Lakeside Wheelers Get Festive

The members of Lakeside Wheelers gathered last Saturday night for the presentation of the annual club awards and the club’s infamous Christmas party.

The Old House Bar in the Annebrook House Hotel is always the venue for this great night’s entertainment and with over sixty members in attendance the 2025 edition was another successful evening. Special thanks to Ulrika Maher and Pete Rimmer for organising the programme and to club Secretary, Eugene Duffy, for updating the engraving on the trophies.

The evening kicked off with a complimentary drinks reception at 8.30pm followed by finger food buffet to get everyone into the swing of the party. Music by Joe Wynne got underway soon after and the craic, as they say, was “ninety” by 10pm. There was a short break from the festivities at 10.30pm for the presentation of the annual club awards.

Outgoing club President, Mark Horohoe was on hand to do the honours and make the all important presentations to Clare Neary (Best Newcomer), Andre Barbosa (Most Improved Rider), Ian Kenny (Best Racer) and Pat Liddy (Club Person of the Year). All recipients got a great round of applause as they were deemed very deserving and popular winners so congrats to the committee on this year’s choices. Mark then addressed the room briefly and outlinined his two year term as club President and finished by introducing his successor, Jack Nugent who will take over for the next two years.

Once the formalities were out of the way, Ulrika, our Party Princess swung into action with her novelty awards and as usual, there was something for practically everyone in the house. By all accounts there wasn’t a pair of Christmas socks or a cheeky apron left on Temu by the time she had her stash secured. The music kicked off again around 11pm and the party got really festive with Daria’s Mr and Mrs Claus photo booth doing the rounds of the room for everyone to either run from or pose with depending on the mood. From then on it was full scale party mode as the Joe lifted the volume and the crowd reacted by getting out on the floor dancing and singing along to the great Christmas tunes into the wee hours.

Thanks to all members for attending and once again making the Lakeside Wheelers Christmas party one of the highlights of the year. As the holiday season approaches, we wish a very happy and safe Christmas to all cyclists and their families from everyone at Lakeside Wheelers Mullingar.

PS: Please remember that 2026 membership is now due and can be renewed via the Membership portal on the Cycling Ireland website.