Club Notes Weekend of August 31st 2014
A dramatic week of cycling just passed ensuring that the season is far from over. Following his early season promotion from A4 to A3 open racing, Dan Hogan (pictured) took a deserved 4th place at the RÁS Cill Mocheallóg 2014 (Co. Limerick) on Sunday last. It was during the third of the four lap A3 90km race that Dan would time his breakaway from the main group to perfection and stay with the breakaway and wining group. During the same race, club road captain Liam Callaghan would suffer from a broken chain whilst Pat Bergin would finish just outside the top ten with all three riders showing fine form for the final 2 day race in Charleville Co. Cork next weekend. During the same event, Mikey Connors displayed his season form by securing a spot just outside the top ten of the A4 60km race with Benny Delaney and Kevin Byrne finishing safely in the field and Julie White in the ladies event over the same distance. Well done to all riders over what was a testing course.
The final club trophy race of the season – the ‘Flying Mile’ – was held last Thursday with the quickest time over the 1 mile course taken jointly by Liam Callaghan and Tommy Hanrahan at a time of 1min: 28 seconds. Well done to Liam and Tommy and to all riders who took part in this event and many thanks to Mike Sheedy for his road marshaling during all club races throughout the season.
Last Saturdays training ride saw an unfortunate incident where two club members were involved in a collision with a dog after it ran freely onto the road and into the group during the 100km training ride. We wish both John O’Carroll and Donnchadh Floyd a speedy recovery and the club extends thanks to those members of the public who provided road side assistance.
The Women on Wheels (WoW) programme encouraged at introducing women to road and group cycling continued last Wednesday evening. As planned, the training effort increased slightly over the previous week and the average speed was a reported 4km faster than the previous week with over 40 ladies taking part. Well done ladies. This programme run by the North Tipperary Sports Partnership and assisted by the North Tipperary Wheelers will continue for the following four weeks commencing next Wednesday at the early time of 6.45pm to account for the fading light from Stereame Retail Park (Woodies Car Park), Nenagh. All ladies and new interests are welcome to come along at no cost. Road worth bicycle and cycling helmet are necessary.
A total of 13 riders set out on the Sunday morning spin taking the lakeshore route to Ballinderry before heading for Borrisokane, Cloughjordan and Moneygall. A few hardy souls took a left in Toomevara, continuing to Dolla before returning to Nenagh. This was a total of 75Km. The balance between club racing and leisure cyclists ensured a steady pace that was enjoyed by all. On Saturday morning a number of club cyclists were joined by participants from the Women on Wheels programme who are preparing for the Shannon Suir Cyle on Sep 12th. This was a 55Km spin to Daly’s Cross and back.
On another note, ahead of the All Ireland Final next weekend a few cyclists from the club are heading for Dublin by bike on Saturday next if anyone would like to join us you would be more than welcome. We will be leaving Banba Sq at 9.00 am sharp and (hopefully) keeping a steady pace of 25km/hr as far as Dublin. We will be joined by members of Upperchurch Cycling Club and Lower Ormonde Cycling Club (Borrisokane). The only condition attached to this spin is that you must wear blue and gold!
Training continues this week at the usual times – Tuesday night training ride leaving Moynan’s bike shop in Nenagh at 6pm, Saturday from Woodies carpark, Streame at 9am for the race training ride, and 10am for the intermediate group. Sunday from Moynan’s at 9am for the leisure, intermediate and senior groups. For further details of any club events or club membership please contact club chairperson Pat Bergin 0876744400