Maryland Wheelers Reliability Trial Report
Four riders from Four Masters left their warm beds on St Valentine’s Day to venture up to Maryland Wheelers Reliability Trail. Over 130 riders signed on with more than 80 opting for the challenge of the A run. This group maintained a steady pace throughout eventually covering the rolling 75 mile course at an average speed of around 24mph. Maryland’s trial said by many to be the toughest of the northern trials proved to be tougher for some than for others! Although, Jason McHugh showed again that he was in stellar form by finishing in the top group, with Pauric McClafferty rolling into Lisburn shortly after him.

Emyvale Reliability Trial 28th Feb
There have been many inquiries regarding the Emyvale RT which was in the draft calendar for this Sunday. However Emyvale CC decided to stick to their original date of the 28th February to promote this event. Unfortunately this clashes with the Phoenix GP in Crumlin. The only Reliability Trial this Sunday is Maryland's. Full details of this can be seen by scrolling down the News page.
International Cycling Event Launched In Ireland
Ireland is set to become home to an annual international cycling event organised by the world's largest sports, entertainment and media company. The Event was lanched yesterday in Clare and will take place on 22nd August 2010. See below for full press release.

Sky Ride ETAPE Hibernia

In partnership with Sky, Fáilte Ireland, Shannon Development, the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau, Clare County Council, announced details of the country's first closed road cycle event.

The Sky Ride Etape Hibernia will take place over an 80-mile (approx) course in scenic County Clare on Sunday, August 22nd 2010.

The event organisers expect to attract 2000 entrants from throughout Ireland and abroad this year, bringing significant economic benefit into the local economy, with numbers increasing considerably over the next five years. The mass participation event, which is being marketed internationally and nationally, is open to all standards of cyclists, aged 18-80. The cycle will start and finish in Ennis and travel through County Clare, taking in part of West Clare's spectacular coastline.

Sky, the UK and Ireland's leading entertainment company behind the Sky Ride series of events, is the title sponsor of The Sky Ride Etape Hibernia. The sponsorship supports Sky's aim to encourage one million more people of all ages and abilities to get cycling by 2013. Sky Ride consists of a range of initiatives to get people back on their bikes, with activities like mass city cycling events on traffic-free streets through to local group rides.

As well as Sky Ride Etape Hibernia, IMG have extensive experience organising mass participation events including the internationally renowned events the Macmillan Cancer Support Etape Caledonia, Tour de Suisse, Melbourne Marathon, The London Triathlon, Triathlon de Alpe d'Huez and UK Challenge

Speaking at today's event launch in Spanish Point, County Clare, Jo Dytch of IMG said: "The popularity and growth in road cycling is very exciting. Along with our partners we are looking to lead the way in providing a prestige event for cycling in Ireland and to establish a major fixture on the Irish sporting calendar delivering a significant boost to the local economy. This event will bring a welcome boost to the tourism in Clare annually and will see the most scenic parts of the County and its coastline exposed to the world's cycling enthusiasts and media."

Ms. Dytch continued: "Sky Ride Etape Hibernia is Ireland's first closed road cycle event and is open to the general public. It affords cyclists with the unique opportunity to cycle safely on closed roads, whilst rising to the physical challenge at the same time. We expect to draw enthusiasts, the health conscious, challenge-seekers, charity fund-raisers and lapsed cyclists. For the inaugural Etape Hibernia, we hope to attract as many as 2000 entrants and plan to grow this number considerably by 2014. IMG are grateful for the support of the title sponsor Sky, and regional sponsors Fáilte Ireland, Shannon Development, Clare County Council, and the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau, without whom staging this event in Ireland would not be possible and we look forward to making it a legacy event for the region".

Mark Deering, Director, Sky Ireland said, "We are proud to be the main sponsor for the Sky Ride Etape Hibernia. Our Sky Ride initiatives last year encouraged thousands of people to get on their bikes. We hope, through events and sponsorships such as this, that 2010 will provide more opportunities and inspiration for people to get cycling."

Speaking about today's announcement Keith McCormack, Fáilte Ireland's Head of Business and Sports Tourism, emphasised: "As a national tourism authority, we are glad to be 'in the saddle' for the Sky Ride Etape Hibernia. This event is a perfect fit for Fáilte Ireland's sports strategy and our commitment to promoting all of Ireland's regions as tourism destinations. This event allows us to harness the growing popularity of cycling to the natural charms and allure of County Clare and the Mid West. As well as bringing visitors and revenue to the area, the event will provide an excellent opportunity to showcase the Shannon Region as both a cycling destination, in particular, and a tourism 'must see' in general."

