Visit Nenagh.ie Hailed as Ireland’s Leading One Day Race
The Visit Nenagh.ie Classic, sponsored by Gas Networks Ireland has now firmly established itself as Ireland’s most prestigious one day races. The Classic distance of just over 160Km (100 miles) interlaced with short punishing climbs has become the event that our top riders would dearly love to add to their CV. This race is one of the few that attracts all of our top riders who want to battle with each other for the coveted slate trophy. Much talk among the riders at sign on in the Abbey Court Hotel on Sunday morning was how this race is now unique on the Irish cycling calendar with its exciting town centre finish. For this our local council deserve huge credit for their foresight and continuing hard work in supporting this event. On Sunday the fourth running, before a huge appreciative attendance, saw the most exciting finish in the four year history of the event with a group of five riders contesting a sprint finish having failed to dislodge each other on the final back breaking, lung bursting climb from Latteragh to Toomevara. The final winner was the inform Banteer cyclist Paidi O’ Brien who spent a number of years in the pro ranks with An Post before returning to Ireland three years ago. Second over the line was Eoin Morton of UCD who had just half a bike length to spare over Mark Dowling who was once again supported by his dad the famous Mick Dowling one of our all-time great amateur boxers.
The A3 race was also hotly contested with the ultimate winner being Sean Yelverton from Limerick . Upperchurch Drombane Cycling Club had one of their greatest days in their short history when they took the first two places in the A4 race while the Ladies race was won by one of our top female cyclists Eve McCrystal of the Garda Cycling Club.
The team time trial on Saturday had its largest entry to date with thirteen teams taking the start line. Once again the NWVG team from Holland were unbeatable over the 28Km course from the Five Valley to Birdhill and back while team Onit from Wales took the spoils in the ladies event.
Footnote.
Both international teams were present at a civic reception in Nenagh Arts Centre on Saturday evening and were presented with a gift bag of local produce including a Hanly Tweed scarf, Lough Derg chocolates and Mags brown bread before adjourning for a tour of Nenagh Castle courtesy of guide Kevin Whelan. All in all this was a tremendous weekend for Nenagh and the sport of cycling with so many people combining their energies and talents to make this a memorable event. With the addition of a title sponsor, increased participation and growing international interest the Visit Nenagh Classic is clearly going from strength to strength. Here’s to 2016!
Photo Caption: Following the Civic reception on the eve of the race guests paid a visit to Nenagh Caste. Our photo shows race director Rene van Dam, Chairperson Virginia O’ Dowd and Fran McFadden of Gas Networks Ireland, title sponsor.
©2024 Nenagh.ie. Website by The Smart Group
