Philip Lavery - the last man to win the Usher St Patrick's Day Race - leads the escape in the Mick Lally Memorial last weekend on the Dorey's Forge circuit. The high volume of racing in the area is making events there harder to run (Photo: Amy Norah Farrell)
The usually packed St Patrick’s Day fixture schedule will be a little lighter this year with disappointing news emerging this evening that the main Leinster race has been called off.
The popular Usher Irish Road Club St Patrick’s Day Race run in Co Meath will not take place due to circumstances beyond the control of the promoting club.
The unwelcome development follows news in recent days that the Tour of Armagh planned for April 27th was off due to the large volume of races planned for that day.
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Usher IRC said in a statement it was unable to secure emergency medical cover for the planned St Patrick's Day races given the high demands on ambulance and first aid services for the large number of public events on the day in question.
Added to that, the Garda is becoming more stringent in setting out how races are run in the area arising from the high volume of events on the roads around Trim, Summerhill and Batterstown. It is understood some local people have objected to so many races being held there.
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The area has been a traditional venue for racing in Leinster for decades. Not only are open races held there regularly but the Irish Veterans’ Cycling Association often races in the area, which is also very popular for club racing.
It is the second year in succession the race has been cancelled, with blizzard-like conditions early on St Patrick’s Day last year making the roads unusable when a morning inspection was carried out. The race was last won, in 2012, by Philip Lavery who was then riding for Node4-Giordana.
The Usher event schedule has traditionally seen three races run – a handicap race for A1 and A2 riders as well as separate races for the A3s and A4s - starting from Dunboyne soccer club and using the Dorey’s Forge-Summerhill road circuit.
Those looking to race on the day still have a number of options, though riders may have to travel further than planned.
The Bobby Power Memorial Races go ahead in Carrick-on-Suir, while the Clann Eireann Cup will be held in Derrymacash. The Donegal Harvest Potato Race will be held in Burt and the St Patrick’s Day TT is going ahead in Maguiresbridge, Co Fermanagh.
In other race news, the organisers of the Newbridge GP this coming Sunday, March 9th, have been forced to change the venue for their race headquarters.
Sign on was previously planned for the Cill Dara Rugby Club, but will now take place at the Newbridge Greyhound Stadium on Milltown Rd in Newbridge.
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