(March 1st 2010)
By mid way through the fourth lap the three bunches had come together and the pace was high. A number of riders had tried to get away, however at the start of the sixth and final lap the field was still all together. As the riders turned at Stonethraw a small bunch of seven riders slipped off the front and held a small cap of less than twenty seconds. Brian McCrystal tried his hardest to get across on the way out of Knockbridge and while he manged to hold off the main bunch by a few seconds could not quite close the gap to the leaders.
On the line it was Dublin rider Philip Lavery who took the win. Lavery is currently riding full time in Belgium on a development team sponsored by the bicycle manfacturer Look. Lavery beat Dublin man Shane Baker of the Usher Club, with Glen Kinning in third. McCrystal held on to his small advantage to take the first A3 prize. Meanwhile in the A4 support race the club again had a number of riders sign on and again misfortune took Robbie Caraher out with a puncture.
Winner of last year's FPM league Jordan Flood also started his first full road race and gave a good account of himself here. The winner of this event was Dundrum's Martin Ridge, ahead of Omagh's Sean McLoughlin and Longford's Ciaran Farrell. Again the club would like to thank all the Marshalls for their support along with Dowdalls Hill GFC and the Gardai.
Main Race
1. Philip Lavery (Look Academy Belgium)
2. Shane Baker (Usher Irish Road Club)
3. Glen Kinning (East Antrim)
4. Craig Sweetman Stamullen/M. Donnelly RC)
5. Neill Delahaye (Irish Road Club)
6. Michael Barry (Dundrum Town Centre/On Your Bike)
A1 - Greg Swinard (Usher Irish Road Club)
A2 - Nathan Morgan (Newry Wheelers)
A3 - Bryan McCrystal (Cuchulainn CC)
Suppporting A4 Race
1. Martin Ridge (Dundrum Town Centre/On Your Bike)
2. Sean McLaughlin (Omagh)
3. David Farrell (Longford)
4. Michael Heary (Bohermeen)
5. Owen O'Shea (Wexford Wheelers)
6. Joe McSherry (Dundrum Town Centre/On Your Bike)
(February 15th 2010)
The development is the first of it's kind as it will provide for a variety of cycling disciplines including, Track Racing, Mountain Biking, Cyclo Cross & BMX racing, as well as multi purpose facilities for other events such as running, skate boarding and roller blading. Local Architects and club members Derek McEnteggart and Bernard Dowdall have come up with a concept design that will also include wide open green spaces that will be of use to all in the community incorporating children's play and picnic areas, and top class racing on small circuits makes for an excellent spectator sport. More details can be found on www.cuchulainncyclingpark.com.
Martin Bellew, Chairman of Dundalk Town Council speaking at the launch said "this was a very exciting project for the Town and would help build on the proud heritage of cycling in the Dundalk area". Additionally he went on to say "members of the Council would fully support the park and would provide as much help as they could". Also present at the launch were a number of Town Engineers, Catherine Duff, a Senior Engineer with Dundalk Town Council, was very impressed with the project and has invited representatives from the club to a meeting with senior planners from Dundalk Council to see how best to proceed as she feels the project ties in with there plans for a submission to the Smarter Travel Project Fund. A cycling park of this nature will help to establish Dundalk as the Cycling Capital of Ireland with a strong cycling culture, backed up with a good road infrastructure, urban cycle lanes and the huge natural resources of the Cooley Mountains. Club chairman Pat O'Shaughnessy also speaking at the launch said "We want to develop a cycling park that will introduce the sport to this and future generations, as well as providing the people of Dundalk with a top class sporting facility, something that has never been done in Ireland in the past".
