With three races - one for A1-A2 riders, one for A3s and a separate event for A4s - the Mick Lally Memorial and its undercard events always throw up some great competition. Above, Philip Lavery wins the main event last year (Photo: Amy-Norah Farrell)
With some great racing having already unfolded across the country during the first two weekends of the new road campaign, all eyes will be on Co Meath on Saturday for the Mick Lally Memorial and its undercard events.
Host club Dublin Wheelers is 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 Centre, Enfield Rd, Summerhill, Co Meath.
Advertisement
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.
John Priest takes the sprint by a considerable margin to win the A3 event last year (Photo: Darragh McManamon)
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, Philip Lavery took last year's event having powered away on his own in the colours of Synergy-Baku.
John Priest (Lucan CRC) took the A3 race in a bunch sprint and David Richardonson (Club Rothaiochta Na Sionnaine) emerged with the A4 win.
Related News
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.
Lavery leads the breakaway in last year's main event before he kicked for home alone (Photo: Amy-Norah Farrell)
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 two years ago to mark the passing of Ian Gallahar, a lifelong member of the Dublin Wheelers and well known Cycling Ireland commissaire.
Topics
