Eric Downey attacked with 2km remaining last year and blasted up the tough ramp to the line. The A1s will need to close down the A2s more quickly in the main event tomorrow (Photo: Gary McIlroy)
With the domestic racing season now heading into its third weekend of competition and some of the in-form riders already having announced their intentions, all eyes will be on Co Meath tomorrow, Saturday, for the Mick Lally Memorial.
Host club Dublin Wheelers are laying on three fixtures in the shape of the main event Mick Lally race for A+-A1-A2 riders and the Ian Gallahar Memorial for A3s followed by the Dublin Wheelers GP for A4s.
Race headquarters is at the Summerhill Community College, Enfield Rd, Summerhill, Co Meath.
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The racing unfolds over the Dorey’s Forge circuit, which more often than not splits races, especially in the early season when the gaps between riders’ fitness levels are biggest.
The action will start from race HQ, with the riders neutralised for 1.4km to the official start at Elliott’s garage on the Dunboyne road.
From there, the racing goes in the direction of Dunboyne before turning left at Mullagh cross roads after 6km and heading in the direction of Dunshaughlin.
When the racing reaches the Trim road it goes left and down Warrenstown before swinging left again at Grange crossroads, up the steep Dorey’s Forge ramp and then completing the circuit shortly after that hill. Sign on is from 9am to 10am.
The Mick Lally Memorial main event leaves race HQ at 10.30am with racing proper commencing at 10.45am. Run off in a handicapped format, A2 rider Eric Downey of Orwell Wheelers sprung from a breakaway to take victory last year.
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He was part of an 11-man group that broke clear of the A2s early in the race and worked so well together that they not only held off the scratch men, but put time into them.
The A+-A1-A2 riders do four laps for a total race distance of 87.8km, with the event finishing at the top of the Dorey’s Forge climb on the fourth passage. The promoting club puts the estimated finish time between 12:49pm and 1.15pm.
The A3 Ian Gallahar Memorial is three laps of the same course, leaving race HQ at 10:45am with racing proper starting at 10:55am.
The finish is atop Dorey’s Forge on the third passage. The A3s will race for 65km and their event will finish sometime between 12.27pm and 12.46pm.
The A4 Dublin Wheelers GP is two laps, or 42.4km. It rolls out of race HQ at 10.55am and starts officially at 11.03am.
The last lap of each race will be slightly shorter than preceding laps because the races finish on Dorey’s Forge rather than at the start line of Elliott’s garage a little further up the road.
The prize presentation for all three races takes place from 1.45pm at race HQ.
The main event is held in honour of Mick Lally, the father of well known former international bike riders Jimmy, Sean and Tony Lally; all still riding well into their veteran years.
The A3 race is a more recent addition, having been added to the calendar just 12 months ago to mark the passing of Ian Gallahar, a lifelong member of the Dublin Wheelers and well known Cycling Ireland commissaire.
He died suddenly two years ago, ironically in the same week as the Mick Lally and its undercard, resulting in the cancellation of the events in 2012.
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