Cuchulainn's ambitious plans for the year do not stop at the proposal to build a velodrome. In addition to regular events, such as the FPM Accountants Summer Cycling League, Carrick Cycles Time Trial League and Hill Climb the club also hopes to promote a Mizen to Malin Head cycling challenge, which aims to raise money for a number of charities. This event is scheduled to take place in early September. Another event, which will also be a first of its kind in Ireland, is the plans for a unique team stage race. Traditional stage races are based on an individual rider's accumulated time over a number of days. In this event the overall results will be based on the performance of all six members of a team. Race director, and former Irish international rider Kevin Dolan, has planned a route which will see the teams tackle some of the area's toughest terrain. In particular the last stage will finish on top of the climb to the mast, a route last used in by the professional cyclists in the old forerunner to the Tour of Ireland, the Nissan Classic. This event has been scheduled for the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Also speaking at the launch was the club's Youth Development Officer Sé Weston. Sé spoke of the importance of sport in children's lives and outlined plans for an introduction to cycling course. This course will provide assistance and demonstrations for those new to cycle, thereby giving them the skills to ride safely on the roads.
All in all it plans to be a very exciting year for the club and the 75th anniversary will be celebrated in style. With the enthusiasm of the club's members and support from local and national governing bodies Dundalk looks set to become Ireland's cycling capital with infrastructure and participation to rival other great cycling hot spots world wide such as San Francisco or Sydney.
(February 8th 2010)
Cuchulainn has grown to become one of the largest cycling clubs in Ireland with total membership expected to exceed 150 members in 2010. The club caters for all cyclists with training groups running all year round, and regularly promotes club competitions, leisure events and open races both on and off road. Details of all the various events and activities can be found at www.dundalkcycling.com As part of the celebrations the club is planning to run a number of special events including a prestigious stage finish of the FBD Insurance Rás, a unique concept in Irish cycling with a team stage race, a Mizen to Malin Head Challenge, in addition to some of the more established events including the very popular FPM Chartered Accounts Summer League. Full details of all events will be outlined on the night.
In addition to the above the club is appealing to all local cyclists, recrational riders and triathletes to come along as they plan to take a group photograph and want to draw as many of the areas cyclists together as possible (leisure cyclists, moutain bikers, triathletes etc). If you know any cyclists from the area please ask them to come along for this historical event, and if possible to wear a local Jersey (Cuchulainn / Setanta / Louth Mouths).
The club also hopes to unveil exciting plans regarding a proposal for a new Cycling Park and Velodrome for the North East in addition to an appeal for information regarding a new book we are compiling on the history of cycling in the local area.
(Feb 1st 2010)
The
FBD Insurance Ras, held every May in Ireland, is one of the longest
running bike races in the world. The race was launched in 1953, where
the first winner was Colm Cristle of Gate Cycling Club. At the time the
riders were revered for their exploits racing around Ireland for 8 days
straight, typically covering a distance of over one thousand miles. Town’s
people came out in their thousands at a time when motor cars were the
exception rather than the rule and were intrigued by these men who had
cycled from the far corners of the country. It was these folk who
christened the cyclists "The Hardmen of the Ras". A great feature of the race has always been the international riders, who's autograph was a much sought after price. However it wasn't until 1963 that a foreigner finally learned to cope with the harsh racing in Ireland, when Polish national team rider Zbigniew Glowaty topped the podium. Defending Champion that year, the Dubliner Shay O`Hanlon, was so enraged at loosing his title that he swore to train harder than ever and when on to dominate winning three additions of the race in a row. Glowaty was not the last foreign winner and riders from Russia, Czech Republic, Netherlands, England, Scotland, Germany and Wales have all won the event, with the English being particularly dominant in the last ten years.
As much as the riders, it is the roads and towns that add to the mystery of the Ras. Towns, villages and cities throughout Ireland compete each year to hold a prized stage end or even have the race pass through. A stage end ensures a cavalcade of some one hundred and fifty riders roll into town with an even bigger support crew behind it. Not only will this fill hotel beds and restaurant seats but will add colour and glamour to an often drab May afternoon. Dundalk has not had the chance to celebrate the Ras since 1989 when the town last hosted a stage. However this year Dundalk’s Cuchulainn cycling club put together a committee to see about organising a stage end. Headed up by club chairman Pat O'Shaughnessy they devised a route which would see the riders tackle the dreaded Long Woman’s Grave climb, which is sure to sort the wheat from the chaff, along with a fast finish in the town centre. The details were presented to the Ras organiser’s and when the route was unveiled Dundalk will the host the end of stage one on May 23rd!
