The August winners in the Aqua Blue Sport Cycling Ireland Monthly Awards are Chris McElhinney (Volunteer of the Month), Peter Ryan & Sean Hahessy (Male Rider of the Month) and Áine Donegan (Female Rider of the Month).


The winners were nominated by Cycling Ireland members, with a selection panel voting to decide the winner’s of each category.


The Female Rider of the Month for August is Áine Donegan (Scott Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club).


Áine has completed an excellent first season racing, culminating with her overall win of the National Road Series title. She has been selected by our panel based on her consistent performances throughout the season in the National Series events and selection for the Irish national team for the first time.


“I am delighted to have won” she said, “It's an honour to be even nominated seeing as I just competed in my first bike race in March".  It’s very encouraging that Cycling Ireland recognise performance across all disciplines. Seeing other highly experienced riders winning the award is very motivating for me moving forward also".


Áine also reflected positively on her first season racing and is already looking forward to next season, "I’m very pleased with my season, from the excitement of competing my first race to the honour of being selected for the Irish team and wining the overall national series title...I've been lucky to be in the company of very experienced and encouraging cyclists and look forward to next year".




The winner of the Male Rider of the Month for August is won jointly by Peter Ryan (Upperchurch Drombane) and Sean Hahessy (Team Viner Caremark Pactimo).




Peter and Seán have won the award for August after being the first tandem to complete the Race Around Ireland event. They completed the event as part of a fundraising effort, raising an incredible amount of over €90,000. The Race Around Ireland is a gruelling 2,150km non stop cycling event around the whole island of Ireland. It took Peter and Sean around 122 hours to complete the event.


“We are absolutely delighted to have won the award for August” Peter said, "Many thanks to everyone who voted for us".

 


The August Volunteer of the Month Award goes to Chris McElhinney (Foyle CC). 

Chris has been nominated for his ongoing commitment to his club Foyle CC and the time he has spent promoting events, particularly his contribution to the successful running of the Foyle 3 Day during August. The Foyle 3 Day was held from the 3rd to the 5th of August, it attracted many of the country's top riders and helped build on the success of the 2017 event.

“I would like to thank everyone who appreciated my help in organising events and helping out in the last few years" he said, “I am chuffed to get this award, I am very aware of the help and unselfishness of the team around me, without these great friends this kind of high standard would not be possible."


Looking back on the Foyle 3 Day Chris was happy with how it worked out, " We organised the biggest cycling event to come to Derry in a long time and by all accounts the managers, riders and officials felt it was a huge success...let's make it happen again next season! My highlight for this season would be Ronan McLoughlin winning the Shay Elliot...for me it's the best trophy in Irish cycling. Again thanks to everyone who voted for me and my club Foyle CC look forward to hosting the 2019 Irish National Road Championships."


The nominations for the September awards are now open - submit your vote here for who you think deserves the award for their achievements in September.