Welcoming the event John King, Assistant Chief Executive of Shannon Development said, "Shannon Development, along with its partners, is delighted to have helped secure this very prestigious event for the Shannon Region for the next five years. Winning this event helps us build on our campaign to promote the Region's growing reputation as a leading sports and events destination. Etape Hibernia is one of a number of international events we are working on this year to bring additional visitors to the Shannon Region which have the potential to generate 10 million euro in new revenue for the Region. This new cycling event complements our strategy to secure more mass participation events, in particular sports events, which can be firmly rooted in the Shannon Region for many years to come."

Mr. King noted that the Lonely Planet 'Best in Travel 2010' guide's inclusion of Clare in its top 10 list of 'Super Cycling Routes in the World' was a great endorsement of the County's cycling product. "This endorsement is a testament to the amount of work that has gone into the development of the tourism cycling product in Clare in recent times. We look forward to working with IMG and our partners to ensure the success of this event in terms of delivering additional visitors and revenue", concluded Mr. King.

Karen Brosnahan of the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau noted: "Sports Tourism generates approximately 60 million euro for the Shannon Region annually. We, along with Shannon Development and Failte Ireland, have recently launched a Sports Ambassador Programme to capitalise on this lucrative market even further by getting local people involved in sport to help bid for events like Etape Hibernia that can become legacy events for the entire Shannon Region."

Mayor of Clare Councillor Tony Mulcahy said the economic and tourist benefits associated with the event for County Clare and the wider region were significant. "I have no doubt that the people of Clare will support the event by joining Clare County Council in welcoming thousands of cyclists to the County, which will allow us to showcase all we have to offer. I especially welcome IMG's commitment to working with local people to maximise the economic return of the event for all local people", stated Mayor Mulcahy.

The Sky Ride Etape Hibernia was launched today at an event in The Armada Hotel, Spanish Point, Co Clare, which was attended by media outlets from throughout Ireland the United Kingdom. A number of attending journalists also took part in an arranged cycle of a 10-mile stretch of the proposed event route.

Details of The Sky Ride Etape Hibernia are available from www.etapehibernia.com or info@etapehibernia.com

Annaclone GP Pre Entry Now Open
The first race of the season kicks off on Saturday 27th February with Banbridge CC's promotion of the Travers Engineering Annaclone GP. As the first race of the road season this event is always well supported. To enable the organisers to plan ahead they have decided to have pre-entry only. There will be two races

1. Handicapped ‘A’ race open to A1, A2 and A3 cat riders.
2. ‘B’ race open to A4 Cat only.

Races start at 12 noon. Sign-on Open 10:20 till 11:45.

The entry form is available for download by clicking the link below. They should be returned to Wilbur Aikan. All contact details are on the Entry Form.

Travers Engineering Annaclone GP Entry Form

2010 Gorey 3 Day
Entries are now open for the 2010 Gorey 3 Day. The event will take place over Easter Weekend 3rd - 5th April.

The event is open to A2/A3 riders ONLY and is restricted to a maximum of 180 riders.

The Cycling Ireland Road Commission have informed us that the categories riders were advised of were advisory categories. Anybody can still apply for a licence above the recommendation but licences below the recommendation will require representation to the National Grading Officer.

No entry will be taken without the application form and appropriate fee.

Application forms also be downloaded from www.irishroadclub.com

All further details including accomodation are included on the application form.

Best Regards,
Gary McIlroy
2010 Grading System and Licences
Cycling Ireland and the Road Commission have isssued important guidelines for event organisers for the 2010 season. The new Category System for 2010 has caused some confusion so hopefully the new guidelines will help riders and organisers to plan ahead for the incoming season.

The system for obtaining one day licences has also changed and once again race organisers need to plan ahead to ensure that they have copies of the A3 One Day licence sheets. It will now be down to the race promoters to check licences and return all documentation and one day licence fees to Cycling Ireland.

The guidelines for both are available to download below and also in the Download Section on the left.

