Author: william parnell

CHAIN GANG / General News / News

IVCA Ecumenical Service, Sunday 2nd February

The IVCA’s annual Ecumenical Service takes place at 3 pm on Sunday, 2nd February, in the Academy Plaza Hotel, Findlater Place, off the top of Dublin’s O’Connell St.

Each year through this service we celebrate the memory of deceased IVCA members and friends through a mix of reflections and music. Family and friends of past IVCA members are most welcome to join us for this ceremony, so if you know anyone who might like to come along, please pass the details on to them.

Refreshments will be provided afterwards in the hotel.

This event always provides a great opportunity for our members to meet and catch up ahead of the forthcoming cycling season, so all are welcome to join us on 2nd February.

The location of the Academy Plaza Hotel can be found through the following link: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Academy+Plaza+Hotel/@53.3516247,-6.259731,17z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xa768a720909fe2d5!8m2!3d53.3525243!4d-6.2599914

General News / News / TT News

Dolan Does It!

Paul Dolan proved to be the fastest rider in the IVCA Hill Climb held on Cromwellstown Hill outside Rathcoole on 6th October.

Having missed out by just one second in 2016, Paul made no mistake this year and posted a time of 5 minutes 38 seconds, a comfortable 8 seconds ahead of runner-up Eamon Byrd who posted a time of 5:46. Rounding off the podium was Joe Sheehy with a time of 5:53.

On Handicap Time, Pat Byrne was the clear winner, beating his handicap by 40 seconds. Second place on handicap went to Joe Sheehy (20 seconds improvement), while Thomas Kabs rounded off the top three on handicap, beating his previous time by 17 seconds.

Full results of the event are posted below.

Many thanks to all who took part in the event and those who came out to marshal; to time keepers Harry Sherratt and Dave Cormack, pusher-off-er Mick Mullen, and photographer Brendan Cullen.

Hill-Climb-Results-2019

General News / News / Road Racing

IVCA Hill Climb to top off the season

The Road Race Leagues may be over, but for those racing members longing for the buzz of competition, there is one last chance to flex your muscles this Sunday, 6th October at the IVCA Hill Climb.

The race takes place on Cromwellstown Hill, outside Rathcoole, over a 2.25 Km course with an average gradient of 5.5% (maximum of 17%).  Prizes will be awarded for the three fastest riders and the first three on handicap time.  Anyone who has ridden the Hill Climb previously, either on Cromwellstown Hill or the old course at Kilmacanogue, has a handicap time for the event. All other will ride off Scratch.

Sign-on will be at the nearby Beech Park Golf Club, Rathcoole.  You can find the location by clicking here.  Sign-on is from 10.15 am, for an 11 am start.  Refreshments and prize-giving afterwards in the Golf Club.

General News / Leisure News / News

Joe Hoare Tour, Sunday 7th October

The final event in the 2018 Dick O’Brien Leisure League, the Joe Hoare Tour, will take place this Sunday, 7th October, starting from The Grasshopper Inn, Clonee, at 9.30 am.  This is a change from the original calendar fixture date.
The Joe Hoare trophy is awarded to the cyclist who finishes closest to his/her estimated time for completing a course which is only revealed on the morning of the event. Typically, the route is around 65-70 Km.  All IVCA members are welcome to join the spin.

 

CHAIN GANG

Fergus Cracks it

There was a good turn out for the IVCA Hill Climb on Sunday, 23 September, which saw riders tackle a new event hill outside Rathcoole.  In spite of a maximum gradient of 17% one third of the way up, the new course was well received by all of the riders.

Fastest on the day was Fergus Craddock (pictured) who completed the 2.2 km course in 5 mins 57 secs.  Second place went to Fearghal Regan, with a time of 6 mins 6 secs, while just one second back in third place was David Vavasour on 6 mins 7 secs.

Best on Handicap time was Brian Kane, with Phil Ormrod second and Brendan Byrne third.  It was great to see many of our newer members turning out for the event for the first time and establishing a handicap time for next year.  The full results are below – they show how tight it was for some of the placings.

Many thanks to all of the marshals, time-keepers and our pusher-off-er.

hill-climb-results-2018

General News / Leisure News / News

Gay Farnan Memorial Tour details

The Gay Farnan Memorial Tour takes place on Sunday, 9th September, starting from Dunsany GAA Club at 9.30 am.  This event is open to IVCA members and friends.  The tour forms part of the IVCA Leisure League, so there is no cost to members.  There is, however, a small €10 entry fee for non-IVCA members to cover insurance and ancillary costs.

