Dromara Coastal Tour
Early morning
sunshine with clear blue skies brought many cyclists and a great cheer
to Dromara Cycling Club on Sunday for their annual Coastal tour of east
County Down. This popular leisure tour has grown in numbers over
the last ten years attracting a larger and more varied number of
riders. As usual, there was a choice of
two distances 60 or 81 miles, with both routes following the same
course through Seaforde to the coast at St Johns Point, then on to
Killough, Coney Island, Ardglass, Ballyhornan and the refreshment stop
in the picturesque village of Strangford.
The Coastal tour started at Dromara Football club and we are once again greatly indebted to the football club for their continued co-operation. With a mass start at 9:30 am the riders headed towards Dromara village before turning right onto the Dundrum Road and headed south. After covering 35 miles the main group arrived in Strangford just after 11 am and descended on the refreshment tents. Over the next two hours the village green was turned into a mosaic of colour within the beautiful coastal setting. In the background the ferry was ploughing across the narrows to Portaferry in the distance.
The Coastal tour started at Dromara Football club and we are once again greatly indebted to the football club for their continued co-operation. With a mass start at 9:30 am the riders headed towards Dromara village before turning right onto the Dundrum Road and headed south. After covering 35 miles the main group arrived in Strangford just after 11 am and descended on the refreshment tents. Over the next two hours the village green was turned into a mosaic of colour within the beautiful coastal setting. In the background the ferry was ploughing across the narrows to Portaferry in the distance.
Once the eating
was over the riders headed off again with the route going past
Castle Ward and Saul to the Quoile Bridge at Downpatrick where the two
routes split. In a change to previous years, permission was given
for the shorter route to head through the traffic free and beautiful
Finnebrogue Estate, before rejoining the longer route just outside
Ballynahinch. The longer 80 mile journey twisted and turned along the
inner coastline of Strangford Lough passing through Killyleagh and
Killinchy. This year instead of heading to Whiterocks, the route kept
to the high ground affording stunning views of the alleged one hundred
islands of Strangford Lough. Many in the main group of riders never
look at the scenery and headed back at full speed to Dromara, with the
first home just after 2 pm with 81 miles at an average of 20 mph.
Nowhere in County Down is flat and the last hill between Ballynahinch
and Dromara caused pain to many legs.
The Tour had attracted more than 200 riders including two tandems and a group from Dublin (see list of riders below). Many thanks to the 24 who pre-registered and helped to shorten the queue on the day. With the emphasis on the 'leisure' aspect of the tour there was no set time for getting back to the football club, if at all. In particular, two of the participants just enjoyed the day in the sun and only reached the finish just before 6 pm. With great facilities at the football club, many stayed to have a shower, a refreshment and a chance to discuss the day's 'craic' in the football club's bar.
Dromara Cycling Club would like to thank all who took part and all from the club who helped make the day a great success. Many thanks to Muller for their support in providing the hungry riders with pots of cool rice.
Our next leisure tour with return to the hills of County Down for the "Hilly 60, Hilly 80 & Hilly 125km" as well as the infamous "Mourne Sportive". All four events happen on the same day, Sunday 9th of August 2009.
The club would
particularly like to thank:
Martin's father, Bernie and Laurene Phillips for sign on and manning the tea stop
Stephen P for helping with the sign on
The sandwich makers
Gary for helping on the morning and to Dromara Football Club for their continued support
Muller for the excellent rice
Bob for providing backup and video
Bob's video
A squad from Banbridge
Lots of Dromara shirts
Lined up ready for the off
