This is a blast from the past, and ‘blast’ actually describes the race. Carrick-on-Suir was the epicentre of Irish cycling for years. With two good clubs in the area, the Carrick Wheelers Road Club and Cidona Carrick Wheelers, both of whom produced many successful cyclists over the years.

This race in 1986 was an annual event put on by Dan Grant and his Carrick Wheelers Road Club to have an open event where cyclists could get the opportunity to race with their club member Sean Kelly in his hometown while he was home with his family over the winter break.

Nothing compared to Carrick-on-Suir in those cycling days of the past. I’m glad I had a video camera to capture some of the atmosphere that we don’t seem to have these days.

The race centred around the small town of Carrick-on-Suir, start and finish were in ‘Sean Kelly Square’.

Almost any racing cyclist could enter the race, which was split into a couple of groups: a limit group for newcomers and less experienced riders, back to the scratch group with the best of Irish cyclists and the professionals.

Everybody did the same race, which first went out of the town into the countryside towards Clonmel for 3 or 4 laps of a big circuit. After that, it then did 10 laps of a very small circuit in the town. It was great for spectators, as you got to see the race about 15 times.

Organised by Dan Grant and the Carrick Wheelers Road Club

Video / Editing Peter Purfield

Result
1. Sean Kelly - KAS
2. Paul Kimmage - RMO
3. Martin Earley - Fagor

Dedication

I would like to dedicate this video to two Carrick-on-Suir people, Dan Grant and Tony Ryan, both of whom were key figures in the town and both instrumental in helping and guiding a young Sean Kelly, who would become one of the greatest cyclists in the world. Tony Ryan passed away in April 2013, and Dan Grant in January 2016.

May they rest in peace.

Thank You Men