It's that time of the year again - Membership Awards. After what has been a fantastic year for Irish cycling, we are looking for your vote to determine the winners of the various awards.
Without our volunteers this sport would not be in the healthy position in which it is. We have never had so many events or clubs, with the quality and opportunities available immense. The talent of our riders is undeniable, with many of our young riders coming through the domestic scene before being dominant on a world stage. There is also a vibrant coaching scene in Cycling Ireland, with almost 600 people passing through coaching courses in 2014 alone! The future is bright.
Now is your opportunity to vote for who you deem to be the most suitable recipient in the following categories.
Vote by filling in your choices for each category in the green survey box embedded below.
Information on each category and nomination:
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
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Declan Slevin – Rosemount CC
Worked to streamline para cycling at national level from come and try events with other organisations to his role as secretary as Para Cycling commission secretary. |
Hugh Byrne – Sundrive Track Team
For giving his time tirelessly throughout the year running the coaching sessions at Sundrive and organising most of the National Championships |
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Margaret Donnelly – Orwell Wheelers
* Leinster Commission's Women's Representative, * Managing the Leinster Team at the Bedford 3-day for the second year in a row * Managing the Irish National Team at Ras na mBan * Helping to organise the Orwell Stickybottle Women's Crit League * Always ready to volunteer at races, including in-car support for various women's races |
Martin Grimley – Dromara CC
Dedicated work towards the promotion and development of youth cycling off-road along with senior events also |
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Michael O’Connor – Fermoy CC
In 1969 Michael became secretary of Fermoy Cycling Club, a post he holds to this day. Under his supervision the club has produced many Irish Championship winners and numerous riders selected for international teams. The club is the most active promoter of events in Munster. READ MORE BELOW |
Noel Doherty – Killarney CC
Noel has put in unbelievable amount of work this year to organize the XC National Champs, travel around the country with the youth squad to all races and also took a inter-club squad to a British NPS in Cannock Chase. He also runs the Munster XC Series every year and chairs the Killarney CC. |
CLUB OF THE YEAR
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Bray Wheelers – Wicklow
For their youth development in mountain biking, road, grass track and track riding and racing. For involving the youth from the local tri club in the youth events |
Deenside Wheelers – Kilkenny
For getting a thriving scene up and running in a non traditional area |
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Lakeside Wheelers – Westmeath
Brilliant National Champs together with hosting a first mid week Para Cycling TT in the Invacare National League |
Midleton CTC – Cork
Midleton CTC members have raised a huge amount of money for charity this year. The club have organised two events for Marymount Hospital raising over €7000, they have run a triathlon event which raised €2000 for the Whitegate National school and most of their members supported and took part in the Endurance event which is aiming to raise €500,000 for cancer research. READ MORE BELOW |
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Orwell Wheelers – Dublin
* Organising the Orwell Stickybottle Women's Crit League * Dedicated 4-week program to introduce women to cycling - open to all CI members, not just Orwell members * Participation in Rás na mBan |
Team MoCo – Down
They are the most prolific gravity focused club in the country with teams competing in both Enduro and DH races. They have been organizing National Youth Development days in Bike Park Ireland this year which also have been a huge success. |
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VC Glendale – Antrim
Their club spirit surrounding their youth development is unrivalled at the moment nationwide |
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BEST LEISURE EVENT OF THE YEAR
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An Post Tour de Burren
It's awesome... rocking routes, superb scenery, fab foodstops, outstanding organisation, .... and ice-cream! |
Cycling Ireland Bike Fest
It was a very successful event focused exclusively on youth riders, something that is most needed on the Irish cycling scene (both road and off-road) |
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DID Cycle for Life
A good fun event well organised |
Leinster Loop
Very well run event. Event gets bigger each year due to a great team of hard working volunteers. Well organised event by a small organising crew |
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Paracycling Come & Try- Corkagh Park
Because it brought together both able bodied cyclist and para cyclist in a safe and friendly enviroment where people could try out handcycling tandem and adapted bikes |
