Action from last year's national road race championships in Carlingford, Co Louth. This time you'll be able to watch the title races on television (Photo: www.blackumbrella.ie)
Having brought the cycling community photos and videos of races from around the country for the past couple of seasons and lately broken into the national media, the Black Umbrella Production company has signed a national television deal set to bring domestic racing to our TV screens.
The Co Clare based media firm has agreed terms with Setanta Sports to broadcast a one-hour highlights package of the National Road Championships in June.
The title races are being held in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, this year and are being promoted by Lakeside Wheelers Mullingar.
They will see medals fought for in the elite women’s time trial and road race, along with the elite and U23 men’s road race and time trials.
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The production and shooting of the championships will be carried out by Black Umbrella. The voice of the home scene, Cian Lynch is being lined up to provide commentary.
The Black Umbrella company, owned and run by former racing cyclist Adrian O’Connor and partner Jill Leonard, today revealed the exciting new deal, which will hopefully be the first of many for them.
While they had been part of the broadcast team on the filming of An Post Rás na mBan for a Eurosports highlights package last year, the deal with Setanta for the championships sees them as the channel’s sole partner and is their biggest to date.
"This is Ireland's most prestigious cycling event with successful professional cyclists in the field,” Black Umbrella said today.
“Taking part will be Daniel Martin, Nicolas Roche, Matt Brammeier and Martyn Irvine all competing against the cream of Ireland's amateur cyclists including Mullingar's own Damien Shaw. They will all be doing battle for the right to wear the prestigious national champion’s jersey.”
The date and time for the broadcast has not yet been disclosed, but we will bring you news of that when we have it.
The racing kicks off with the time trial on the evening of Thursday, June 26th, in Rochfortbridge. The 37km course is on the old N6 between Kinnegad and Tyrrellspass, starting and finishing in Rochfortbidge.
On Saturday, June 28th, the focus of attention turns to the village of Multyfarnham, where female and veteran riders will compete for their respective road race titles. They will race over a rolling and challenging circuit of 19 km for a total distance of 114km in their separate title races.
The women's and veterans' events will take the riders through the Westmeath countryside via Ballinafid, Crookewood and back to Multyfarnham.
The following day, Sunday June 29th, the elite men take to the roads over the same course, but will do 10 laps for a total race distance of 190km.
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Race Schedule - National Cycling Championships 2014
Promoted by Lakeside Wheelers Mullingar
Thursday 26 June
Time Trial (U23 and elite men & elite women)
Starts at 6.30pm approx
37 km course starting and finishing in Rochfortbridge, Co Westmeath
Saturday 28th June
Men’s veterans’ road race
Start at 11.00am approx.
19km circuit over 6 laps, total race length 114km, starting and finishing in Multyfarnham.
Women’s road race
Start at 2.00pm approx.
19 km circuit over 6 laps, total race length 114km, starting and finishing in Multyfarnham.
Sunday 29th June
Mens elite and U23 combined road race
Start at 11.00am approx
19 km circuit over 10 laps, total race length 190km, starting and finishing in Multyfarnham.
Cian Lynch interviewing eventual winner Matt Brammeier on the start line at last year's national championships, being filmed by Black Umbrella. The photo is by, erm, www.blackumbrella.ie
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