Ulster Cycling News
31May/130

Slane Cycles and McCall Foundation Represented in Donegal

As teams begin to travel towards Ardara today there are two teams which deserve a mention by Cycling Ulster. These are the Cycling Ulster Cycles team of Juniors and the Belgian Project/McCall Foundation team of Juniors and Elites.

The Cycling UlstlogoSlaneer Slane Cycles Team
Slane Cycles has sponsored the Cycling Ulster kit for the past number of years and there is always great interest among our Juniors and elites to get a chance to wear it across all disciplines.

Traditionally Cycling Ulster has chosen a Junior team for Rás Dhun na nGall where possible and they have always done their Province proud. Last year it was Cormac Clarke who achieved overall success in the jersey with the team taking wins in KoH, Points and best team.

This year the squad consists of Mark Downey (Banbridge), Curtis Gilmore (Team Madigan), Connor Hanna (North Down), Craig McAuley (VO2 Development) and Declan Reid of Newry Wheelers. Following on from last year’s success they have a lot to aim for but so far many of these lads have represented Ulster successfully in other events and have also shown well for their home team.

Rás Dhun na nGall will be their first stage race this year and the course is by no means easy with a hill climb on Glengesh to conquer on Saturday morning as well as the final stage which finishes on the legendary mountain also.

Cycling Ulster would like to wish these lads all the very best as they tackle this challenge under the guidance of team manager Ryan Connor.

DMcCThe Belgian Project/McCall Foundation Team
This team has been put together by Dany Blondeel founder of the Belgian Project. The David McCall Foundation which was set up in memory of David McCall of Maryland wheelers has a remit to support grass roots cycling in Ulster and to help support young riders. The McCall Foundation has been a true supporter of Cycling Ulster Youth and women’s programmes over the years.

The Belgian Project selects two or three Juniors each year and gives them a chance to live and compete in Belgium while staying with a Belgian family. Matthew Doyle and Peter Hawkins are two lads who have gone through this process and both continue to do well having benefitted from the experience of riding in much bigger bunches in Europe.

The David McCall Foundation felt that the Belgian Project was a good project to invest in and subsequently decided to sponsor a team of hopefuls in the Tour of the North. Unfortunately the Tour had to be cancelled due to the weather so the Rás Dhun na nGall was selected as a top class race to test the riders’ abilities.

The team consists of Jordan McGinley (North Pole CC), Matthew Heaney (Clann Eireann), Marcel Kock (Phoenix CC) and Stuart Laverty of Ballymoney. All of these riders are gaining respect as tough riders not afraid to take on a challenge or to attempt to get away from the bunch.

The team has been planned very professionally by Dany Blondeel who has acquired the services of Lyndsey Gamble of Ards CC as mechanic and Melissa Irvine, Martyn’s sister, as masseuse. While Dany will be Director Sportiv, Mervyn Irvine will act as manager for the team.

Knowing Dany and Maggie Blondeel, the team will be well looked after and we wish them good luck over the weekend.

Marian Lamb

 

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