LEISURE:

This weekend is all about the Orwell Randonnee!

This is a very popular event which has been run by the club for many years now. The start & finish points along with the routes have changed several times over the years but the event has recently settled into its new home at the Lansdowne Rugby grounds on Ballycorus Rd.

It is a very testing route, which features a particularly tough start that goes uphill from the rugby grounds all the way over the Featherbeds! Once the tone is set with that start the rest of the route follows in a similar fashion taking in the well known climbs of The Wall, Luggala, The Sally Gap (twice!), the Wicklow Gap and the leg sapping road that is the back of the Lakes – it’s exhausting just thinking about it!

The Orwell Randonee is 145km with 2240m of climbing. The “easier” option of the event is the Randonne Lite with 126km and 1827m of climbing. Full detail on routes here - Randonnee Info

This year sees a mostly new committee taking the helm with Rob Tully, George Kelly, Martin Donohue and George Flannagan joining stalwarts Denis Gleeson and Fergal O’Sullivan. It looks like the change in committee might also have brought about a change in the weather too with the forecast looking great for the first time in a few years! We wish the committee the best of luck with the event, we know it will be a cracker!

This year the event will be supporting the Dundrum Arch Club. Dundrum Arch Club is a social club for people with Intellectual Disabilities that meets every Wednesday in Ballinteer Community School, Dublin 16 from 7.30 -  9.30pm.
The club is run by volunteers and caters for adults age 16 plus. They have over 100 members and 25 helpers that get together each week to enjoy a number of  activities. See http://www.dundrumarchclub.com for more details.

Other Leisure events this weekend on Sunday include the Tour of the Glens in Ulster,  The Willow Wheelers 100mile and the Tour of the Heartlands by Shannonside Cycling Club. Full details on all Sportives are on the Cycling Ireland Events website - Cycling Ireland Leisure Events

SOCIAL!

The Post Randonnee Social takes place in McSorleys on Saturday night. Come along and exchange tales of climbing glory and marshaling mastery from 8pm onward.

YOUTHS:

Sunday 6th

Spin from Joe Dalys for all groups from U12’s and up . Usual rules apply - bring spare tubes, charged and topped up mobile phone, a little cash , pump etc.

Monday 7th

Monday Night Races start again in Corkagh Park and run all summer till its time to go back to school.  The races are open to boy and girls of all ages up to U16. Each category gets three races each evening. Entry fee is only €2 per night. Sign on starts at 6.30 with first race off at 7.

VETS:

The IVCA league heads back to the Green Sheds Circuit this weekend. Sign on is in the Dunsany GAA grounds from 8am with the first race off at 9am. Full information here - IVCA Dunsany

RACING:

The main event of the weekend is the O’Leary Stone Kanturk 3 Day.

Other than this race there are events on Sunday up North at the Glogher Valley Gp and in Wexford for the Frank O’Rourke Memorial 2018. Full calendar on Cycling Ireland - Cycling Ireland Racing Events

LATER IN THE WEEK:

Tuesday 8st May

The Appleby Orwell Women’s Crit League hits the open roads this Tuesday. The popular Brittas circuit will be used. Sign on will be in the car park of Mooney’s Pub in Manor Kilbride from 6.20pm with the racing starting at 7pm. This is a handicap event which will see the A and B racers all on the road at the same time. It usually makes for very exciting racing and can throw up some surprises!

We are still looking for marshals to help on the night. If you are free and willing to help please reply to this forum post - Women's Crit League Marshals Needed

Wednesday 9th May:

The Wednesday night track league continues this week. It's a really enjoyable night of hard racing where you can learn how to race on the Sundrive Velodrome in a group that suits your ability.

Sign-on from 18:20 followed by warm-up, racing starts at 7pm. You must be an accredited track rider to take part in this.

Thursday 10 May

The Club League is back in Corkagh Park for another night this week. Keep an eye on the forum for details as they are posted.