Author: william parnell

CHAIN GANG

Mind the Gaps!

The next leisure tour “Mind the Gaps” is scheduled for next Sunday 14th May starting at 9:00 am from Cycle Superstore on the Airton Road Tallaght. Click here for a map of the location.

The route will be the same as last year: Tallaght – Blessington – Hollywood – Left at Hollywood towards Glendalough – Laragh (opportunity for tea stop) – Glenmacnass (take a left immediately on leaving Laragh on the Roundwood Road) – Sally Gap – Manor Kilbride – Tallaght.

The route is a little over 100 Km. Care is advised on the descents, particularly off the Sally Gap. This is a tough mountainous cycle, but an ideal preparation for anyone planning to ride the Wicklow 200/100 in June.

A support car has not been arranged for this event so if anyone is willing to provide this service it would be greatly appreciated.  Just turn up on the day.

News / TT News

Time Trial season kicks off this week

The first TT event of the 2017 season (TTL_01) takes place this Tuesday 25th April on the Black Bull 10 mile TT course.  We will be using the usual HQ at Black Bull (1st left on R154 from M3 exit to Trim). The nearest WC facilities are in Batterstown at the garage or the pub.

Sign on will close at 19:00 and the first rider will be off at 19:15.  Marshal briefing is at 19.00 sharp.

For further course details and information see document below.

Good luck to everyone and above all, obey the marshals, look after yourself and other riders, and let’s all stay safe and do it all again next week.  We also ask riders to show the utmost respect to the venue we will be using, so please Leave No Trace – take home any litter with you and use dressing room and toilets where provided.

[gview file=”https://theivca.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Black-Bull-TT-course.pdf”]

News

Liam Horner Tour report

The latest round in the Leisure League, the Liam Horner Tour, took place on Sunday 9th April.  A total of 13 riders took part.  A short report on the event, as supplied by Mick Byrne is provided here.  Well done to everyone who took part.

[gview file=”https://theivca.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Liam-Horner-Memorial-Cycle-2017.pdf”]

 

News

Leisure League – next event 9th April

The next event in the IVCA Leisure League, the Liam Horner Memorial Tour, takes place this coming Sunday, 9th April, from The Grasshopper Inn, Clonee, commencing at 10 am sharp.  Sign-on will be open for about 20 minutes beforehand.

The route will be in the region of 70 km and all IVCA members are welcome to join the spin.

Liam Horner was one of the great domestic riders in the late 1960s and 1970s. He was a national champion and highly respected international, who passed away in 2007 at the age of 59. He won many big races during his cycling career, including the prestigious Manx International in 1967 and the Tour of Ireland in 1972. He also competed in two Olympic games.  Liam was the first Irish rider to forge a relationship with the Belgian Herman Nys, with whom Sean Kelly lived for many years at the start of his professional career.

This is the fourth round in the Dick O’Brien Leisure League.  A report on the previous two rounds is available below.

[gview file=”https://theivca.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/IVCA-Leisure-League-Rounds-2-3-2017-Report.pdf”]

 

CHAIN GANG / General News / News

Gay Farnan R.I.P.

It is with great sadness that we have learned of the death of Denis (Gay) Farnan who passed away after battling a long illness.

Gay was  a valued member of the IVCA Board for many years and made a significant contribution to the development of the Association.  He was also the Leisure/Touring Director of the IVCA for a long period and was an integral part of the Wicklow 200 Committee until recently.  Gay, along with his  family, were heavily involved in organising the WW200 and the West Wicklow and helped to help bring the WW200 to where it is today as Ireland’s Premier Touring event.

We extend our deepest sympathies to his wife, Mary, and to his wider family and friends.

Funeral arrangements are as follows.

Reposing at home on Thursday from 2 o’clock. Removal to the Church of Our Lady Mother of the Church, Castleknock on Friday morning for Requiem Mass at 11 o’clock, followed by burial in Castleknock Churchyard. Family flowers only, please. Donations, if desired, to St. Francis Hospice, Dublin 15.

For full details click here.

News / Road News

Important Notice for Racing Members

For those members who were unable to attend the Race Information Sessions held earlier this month, and to facilitate the collection of Race Packs, the Board is running an extra Information Session this coming Wednesday, 29th March, in the Grasshopper Inn, Clonee, commencing at 7.30 pm.

All racing members are required to attend an Information Session in order to participate in IVCA racing events.   If you were not able to get to the previous events, this is your final opportunity to attend and ensure that your participation in IVCA racing is secure this year.

News / Road News

On your marks……

The first race of the IVCA’s racing season takes place this Sunday, 26th March.

Sign on is at Dunsany GAA Club, the location of which is shown here.  The most straightforward route for anyone travelling from south of Dunshauglin is to take the Trim road as far as Grange Cross and turn right.  Keep on this road until you reach the GAA club.
Sign-on opens at 8am and closes at 8.45am sharp.  Marshal briefing is at 8.15 sharp.
Please remember that clocks go forward on Saturday night, so change your clock/watch/phone and don’t be caught out.
Most members will have collected their race numbers at the Information Sessions last week.  Membership cards, which you need to have scanned to sign-on for each race, will be available on Sunday and at future races (or at TTs for TT-only members).  Cards for non-racing members will be posted shortly.
Good luck to everyone on Sunday and above all – obey the marshals, look after yourself and other riders, and let’s all stay safe and do it all again next week.  We also ask riders to show the utmost respect to the venue we will be using, so please Leave No Trace – take home any litter with you and use dressing room and toilets provided.

News / Road News

Important – Information Sessions for Racing members

This coming weekend, Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th March,  we are holding our pre-race Information Sessions for racing members.  It is compulsory for all racing members to attend one of these sessions.  Safety information for the coming season will be provided and the Race Calendar for 2017 will be unveiled.  Riders will also be able to collect their race numbers at these sessions.

The Information Sessions will take place each day in the Lucan Spa Hotel, commencing at 2.30 pm and will be finished by 4 pm approx.

Please note the change of venue from last year – the Spa Hotel is located on the N4, just past the Celbridge turn-off (previous recent IVCA events have been held in a different hotel in Lexlip).  Check the location here.

 

News

50 in 4 next Sunday, 5th March

Next Sunday, 5th March, the IVCA’s 50 in 4 Tour takes place, starting  from the Grasshopper Inn, Clonee.
Completing 50 miles in 4 hours is one of the classic touring trials and forms the first part of the trilogy of events for those looking to earn a silver Touring Medal this year.  The Touring Medal is awarded to members who complete the 50 in 4, Wicklow 200 and 100 in 8 in the same year.
The 50 in 4 is also the third round of the Dick O Brien Leisure League.  Sign-on is at 8:30 am for a 9.00 am start.  The route is shown below (click on the image for a larger view).  All IVCA members are welcome to come along on this spin.
50-in-4

 

CHAIN GANG / News

Stephen Fennell R.I.P.

It is with great sadness that we have learned of the sudden death of our friend and colleague, Stephen Fennell.  Stephen was a long-time member of Dublin Wheelers and of the IVCA.  He was our Race Director in 2015 and always dealt with the demands of the job in a calm and measured way.

Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.  Along with them, we will miss Stephen badly.

Funeral Arrangements are as follows:

Reposing at Rock’s Funeral Home, Swords, on Thursday evening (23rd Feb) from 4 o’c. to 6 o’c.  Removal on Friday morning to St. Finian’s Church, River Valley, arriving for 10 o’c. Mass, followed by funeral to St. Fintan’s Cemetery, Sutton.  Further details available here.

 

stephen-fennell