Author: william parnell

News / Road News / TT News

Busy Tuesday for IVCA racing

This Tuesday, 19th July is a busy one on the IVCA calendar.

For the Time Triallers amongst us, the Alfresco Shield 25TT start at Moyvalley, on the old Galway Road past Enfield.  First rider off at 7.15pm.  Marshals please be there at least 30min before this time.

For the Road Racing addicts, this year we are trialling an event in Mondello Park, Naas, Co Kildare.

This will be run in a two race format with RED, PURPLE, BLUE & GREEN away at 7pm at 1 minute intervals. Distance will be 45min +2laps.  Sign-on opens at 6.15 pm and closes at 6.45 pm sharp for this race.

WHITE, ORANGE & BLACK groups are away at 8pm at 1 minute intervals. Distance 45min +2laps.

Sign on closes at 7.45pm sharp.

There will be a Sign On fee for this race of €5 per entry.   This is to cover the hire of the track.  These races do not form part of the Road Race League, but should nonetheless make for a fascinating and fast evening’s racing.

Finally, many thanks are due to our friends in Tullamore for organising a great day’s racing last Sunday. A lot of work went in to organising the racing and the post-race refreshments.  It was much appreciated by all participants.

General News / News / Road News

Lally leaves the opposition in his wake (and other updates)

It was another great victory in the Founders Cup Age CP for Sean Lally (Snr) on Sunday, 19th June.  In a race he has made his own with numerous victories in the event over the last 15 years, Lally defied the bad weather and a riders a generation younger than him to take the spoils in Summerhill.  Second place went to another IVCA stalwart, Peter Schweppe, with John Brady taking the final podium place.

Schweppe was the joint winner of the 2-Day event over the June Bank Holiday weekend, sharing the points-based competition with Jim Morahan.  Each of them had a win and a second place over the two races that weekend.

This week sees a focus on Time Trials, with the Kelly Cup on Tuesday, 21st June, and the 25 Championship on Sunday next, 26th June.  The next road race will be on Tuesday, 28th June, in Summerhill.  The previous Tuesday race which was scheduled for Kilcullen on 14th June, was cancelled due to appalling weather conditions.  Everyone who turned up and signed on that evening was awarded 2 League points.

Remember, all road race results are available on the Road Race results page on the website.

News / Road News

Founders Cup

After a successful Wicklow 200 event last weekend, 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.

With this year being the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the IVCA, Sunday’s race will hold an special air of importance for the winner.  The race is run each year in an Age CP format.  Riders are handicapped in 5-year age groups, with the oldest riders first away.

It should be a fascinating race on Sunday!

 

 

General News

Thank You!!

On behalf of the IVCA Board, can I offer our sincere thanks to everyone who helped make the Wicklow 200/100 a success on Sunday, 12 June.

It was not the nicest of mornings to be marshalling, but thankfully the weather cleared during the day and back at the finish, riders spoke about how well the event was marshalled and appreciated the support along the way.

So to everyone who helped out or on the day, or in advance, and to the organising team led by Alan Heary, well done on your efforts.  It was great to see the sense of achievement on the face of riders at the finish and great to see that the Wicklow still holds its place as Ireland’s friendliest Sportive.

 

 

General News / News

All roads lead to Wicklow this Sunday

All roads lead to Wicklow this Sunday, as Ireland’s Premier Sportive, the IVCA’s Wicklow 200, takes to the by-ways of Co. Wicklow. After more than 30 years, the Wicklow continues to stand out as The One that cyclists look forward to completing. It ain’t easy, but that’s what makes it special.

What also makes it special for riders is the support and good humour they encounter from the IVCA marshals along the route. We are delighted with the response and willingness from IVCA members to help out again this year.

