The new date for the National Criterium Championships and its inclusion in a weekend of racing in Mayo will help restore the event's rightful standing. Above, Peter Hawkins takes last year's title race in Mondello Park from Damien Shaw (Photo: Toby Watson)
By Brian Canty
This year’s National Criterium Championships will take place on Friday, August 7th, in Claremorris, Co Mayo.
Western Lakes CC will host a full weekend’s programme of racing which also incorporates the Ballinrobe Two Day over the Saturday and Sunday.
Closed-circuit racing has seen a real upsurge over the last number of seasons, with the summer series of midweek races at Mondello Park and the five-event Connacht Criterium Series proving hugely popular.
Peter Hawkins (Tomacc CC) is the defending national criterium champion after he saw off a brave effort from Damien Shaw (Aquablue CC) last year.
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That thrilling race at Mondello Park, Co Kildare, saw the 60-rider limit filled.
Western Lakes CC is hoping for a similar turn out this year.
Jason Prendergast celebrates winning the Westport Criterium last year. Closed-circuit is hugely popular in Connacht and the best riders will gather in Claremorris in August for the National Criterium Championships on Friday, August 7th. (Photo: Jimmy McElroy)
Their commitment to making the race a success comes on the back of a motion from Cycling Connacht at last year’s Cycling Ireland AGM.
Its members voiced their concern at the manner in which the championships were awarded to clubs in the past, with arrangements often coming late in the season.
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And South Dublin CC also suggested the race date and location be set before the season started in order that the championships be given the status it deserves.
Those motions clearly outlined a view within some clubs the championships were not being taken seriously enough.
Just a year previous, in 2013, Blarney Stone CC had to step in at the last minute to host the championships after plans to have a city centre race in Cork fell through.
However, the criticisms voiced at the AGM have now been followed by firm action and the championships will open what promises to be a great weekend in Mayo.
Paidi O’Brien taking his first ever national senior title in 2013 at the National Criterium Championships in Cork City, just two weeks before he got married (Photo: Michael Meade)
The staging of the title race in early August will also give a lift to a period when the home scene can be lacking in action.
This year’s event organiser Pádraig Marrey said the course would be technical and fast and he expected the best riders in the country to be on show
“The town circuit is perfectly laid out for a spectator-friendly race and we’re expecting a situation similar to last year; a quality field of 60 riders,” he said.
“The course itself is fast and technical; there’s eight bends over the 1.1 kilometre circuit.
“So whoever wins will need to be a great bike handler with a great turn of speed.”
Entry for the event will be available on the cycling Ireland website in due course and we will bring you news when the entries open.
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