CLUB NOTES
Post date: Dec 15, 2010 9:30:50 PM
YOUGHAL CYCLING CLUB NOTES 5th December 2010
YOUGHAL C.C. - A YEAR IN REVIEW
With the year coming to a close and the club spins restricted by the weather at present, we have this week decided to take a look back at some of the events completed by members of the club this season.
TOUR OF FLANDERS - BELGUIM
Two members of Youghal C.C. kicked off the season by traveling to Belgium last March to participate in the Tour Of Flanders Cyclo Sportive and to experience the Tour Of Flanders Classic ( Ronde Van Vlaanderen ) as well as a weekend of bikes, beer, frites and mayonnaise. The Tour of Flanders is 260 km in length and is one of the oldest, and according to one Lance Armstrong, hardest one day races on the professional calendar. 19,000 people participated in this event when they travelled from all corners of the Globe. A great weekend was had cycling but what topped it off was the company we kept while staying in our Hotel in Gent. None other than the Professional Team Garmin graced our presence for the entire weekend. Can’t wait to do it again.
KILMALLOCK HUB TOUR
Kilmallock CC held the first big organized tour of the year in April 2010 and a group of seven members from Youghal CC traveled up to participate. A mass start of over 200 riders took to the mountainous route of 120km. A great day on the bike was had by all those who partcipated and in particular, the pig on the spit went down a real treat after the event.
MIDLETON TOUR DE CURE
Midleton Cycling & Tri Club held their 2nd Annual “Stephen Roche TOUR DE CURE" Charity Cycle Sportif in May 2010. On the day over 1200 cyclists took part over the various routes with 15 members of the Youghal Club taking part in either the tough 160km route or 100km route. It was a good leg tester for the upcoming events.
RING OF KERRY
Our annual trip to Killarney was completed on Saturday the 3rd July past when a group of over 20 club members travelled to Killarney for our second biggest objective of the season. Many bodies travelled down on the Friday afternoon with the remainder making the early journey on the Saturday morning. The day started early for some with the first group departing at around 6.00am. The next group followed shortly when the departed at around 6.45am and the final group ( the lazy ones ) departing at 8.15am with a belly full of full Irish from the Gleneagle. A total of 178km was completed on the day by the three different groups which all covered the 'parcours' in a time of between 6 and 7 hours. A fine ride by all who participated with the other confirmed 7000 + cyclists
IRONMAN NICE 2010
Local Youghal IRONMEN, Tom Curran and Connor Coleman, completed an International Ironman event in Nice, France in July 2010. They were suitably kitted out in the new club gear for this mammoth task of a 2.4 mile ( 4km ) swim followed by a 112 mile ( 160km ) cycle and finishing it off with 26.2 mile ( 40km ) marathon. Both of the lads completed the event together in less than an amazing 13 hrs. Fantastic time lads. Well done from all at the club.
THE VEE CHALLENGE
Youghal C.C. hosted its annual Club Tour in August 2010 in conjunction with the Irish Guide Dogs for the blind ( Youghal Branch ). 100 Cyclists departed on the day from the Aura Leisure Centre. A first group participated in ‘ final sting in the tail around Monatray which offered spectacular views of Youghal town. A second group participated in ‘The Vee Ascent’ a 90km Route which also departed from Youghal. This route covered most The Vee Challenge’ a 130km Route which departed from Youghal and traveled on to Tallow and Lismore before taking in the ascent of the Vee from Lismore and descending into Clogheen before climbing the Vee again up through the woods, then down to Cappoquin and then passed by the Blackwater taking in the beautiful Dromana drive, Villarstown, Aglish, Clashmore and Piltown before heading for the coast and the of the roads that the Vee Challenge incorporated with the participants climbing the Vee as far as Glenaknockaun before turning back right for Mellary and traveled down to Cappoquin and then passed by the Blackwater taking in the beautiful Dromana drive, Villarstown, Aglish, Clashmore and Piltown before diverting back onto the main road and home to Youghal. Both groups returned between 3 and 4 pm, with an enjoyable picnic / feed and a cup of coffee was appreciated by all after their challenging spins which all took place in aid of a very worthy cause. There was a fantastic turnout on the day from most of the cycling clubs in the area as well as some from West Cork, Waterford, Limerick, Dublin, Northern Ireland and all the way from Newcastle in England. Thanks very much too all that participated and we hope to see ye all for a bigger and longer Tour next year.