Here are a few pointers for those of you who will be out on the roads guiding the riders through:

  • Our key organising this year from Global Endurance Events are Alan Heary, Emmet Roche, Mary Nolan and Lorraine Lewis. These folks have planned everything to a ‘T’, so if they have a particular request of you, please assist them – they know the big picture and they also appreciate the support they are getting from the IVCA members.
  • As a marshal, your job is to direct the riders to follow the route, to make sure they are stopping at Stop signs, and to warn of any upcoming hazards. You are not empowered to stop traffic.
  • The plan is to provide all Marshals with a high-viz vest and a goody-bag with refreshments as the lead car goes around the route. We would ask you to bring your own hi-vis vest with you, if you have one, just in case any riders reach you before our car. Make sure to bring plenty of your own water with you also – it’s to be a humid day.
  • Not all marshal points are at junctions, some are at hazard points on the route. At these points, we would ask you to warn the riders of the upcoming hazard and try to slow them if you feel they are traveling too fast.
  • If you have a track pump, please bring it along and leave it visible at the side of the road next to you for riders who might need to use it.
  • A small number of members do not appear to have received e-mails advising them of their marshalling points. If you are one of those members, please be assured that your help is still needed. You should turn up in the Shoreline Centre before 7 am on Sunday and you will be assigned a job.
  • If you are a designated cycle marshal, a moto marshal or are driving a (IVCA) support vehicle during the event, please have a chat with Emmet Roche at Shoreline before you set-off.
  • Finally, the CycleSuperstore have provided three €50 vouchers for a draw for all those who marshal on the day. Winners will be notified in due course.

Good luck to everyone on Sunday. Thanks for helping out, and above all, have fun!

 

 

News / Road News

IVCA 2-Day

Today saw the first leg of the IVCA’s 2-Day event.  Hard racing in warm weather brought fine wins for Sean Bracken, Aidan Delaney, Aidan McKenna and Jim Morahan.

The second leg of the 2-Day takes place in Kilcullen on Bank Holiday Monday.  Total points accumulated over the two days will decide the winner of the Australian Shield.  This Shield was presented to the IVCA a number of years ago by Len Laycock, a good friend of the late Donal O’Connell.  Although Len was living in Australia, he kept in regular touch with events in the IVCA through the Chaingang News bulletin and made a generous donation of the prize that is now competed for in the 2-Day event.

Our accompanying photo (courtesy of Brendan Culleton) captures what makes the IVCA special (it’s not  all about the bike!).

General News

Mind the Gaps Tour report

The Mind the Gaps Tour – the 5th round in the Dick O’Brien Leisure League – took place on Sunday, 8th May.  A report from Tony Pearson on this tough 100K+ challenge is available to download.  Well done to the members who took part.

The next event in the Leisure League is the Wicklow 200 on 12th June.

[gview file=”https://theivca.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Mind-the-Gaps-report-2016.docx”]

 

General News

Mind the Gaps Leisure Tour

The Mind the Gaps Leisure Tour is scheduled for this coming Sunday, 8th May, commencing at 9 am.

The event will start from the Cycle Superstore in Tallaght. Car parking space will be available either in the carpark or on the public road opposite the shop. Please note that the Superstore has moved premises since the start of this year and is now located on Airton Road in Tallaght. A map of their location is at the following link:

https://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewContent.asp?idpage=1

We have no Touring Secretary this year and no-one has volunteered to organise this event, so the route is not marked and there will be no organised back-up support.

However, the usual route for this event has been 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.

A map of this route (using The Square as a reference point) is attached.

The route is a little over 100Km. 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.

The Board would be delighted to hear from anyone who would be willing to take the lead in co-ordinating the remaining Leisure Tours (other than the WW 200 which is already in hand). This does not require you be a member of the Board.

[gview file=”https://theivca.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Mind-the-Gaps-tour.pdf”]

CHAIN GANG

Summerhill Race Results

Full results of races in Summerhill on 24th April are available on the Race Results page. Victory in the four races went to John Shortt, Mark Burns, David MacNeaney and Jim Morahan. The top 10 finishers in each race are shown in finish order; all other riders receive two League points and are shown by race number. Well done to all. Many thanks, as ever to all the marshals and everyone who helped out on the day.

Picture of Eddie Scully and Des Howe courtesy of Brendan Culleton