2010 Prize Night & Book Launch

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"126","attributes":{"class":"media-image size-medium wp-image-127 alignright","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"300","height":"225","title":"53","alt":""}}]]On Friday last Cuchulainn Cycling Club rounded off their 75th Anniversary year with a gala prize night in the Fairways Hotel. Over 150 people attended the night including dignitaries such as chairman of Dundalk town council Conor Keelan and Cycling Ireland President Rory Whyly. The centre piece of the night was the launch of the hotly anticipated book "Dundalk A Cycling History 1819 - 2010" by club President Kevin Dolan. The book makes an account of cycling through the ages in the town from it's first recorded entry in October 1819 when a George Foster rode his "velocipede" from Barrack Yard to the Market House, up until this year when Cuchulainn was awarded the Club of the Year tilt. The book is available for sale from Trend Trophies & Felda Gym and costs €20

The main awards of the night was for the FPM Accountants Summer Cycling league. Here 16 year old Jordan Flood was the first person to ever retain the league tile, regaining the crown in won in 2009. He had 5 points to spare over Runner-Up Alan Bingham, Gearoid Harvey in 3rd, Trevor Kane in 4th and newcomer Kevin Treanor in 5th. Within the league Alan Bingham also won the scratch prize, Orla McAdam the ladies prize and Bohermeen's Chris Reilly the visitor's prize.

The Ladies and Beginners League was won by Fances Murphy, from triathlete John Sharkey and Donna Baites in 3rd. Alan Bingham picked up yet another award winning the Carrick Cycles Hill Climb from Paul Dagg and Kevin Treanor respectively. Meanwhile the off road league was won by Chris Quinn. Quinn enjoyed a more comfortable win than Flood, having 10 points to spare over runner up Niall O`Flaherty, who narrowly edged out Tony Matthews.

The big awards on the night were the volunteer awards. With both sections of the club growing so spectacularly over the year there was separate awards for the mountain and road sections. The New Zealand native Tony Kelly was the winner of the mountain bike volunteer of the year. Tony did a huge amount of work from getting the Bellurgan Park cycling track off the ground to hosting some amazing events at the same venue. Meanwhile for the road racing Alan Grey was a most deserving winner. As well as being part of the winning team at the Newry 3 Day, Alan was helping out at every event held throughout the year, doing whatever needed to be done.

A final special award was presented to club secretary Karl Dolan by his fellow club members. Karl was very instrumental in bringing the club back from the brink of nonexistence early this century to a position now where it is the 3rd biggest club in the country and one of the premier sporting clubs in the county. Karl's tireless work and boundless enthusiasm for the club will ensure that it continues to grow & grow.

Photographs from the night can be viewed on the Club Flickr Page