Trip to Tipp Weekend of cycling

Trip to Tipp

Weekend of cycling

Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th July 2010

It is now approaching that time of year again when Thurles man Billy Shanahan and his team, calls on us all to get on our bikes and join one of his cycles on the above dates – and all for a great cause – the National Council for the Blind of Ireland. Over the past 15 years this event has grown into an established part of the annual charity sporting event calendar. It attracts both men and women and boys and girls, from all over Ireland - who now looks forward to their chance of pressing pedal to the road and emulating their cycling heroes of past and present. Billy expects that more than 400 cyclists will again turn up at the Anner Hotel and Leisure Centre on the Dublin Rd in Thurles over the two days – the Saturday cycle starting at 1 pm 70km Route while the Sunday programme starts at 9:00am – 180 km route; 10.30 am – 100 km and 70 km routes; and 11.30 am – 20 km route.

The weekend gets underway on Saturday 17th July with The Three Counties Tour. Cyclists will leave The Anner Hotel and Leisure Centre at 1pm. Cyclists will travel on to Johnstown Co. Kilkenny then on to Rathdowney and Erril in Co. Laois and back by the Devil’s Bit Town of Templemore Co. Tipperary to the starting point in Thurles. This trip is a mere 70km on good roads.

Sunday is usually Family Fun Cycle Day and this year is no exception. The day starts at 9am with the long route of 180km.This cycle heads out from Thurles to Holycross, Clonoulty, Dundrum, Tipperary Town, to the beautiful Glen of Aherlow , Bansha, Clogheen up over the Vee , with a foodstop at the Cats Bar, onto Newcastle, Knocklofty, Clonmel, and back by the historic town of Cashel on to Horse and Jockey Two Mile Borris and back to Thurles.

The next cycle is the Medium route there are two to choose from the shorter 60km or the 100km.

The 100km cycle leaves Thurles and on to Dundrum and Tipperary Town through the beautiful Glen of Aherlow, Bansha, Thomastown, Golden and on to Cashel for the foodstop at the Rock of Cashel back by Two Mile Borris and home to Thurles.

The 70km route will take cyclists down to Dundrum past the lovely forestry at Bishops Wood and on to Cashel in the shade of the famous rock for the Foodstop then on to Two Mile Borris to return to Thurles.

The last lot of cyclists will be on their bikes for the Family Fun Cycle at 11.30.for the shortest route which is 20km. This route will take cyclists on to Pouldine and Littleton where there will be a foodstop and then back to Thurles via Two Mile Borris. This is a lovely cycle for all the family.

All the roads will be clearly marked for each route.

As usual Billy will have a top class and very professional set of support teams in place on both days – these will cover lead , broom sweeper, and breakdown/repair vehicles; motor bike marshals; red flag stewards; first aid from Knights of Malta, water/ fruit/energy bar stations, and full catering services on all cycles. Safety will be his top priority on the day and every one will get a souvenir T-shirt.

There will be a fully staffed registration and information desk in operation at start point in the Anner Hotel car park. The Cost of entry for Saturdays cycle is €40, and the cost for Sunday is €50 which can be raised through sponsorship or personal donation. There will be a reduction of €10 on the entry fee to all those in possession of a valid Cycling Ireland licence.
Further details and sponsorship cards are available from Billy Shanahan at (087) 9253225 / billy05@eircom.net or Katriona Shanahan at (087) 4106861 / blazingbikers@gmail.com.

Make that phone call or send that e-mail and get booked on to a premier cycling event that will bring you through the fabulous scenery and heritage of the Premier County, Tipperary! Oh – a little inside information – rumour has it that Philip Cassidy, former RAS champion, might be attending this great cycling jamboree! All the above charities both Billy and Katriona are involved with will have their 2010 cycling teams joining in along with us for their training camps, not to mention the cycling clubs who will bring stiff competition to the longer routes in pursuit of a yellow or green shirt or even a King or Queen of the Mountains in Aherlow/Galtee terrain!!

Billy is now one of the leading fundraisers in Ireland for the above charity as well as the Irish Guide Dogs, another wonderful support organisation for the visually impaired. Since starting out on his mission in 1995 he has raised almost €400,000. This year Billy and Katriona organised their 3rd Annual Motorbike Road run “Celtic Tour” which had 126 Bikers and Pillions from all over Ireland as well as their many loyal supporters from Tipperary taking on this challenge in Wales over the May Bank Holiday Weekend, the Bikers covered 1000km and raised €30,000 in aid of the National Council for the Bind. Along with this Billy took on numerous cycling challenges in Europe in aid of the National Council for the Blind and the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind and Katriona took part in the Whizzards of Oz cycling challenge in Australia in aid of Fighting Blindness.

Billy and Katriona encourage you to get on your bike and support this weekend of Biking in Thurles for this very worthy cause, with routes suited to all levels of cyclist

Saturday 17th July:
The Three Counties Tour 70km starts at 1p.m.
from the Anner Hotel Health & Leisure Centre, Thurles

Sunday 18th July:
starting from The Anner Hotel Health & Leisure Centre, Thurles
9.00 a.m. Long Route 180km
10.30 a.m. Medium Route 100km
10.30 a.m. Medium Route 70km
11.30 a.m. Short Route 20km

Sponsorship cards are available from

Billy Shanahan
billy05@eircom.net
Phone 0504-22882 & 087-925325.

Katriona Shanahan
blazingbikers@gmail.com
087-4106861

Entry is free with sponsorship card or you can enjoy the cycle for €40 Saturday & €50 Sunday.
There will be a €10 reduction on the entry fee for all those in possession of a valid Cycling Ireland Licence

Get on your bike and don’t forget your helmet.

Where to stay:

Hotels & Country Houses:
Anner Hotel, Dublin Road, Thurles. | 0504 21799 | www.annerhotel.ie
Hayes Hotel Liberty square, Thurles. | 0504 22122
Horse and Jockey Hotel, | 0504 44192 | www.horseandjockeyhotel.com  Horse and Jockey, Co. Tipperary
Inch House Inch ,Thurles | 0504 51261

Fáilte Ireland Approved Bed & Breakfasts:
Helen Buggle-Sheahan | 0504 24211 | bugglesb&b@unison.ie St. Josephs, The Mall Horse & Jockey / Cashel Rd N62, Thurles.
Pauline Cronin | 0504 23301 | twinoaksthurles@eircom.net Twin Oaks, Horse and Jockey Road, Thurles
Mary Flanagan-Hunt | 0504 43032 | info@abbeyvalehouse.com Abbeyvale House, Cashel Road, Holycross, Thurles
Noreen O' Mahony | 0504 21710 or 086 8212929 Hawthorn View, Knockroe, Thurles.
Mrs. Anna Stakelum | 0504 43121 | boherna@oceanfree.net Boherna Lodge, Holycross, Thurles
www.thurles.ie

On September the 18th 2010 Katriona and Billy are supporting the Chain Gang CC Sportives, Kerry’s Premier Cycling Challenges for more information and how to take part see below:

CHY4626