer.
Any Interested parties please email within 7 days [22-06-06] - nationalcritchamps2006@yahoo.ie - with their views and comments or whether they are interested in the race because it is in jeopardy.
Midleton CC have previously run the Senior and Junior RR Champs, the Criterium Champs and promoted 3 stages of the Ras.
Aidan Crowley
- Midleton Native.
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