And the analysts for awarding them both the combatively award. Just goes to show their is an abundance of talent under the radar screen. But back in the real world, leisure cycling is bursting out all over this weekend. The Garda team who are participating in the European Police Championships in France can equally step up to the plate and deliver the goods.
With the curtain coming down for the year on the An Post Cycles Series of five events! The question is? With the overall figures for 2011 well and truly out of sight, how will the 'Rebel County' shape up with the number of participants. Considering that they have four events on the day. The family cycle seems to have been the crowning glory in the series this year.
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GOOD CAUSE - Dublin to Kilkenny
Jack and Jill Dublin to Kilkenny Cycle this Saturday (15th September). Get on yer bike for Jack and Jill! Join the Jack and Jill Children�s Foundation on Saturday for a cycle through the picturesque countryside and quite back roads from Dublin to Kilkenny culminating in a fun evening with dinner and overnight stay at the Pembroke Hotel, Kilkenny. Inaugural cycle to become an annual Jack and Jill Event. Professionally organised with one guide to 10 cyclists, back-up vehicles and mechanical support. Refreshment stations enroute with a stop off midway for lunch. Overnight stay at Pembroke 4 Star Hotel � Kilkenny. � Registration �155 (Cycle, dinner and overnight accommodation) - �115 (cycle and dinner only) � Fundraising target �500 which includes registration. �
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DONEGAL SUPERVETS RACE.
6th Annual North Pole SuperVets Race will take place on Sunday 16th September 2012.This year the race will be open to all Donegal riders who possess a club or racing licence.The race will start at the North Pole Bar at 10.30am and will take in Buncrana, Fahan, Burnfoot, Muff, Quigleys Point, Carndonagh, Ballyliffin and Clonmany to finish at Glasmullan.Total distance is 70kms.Teams will be randomly picked at 10.15 from all the participants and each team will compete for the SuperTeam Award.The SuperVet award will be also presented to the first eligible rider aged 50 or more.The race will be handicapped based on ability and there will be 5 groups leaving the North Pole starting with those riders graded as G1.Groups G2,G2+,G3 and G4 will then start with short gaps.There will be no individual award except to the SuperVet and team members will work together to assist their captain.The SuperTeam award will be awarded to the first eligible team to complete the course along with their captain.There will be tea and sandwiches at the North Pole Bar afterwards.Riders from outside the county are welcome in the Team event but the SuperVet winner must have a Donegal licence.
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DISCOVER THE PLAINS
Newbridge Credit union Cycling Club are no strangers to facilitating cyclists at all levels. From underage right up to senior level. And, not only that they do tremendous work for cycling, but are heavily involved in raising much need funds for those less fortunate than many who read this column on a Thursday.
Well John Malone and co have rolled up their sleeves yet again this Sunday yet another promotion. Remember they were first out of the blocks last February when not alone did they organise a road race but they were the instigators for a charity cycle. In aid of the Re-Hab. Newbridge Credit Union CC honoured the late and great Kildare man Ned Flanagan. I would assume that Ned looking down from his heavenly perch must have remarked, "A leisure cycle, I was the hard man who dished out the punishment in my day around the roads that man John Malone is using."
This Sunday if you pop along to Lumville House, Newbridge. I am sure there will be a welcome on the mat for you. Not only are the club organising one leisure cycle! They have a menu of SIX 5/10/20/60/80/110kms, plus back up. The time is from 9.30am onwards for sign on.
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Family Day
Registration/Sign On:- 11am to 12.45pm @ Eccles Hotel, Glengarriff. Start:- Eccles Hotel, Glengarriff, Co Cork @ 1pm Distance:- 10km
This 10km Family Fun Cycle, which will be led by Cork Hurler Sean Og O hAlpin among other celebrities will take the cyclists through Glengarriff Village and into the Glengarriff Nature Reserve. After doing a loop inside the woods you will return into Glengarriff and finishing the parade outside the Eccles Hotel. Glengarriff will be full of hustle and bustle on the day as we enjoy the festival atmosphere.
Also at the Eccles Hotel when you return will be a Sprocket Rocket Taster Zone organised by Cycling Ireland, this promises to be lots of fun so make sure you have time to hang around with your bicycle after your cycle.
Routes with not a traffic light in sight!
Rebel Cruise - 55km
The 55km Rebel Cruise comes out of the blocks in Glengarriff and heads to Kenmare negoairing the Caha Pass on the Cork/Kerry border through a series of rock tunnels. On your easy descent into Kenmare passing Molly Gallivans Cottage, Bonane Heritage Park and Lorge Chocolates, you will be guided into a welcome food stop.
