Author: william parnell

General News / News

IVCA membership for 2018 now open

IVCA membership for 2018 is now open.  There are a number of membership options available, including full racing membership, TT/track racing membership, and Non-Competitive membership (i.e. touring/leisure or Basic membership).
For Racing membership, priority is initially being offered to current and recent members.  Current members should check their e-mail for information on the renewal options available.  Applications are now accepted on-line, by following the instructions in the e-mail.  If they prefer, members can download and return forms from the Membership page on this website.
The closing date for Racing membership applications is 1 February 2018 and will be strictly applied.
Due to safety considerations, there will be a limited number of places available for new racing members in the IVCA in 2018.   For those interested in joining the IVCA as a racing member for the first time, a Pre-membership Application form must be completed; the form is available here.  The final determination regarding the number of available places for new IVCA racing members will be made in February 2018. Applicants will be considered on the basis of the date of receipt of their pre-application form.  All potential new racing members will also be required to attend an accreditation session in February before their participation in the IVCA is approved.
Applications from non-competitive members (i.e. touring/leisure riders) will be accepted at any stage, but insurance cover only applies from the date of application.  Forms are available on the Membership page.

General News / News

Awards ceremony set for 12th November

The annual Awards Ceremony and Dinner will take place on Sunday, 12th November, in the Springfield Hotel, Leixlip, commencing at 2.30 pm.

This is a great end-of-season social event and provides an opportunity to catch up with fellow members to discuss the year just gone.  No doubt, there will be many tales of the victory that just got away, or the rider who was just about to launch a blistering attack but had a mechanical.

And, yes, there will be prizes to award, too, to the many winners across racing, touring and track events in 2017.

Further details will be made available closer to the event, but put the date in your diary now.  We hope to see as many people as possible in attendance – all members and partners are welcome.  The cost of the 3-course meal is €25. Camaraderie is free.

 

 

 

 

 

General News / News

Gerry Brannigan Memorial Ride – 15th October

Next Sunday, 15th October, sees the running of the annual Gerry Brannigan Memorial Ride.  Gerry was a very popular member of Orwell Wheelers and the IVCA who died suddenly in October 2006, aged just 52 years.

Sign-on for this event will be open from 08:40 until 10:15 at The Grasshopper Inn, Clonee.  Roll-out is at 10.30 am.

The entry fee is €20 and all monies raised will be lodged into the Gerry Brannigan Benevolent Fund. This fund has assisted a number of cyclists and their families since 2007 in times of death or serious injuries to support them through difficult times.

Two routes will be available – 60kms and 35kms. Both routes will be marked and supervised at all junctions. Raffle and Refreshments will be available after the event in the Grasshopper Inn.  Please show your support for this very worthy cause.

Further details can be found on the Orwell Wheelers website here.

 

News

Evelyn times it right!

Evelyn Doyle was the worthy winner of the Joe Hoare Trophy on Sunday, 8th October.

This touring event was run in cloudy and sometimes rainy conditions over a 61 km course, starting and finishing at the Grasshopper Inn in Clonee.  It was good to see some racing members turn out to support the tour.

The Joe Hoare trophy is awarded to the rider completing the course closest to their estimated time.  Evelyn was the only one of the 9 riders to finish within one minute of their estimated time.  She completed the course 40 seconds faster than her estimate.  Second place went to the 2016 winner, Seamus Brennan, who was 2 mins 12 secs outside his estimated time, while Philip Brogan was third, finishing 4 mins 16 secs off his time.

Two riders – Philip Brogan and Tony Pearson – rode all 10 events in the Leisure League and finished on 29 points.  However, as Philip finished closer to his estimated time in the Joe Hoare event, he takes the overall trophy on a tie-break.  Tony Pearson finishes second overall in the Leisure League on 29 points, with Evelyn Doyle third on 27 points.

Well done to all concerned.

