|
|
|
Last Updated: 6 Apr 2018 - 3:10:13 PM |
It is all go this weekend. But, there has been a major casualty in the postponement of the Usher IRC's promotion in Dunlavin, but a trip to Fermoy could be a saving grace. It is not everybody’s cup of tea, but Sorrento CC's annual TT is in the 'Garden County.' Navan promote the Tommy Brady in Robinstown. It is Kilpeddar in the morning and Robinstown in the afternoon.
This EVENING the 19th
Team Madigan promote the Northern Ireland 25 mile Time Trial championship at Woodgreen (A26 South Ballymena) on Thursday 19th July. Northern Ireland medals are up for grabs in the following categories, Senior Men, Senior Women, Veteran Men, and Juniors. There will also be medals for the first team (Note: No age groups below Junior). For those riders who are in superb form for record attempts Team Madigan Cycling Club will have in place the required Time Keepers, Turn Stewards, Commissaire and the paperwork. The first rider is off at 7.00pm. Sign-On is from 6.00pm. Entry fee is Ł5. It should be noted that if the weather conditions are poor on the night with the heavy rain we have been getting at times this summer for rider safety the event will be postponed to another date. Lets hope it is a dry one! (courtesy of Ulster Cycling)
----
Monaghan County Road Race Championship on Friday evening
Emyvale Cycling Club are in the groove again. Anticipation is VERY is high that it will be an annual event. An open road race to determine a cycling champion for County Monaghan. The race will assemble at Tommy Martin's fuel yard on the Ballybay Road with sign on at 6pm and the cyclists will roll out to begin racing at Albert Berry Motors at 7pm. The distance will be approximately 50kms. Prizes will be awarded to those who have been born in the county, are resident here or are affiliated with a cycling club in the county. George Mc Carron of George's Cyclosport has kindly sponsored the prizes for the event. The winner will receive a county champion jersey and helmet and medals will be awarded to the first three county cyclists. It is open to all categories and women are welcome to compete too. The race will be handicapped on the night also.
SATURDAY a double whammy
You can get in the time trial organised by Sorrento CC in Kilpeddar, Co. Wicklow on Saturday morning. It is fine test on a very good road, virtually traffic free. Start is at eleven o'clock. After a respite you can head on to Robinstown in the evening for the Tommy Brady Memorial which includes youth racing at five o'clock in the evening and at seven o'clock for the other categories.
----
Portaferry 3-Day
Ards Cycling Club will promote their Annual 3-Day event over the weekend this Friday through Sunday. A huge boost to the promotion, this time around SPIN11, a Dublin based company specialising in the production of ‘Team Kit Design’ cycling and triathlon apparel are the major sponsor. The company is run by Philip Cassidy who has long been regarded as one of Ireland’s top cyclists, having won the coveted FBD Ras twice (1983 and 1997), and competed at the Olympics twice. In 2005, Philip indirectly ventured into the world of club cycling clothing production when he realised that there was a demand in the market for top quality clothing. The Ards Cycling Club is delighted to be sponsored by this successful local business and their support will enhance there popular 3-Day in this its’ 12th year.
The race will follow a similar format to last year, and, we advise early entry as the field will be strictly limited to 60 riders.
Entry details available through the club website www.ardscyclingclub.co.uk
FERMOY CC bring on the action.
Fermoy CC are in action with all categories this Sunday. They are certainly building for the future in this club. If it is anything to go they are regularly in the placings in the underage events up and down the country. As usual the sign-on and dressing accommodation is in the Colaiste Craoidhin and racing takes place in the Castlehyde area of Fermoy. The defending champion in the Senior event in the Senior race is Eddie Barry of Blarney CC.
But, obviously the big favourite here could be Paudi O'Brien or any other member of the Dan Morrissey/Speedy-Spokes outfit. The event is sponsored by McCarthy Insurances. And the man along with his team, Michael O'Connor requests that his mobile number is 087.4107097. He feels for the person, who is getting requests on a number which is not his. Ten o'clock, Fermoy will be open for business with racing in the under age section at 11.30 with the seniors on the go at one o'clock. The circuit is a 10kms one with ten laps.
