Criterium 2015 top level cycle racing returns to mullingar today
Following on from their hugely successful hosting of the 2014 National Cycling Championships in Multyfarnham and other parts of Westmeath, Lakeside Wheelers Cycling Club, Mullingar are once again planning to stage another top class cycling event which will attract the cream of Irish cycling talent to Mullingar’s town centre.
The Destination Sport Mullingar Criterium, in association with Grange Motors Toyota, will be staged in Mullingar town centre on Friday evening June 19, commencing at 7pm sharp.
Criterium racing is a fast and furious cycling spectacle and this event will see top Irish cyclists race at speed through the streets of Mullingar.
Starting from Oliver Plunkett Street, the competitors will turn at Galvin’s Menswear and race through the Blackhall carpark, down behind the County Buildings to Gaol Hill where they will turn left back up Mount Street and left at Market Square to complete the 1.1km route.
This circuit was last used when the local club unprecedentedly staged two National Criterium Championships in 2011 and 2012.
It was highly praised by the professional cyclists who participated in both of these events with 2011 winner and former World Track Champion, Martyn Irvine stating that it was the best “Crit” route he had ever ridden.
The following year the honours were taken by top English based professional, Felix English with Mullingar’s Damien Shaw coming home second on both occasions.
This year’s event will commence with a 45 minute support race at 7pm followed by the main race at 8pm for one hour. Both races will be restricted to 50 riders and there is a very impressive prize fund of €2,000 on offer.
Don’t miss this rare chance to see some of Ireland’s top athletes including the aforementioned Shaw of Team Asea, who is fresh from a superb performance at the An Post Rás, where he claimed three podium places in the final three days of this gruelling eight day stage race around Ireland.
Lakeside Wheelers will also have several more local members competing on the night so come along and support the team.
Organisers would like to say a special word of thanks to the following for their assistance and support, Westmeath County Council, Mullingar Gardaí, Mullingar Civil Defence, Mullingar Traders and Grange Motors Toyota, Mullingar.
Photography competition
In conjunction with the Destination Sport Mullingar Criterium, the Westmeath Examiner is running a photography competition with some €150 in prizes on offer.
Budding and experienced amateur photographers will have plenty of opportunities to test their lenses at the Crit, and we’d like you to submit your best shots from the event for perusal by our judging panel.
The best photo – covering either the race itself, or the crowds gathered along the route – stands to win a cash prize of €100, with second and third prizes of €35 and €15 also on offer.
Entry is easy: just submit a copy of your best photo to our offices at Blackhall Place, Mullingar, or email a copy to sport@westmeathexaminer.ie by 5pm on Wednesday June 24. In either case, please enclose your name, address and contact details.
The winners and their photos will be published in the following week’s edition. The decisions of our judging panel are final. Best of luck!