Warm and dry for the Dromara Hilly
The annual Dromara Hilly Leisure Cycle has been a challenging event for the local cycling community for three decades. This year’s event took place on Sunday 4 August 2019. The chosen charity this year was selected by the Mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh – Air Ambulance and Spinal Injury UK. £5 from every entry went towards the charity.
The route takes in a large swathe of the County Down countryside with its drumlins – from short, sharp climbs like the Cornmill to the long slogs like Dree Hill and the Windy Gap. The event lives up to its name – there is hardly a flat section on either of the two routes on offer – the 85 km or the 125 km. As usual the event starts from Dromara Village Football Club which was looking splendid after the hard work the local club had put in ahead of their well-attended charity event which took place the day before – Dromara vs Man. Utd. Legends. The football match was in memory of Walter McVeigh who passed away earlier this year.
The forecast in the lead up to the weekend had given Sunday as being wet. The weather on the day in the surrounding areas had seen early morning rain. This probably put off some people from coming to take part. What they didn’t know was that it was dry in Dromara. It stayed dry all day. There was hardly a breeze. Perfect cycling conditions. The turnout was lower than usual – 113 bikes on the road, but the riders were well looked after with motorcycle outriders, support vehicles and a great spread of food at the tea stop at Leitrim GAA club (thanks to Lisburn and Castlereagh Council for this). To add to the event there was even a BBQ at the finish back at the football club courtesy of club chair Graham Beckett.
Many thanks to all who supported the event and to all the Dromara Cycling Club members who contributed to its success.
Photos
Alan Campbell (Facebook) – here
Richard Cowan (Facebook) – here
