Local cyclists for Navan race

NAVAN Road Club will promote the annual Sean Nolan Memorial Meath Grand Prix on Sunday. This race which will start at 12.30 from Blackcastle on the Slane road for S1 and S2 riders and will be held over a distance of 145km. With only two weeks left to the All-Ireland Senior Road Race Championships in Dunboyne, all the home-based riders are expected to feature in Navan on Sunday. The very much in-form Stephen O"Sullivan from the Dunboyne / Engrave.ie club, who was just edged out of a victory on Sunday in the Noel Taggert Memorial in Banbridge, will be hoping to go one better along with his team-mates, John Mason, Ciaran Cassidy and Brian Kenneally. Emyvale cyclist Conor Murphy will also be expected to be in the shake-up as will Stamullen M Donnelly riders Craig Sweetman, Colin Robinson, Simon Mulvany and Robert Moore. The youth races (u-12, u-14,u-16) could well come down to a battle between the three young men, Robert Anderson (Armagh), Javan Nulty (Stamullen) and Ryan Mullen (Navan) who will represent Ireland in the Youth Olympics in Finland later this year. However, these promising young cyclists won"t have it all their own way as Mantas Spirquis, Nathan Mahaffey both from Armagh, along with another Meath cyclist David Boyd, are all riding extremely well. The sign on for all races will be at Navan Rugby Club"s ground at Balreask Old beside the Ardboyne Hotel. It was a good week for Drogheda Wheelers cycling club with Benner Maguire winning the junior section of the Kathleen O"Sullivan Memorial race on Thursday night. Following on from this Maguire"s team-mate Ciaran Campbell travelled to Banbridge on Sunday and recorded a fine win in the u-14 race, while his twin brother, Daragh took fourth place. The annual Kathleen O"Sullivan Memorial race was promoted by Swords CC and contested over a distance of 50km taking in a circuit around Ardcath with the start and finish in Garristown. The race catered for senior threes, juniors (u-18s) and veterans. Michael McCarthy from the promoting club scored his first ever win coming home alone with 48 seconds to spare over second-placed rider Andre Engerman from the St Tiernan"s club in Dublin with Swords cyclist David O"Neill securing third position. On Saturday Stamullen M Donnelly club riders and officials swing into action when they team up with their main sponsor, Martin Donnelly, for the first leg of a two-day Charity Cycle from Clonee to Athboy. Cyclists will make the return journey from Athboy to Clonee on Sunday. The event starts at 11.0 from the Grasshopper Inn on Saturday. All are welcome to come along and support this event and you do not have to be a racing cyclist to compete. A helmet will be required by all participants. Navan Road Club will hold their 'Cycle for Aisling" spin on Saturday, 13th June, 10.30 from Teach na Teamhrach on the Trim Road. This event is part of the National Bike Week with the club staging more events during the week. The 'Aisling" spin will take in Robinstown, Dunderry, Trim, Athboy back to Dunderry and on to the finish in Navan. For the less energetic a short trip will take in Robinstown and Dunderry. All proceeds from the cycle will go to the Aisling Group International, who help young people achieve a drug and alcohol-free lifestyle. The Aisling Group was established over 20 years ago and has extensive links in Europe, USA and Australia. Matt Nolan who is organising this event has called on all cycling enthusiasts in the area to get their bikes out and come along and give their support. Sponsorship cards are in circulation and for more information can be obtained from Matt (087) 2577896. There will be plenty of spot prizes on the day and refreshments will be provided in Dunderry.