Cuchulainn Cycling Club 2012 Cycling Ireland Club of the Year

For the second time in three years Dundalk's Cuchulainn Cycling Club

has been voted as Ireland's best cycling club. This award is bestowed upon the club by the governing body for the sport Cycling Ireland, whom came up with a list of what they believe are the most active clubs in the country and ballot all of it's members to find the club that has contributed most to the sport in the past 12 months. With over 500 clubs in the country, competition was fierce to even make the short list, let alone Cycling Ireland Club of the Year 2012be voted the overall winner.

It was Cuchulainn's range of activities that drew in the votes as throughout the year the club organises many events for children, liesure cyclists and through to competitive open events. Locally the club runs three successful leagues during the summer months, a mountain bike league, a women's only league and the main FPM Accountants League. Highlights during the year were the staging of a round of the mountain biking National Points Series, here Gary Shiels and his team had their custom built off-road track at Bellurgan Park at it's finest to promote a series of races from under 12s right through to the best elite racers in the country.

Cycling Ireland Club of the Year 2012Another highlight was the staging of the National Championships for the junior riders. Ireland's stars of the future battled it out and sprinted for the gold medal on a glorious day in Blackrock village. Lesiure cyclists found the unique Summer Solstice Dusk till Dawn Century ride to be a unique event. Cyclists from around the country left Dundalk at dusk on June 21st, cycled to O`Connel Street and back, arriving at dawn for a well earned breakfast. Club chairman Pat O`Shaughnessy commented "the award goes to all the members who contributed throughout the year, from those who stood on a corner to marshal a race, to the committee members who worked tirelessly on all the projects".

Rather than rest on their laurels plans for 2013 are already taking shape. First up in January the club will be hosting the National Cyclocross Championships in Muirhevnamor Park. In June the club will be hoping to run the Elite National Championships, where Nicholas Roche will look to win the Green jersey before embarking on the Tour de France. The Tour of Louth will be back, bigger and better, but rest assured it won't be longer than 100km. Finally the club's BMX department continues to groom thestars of the future, as they hone their skills at St. Mary's College.

The next event for the club is the annual Awards Night and Christmas Party on December 7th at Ridleys bar, tickets are available on the door. Winners of the various club competitions will be honored, along with the prestigious Club Volunteer of the Year Award. 2012's winner will have a tough act to follow in 2011 winner Martin Grey.