----
Tour of the Lakes promoted by Lakeside Wheelers Mullingar
On my way back from the Junior Tour last Sunday. The hunger pans were at me. Considering that I ad a wonderful meal before I left Lough Lannagh Holiday Village in Castlebar. But unfortunately there was quiet a hold up because of the success of Mayo in the Connacht Championship. So, where better than to stop in Mullingar. I was aware that there would be at least a cup of tea on the boil after the “TOUR OF THE LAKES. Plus I wanted to know the recipe for encouraging new members. Lakeside Wheelers are past the 400. Yes,four hundred plus. So the chat followed and I got a drift of the day's activities. So, when I hang up the comms gear, I'll be in Mullingar.
In recent years Ireland has experienced an explosion of interest in cycling and leisure cyclists now have no shortage of choice when it comes to finding a good challenge. One such challenge was the “Tour of the Lakes” which took place in the heart of Ireland on Sunday last July 15th. Set in the Lakeland district around the rolling hills of north Westmeath approximately two hundred participants enjoyed a great cycle on a mild summer’s day with only the odd shower to contend with.
 |
| Ready for the Tour of the Lakes - Carmel Buckley, Liz Hoctor, Louise McCarra and Muirna Walsh |
For an entry fee of only €15 each rider was provided with full back up, tea/coffee & refreshments at half way, showers and beautiful hot pasta at the finish, in addition to a goodie bag which included a bicycle tube, energy bar and sweat band. Not bad value in these recessionary times.
Starting from The Downs GAA club house, located four miles east of Mullingar, the enthusiastic leisure cyclists made their way through the north Westmeath villages of Killucan, Raharney, Fore, Castlepollard, Coole, Lismacaffrey and back through the picturesque tidy town of Multyfarnham.
The locally based Lakeside Wheelers cycling club, organised the event which allowed participants to choose one of three groups to cycle in, catering for a fast, medium or relaxed pace . Designated group leaders ensured an even pace which allowed for a very social feel to the event as everyone got the chance to chat their neighbor’s while rotating up and over in the peloton. Each group stayed together as a unit until the customary gallop in the last few miles.
The Mullingar club have gained a reputation for nurturing newcomers to the sport and they continued their good work by having a 30k option for beginners which started at 12 o’clock and attracted 40 participants who were looked after by Westmeath Sports Partnership staff.
The lake county has a number of larger lakes such as Lough Ennell , Lough Owel, Lough Derravaragh and Lough Lene but they also have a plethora of smaller lakes nestled among the drumlins of this beautiful county.
There is some wonderful folklore relating to this part of the country and all along the route the images of these tales of old, are to be found. The hamlet of Fore is a beautifully maintained village which boasts of the “Seven Wonders of Fore” where Saint Fechin founded a Benedictine monastery during the seventh century and the well preserved ruins are still standing. Water flowing up hill, the tree which won’t burn and water which won’t boil, are just three of the more popular wonders which attract’s many visitors to the area. Well, water may flow up a hill but I can tell you us cyclists struggled to make it up the steep hill out of this lovely little village.
Lough Derravaragh is nestled between Castlepollard, Multyfarnham and Crookedwood, and we are led to believe it was home to the “Children of Lir” for four hundred years. Legend has it that Aoife, the wife of King Lir, was a jealous step mother who cast a spell on her four step children and turned them into swans. They survived four centuries on the lake before they were returned to human form. Now I can’t say for sure what the normal life span of a swan is but 400 years seems a long, long time.
After taking in all the local history the cyclists had a welcome break for tea, coffee and refreshments in the wonderfully appointed Streete Community Center. It’s amazing the difference a twenty minute break can make in the middle of a 100km cycle. Refreshed, you are back up on the bike again with renewed energy for the rest of the journey.
The climb up Carrick hill was a real back breaker but it was worth it to experience the panoramic views of the Westmeath country side. We then dropped down into the beautiful Village of Multyfarnham before tackling the steep and testing Piggery Hill.
