Gravel events are set to get underway imminently in the Republic of Ireland after agreement was reached between Cycling Ireland and Coillte, the state-owned commercial forestry business.
While that agreement, and the fact events will soon be up and running, are both pieces of good news, those interested in running events must move quickly.
The deadline for applying is July 4th, just a fortnight away, for events that will be run before the end of this year.
Cycling Ireland has now set out a six-step process under which promoters can apply for a licence to hold an event and their proposals will be considered and approved or rejected.
- Approved promoter makes event proposal to Cycling Ireland
- Cycling Ireland provides a list of gravel events to Coillte recreation team
- Coillte review internally, and provide feedback for approval on event proposals, before notifying Cycling Ireland of an approved event’s listing
- Successful event promoter receives confirming letter from Cycling Ireland
- Event organisers submit HAMS request online for gravel event licence, with letter of approval from Cycling Ireland to support licence application
The application process is now open and the form promoters need to compile and submit can be found at this link.
Cycling Ireland has pointed out the process for gravel events being approved includes a few additional steps compared with road or traditional off-road events.
The national governing body has also asked that organisers and clubs not contact Coillte directly. All applications should be through Cycling Ireland and the completed forms should be sent to its ‘sports and operations director’, Paul Watson.
Paul is contactable at paul.watson@cyclingireland.ie and you can also reach him (not Coillte) at the same address for any queries.
The events application process is now opened after Cycling Ireland and Coillte signed a ‘memorandum of understanding’, announced a couple of months ago. It has been agreed a series of gravel events will be run over the next two years to test the new agreement.
Under the first steps, this new system will be piloted which will result in selected organisers running gravel events. That will involve promoters being granted licences giving them permission to take over a course for five days to set up and run an event.
