Notes 12/06/2022

Tour of the Lakes an Enormous Success

Lakeside Wheelers Club hosted their first Tour of The Lakes in 3 years this Sunday. There were over 150 entrants from clubs all over the midlands and further afield. Some towns and areas represented included Mullingar, Kilcock, Edenderry, Athlone, Ballyjamesduff and Oldcastle. Two routes 83 kms and 121kms were chosen around the lakes of north Westmeath and into Meath with a trip around Lough Bawn. Other lakes passed on these scenic routes were Lough Patrick, Lough Derravaragh and Lough Lene. With plenty of lumps and bumps along the routes, all who took part got a thorough workout on the day. The participants were divided into 5 groups, 3 at various speeds for the 121 kms route and 2 ditto for the 83 kms route. Yours truly joined the 83kms @ 26 kph average. A short shower baptized us as we departed HQ in Columb Barracks. However, we soon shook off this initial wetting with a steady gallop, wind assisted, out the Castlepollard road. In Crookedwood we turned for Multifarnham ably assisted by our motorcycle outriders who guided us expertly through all the major road junctions in a seamless fashion. Thanks lads a professional job really well done. With group leaders Jack and Shay controlling the pace nicely we soon arrived at our food station in Ned’s Forge Fore having passed through Coole, Castlepollard and Collinstown. Here, we were replenished with beautiful sandwiches, copious teas and coffees and some excellent lemon drizzle cake. Well-fed and watered we rolled out of Fore to tackle the hilliest part of the route in our circumnavigation of Lough Bawn. Here conversation dipped as everyone went to their inner self for getting over the pesky hills. Back into Crookedwood, hills conquered, we soon were on the ring road and back at HQ. Many thanks to all involved in the organisation of the day. This sportive was professionally run and displayed the highways and bye-ways of north Westmeath in resplendent fashion to all our visitors. Finally, I would like to thank all our visitors for supporting Lakeside Wheelers Cycling Club.

Tosh Kiernan successful in Galway Criterium.

Tosh Kiernan represented Lakeside Wheelers Race Team in the Galway Bay Cycling Club criterium on 11/06/2022. The race was held over a tight course in Highfield Galway. With a high-class field and some fierce racing in the A3 race, Tosh did us proud by claiming 4^th place.