Aches began to kick in during the last 10 to 15 miles as we made our way back to base so it was a welcome sight to turn the final corner and see the The Downs GAA club house again. This fantastic community facility was a welcome haven with hot showers , delicious pasta provided by Oscars Restaurant, and we rounded it off with tea/coffee and a selection of biscuits and buns.
This event is not widely advertised but it is a real gem with a large contingent from the local cycling club and supported by the neighboring clubs from around the midlands. Definitely this is one to put in the dairy for next year.
----
Sliabh Beagh Tour - Sunday 22nd July
It is an extremely busy weekend for Emyvale Cycling Club and preparations have been made to ensure all goes to plan. The Sliabh Beagh Tour will leave Emyvale this Sunday morning at 10am and cover approximately 60 miles. Sign on will open at 9am in Emyvale Leisure Centre.
----
Poison Glen Tour - Sunday 22nd July
The 2012 Four Masters Poison Glen Tour is set to take to the roads of Donegal on Sunday 22nd July. The 78 mile course will take the same route as last year with a feed station at An Churt Hotel in Dunlewy.
Cycling trough Glenveagh National Park and the Poison Glen this is a must do tour for all cyclists who appreciate the scenic beauty that Donegal has to offer or those who just enjoy a challenging cycle.
Similar to last year this event will be leaving Aura Leisure centre in Letterkenny and travel through Kilmacrennan via Trentagh. We will then turn left in Termon through the magnificent Glenveagh National Park before turning right to tackle the first climb of the day, the Muckish gap. Once over Muckish its down into Falcarragh and on to Gorkahork and Dunlewy before a feed stop at An Chuirt Hotel in Dunlewy.
After a 15 min stop here we set of to tackle the toughest climb of the day, The Poison Glen. After you summit the Poison Glen you have a fast descent down into Glenveagh once again and then back towards Letterkenny via Gartan. As with all Four Masters Leisure events the pace will be controlled. This is a fun day for everyone and not a race. Sign on will open from 8.30am and we will leave at 9.30am. Showers and refreshments will be available afterward in the Aura Centre in Letterkenny
---
Kevin McInerney CANCELLATION
Usher Irish Road Club: I regret to inform you that due to circumstances beyond our control with regards to guaranteeing they safety of all competitors at the Kevin McInerney Memorial Race scheduled for this Sunday 22nd, Usher Irish Road Club have had to Postpone all scheduled events for that day.
We apologise for the inconvenience caused and especially to those of the FBD Talent Team 2020 and Sticky Bottle Womens Classic League who had factored the event into their plans.
We hope to have a new date soon.
----
UPCOMING NEXT WEEKEND
Brendan Campbell Memorial Races 20 Event Details
This years Brendan Campbell Memorial cycle races will take place on Sun July 29th in Donore Village and will once again be sponsored by Coca Cola International Services. This is the 16th staging of the event.
TOUR OF CONNACHT back on the agenda.
Route information, stage details, accommodation listings and an entry forms will be available on www.connachtcycling.com, For further information please contact John Brennan at brennan.john56@yahoo.com , David Brennan at brennan.jd@gmail.com
____________________________________
SEND US YOUR EVENT INFORMATION
Clubs and race organisers can send their event information in text format to us here in IrishCycling.com (see our 'Contact Us' for relevant email addresses) If we don't get it, it won't be posted.
Please send us up to date information on your open racing events and leisure runs and we will include them on our fixtures calendar. Email us at: news2012@irishcycling.com
Please include
1. Event Date and Start Time:
2. Type of Event and distance:
3. Venue Details including Sign-On location:
4. Categories catered for:
5. Contact details - phone number / email address (we don't allow links to websites on article pages but do include them in our online calendar)
6. Entry Forms - you can send us pre-race entry forms and we will include a download link on our online calendar.
Also, after your race, we would be grateful to get results, reports and pictures if you have any after the event and we will make sure your event gets covered.
'If we don't get the information' - your event may not be coved in our reports.
|
|
|
|
