| Dromara riders take part in the Da Cooley Thriller 2010 | |
| Saturday 28 August 2010 Carlingford, Co. Louth Cuchulainn Cycling Club held their annual Mountain Bike Marathon on Saturday 28 August 2010 starting from sea level at Carlingford Sailing Club and climbing up and over the Cooley Mountains. The club had set out two routes, the main 52k route, which almost 190 riders signed on for, and a shorter "sport" route of 21k which attracted a field of 35 riders. This was the biggest entry to date for this event. The riders were greeted to a fresh clear morning with just a chill wind coming off the lough and the skies remained clear for much of the day providing excellent views off and from the mountains. Sign on opened at 8am with race briefing at 9:50 am. The riders then had a controlled start across the main road and through the town of Carlingford until the fire road climb up to the mountain. The initial sections had some stiles to cross which held up the riders but once through these the riders were able to join the fire road through Slieve Foy Forest following part of the old XC race course. This forest has been well chopped down and was barely reconizable for those riders who rode the race course back in 2009. The course made use of part of the Táin Trail before dropping down to the main Omeath road where there was a short road section before a sharp left turn and onto a steep road climb up Black Mountain. At the top of this road there was a T junction with the 'short' route going left and the 'long' route going right (then left) for more climbing. The long route wound its way up and over the mountains heading towards the mast at the top. Along the way there were two feed zones where the cyclists were able to refuel with the food and drink they had arranged to be brought to that point or with the fruit and fluids supplied by the club. Those doing the 'short' route went immediately to the Windy Gap which formed the homeward stretch of the 'long' route. Relief from all riders as they crested the top of the mountain and looked down on the town of Carlingford. The last section was a super downhill blast through the ferns to the finish line. Just three riders finished the long 52k route in under 3 hours, Robin Seymour, Ray O'Shaughnessey and Joe McCall. The average time was approximately 4½ hours. The fastest over the short 21k route was Ciaran Gormley of the host club with Paul Gavin, Fergus McCann and Charles Coyle finishing under 1 hour 40 minutes. Elite/open male:- Elite Female:- Masters:- Vet:- Classic Vet:- Male Sport:- Female Sport:- SHORT COURSE & JUNIOR Female:- Junior:- Many thanks to Cuchulainn CC for hosting an excellent event. The routes were well marked with painted yellow arrows on the road and yellow signs on the off-road mountain sections. There was a first aider on motorbike with other first aid vehicles on stand by. Full results here |     |
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