Sunday 11 May 2008
Dromara Cycling Club's Annual Coastal Tour
The perfect day for cycling they called it.  Warm, bright with temperatures around 19-20°C and little wind.  Dromara Cycling Club has organized this Coastal Tour for almost 15 years and this year we were rewarded with the greatest turn out ever, 160 riders from 16 clubs and a large gathering of leisure cyclists not affiliated to any club (A full list of riders is given below).  Some had travelled from Dublin and another two (John Heaney and Stephen McIlroy) were using the event as training for their Malin to Mazin head run.  The 'tour' allowed the cyclists to enjoy the picturesque scenery of  south Down and Strangford coast.  They were given the option of doing either the 'short route' (approximately 60 miles) or the 'long route' (approximately 80 miles) both starting from Dromara Football club and both sharing a tea stop in Strangford.  The route first took the riders through Seaforde, down to the coast and round Saint John's Point then up through Killough, Ardglass and, on the way to Strangford, there was another detour to see Ballyhornan Bay and Mill Quarter Bay.  

After the tea stop the riders split up at the Quoile bridge with those taking the short route going through Annacloy, Ballynahinch then back to Dromara. Those taking the long route went north along the coast taking in Nickey's Point, Killyleagh, Ringdufferin, Killinchy, Whiterock, Ardmillan and as far north as Castle Espie.  They then turned and headed back down through Lisbane, through a network of quiet back roads to Saintfield then on to Ballynahinch and finally to Dromara for a well earned rest and glass of something cool.

A huge amount of effort goes into organising these events and today was a great payoff for the club.  The club would like to thank the riders for supporting both the club and the club's chosen charity, the Northern Ireland Children's Cancer Home, Shimna Valley, who will be receiving a cumulative donation at the end of the year.  

The club would particularly like to thank: