Loughrea’s Seven Springs Cycling Club's annual Grand Prix event takes place on Sunday.
The event, based in Carrabane, Athenry, is one of only six events held each year in Connacht and attracts the cream of Ireland’s amateur racing cyclists. Due to poor weather conditions and flooding in March, the club had been forced to postpone the race in the interests of safety, but it is now looking forward to another exciting day of racing next Sunday.
The year is the fifth edition of the race which was first run in 2013 three years after the club was first formed. Since then its membership has grown to accommodate adult cyclists of all ages and abilities, while also boasting a small but growing racing group who will be competing at the Grand Prix this weekend.
The club also launched a new social cycling initiative for 2017 aimed at giving people the chance to try the sport at beginner’s level.
Like so many small sports clubs, Seven Springs relies on the support of numerous local businesses for sponsorship. Mark McKeigue of Velocity Bikestore, Turas Bikes, and The 53 Coffee House is an active club members, as are Ciaran Cannon of the Village Theatre and Owen Coughlan of OPC. Aidan McCarthy of SmartBiz is new to the club for 2017 and Jonathon Gibson of the Athletes Clinic.
For more information on the club and the Grand Prix, visit www.sevenspringscyclingclub.com/2017- seven-springs-gp/