The Phoenix Races are badly missed by many, called the 'Park Gallop' it was 30 mile road race on a 2 mile circuit. Some were handicapped and others massed starts. They were held on Tuesday evenings during the summer months.
Unlike today, you just turn up, sign-on and race. I remember back in 1974 the entry fee was 50p in old money. As you can see in this race traffic was light, as the years went on more traffic was using the park and it became more difficult to run these events.
Well enjoy a look back at 1986.
When I watch this I noticed John Sweeney, it was nice to see him there. Sadly John died in a car accident a number of years ago. A terrific guy and sadly missed.
Here is a video of the annual Stephen Roche GP a criterium road race in Dundrum which passes the house that Stephen Roche grew up in. The race is organised by the Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club.
In 1986 Stephen had not won the Tour de France at that stage, but he was a very successful professional cyclist on the continent. In Ireland, cycling was flourishing with great competition in the senior ranks. They're were a group of riders going very well and the racing was fierce fast.
In this particular race, some of those riders mostly Dublin based came to the fore, names like Gary Thompson who eventually won the race, and others like Julian Dalby, Aidan Harrison, Peter Stewart, Eddie Madden, Mick McLynskey, Tony Murphy, Donal Shannon, Lyonias Murphy, Mick Cahill, Brendan Murray, Ciaran McKenna and so many more... Along with nice weather on a summer's evening, all making it a great event.
In Memory Sadly two of the officials at this race are no longer with us, Race Organiser Kieran Hammond and Commissaire Paddy Sullivan, both of whom contributed so much to the sport. I was also informed, Aidan Mahon who finish 6th in that race passed away from cancer 10 year later.
May they rest in peace.
The race continues to this day with the occasional visit of the cycling superstar Stephen Roche who started cycling in the seventies with the Orwell Wheelers.
In 1989 was back home in Dublin after another very successful season with the PDM Professional team. That July, he won a Tour de France stage into Pau, then after this race he finished 7th in the World Road Race Championships in France which Greg LeMond won with Sean Kelly finishing third.
I have been going through old cycling video tapes I have and this is a piece of history that's seems so long ago now. I'm sure it will spark memories for some.
The video is following Martin's participation in the race and all these years later I can't even remember the race results. If anyone knows the results, it would be great if you could add them into the comments section on YouTube.
Here are a couple of old recordings now over 40 years old that I found on video tapes, there is some video from the 1982 Balbriggan Cyclo-cross league and also the 1981 Irish Cyclo-Cross Championships in Stamullen.
The quality is not great, in fact it's terrible, none-the-less some people might like to see them. Times have certainly changed, Cyclo-Cross races are now big spectacles, but one thing has not changed, they are very hard races. This video shows how tough the riders using ordinary road bikes were back then.
I'd like to dedicate this video to a few people who are no longer with us, In the Balbriggan race Raphael Kimmage was outstanding in cyclo-cross at that time sadly passed away a few years ago while out on a training ride on his bike. Similarly the race Commissaire and time keeper Ben McKenna passed away in 1992, well before his time and his younger brother Oliver passed away last year after long a battle with cancer. Another rider from that video Martin McGinley also died before his time from cancer a couple of years ago.
Another loss to cycling was the death of Stamullen's 'Gaybo' Howard who finished 3rd in the 1981 Cyclo-cross championships.
'Rest in peace to all of these cycling friends'
1981 Irish Cyclo-Cross Championships - Results
1st Gerald Irvine - Toyota North Down
2nd Adrian Byrne - Garda Cycling Club
3rd Paul Nolan - St. Pats Stamullen RC
Again apologies for the picture quality the videos were copied from old VHS tapes.
All Videos by Peter Purfield