2010 Category System Guidelines

2010 CI One Day Licence Policy

Marian Lamb Club Development Officer

2010 Off Season Preview
The National Off Road Commission have compiled an excellent Off Road Preview for the 2010 Season. The document is full of interesting information and links to various sites. For anyone who wants to plan their off road season, this is the document to read. Congratulations to the hard working Off Road Commission.

To download the information please clck the link below.

Off Road Season Preview



Marian Lamb Club Development Officer
Check Your Licence Category Here
Cycling Ireland have released the a of some members with their category for the 2010 season. Please check which category of licence you have been issued with by clicking the download link below.If you feel you have been issued with the wrong category you may appeal the decision. The list only contains those who held an Open Racing licence last season and will be updated as soon as I have all the information.

Click here for download NEW CATEGORY LISTINGS



Tommy Lamb

Entries now open for Tour of the North
Entries have gone on release for the P&O Irish Sea Tour of the North International stage race which takes place over the Easter weekend, now just nine weeks away.
The 4-day event will get underway from its traditional starting point at Stormont on Good Friday evening, April 2nd, and will be followed by 75 mile stages on Saturday, Sunday and Monday in Castlereagh, Limavady and Ballymena respectively.

Interest has already strong from overseas, with teams from Belgium, Holland and Germany expected in the 100 rider field. Last year's winner, local man Martyn Irvine is expected to return to defend his title, as is three time winner Ryan Connor from Ballymena who has won the event in 2004, 2006 & 2008.

With 2010 being Commonwealth Games year, top local riders will be on top form for the Tour in the hope of catching the selectors eye in the run up to Delhi in October.

A4's and First Year Juniors will not be permitted to ride.

The Tour of the North 2010 Entry Form can be downloaded by clicking the link below.

Tour of the North Entry Form

Vetted to work with children
As part of Cycling Ulster's commitment to safeguarding we have registered as an umbrella organisation to administer AccessNI checks to assist clubs in their safe recruitment procedures. The following list of individuals have undergone an AccessNI check and Cycling Ulster can confirm that there is no information returned via AccessNI on any of these individual that would deem them unsuitable to coach/instruct children or vulnerable adults.

Vetted Youth Leaders 25th January 2010

Clubs must understand that the responsibility to appoint an individual still remains with them. Where necessary clubs should request references before allowing volunteers to work with young children in order to ascertain their suitability for such a post.

Where clubs are submitting forms on behalf of their volunteers a letter should be submitted declaring that the ID has been checked. The documents required for ID Check are listed on the application form. Alternatively there is a form available from AccessNI to validate ID. Please click the link below to download the ID Check List.

AccessNI ID Validation Form

AccessNI Application Forms can be downloaded by using the Downloads LInks to the left. Forms can also be accessed directly from Access NI and are now writable. You cannot save the data but you can complete it on line and then print it off. The link to this form is below.

AccessNI Online Application Form

Once volunteers are recruited they should be informed about Cycling Ulster's policies, procedures and guidelines and be provided with appropriate training, support and supervision. This will minimise unintentional harm of children through lack of knowledge or skills and should pick up on possible intentional harm of children.

Cycling Ulster's Code of Ethics can be downloaded by clicking the link below or via the Download Section on the left.

Cycling Ulster Code of Ethics and Safeguarding Policy

Marian Lamb Club Development Officer
Dave Kane Reliability Trial
Due to Davy Kane's unfortunate accident the Dave Kane Reliability Trial will not take place on 31st January as planned. Should a suitable date be found later in the year they will try and run it then.

This is a one off cancellation and Dave Kane assures us that the event will continue as normal in 2011.

Please pass the ...word to anyone who had been planning to do this event.

Marian

Details of National Youth Training Camp
The National Youth Training Camp will take place on 20th and 21st February in Castlebar. Riders eligible are boys born between 1994-1997 and girls born between 1992-1995. Any eligible Cycling Ulster members interested in attending this year’s training camp should contact either Kenny Dunlop (028 89 521681/07884234570, ken.dunlop@nihe.gov.uk) or Mickey McKenna (+353 86 329 8860, michaeljmckenna@hotmail.com) by 30th January.

Patrick Withers (Admin Officer)


Deadly Mexican Bike Crash Report on the horrific bike crash in Mexico
Tour Of Ulster 2008 News from the 2008 Omagh Sports Forum Tour of Ulster. All info obtained from Cycling Ulster