Dromara Cycling Club held the second of their annual leisure cycle events this time the more challenging Mourne Sportive and Hilly leisure tours on Sunday 7 August 2011. As before there were four distances to choose from: the 'Hilly 60', 60km of moderate hills, the 'Hilly 85', 85km of more severe climbs including the Cornmill, Dree Hill and the Windy Gap, the 'Hilly 125', by far the most popular route which incorporates the '85' route to the tea stop before adding in more hills including Spelga, Coyle's Hill etc and for the very adventurous the club has the 'Mourne Sportive', 169 km route which covers 11,000 feet of climbing.
As part of the day the club also arranged the 'Junior Hilly Tour' for those aged 12-17 which took in the 'Hilly 60' and was fully escorted by senior members of the club.
The day started dry and bright and the was a steady stream of riders showing up to take part. The Mourne Sportive was pre-entry only and had 21 riders take on the challenge. Over 180 enjoyed the other routes with the Hilly 125, now in its 23rd year, attracting 114 riders. The day remained dry until late afternoon when there was a heavy downpour which thankfully the majority of riders missed.
All distances shared the same tea stop at Fontenoys GAA grounds in Leitrim where the large marquee, which had been put up for the Leitrim Festival, was the perfect venue for a break and chance to sit down and eat with friends. The club sincerely thank local companies Kerry Foods and PRM for their donation of Freshways sandwiches, Sunny D drinks,Kinder Maxi King bars and a great selection of salads back at the football club.
The Mourne Sportive riders had a second tea break at Meelmore Lodge where they were well fed with an excellent spread of food laid on by the staff at the Lodge.
When the riders had returned to the Dromara Village Football Club they received a commemorative gift and a food voucher for hot food at the Bus Stop café, a double decker bus kitted out with tables upstairs and a kitchen downstairs.
Many thanks to all the riders for coming along and supporting the club. We do hope you enjoyed yourselves and hope to see you all again next year.
The club wish to thank:
- Dromara Village Football Club and Ian the barman
- Leitrim GAA club
- Meelmore Lodge
- Bus Stop café, for the hot food afterwards
- Kerry foods, for the excellent Freshways sandwiches
- PRM for the Sunny D, Kinder bars and Fresh Food Kitchen Salads
- Ghostriders for the motorcycle outriders
- Sign on: David Fisher, Stephen and Cathy Wallace, Brendan & Bernie Monaghan, Ross Galway
- Car park attendants: Jim and David Fisher
- The 'route markers'
- Broom wagon: Derek Hanna
- Eddie Doyle for looking after the Hilly 60 group
- Our friends from Team Vision Racing for organising the supply of sponsored food
- Grimley family for setting up the tea stop at Leitrim
- Brendan & Bernie Monaghan, David Fisher, Davy Robb and Jim McMaster for manning the Leitrim tea stop
- Philip Wilson and Roisin Boyle for sorting out the Meelmore stop
- John Clyde and Anne Maguire for the return sign on desk
- Neill Currie for the keyrings, posters, hill signs, sign on desk 'fronts' etc
Report by Martin Grimley
Pictures by Martin Grimley, Derek Hanna and Davy Robb
Sportive starters