Stephen Roche Atlantic Challenge
The Stephen Roche Atlantic Challenge has become the first ever and only Irish sportive to be part of the UCI cycling for all calendar. READ MORE BELOW |
BEST COMPETITIVE EVENT OF THE YEAR
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Deenside Cup
Everyone that turned up to the event spoke very highly of it. Really was a brilliant event. |
European MTB Marathon Championships
It was the biggest and most important off-road even to be ever hosted in Ireland. We had both Olympic and World champions competing here against each other, other international and domestic riders. It has really put Ireland on the XC racing map of the world! |
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Junior Tour of Ireland
Through its 38 year history it has had all the current professionals through its ranks, and aided in the development of the strong junior/U23 program currently in existence. Organised by a band of loyal volunteers on a shoe string budget, it's atmosphere is second to none. |
Rás Mumhan
Rás Mumhan continues to be one of the corner stone’s of cycling in Ireland & is one of the premier cycling events in the country run by Killorglin Credit Union Cycling Club. READ MORE BELOW |
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An Post Rás na mBan
* It showcased the very best that domestic and international women bike racers have to offer * great organisation and PR - run by a dedicated volunteer crew |
National Road Championships
Very well organised |
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Shay Elliot Memorial Race
For its development from a traditional A1/A2 event. This year they introduced an A3 event the SHA3 which brought this tough classic style race to a wider audience |
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BEST DOMESTIC BASED MALE RIDER OF THE YEAR
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Eddie Dunbar
For his endless results. Consistently a great rider all year. Excellent achviements to date. Eddie topped the Irish junior rankings again this year & has shown the natural talent he has for the sport. Eddie has put huge work in over the past year to achieve the results over the season & this on the back of completing his leaving cert. |
Jacob Dickson
Jacob has been going from strength to strength in DH racing for number of years now competing in the youth categories and now in Juniors. He is the first Irish Junior (off-road) rider ever to have won a medal at the World Championships, he came 3rd to claim the bronze medal in Hafjell, Norway earlier this year. |
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Michael O’Loughlin
Best placed Irish man in Junior World's RR / consistent improvement in his performances all season |
Paddy Clarke
Worked with developing riders in Connaught early season with tips & advice. |
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Sean McKenna
The most consistent rider of the season collecting results throughout the entire length of the season. |
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BEST DOMESTIC BASED FEMALE RIDER OF THE YEAR
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Eve McCrystal
Taking silver in the world Para Cycling championships as pilot with Katie George Dunleavy as stoker. also on the podium in Italy in the World Para Cycling Cup |
Fiona Meade
Had a break through Ras na mBan with a stage win, points jersey, best Irish rider . Followed on by being crowned national champion. A very popular nomination
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Leah Maunsell
Leah has been a dominating force in both XC and Enduro racing this season despite being a U16 rider and competing against adults (in Enduro). |
Lydia Boylan
For consistent results |
BEST COACH OF THE YEAR
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Cathal Miller – Clontarf CC
Worked hard in the development of Para Cycling from Come & Try events to identify up comming talent to a successful World cup Para Cycling campaign with the development squad which included a 13th place finish |
Dan Curtin – Kanturk CC
Has worked with the current generation of promising talent with 3 of the 5 junior world championship team being coached by him. READ MORE BELOW
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Hugh Byrne – Sundrive Track Team
For coaching the youth, junior and senior riders at Sundrive Velodrome. For giving his time endlessly and tirelessly. For organising junior development training throughout the year every two weeks on Saturday afternoons which raised the standard of junior racing. For his patience as a coach |
Neill Delahaye – Cycling Ireland
Overall a good year for Irish riders. |
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Orla Hendron – Orwell Wheelers
