All-Ireland road races coming to Dunboyne

Dunboyne has been chosen as the starting point for the All-Ireland Road Race championships which take place over a weekend in late June. Starting off on Saturday, 27th June the National Veterans Road Race and National Women"s Road Race championships will be staged, starting at noon. The riders will depart from Dunboyne and travel out the Summerhill road to begin circuits that will be covered four times by veterans, a distance of 104km and three times by women, their race distance made up of 83km. Cyclists will head to Culmullen before turning left onto the Trim road over to Warrenstown and then left at Dunsany and on towards Moynalvey. The finish will be located back in Dunboyne, finishing outside the local soccer club. On Sunday, 28th June, the Senior Road Race race, which includes the u-23s and a separate junior (u-18) championships, will take place. This time starting in the centre of Dunboyne, the riders will begin a 21km circuit out the Summerhill road towards Kilcloon and onwards in the direction of Maynooth via Carton House Estate, over Ash Hill and back into Dunboyne. Seniors will cover the circuit eight times, totalling 168km with the juniors covering five laps, totalling 104km. Already it has been confirmed that entries have been received from Nicolas Roche, Philip Deignan, and defending champion Daniel Martin. Another local man, Mark Cassidy from Dunboyne, a member of An Post / M Donnelly team, who is now returning to top racing form following the recent FBD Insurance Ras will also be among the favoured entries. Next week many cyclists will be heading to Banbridge in Co Down where the local Banbridge Cycling Club will be promoting the Noel Teggart Memorial race. This event will also be the third round of the National Classic League. After the second round of this National League, which was the Stamullen GP in April, Sean Lacey from the Eurocycles Club in Dublin holds the yellow jersey. However, he will definitely have a fight on his hands as many in-form riders like Dunboyne man Paul Healion, who recorded a terrific stage win into Castlebar in this year"s Ras. Others expected to feature include Stephen Halpin (Swords), Sean Downey from the promoting club, Brian Kenneally (Dunboyne) and Craig Sweetman (Stamullen M Donnelly), winner of the recent Emyvale GP. FIXTURES Thursday, 4th June: Kathleen O"Sullivan Memorial, Ballyboughal (S3,V,J,W), 7.30. Saturday, 6th June: Christy McManus Memorial (S2,3,J,V,W), Wicklow. Sunday, 7th June: Noel Teggart Memorial, Banbridge, 12.0.