Dromara Cycling Club hosted their annual Coastal leisure cycling tour on Sunday 9 May 2010.  The club has been organising this popular cycling event for over 10 years and the numbers seem to have increased year on year.  The majority of the riders come back each year to enjoy the route and hospitality and this year the event attracted approximately 240 riders.

The event itself starts from the Dromara Village Football club as a mass start before heading into Dromara then out to Seaforde, down to St. John's Point and then follows the coast up to Strangford. for the food stop.  After stocking up on calories the riders then headed back to the football club with a choice of two route which divide just over the Quoile bridge.  They could take the short route which takes the riders back directly towards Ballynahinch and through the picturesque Finnobrogue estate, or they could take the longer route which headed up along the coast, through Killyleagh towards Comber before returning via Lisbane, Saintfield, then Ballynahinch.  The short route was a 60 mile round trip while the long route was an 80 mile round trip.

Given the popularity of the event the club had organised motorcycle outriders to lead the groups around the narrow country roads.  This proved invaluable in keeping the riders save.  The sign on for the day was opened at 08:30 with the mass start at 09:30.  Shortly after 11 pm the main bunch of riders had made it to Strangford where they were greeted by a large gazebo which had been newly purchased by the club for this event.  The riders had a range of food to choose from some of which was kindly donated by Müller, Kinder and Agua PDA.  Given the dry spell of weather the riders made good use of the dry grass and enjoyed their picnic overlooking Strangford Lough.  Once back at the football club the riders were able to enjoy more food and drink which helped to conclude a great day's cycling.

The club would like to thank:

• Dromara Village Football Club for the use of their building and parking
• The motorcycle outriders
• Our food sponsors
• the club members who helped to mark the route, handle the adminstration at the sign on desk, made sandwiches and buns and to those who set up the gazebo and manned the tea stop in Strangford.
• and of course, a big thank you to all those who came along on the day.