The Irish Veteran Cyclists Association Blog

General News / Leisure News / News

North Dublin Tour, Sunday 11th February

Round 2 of the Dick O’Brien Leisure League takes place on Sunday 11th February, starting from Eurocycles, Airside Shopping Centre, Swords at 10.00 am sharp. 

The tour will head for Ratoath, through Curragha to the Ashbourne Road.  A right turn at Kentstown Cross brings the cyclists straight through Duleek to join the Old Belfast Road at Julianstown.

There will be a short tea stop at Apple Green on the lefthand side of the road before heading home through Stamullen and Balscadden.  The outward journey is mostly flat and there is a relatively easy climb over  Balscadden on the way home.  The distance is 85km.

It would be great to see a good turn-out again for this event following the very successful first touring event in January.

To get to Eurocycles go straight down Airside and take right turn at Airside Ford, then first left and left again (for location, click here).

CHAIN GANG

Leisure League Round 1 Report

The first round of the Dick O’Brien Leisure League took place on 14th January with a good turn out of riders setting off from Wheelworx Bikeshop in Lucan.  A report on the tour, together with photos is supplied below by Jimmy Murphy (2 pages).

The next round of the League will take place on 11th February.  Further details will be posted on the website closer to the date.

east-kildare-tour-2018

 

News / Road News

Closing date for IVCA 2018 Season is 1st February

A reminder that the closing date to apply for Racing Membership of the IVCA for 2018 is 1st February.  We have a lot of interest from people looking to join the IVCA for the first time, but are giving priority to our existing/recent members.
However, given the level of interest, we cannot extend the closing date of 1st February, so if you want to race this season and haven’t registered yet, secure your place in the peloton by completing your membership now.
You can apply on-line by going to the Eventmaster website: https://sirius.eventmaster.ie/event/zo4UPYSQJ.  This website option will not be available after 1st February.
Enter your four-digit IVCA Membership Number from your race sign-on card (n.b. not your pin-on number) and you should be able to register.
William Parnell
IVCA Administrative Secretary
vintage_bike

CHAIN GANG / Leisure / News

IVCA spin Sunday, 14th January

The 1st Round of the 2018 Dick O’Brien Leisure League will take place on Sunday next, 14th January.

The event will start at 10.00 am, departing from Wheelworx Bike & Triathlon Store, Unit 48, Fonthill Retail Park, Lucan, Co. Dublin. There is plenty of parking available.

The distance will be approx 75km with a tea stop planned for Clane.  This is a great opportunity to get in some good miles early in the year with the IVCA and all members are welcome to join in the spin.  Many thanks to Jimmy Murphy for organising this event.

For Wheelworx location map click here: http://www.wheelworx.ie/opening-hours

For a route map of the tour click here: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/954625837

General News / News

Ecumenical Service

The annual Ecumenical Service of the IVCA will take place on Sunday, 21st January, commencing at 3.30 pm.

This year’s service will be held in the Academy Plaza Hotel, Cathal Brugha Street, just off the top of O’Connell Street.  The hotel is opposite the Church of St George and St Thomas which we have used for more than 10 years, but which is now closed.

The Ecumenical Service is always an enjoyable gathering and is an opportunity to remember members who have passed on.   All members, past and present, and their families, are invited to attend.  Refreshments will be served afterwards.

We hope to see as many people as possible in attendance.

 

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.

 

Leisure News / 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