Lakeside Wheelers Youth Development Gets Underway
9/20/20263 min read
Last week the National Masters Championships were staged in Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford and. Lakeside Wheelers members pictuured include Paul Murtagh, Norman Blakeley,Dave Fagan, and Seamus Moran
Over the last few years a very dedicated sub-committee have being working away very diligently at the summer underage programme better known as Sprocket Rocket. This project aims to teach kids from six years of age to fourteen years the basic skills of cycling in a safe and fun environment and has been extremely well received by kids and parents alike from around the Mullingar area. Lakeside Wheelers has been very lucky to have had the support of Belvedere House and Gardens to enable organisers build a course suitable for the kids who have bought into the Sprocket Rocket idea.
The last two years of Sprocket Rocket have been extremely successful, so much so, that the club committee has given the green light to a very exciting five year plan which aims to kick start another youth development programme. The last time Lakeside Wheelers had the personnel to manage a youth development project it produced a string of talent including the O’Brien sisters, Caoimhe and Aoife who are now both riding in the professional ranks.
The new plan has been put together by Mark Horohoe, Steven Franzoni and Eugene Duffy who have stated that initially (1-2 years) their purpose is to set realistic and clear goals and keep the focus on maintaining the momentum gained in recent years. This includes growing the current numbers attending Sprocket Rocket from 80 to over 120 and getting some of those to take part in a series of off-road skills and racing courses. In the longer term the hope is to see some of the older teenagers progress to competing in the Leinster Cyclocross league.
The first phase of this new development plan has already commenced with a three week introduction to Cyclocross racing having started on Sunday, September 13th and running for three consecutive Sundays. Following this it is hoped to have some of the participants take to the start line for their very first Cyclocross fun race in Belvedere on Sunday, October 4th. Best of luck to all involved and keep an eye on all club communications for more updates on this extremely exciting initiative.
National Cyclocross League
As mentioned above, Sunday October 4th is the next big day for event organisers with the club hosting a round of the National Cyclocross league. This will be a big step up from the last few years when the race was aligned to the Leinster league. However, with the history that the club has in staging top level races, there is no doubt that this day of racing in Belvedere House and Gardens will be very special.
There is already a lot of work underway to prepare the course with some members generously giving time to strim, brush and rake the grassy area before the final prep is started. Paul Gibney has been at the helm of the Cyclocross race in recent years and stated that the aim is to present a very fair but challenging circuit. Paul also appealed to members intending to participate to use the Cycling Ireland portal and register ASAP.
Racing
Members involved in road racing have been very active in recent weeks all over the country and with some success too. Last week the National Masters Championships were staged in Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford and despite some inclement weather there was a great day of racing. Lakeside Wheelers was represented in the M40’s, M50’s and M60’s by Stuart Cox, Paul Murtagh, Dave Fagan, Seamus Moran and Norman Blakeley. When all was said and done the lads were delighted to have avoided some of the many incidents on the day and the M60 team came away with a well deserved silver medal.
This weekend Bray Wheelers hosted a two-day festival of racing with some very big cash prizes up for grabs. On Sunday John Boyne and Stuart Cox raced in the C2 category with John coming up just short of a top ten finish but getting 12th overall which was an excellent result.
Well done to all club members who competed in races over the last few weeks.
