Blow for Irish cycling calendar as popular three-day cancelled
The Newcastle West Knight CC-promoted event is the latest in a list of races on the Irish cycling calendar called off this year.
By Brian Canty
The Irish cycling calendar has been dealt a blow on one of the biggest weekends of the year. The Newcastle West Knights club in Limerick has cancelled its three-day next month.
Originally slated for the June Bank Holiday weekend, the race will not go ahead because “a number of issues” have worked against it.
The news will come as a big disappointment to the many riders who had been training for it.
“We have decided to cancel our proposed Master's and Ladies Three-Day which was scheduled for the June bank holiday weekend,” read a statement from club chairman Liam Collins.
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“While we had completed a lot of the preparatory work, a number of issues have forced our hand in making this decision.
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“We have become increasingly reliant on the same small group of stewards. The vast majority of (them) have never actually competed.
“While none of them ever refuses to help out, the thought of asking them to give up a full weekend seemed a bit unfair.
“We have asked a number of ex-cyclists from the locality to help but they all have full diaries.”
The statement sounded a frustrated tone that more former cyclists had not stepped forward to help out.
It’s the latest in a number of races that have already been called off this year.
Irish cycling calendar setbacks in 2017
The traditional season-opening Ned Flanagan Memorial in Kildare was called off in February. However, personal matters were at the centre of that decision; one that was understood by all.
The Ballinrobe Three-Day was also cancelled this year following a bitter dispute with Cycling Ireland.
And this latest cancellation is bad news for those based in the Munster region. They will now have to travel quite a distance if they want to race.
The race, in Broadford, Co Limerick, originally ran as a two-day. But a third day was added in recent years.
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