CAMPBELL'S WEEKEND ROUNDUP - Week 43:

Cycling will play a key part in the fifth annual Halloween Festival in Thurles, Co. Tipperary this Sunday. Whilst the road season has been wound down for the last six weeks, I have no doubt that the streets will be thronged by our domestic cyclists.

Those that could take advantage of not been laid off from the road season, would be likes of Paudi O'Brien, Ryan Sherlock (Cycleways CC) and Ian Richardson of (Trinity CC), plus it could be fatal to ignore Tim O'Regan of (DID Dunboyne CC) if he turns up. But of late Tim has been active in the discipline of cyclo-cross. Also on the menu is the third round of the Fixx Supercross series Tymon [Basketball arena] this Sunday. Plus the Kevin King Memorial Leisure event at the Retail Park in Drogheda.
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This race is new on the calendar, and is another innovative promotion from Team DMGs Rene Van Dam. With the Visit Nenagh Classic in the Spring, Rene has already proven this year that he knows how to stage a well supported and well organised racing event. A great prize fund is made available, so please come along to support this great initiative.

RACE DETAILS: Thurles Halloween Criterium 2012 - Date: Sunday 28th October 2012 at 2.30pm. Circuit Liberty Square (1.45km) Closed for other traffic ! Race Length 50min + 5laps. Sign-on Hayes Hotel, Liberty Square, Thurles (open from 1pm). Categories A1, A2, A3, A4 (Cycling Ireland license holders) - (race format pending on numbers). Prize fund �1000 (+ Tipperary Crystal Trophy for winner) Promoter Team DMG - Entry fee �10.

Another item that has tongues wagging is the demise of Lance Armstrong and his last five Tour de France wins. He still retains his two successes in the 90's and his world championship win also in the 90's. Whilst Pat McQuaid may have led Cycling Ireland for three years (1996-1999) and he is now a life member of Ci. He certainly has been in the news in recent days with his condemnation of Lance Armstrong. On taking charge of the UCI as President, he re-affirmed his stance in Geneva on Monday. �Cycling has a future. This is not the first time it has reached a cross roads or that it has had to begin anew. When I took over as president in 2005 I made the fight against doping my priority.�

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Kevin King Memorial Tour

Drogheda Wheelers Cycling Club can always be guaranteed to serve up a top class promotion. Whether it be road racing for the seniors or Ras na n�g for the up and coming cyclists of the future. According Gerard Campbell 'My hall door is always open to cyclists at any level. Each year we get great support from sponsors and first aid people. This 'tour' is also special to us and it gives us the opportunity to swell the coffers of the two charities, said Gerard. The 'tour' is been promoted by the leisure section of Drogheda Wheelers Cycling Club and will take place at 10am from the Opel Garage in Drogheda Retail Park on the Donore Rd.

This leisure tour is in memory of the much missed former secretary of the club.There will be two options on the day with a 50km and 90 km spin.Sponsorship cards are available from the club or register on the day for e10. This year the proceeds will be split between two local charities.The Drogheda and district support 4 older people was set up by club member Dave Turner to offer support to the elderly citizens of the area on a daily basis. One of their many functions is the Good morning Drogheda phone call which they carry out daily just to check in on their members well being on the day. A fantastic service. The other charity to benefit will be the St Johns Ambulance Brigade Drogheda who give excellent back up to the club throughout the season with all their events. Two excellent charities I think you will all agree.

This year to date the club have promoted "Ras na N�g" for the youths,the Peter Bidwell Memorial,Coombes Connor Memorial, Brendan Campbell Memorial. All top class promotions.The Mark Mullen league was as big a success as ever catering for all. In Sept our leisure section took on a 2 day trip to Monaghan and back again for local charities. Yes its been another busy year of promoting at the club and we would love to see you all on the 28th to bring the curtain down on our promotions for the year. For further info Dave at 087-2807420 or dwturner@eircom.net

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TYMON PARK and CYCLO-CROSS

This Sunday the third event in the Fixx Supercross Cup goes to the South side of the city, Tymon Park, Co. Dublin. Team WORC are leading the charge in the promotion of the the Fixx Supercross Cup. The sponsors are Fixx Coffeehouse on Dawson Street and hopefully the cyclo cross aficionado have been in town and visited the 'house, 'surprise, surprise, Robin Seymour of the promoting club continues to dominate proceedings. It would take a brave individual to ignore his credentials as he goes for the treble this Sunday. The conversation I assume is! Who will take the minor placings.


THURLES comes alive to cycling

Thurles will come alive� over the Halloween Holidays with the fifth annual Halloween Festival taking place in the Cathedral town. Chairman of the organising committee, Cllr Jim Ryan is looking forward to what has become one of the biggest events in the country with a host of events to keep the whole family occupied over the spooky period.

The�committee has put a huge effort into this year�s festival and it kicks off today, Thursday and finishes on Wednesday, October 31st. Over the six days a host of events will take place including art exhibitions, drama, comedy, workshops, live music, street entertainment, fireworks, fire shows, public talks, poetry readings, soccer tournament, street parade, battle of the bands competition, film, and street cycle race�promoted by Team DMG.

The Street Cycle Race on Sunday the 28th of October 2012 will take place in Thurles town centre with start and finish on Liberty Square. The 1.45km street circuit Is completely closed for ail other traffic and the criterium Style race will commence at 2.30pm. The Length of the race is 50 minutes = 5 laps has a generous �1000 prize fund and the winner will also go home with the prestigious Thurles European Town of Sport Trophee. Sign on is from 1pm in Hayes Hotel, Liberty Square, Thurles. The race is open for Cycling Ireland licence holders in the categories A1,A2,A3 and A4. Race format will be decided on race day depending on number of participants.

Pre race entertainment is provided by the Wobbly Circus, they will entertain spectators as from 2pm on Liberty Square. An awful lot of work and effort has gone into putting our programme of events together and we feel that this year�s festival will be the best one yet. It is now one of the best Halloween festivals in the country and it will certainly place Thurles on the map as the place to be during this period.

�Acts coming in from all over Ireland, the UK and Canada and we feel that there is something for everyone to enjoy. The organising committee�like to thank all our sponsors including North Tipperary Leader Partnership and The Arts Council and also the general public who gave so generously at our numerous fund raising initiatives over the last twelve months. All that is needed now is for everyone to come along and enjoy what promises to be a great six days of fun-filled entertainment. More details on our website www.thurleshalloweenfestival.com and festival brochures will be distributed over the next few days.

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Cycling Ireland Road Commission Annual General POSTPONED

See here http://www.cyclingireland.ie/Home/News/Road-Commission-AGM-Notice-2012.aspx

Meeting will be held in the Park Hotel, Poppy Fields Retail park, Cahir Road, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary at 12 noon.

The business of the AGM shall be;

1. To consider minutes of the 2011 Annual General Meeting.
2. To Receive and consider reports.
3. To elect Officers to the commission as follows;
- Chairman
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- 2 Commission Members.