Western Lakes cycling club has three busy months ahead with three big promotions in July, August, and September, catering for leisure, racing, and recreational cyclists. Club chairman John Murphy said: “Our club aims to bring cycling to all facets of the community, by promoting these events we create events that people want to take part in, and bring cycling to their doorsteps, this could not be done without having a great working club where all our members help out.” The three events are the Polkadot challenge, the Ballinrobe two day event, and Cornmarket to Castle fun cycle.
The countdown has begun for this year’s Western Lakes CC Polkadot Challenge, which will take place on Sunday July 18, starting and finishing in Ballinrobe. With the ever growing popularity of leisure cycle challenges, this year’s Polkadot is expected to attract a large group of cyclists to take on the hills of south Mayo and north Galway. Participants in the Polkadot Challenge can choose from one of three routes, depending on their level of fitness and cycling experience. The Polkadot route, at 120km, offers the leisure cyclist a testing challenge over nine climbs in the Partry and Joyce Country Hills. The Polkadot Fada takes in an additional loop over the Sheefry Hills to Killary Harbour to provide a 180km route with 3,000m total climbing. This route is designed to challenge the fit experienced cyclist. The Polkadot Beag, at 80km, offers all the challenges of the Partry hills via a shorter route around Lough Mask and back to Ballinrobe.
Western Lakes CC is teaming up with Cystic Fibrosis Association for the second event this year to raise money for the Mayo CF project. Sponsorship cards are available from Thomas, call 087 932 3930. Any queries can be directed to Michael on 087 9000 368.
Marrey Bikes.com Ballinrobe two day open for entries
There are only six weeks to go for the Marreybikes.com Ballinrobe two day on August 7 and 8. The race now in its fifth year and has gone from strength to strength with 130 participants taking part last year. This event is Ireland’s only handicapped stage race, allowing every participant a fair chance of success.
Colm Laverty from Navan RC who was a category three rider won last year's event holding his nerve to beat all the top category riders, he is back again in 2010 to defend his title. The race for the second year in a row is sponsored by Marrey Bikes of Ballinrobe which is sponsoring the overall competition and Connemara fisheries Cornamona which sponsors the King of the Hills title (Polkadot jersey ). This year the club is proud to be associated with the Mc Mahon family as they will be donating a perpetual cup which will be presented to the rider who scores the most points in the sprints competition over the two days, the cup is in memory of their late son Ciaran Mc Mahon.
Cornmarket to Castle fun cycle
This cycle is part of the Mayo Sports Partnership Cycle for Fun series, and is being organised by the Western Lakes Cycling club. The cycle is suitable for anybody, even if you have not been on a bike for years! The spin, which takes place on Sunday September 12, is 20km (12 miles ) from Ballinrobe to Ashford Castle and back again.
This fun cycle is an ideal opportunity for families and people of all ages who would like to get into light exercise and meet up with a group for a fun day out. Sign on for the event is at 10am and the cycle leaves from the Cornmarket in Ballinrobe at 10:30am. The group will cycle to Ashford Castle at a very easy pace, where you can enjoy a scenic trip through the beautiful grounds of Ashford Castle, then back into Cong for some light refreshments, before returning to Ballinrobe at your leisure. To ease you into it, Western Lakes is running leisure spins from the Cornmarket in Ballinrobe every Thursday evening with special introductory evenings for newcomers on the first and third Thursday of each month.
