Ring of Kerry sportive planned for summer cancelled due to Covid-19

One of the biggest sportives in the country has been cancelled due to Covid-19, though it was not due to take place until the first Saturday in July.

The Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle organisers said they made the decision because of the uncertainty around what public health guidelines would be during the summer.

Some early season races have been cancelled but those events were due to take place on the first weekend in March. The Gorey Three Day stage race has also been called off from its usual dates, but that event was due to be promoted over the Easter Bank Holiday at the start of April.

However, the sheer scale of the Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle appears to have forced the hand of the organisers' months out from the event.

While it is highly likely public events will be permitted before July, the scale of the events that will be allowed remains unclear. And that means organisers of large events now face tough decisions even if their events are not due to take place for months.

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Cyclists who entered last year’s Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle, which was cancelled due to the pandemic, saw their entry carried over to the 2021 edition. And now that has also been cancelled, those entry fees will be retained by the organisers and the entries will be carried over again, to 2022.

Organising committee chairman Garry Galvin said it was hoped some form of virtual event could be run instead so charities that benefit from the sportive would still get some funds.

“Whilst this is very regrettable, we feel it is necessary in the best interests of all stakeholders including the health and well being of cyclists and our many brilliant volunteers,” Galvin said of the cancellation this year's sportive.

“Those cyclists that have deferred from the cancelled
2020 event will be transferred to next year’s 2022 event.

“Following on from the cancellation of the 2020 event and the cancellation of the 2021 event we are very conscious of the financial impact this is having on our charity partners. We hope to mitigate that loss in income by holding a virtual fundraising cycle in line with public health guidelines.

“This is currently in the planning stage and we will make
further announcements in due course and hope that it will be well supported for
the benefit of our charity partners.”