 

General News / News / Road News

Swan flies fastest up hill

Barry Swan was the clear winner of the IVCA Hill Climb on an overcast and misty day on 1st October.  The only rider to break 8 minutes this year, Barry was the deserving winner on the 3 km climb of the Long Hill at Kilmacanogue.  Second place went to Aidan McKenna, with third place going to Joe Sheehy, who was riding the event for the first time.

An equally clear winner in on Handicap time was Terry Ferris who took a massive 47 seconds off his handicap time.  Second place in this category went to Colm Cassidy (-28 secs), with third place going to Hugh Davis (-14 secs).

Full results are provided below.

2017-hill-climb [gview file=”https://theivca.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Hill-Climb-Results-20171.pdf”]

hill-climb-winners

Terry Ferris (Left) winner on handicap time, and Barry Swan (right), fastest rider on the day

General News / News

Next Event – Joe Hoare Reliability Trial

The final round of the Leisure League, the Joe Hoare Reliability Trial, takes place next Sunday, 8th October, at 10 am.  The event starts from the Grasshopper Inn, Clonee.

This is a touring event where the route is only announced at the start and participants are asked to nominate their estimated time for completing the course.  The Joe Hoare trophy is awarded to the rider with the time closest to his/her estimated time.  The route is typically 35-40 miles in distance.

All IVCA members are welcome to join in this end-of-season spin.

General News / News / Road News

Finishing on a high!

The final racing event of the season – the IVCA Hill Climb – takes place next Sunday, 1st October at Kilmacanogue, just past Bray in Co. Wicklow.

It’s the shortest road race of the year, at just under 3 Km, but one of the toughest.  Prizes will be awarded to the three fastest riders and to the first three on handicap time.  Handicaps are re-set every 2 years, so this ensures that riders in all ability groups have a chance to make the podium in this category.

The Hill Climb is a unique event which has been won by as little as a single second in the past.  Who will lift the trophy this year?

Sign-on (including for marshals) is from 10.20 am, with the first rider off at 11.00 (ish).

Car parking is available at Pluck’s Restaurant in Kilmacanogue, at the bottom of the Sugar Loaf.  Please note the car park will not be open until 10.15 am, so please do not arrive before that time as there is nowhere to park on the roadside.

Refreshments will be served afterwards in Pluck’s as we close the page on the 2017 racing season.

 

 

General News / News

West Wicklow Tour next Sunday

The West Wicklow Tour takes place next Sunday, 10th September.  Following the significant drop in participant numbers in the last two years, this year’s edition will be confined to IVCA members (i.e. it is not an open event).  The tour is the 9th event in the Dick O’Brien Leisure League.

Roll out is from the Cycle Superstore in Tallaght at 9 am.  The tour is based on the familiar route through Saggart and Rathcoole, then on to Punchestown and Brannockstown.   Instead of continuing on to Dunlavin as in the past, the route turns left at Brannockstown and heads to Ballymore Eustace where there is an opportunity to stop and draw breath.

The route then heads back towards Hollywood and on to the N81 back to Tallaght.  The full route is available here.  Total distance is c 75 Km.

Please note there is no organised re-fuelling stop on this tour, so bring some money if you want to stop along the way.

 

 

General News / News / Road News

Bracken takes the title

One week after wining the Sonny Cullen Memorial, Sean Bracken delivered two-in-a-row at the IVCA Road Race Championship on 27th August.

On a windy and overcast day, this Age-Standard race came down to a sprint between a small group of 8 riders.  The tireless Sean Lally put in a tremendous ride in the windy conditions, out on his own for 75Km, and only caught in the last 4Km.  Behind him, a group of the strongest riders from other age categories had formed and worked hard together, never missing a beat, to chase down the leader.

At the line, it was Bracken who took the sprint for gold, followed by Terry Ferris in the silver medal position and Hugh David taking bronze.

rr-champs-2017

 

General News / News

AGM update

Documentation for the AGM of the IVCA which takes place on Saturday, 9th September, was forwarded by e-mail to all members on 18th August.  If any member has not received this documentation, please e-mail Secretary@theivca.com and we will arrange to have the material sent to you.