AN POST – SEAN KELLY TOUR OF WATERFORD
Two large groups from Youghal C.C. headed to Dungarvan in August 2010 for Irelands biggest Sportive of the year and this clubs main objective for the season. Long and hard training spins were put in over the few weeks preceding the event by all in the club. 20 club men & women lined up for the 160km Comeragh Challenge within a peloton of 2000 people with a further 12 club men and women lining up for the 90km Kelly Coast within a peloton of 1500 people. A further 1500 people participated in the remaining 50km and 10km routes. Wow, that’s a total of 5000 cyclists. The biggest ever in Ireland.
AN POST - REBEL CORK TOUR
A fine group of nine men and women from Youghal C.C. headed to the Show Grounds in Cork last September 2010 for the final main Sportive of the year. A healthy Peloton of around 1000 lined up along the Grand Parade for the Grand depart while we watched and enjoyed a cup of coffee. Fueled to the hilt we hit the road to take part in 160km Rebel Challenge. The route headed out of the city through the Wilton and Bandon Road roundabouts into West Cork through Halfway, right toward Crossbarry and Bandon, bypassing the town and proceeding Enniskean and Ballineen and onto Dunmanway toward Clonakilty. From there we continued through Timoleague, Kilbrittan and Ballinspittle along the coast of Garretstown and the Old Head Kinsale before coming back in to Kinsale. The route then joined back up at Halfway and headed back for the City via the Viaduct, and onto Bandon Road roundabout where the cyclists were be directed toward the finishing point at the Cork City Showground’s. A fantastic day on the bike was had where we actually covered 170km.
TOUR OF THE KNOCKMEALDOWNS SPORTIF
Fermoy CC held their annual club tour on Sunday the 26th September and 5 riders from Youghal C.C travelled to take part in the comfortable 90km route which traveled from Fermoy to Ballyduff, Lismore, over the Vee, Clogheen, Micthelstown and back to Fermoy. It was a cold day on the bike as the first signs of winter had arrived but a large peloton of around 200 completed the event.
THE RACE AROUND IRELAND 2010
A few members of Youghal C.C. teamed up with Team Youghal this year when they again participated in this year’s International Race around Ireland in Aid of The Emmer Casey Foundation during September 2010. The race around Ireland is far and away one the toughest cycling endurance tests in Europe and the World covering a distance of 1,350 miles and traveling through all four Irish Provinces with many steep climbs and sharp descents along the way. Well done to all who organized and participated in the event from all at the Club.
YOUGHAL TRIATHLON 2010
The annual Youghal Triathlon also took place in September 2010 with 7 club members participating in the event. In particular, young Chris Mintern who was first out of the water, first back on the bike and finally finished second overall in the men’s single event at the tender age of 16. Well done to all who organized
KEITH PHELAN FUNDRAISING CYCLE
In October 2010, Youghal C.C. participated in a fundraising cycle in aid of local lad, Keith Phelan. A healthy peloton of 58 gathered and headed out to Killeagh and Castlemartyr where we stopped at The Village Greengrocer’s for a fantastic spread of refreshments. We returned to Youghal again via Killeagh and arrived back in Youghal with an enjoyable 35km completed for a very worthy cause. Thanks to all the club members and friends who participated in the event. With the good attendance on the day, a substantial sum of money was raised for Keith’s campaign.
WEEKLY CLUB SPINS
Throughout the year there have been regular club spins every Sunday morning with additional weekly runs every Tuesday and Thursday evenings throughout the summer months. On average there was always a group of between 12 and 15 enjoying the various club runs and an average distance of 7000km would have been clocked up by a lot of the clubs members. Good training, trips to other countries and counties as well as good old bit of craic was had by all.
RACING CIRCUIT
Youghal C.C. also ventured back to the racing circuit for the first time in a long time this season with 4 club members pinning on the race number. The highlight of course would have been Eoin’s near miss on winning the National Road Race Title when he came within 500m of winning the event from a solo break. Good results throughout preceded the nationals for all the club members. Again well done to all wearing the race number.
MONTHLY MEETING
Our monthly Club meeting will take place this Wednesday the 8th of December at 8.00pm in the Holy family church hall. All members are asked to attend.
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations this week to the Boy Terry and Barbara on their new little arrival. Great timing for Xmas folks !, You can order the baby size club kit for an Xmas present from the club secretary !!