* Under Orla's guidance, the women's Junior racing scene is growing each year, with increased participation in road and track events in 2014 * Organised junior training camps in Alkmaar (Netherlands), Kippure (3 days), Corkagh Park Cycling & Studying for secondary school girls, another trip to Alkmaar in November, and organised test days for Junior riders at Sundrive Track. * Led a junior team at the Visit Nenagh 2-day race * Helped to organise the Orwell Stickybottle Crit League, and had the Junior riders participate in this and the Corkagh Park ladies racing series * Junior rep for the Women's Commission and Cycling Ireland * Child Protection Officer for Cycling Ireland (national and Leinster) (*and if she wasn't busy enough, also won a World Champion Title and a haul of medals at the World Track Masters!) |
Robin Seymour
Robin has been giving up a lot of his own training time to develop Junior and U16 riders this year in XC and Cyclocross. 2 of the junior riders trained by Robin placed in the top 3 of the XC NPS this year, competed successfully in UK and one of them (Paddy Michel) was selected for the UCI training camp in Aigle. Robin has also been running very successful training CX sessions (the only one in Dublin!). |
READ MORE:
Volunteer of the Year:
Michael O’Connor – Fermoy CC:
Contd. It annually holds two open road races, the Cork County Road Race championships, a league race every Tuesday evening from mid May until mid August (the longest running event of it’s type in the Munster) and a leisure cycle event. The vast majority of the work load involved in the organisation of these promotions falls on Michael’s shoulders, not that you’d realise it thanks to his quiet unassuming manner. Fermoy Cycling Club has always been regarded as a great nursery for young cyclists. In the last twelve months five riders who rode for the club competed in the An Post Ras, including stage winner Robert Jon McCarthy. In addition three of these riders are now based abroad competing full time against some of the world’s best. It is no co-incidence that this type of success occurs. On Friday evenings you’ll find Michael at the Colaiste track with a group of kids, instilling a love of the sport, providing advice, knowledge, the opportunity and a platform for them to make the most of their talents and more importantly to enjoy what they are doing regardless of ability. The little child on a BMX getting as much attention as the bigger one with a racing bike. Over the years Michael has also been a board member of Cycling Munster and Cork Cycling. Most weekends he’s at a race somewhere in Munster and normally shows his face at a midweek race as well (in addition to our own promotions) rolling up his sleeves and getting stuck in. His wife Mary is most definitely a cycling widow.
Club of the Year:
Midleton CC – Cork
Contd. This event was run by two of the club members .The club ran the Nicolas Roche event which included 3 cycling routes , charity dinner and auction .The club is the host club for the Stephen Roche Tour de Cure for the last 6 years with many of the riders taking part and helping out with the organising this event. The club has over 150 members which take part in all types of events. The club have been very involved in the new juveniles section of the club through the year. This is the first year of the revival of youth in the club & it will continue to nurture this side. The club had over 70 riders ride the Ring of Kerry this year and similar number take part in the Tour de Cure , Rebel tour , Sean Kelly event in Dungarvan and many other sportif’s around the country, with the jersey being one of the most recognized jersey’s at these events throughout the year.
Leisure Event of the Year:
Stephen Roche Atlantic Challenge
Contd. Following 3 successful years and excellent reviews by all who take part & clubs throughout the country including Cycling Weekly magazine, the UCI has requested the event to become part of the UCI world cycle tour in 2015. There are three routes to suit cyclists with different abilities This year’s event included cyclists from UK, Ireland, France and the USA. This year cyclists were able to cycle and meet with Stephen Roche, Maurizo Fondriest and Caroline Ryan. Other celebs associated with the event included Tom Vaughan Lawlor (Nidge from Love Hate) and Clare's All Ireland Hurling Champion Shane O Donnell. The event is extremely well run it's has a fantastic route along the beautiful scenery, the event is extremely good value & will continue again in 2015.
Competitive Event of the Year:
Ras Mumhan
Contd. The race takes place in Cork and Kerry over the Easter weekend. With Killorglin as its base, it passes through some of the most stunning scenery in Kerry and from the cyclists’ point of view, some of the most demanding terrain. Rás Mumhan is among the oldest and certainly among the toughest stage races in Ireland. It has been and remains rooted in amateur cycling in Ireland. The aim of the race is to provide an excellent opportunity for top class racing against top class opposition in Ireland for all Irish riders aspiring to a place at the top of the sport. Kerry Group Rás Mumhan reflects the sporting and cultural ethos of the main sponsor. It is entirely a volunteer run event. That, however, does not stop it setting the highest standards for running the event. The race organisation are pleased that the race has developed a loyal following among Irish and overseas riders and it equally satisfying to see how hard the cyclists ride the race. The 2014 provided exciting and demanding racing that is typical of Rás Mumhan.
