Quality field entered for Charleville three-stage cycle race
Thursday September 02 2010
THE 10th annual Charleville Park Hotel and Leisure Centre two-day, three-stage cycle race takes place in Charleville over this weekend, September 4 and 5. Widely regarded as the biggest two-day event in the cycling calendar in the south of Ireland the past winners include Stephen Halpin of McNally Swords, Dublin, in 2006. He is presently riding with the Sean Kelly An Post professional team for the rest of this year and intends turning professional in 2011.
Last year's winner was Connaught rider Charles Prendergast, who was riding for the National Junior Squad and now one of the top senior cyclists in the country, having competed for Ireland in the televised city centre races in England earlier this year.
Alan Buckley of the Limerick Cycling Club, the only rider to win the race two years in succession in 2007/8 is returning this year aiming to win it for the third time.
Last year there was a record entry of 150 riders from all over Ireland and this year its looking as if this number will be maintained as there are already 100 riders pre-entered in the race.
Race director Brian Jordan says that tis year they will be using all new stages due to the increase in traffic on the routes that has been use over the past nine years.
The weekend starts on Saturday at 2pm when all the riders register for the race. There will be a stewards meeting at 3pm followed by a manager's meeting at 3.30pm and at 4pm the riders will officially start the first stage of the race at Mannixville, Charleville. This travels over a total of 85km over five laps and proceeds to Cergane, Foxhall, Garryfine Cross, Rossbane, Colmanswell on to Gortskeagh to complete the circuit.
Stage two, an individual time trial, starts on Sunday morning at 8am at the Gortboy Service Station on the Charleville Road out of Kilmallock and finishing out side of the Crown Furniture store at Garienderk.
The final stage starts at 12 noon at the Campus Service Station on the Cork road in Charleville. This is an 8km stage which will take the riders to Ballyhea and Doneraile, climbing to Glenanaar then on to Glenosheen and Ballyorgan, Kilfinane and Ardpatrick, Kilmallock, to finish at the Crown Furniture Store at Garienderk.
The organisers say that during the stages there may be minor delays for motorists and they appeal for patience and apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused. The presentation of prizes will take place at the Charleville Park Hotel at 4.30pm.
They also thank their sponsors, Charleville Park Hotel and Leisure Centre, Campus Service Station, Great Gas, Kilmallock Road, Charleville, Sherry Fitzgerald Walsh Auctioneers, Crown Furniture Charleville, ISS Signs, Charleville, O'Shea's Hardware, Charleville.
They are also appealing for volunteers over 18 years to do stewarding for two hours on eith Saturday or Sunday to contact the event organiser.
- John Tarrant