Gay Farnan was Touring Director of the IVCA for many years and was a key part of the team that built up the Wicklow 200 and the West Wicklow 100 tours.  Gay sadly passed away in 2017.  However, we are delighted to remember him through this new tour, which replaces the West Wicklow on the calendar.  We hope there will be a good turn-out from all members – racing and touring alike – for this end of season wind-down.

There are two routes available – 40 Km and 70 Km and are shown on the file below.

Please note the following:

  • This is a tour, not a race.
  • The Rules of the Road must be obeyed at all times and all participants must wear helmets.
  • The routes have been marked on the road at the main junctions.
  • The event is not marshalled, so extra care should be taken at all junctions.
  • All participants should be able to carry out basic maintenance on their bike in the event of punctures or minor mechanical problems.
  • There will be refreshments at the finish, but no official coffee stop en route.  However, there are cafes and service stations along the route in Trim, Longwood, Enfield – and Summerhill for the shorter route.

To zoom in on the 70 K route, click here (70k).  To zoom in on the 40K route, click here (40k)

We hope that as many members as possible will come out to support this event on 9th September.

gay-farnan-route-2

 

General News / News

September events and calendar changes

The summer may be coming to an end, but there’s still plenty of cycling on the menu for IVCA members in September.  There are also some important changes to the calendar which are outlined below.

Saturday 1st September is the date for our Track Championships in Sundrive Park.  Track accreditation is mandatory to participate.  See e-mail which was sent to members on 23rd August for further details. In the event of bad weather on the Saturday, the track meet with continue on Sunday, 2nd September.

On Sunday 2nd September, the re-scheduled final road race of the season takes place in Monasterevin, with sign-on at Monasterevin GAA Club.

Sunday 9th September sees the inaugural Gay Farnan Memorial tour take place.  This tour replaces the former West Wicklow 100 Km, which used to start from Tallaght.  The new tour starts at Dunsany GAA Club at 9.30 am and is open to IVCA members and friends.  We hope to have a good turn-out for what was always an enjoyable spin for racing and touring members alike at (almost) the end of the season.  Two routes are available, a 70 Km route and a 40 Km route.  Further details will be posted in the coming week.

The Sanyo 2-Up TT takes place on Sunday, 16th September, starting at 9.00 am in Warrenstown.  The AGM of the IVCA is on the same day, at 2.30 pm.  Documentation for the AGM has been issued to members by e-mail.

Finally, the IVCA Hill Climb takes place on Sunday 23rd September.  Due to the volume of traffic using the Long Hill in Kilmacanogue, we have changed the venue for the event this year.  The new climb will be Cromwellstown Hill, outside Rathcoole.  Sign-on and refreshments afterwards will be at the nearby Beech Park Golf Club.  You can find the location by clicking here.

General News / Leisure News / News

100 in 8 Tour on 12th August

The IVCA’s 100 in 8 tour takes place next Sunday, 12th August.

Covering 100 miles (160 Km) in 8 hours is one of cycling’s standard touring challenges and has been a feature on the IVCA calendar for many years.  An engraved Silver Medal is awarded each year to any member completing the 50 in 4, the Wicklow 200 and the 100 in 8.

This year’s event will start from the Grasshopper Inn in Clonee, rolling out at 9:00am sharp.

The route will be similar to previous years (see map from 2016 below), but more likely to be cycled anti-clockwise this year:  i.e. heading out to Rathoath and Skryne before turning west to Delvin.

Even if you only want to ride part of the way, our touring members would be glad of the company and shelter from the wind as they take on this challenge.

Remember to bring some money for a food stop along the way.

100-in-8-route

Click on map for larger image

Leisure / Leisure News / News

Leisure League update

Next Sunday, 8th July sees Round 7 of the IVCA Leisure League – the We’ll Meath Again Tour.

As the name suggests, this tour will be based in Co. Meath, starting from The Grasshopper Inn, Clonee at 10.00 am.

Below is a report on the Leisure Tour held in May, which served as a good warm up for the Wicklow 200.  Thanks to Tony Pearson for this report.

leisure-league-2018-round-5-report

CHAIN GANG

Founders Cup, 17 June 2018

After a very successful Wicklow 200 last weekend (and once again thanks to everyone who turned out to help), Sunday racing resumes this week in Summerhill with the prestigious Founders Cup to be competed for.

The Founders Cup was donated by the original founding members of the IVCA, whose names are engraved on the cup: Phil Byrne, Des Troy, Tom Dempsey, E. Dunphy, Denis Goody, Donal O’Connell, Dick O’Brien, Fred Smith and Paddy McInerney.

Sean Lally holds the record for the most engravings as winner of the event!

The race is run each year in an Age Related format.  Riders are handicapped in 5-year age groups, with the oldest riders first away.  This race is not part of the Road Race League, but the competitive spirit will no doubt be as strong as ever.