Category: CHAIN GANG

Cool, dull and windy, the story of the 2016 season.
A good turnout of nineteen riders but only 50% of the scheduled marshals turned up. NOT ACCEPTABLE !!
Neil smashed the field with a new course and age record time of 28:25, great ride.
Neil was riding off scratch so not in the running but no one came close to beating handicap giving an indication of the tough conditions. Best on handicap was Jimmy Murphy.
So that’s it for the TTL and just one last event in the Sat TT Series ( 20th August, Kilcock ). After that we have a two week break before the TT Options day to finalise BAR /FAR possibilities and then the 2up TT and the Hill climb to close hostilities for the year. A float day for Kilcock and the 25/50 options would not go amiss if anyone out there has any influence with the minister for weather.
Phil.

PS . The order has gone in for the new skinsuits. I can increase quantities if anyone wants to make a last minute decision.  I doubt that there will be another order chance for 2016 kit.

Very disappointing turnout of both rider and marshal numbers for this championship event, the second last of the Time Trial League. Eleven riders took a battering on yet another windy day. However that did not stop three of our numbers recording age records for the distance. The medals went to Hugh, Gold, with an age 69 record od 2:4:35. Ian, Silver, with an age 42 record of 1:52:56, ( also the fastest ever IVCA 50 time ), and Peter, Bronze, with a super new PB of 2;9:27 which also won him the Handicap prize. Peter will feel his new TT bike has paid for itself already 🙂 Patsy recorded a new age 82 record of 2:55:20, what a man !
Thanks as ever to the timekeepers, Harry and Kevin. Kevin was signed off by Timing Chief Harry having completed and shown proficiency in his training, well done and welcome to the team Kevin.
Thanks to the five marshals who did turn up and also to Nicky Lynch who came out with Patsy to support. Nice to see Nicky back after some absence.
We move on to our last evening TTL of the season on Tuesday ( 9th ) with the Batterstown / Culmullin circuit time trial. Parking and start finish are at the Green Sheds Roundabout, Batterstown.

Please note that the final Saturday series TT is to be held on the Kilcock / Enfield course, 20th August, not The Beehive, in the hope of facilitating some greater speed 😉

Phil.

I fine morning but still a pesky breeze to contend with. This is a great venue and a good sporting course but it’s bloody hard and no place for PB’s or the like.
Fourteen riders plus Ger and Paul on timing duty.
I said no place for PB’s but actually Sean managed one to take a handicap win. Well done.
Just one more Saturday TT to go. TTcom are considering moving the last one, on Aug. 20th, to Kilcock in search of more speed so watch this space for a decision.

A brisk south easterly made for a tough trip but we should be thankful for being dry ( weatherwise ) and hot ( too hot 🙁 , hard to please aren’t we ) on the hottest day of 2016. What chance is there for a float day on 7th August for the 50 TT Champs and September 18th for the options day.

A good turnout of twenty riders and a full compliment of  twelve marshals plus our two timekeepers made for a safe and stress free evening, in spite of a clash with the trial races at Mondello Park,  thanks to all .

Hugh continued his great form to take the age standard win followed by Ciara and Noel.

Three riders beat handicap with Ciara out front with her super 1:0:54, a 4.6 % improvement which also sets a new ladies Age Standard (43) record. Hearty congratulations.

Next event on the TT calendar is next Saturday week, 30th July at Johnstown Cross. We need a float day for that also !!

Phil.

Yet another wet and windy TT day seemed to keep a lot of folks in the bed.
Just ten turned out to ride and a full compliment of Timekeepers and Marshals so thanks to all.
Ian gave the rest of us a chance by marshaling 🙂 Pat byrne took the honors on age standard whilst newcomer to IVCA time trialing Ken O’Neill was fastest with 23:22, just 12 seconds ahead of Pat. Pat also got closest to handicap but needless to say there were no improvers on another tough day.

Next TT outing is the Al Fresco Shield 25on Tuesday 19th July, which all should know by now has been moved to Moy Valley in favour of the better course and availability of the HQ facilities at Mother Hubbards.

PS. IVCA Kit. I have nearly enough orders for skin suits to reach minimum order quantity but could do with a couple more to proceed. I can recommend the new design, as modeled in the featured image, ( on me, not Mick 🙂 ), but of course in IVCA colors, it really is a sleek piece of kit and great value at €118.00..

Phil.

Next TT in the program is this coming Saturday 2nd July. HQ. Hattons Restaurant.
First man off 0930.
Watch for announcement of some program changes.

Anyone interested in IVCA new kit please get in touch with Phil asap.

Not cold, not too windy, very wet:-)
19 riders and ten marshals / timekeepers turned out for the 25 TT Champs this morning. The benefit of a proper HQ showed up very well with about half of us retiring into Mother Hubbards’ for a hearty breakfast after the event.
The Championship went to Hugh by a margin of just three seconds over Ian with the third place going to Pat Byrne. I believe the result proves the efficacy of the new age standards with elite standard rides at age 41 and 69 rightly being so close. We had an even closer call on the Handicap result. Deanne was the only rider beat handicap . Ian lowered his PB and the IVCA Age 42 record to 53:50 also mopping up the age 41 and 40 records. This being only his second 25 he was riding off scratch so not up there in the handicap result.. Patsy took the age 82 record off Kevin and of course Kevin set a new age 84 record. I was happy that my leg injury survived without any aggravation so lots to be happy about. Unfortunately no photographer today.

Phil.