Domestic Based Male Rider of the Year:
Eddie Dunbar
Contd. Eddie has had a host of victories & big results on the domestic scene over the season but one of the standout results been 2nd in the A1/A2 race at the Shay Elliot in April. He has spent a portion of the Season back & forth to Europe where he has been on the podium no less than 10 times. He has achieved this riding for both the Irish team along with been a guest with host clubs in France & Holland. The biggest result in Europe this season came with victory at the Nations cup in Germany. Eddie continued his winning ways & has become the only man in the history of the Junior Tour of Ireland to retain the cup in July. In August Eddie went on to the national Junior Road Race Championships held in Blarney over a challenging course & took the gold medal along with gold on the winning team of O’Leary Stone Kanturk. Later that month he went onto the Junior tour of Wales were he finished 5th last year again the youngster showed his style by taking two stages & claming overall victory by almost 5min. This is the first time that this has been achieved by an Irish rider. Eddie has now gone onto signing a pro contract with UK based NFTO.
Domestic Based Female Rider of the Year:
Fiona Meade
Contd. Consistently a great rider on the Irish scene. Topped it off this year with an exceptional year with wins at Ras na mBan (stage and points and county jerseys) and won the National Champs too. Also worked with the National Dairy Council this year to help promote womens involvement in cycling.
* NDC Sprint jersey at Rás na mBan
* Stage win, Rás na mBan * National Champion, Road * Taking it to the pros, showing what can be done with grit and determination while working full time - and she gives back, e.g. the Corkagh Park training day for secondary school girls.
Fiona had an outstanding season in 2014 notching up much victory’s right through the season. She got off to a great start at the Visit Nenagh Classic in April taking the bunch sprint against a class field on the day. Fiona went on to take the gold medial at the Munster Championships. Ras na Mban is the elite race in the country for ladies racing & has a host if International riders competing for prizes. Fiona put her stamp on the race by taking a stage victory along with two 3rds but what was very impressive was taking the first county rider & also the overall point’s jerseys. The most outstanding win of the season & her career was her win the Women’s National Road Race Championships. She has shown that she is an all-round athlete both on the bike but also in Adventure racing with a number of successes with a win on Waterford & 3rd in Killarney. She has finished off the season with a win in Skibbereen over the weekend of 18th Oct.
Coach of the Year:
Dan Curtin
Contd. Dan continues with his outstanding commitment to coaching both at a local level with O’Leary Stone Kanturk but also for the Munster province. He is extremely active with all youth riders from first year under 12 riders right through & up to senior. Dan has been involved with countless riders through the years that have been passed through the Kanturk Club onto senior level & up to an International level. This year again has seen an outstanding crop of riders that have achieved great success from Dan’s guidance. He has shown this season again he is the most successful coach with a tally of 19 medals won at this year’s national youth championships & this is success is ongoing for over 20 year’s. Dan has been the number one coach in the Munster province with youth & junior teams. Dan has run several youth training camps over the past 12 months & result of these camps are can be seen from the number of your & junior teams taking parts in stages around the country. The Munster junior’s team have been very successful this season in the Junior Tour of Ireland & the Junior tour of Wales. Dan is the coach behind the success of many junior riders male & female this season that have come from the O’Leary Stone Kanturk Club. Results include 2 stage win & the overall at the Junior Tour of Ireland, gold in the Junior Road Race Championships along with the team prize. A silver medal at the European Track Championships, a win at the junior Nations cup, 3 riders competed in the Junior tour of Wales results included 2 stage wins & the overall victory along with the team prize. A total of 6 junior riders were selected for the Irish team to ride the Junior World Championships 3 of these riders come from the O’Leary Stone Kanturk Club.