On your return trip, as you approach Glengarriff from the Kenmare side the main tunnel dramatically frames the entry back into the county of Cork. The scenery that presents before you on the Glengarriff side is stunning with a view of Barley Lake, Glengarriff Woods and Bantry Bay, which will quickly remove any aches and pains from the climb as you roll gently into Glengarriff.
Rebel Rider - 85km
The 85km Rebel Rider will depart Glengarriff along the N71, climbing the Caha Pass into Kenmare, take a left turn onto the R571 in the direction of the Beara Peninsula along the shoreline of the Kenmare Bay, before turning right at Tousist for a welcome food/refreshments stop.Tuosist has some of the most spectacular scenery to be found anywhere in Ireland, with views out to the Atlantic Ocean and across Kenmare Bay to the Ring of Kerry and the majestic range of the Magillicuddy Reeks. Following the coast road through Kilmakilloge and onto Lauragh where you will be guided onto the R574 to begin your climb of the Healy Pass.
Once you get up out of the valley you will be treated to the most spectacular views which will distract from the pain of the climb and reward your efforts. On passing back over the border at the summit of the Healy Pass, you are back in the Rebel County of Cork and treated to a 4 km descent of sharp hairpen bends with wonderful little stone walls and bridges hidden beneath. At the base of the Healy Pass you will be guided by the signage for Glengarriff to recover and celebrate your achievement.
Rebel Challenge - 160km
A new route tough and demanding will be a challenge for the most hardened of Rebel Warriors. Achievement and accomplishment plus memories of the day you conquered the Beara Peninsula, following a figure of 8 with a double climb of the Healy Pass from the north side.
In Kenmare you take a left turn for the Beara Peninsula along the shoreline of the Kenmare Bay and into Lauragh before climbing the Healy Pass for the first time, crossing back over into the Rebel County of Cork. The descent from the Healy Pass requires care and attention with many sharp and hairpen corners to negotiate and a welcome food/refreshment stop awaiting riders at the bottom.
From there it is on to Castletownbere, village of Allihies, before climbing the significant rocky mountain pass between Allihies and Urhan known locally as �Reentrisk� or translated meaning �The Cods Head�.
The second foodstop on this challenging route will be laid out for riders arriving in Eyeries, where you can refuel and prepare for the final leg of your journey. Continuing along the R571 through the village of Ardgroom and rolling into Lauragh, you will be guided to take a right turn onto the R574 to climb the Healy Pass for the second time, now armed with the full knowledge of what lays ahead. The Healy Pass descent again needs care and attention before turning left at the bottom and back onto the R572 rolling back into Glengarriff. This route is certainly not for the faint hearted!!
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On the final day of the 2012 Paris 2 Nice challenge the team will be joined by Stephen Roche bringing him back to France in the year he celebrates the 25th Anniversary of his Tour de France win Purchase a raffle ticket to be in with a chance to cycle with Stephen on Thursday 4th October 2012
Cycle with the 65-strong team along the Mediterranean, passing through Antibes and Cannes, following the sea to the beautiful city of Nice.
Prize includes return lights and accommodation. All funds raised will be donated to the Paris2Nice fund, raising money for Special Olympics and Cerebral Palsy Sport Ireland. Tickets: �25 (Terms and conditions apply)
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Neenan Travel are once again delighted to sponsor the
Track Club of the Year Competition
CONGRATULATIONS to the 2012 WINNERS - SUNDRIVE TRACK CLUB
Sundrive Track Club are the winners of the Neenan Travel 'Track Team of the Year' Award 2012.
Banbridge are this years runners up and Dundrum placed 3rd.
This is the first year that the Sundrive Club even featured in the top three, with previous titles going to Lucan, Bray and Orwell. A good showing as always from Cycling Pursuits and we expect that the newly formed Adamstown Cycling Team will also feature strongly in 2013.
This year again we had a fantastic spread on the number of teams competing, with 31 clubs scoring points and all 4 provinces represented.
Final Points:
35pts Sundrive Track Team
19pts Banbridge
18pts Orwell
17pts Cycling Pursuits
15pts Lucan
14pts Kilcullen
11pts Bray, Look Mum No Hands
9pts Sorrento, Curran Racing
8pts Kanturk, Black Rose, Carrick
7pts Usher
5pts Castlebar, ESB, BCD Sports Management
4pts SERC, Adamstown
2pts Inspiration, Limerick, XMTB, Newbridge, Phoenix, Swords
1pt Lakeland, Garda, NDCC, UCD, Bohermeen, DID