| Dromara women's team enter the Race Around Ireland 2009 | |
| 9 September 2009 Less than a week to go to the start of the Race Around Ireland 2009 cycling endurance event. The event will challenge riders to cycle the 1,350 mile route around Ireland going in an anti-clockwise direction starting from Navan. Solo riders are starting on Tuesday 15 September with teams starting the following evening on Wednesday 16 September 2009 at 8 pm. The teams have to be back in Navan for 8 pm Sunday 20 September 2009 which is 96 hours later for the teams. Teams have to have at least one rider on the road both day and night with the other riders following behind in support vehicles. The route will take the competitors around the wide variety of terrain from country roads to city streets, coastal roads to mountain passes. There will be 18 time stations along with way with the nearest one at the BP station on the Malone Road in Belfast. The teams are expected to reach this station between 1 am and 4 am on Thursday 17 September 2009. Martin will be there to greet them with his trusty camera! Among the competitors gearing up for this ultra marathon is the only all female team made up of members of Dromara Cycling Club. The "Bikedock Belles" are Julie Watt, Andrea Harrower, Taryn McCoy and Cathy Thompson. Julie is best known for mountain biking and has competed in XMTB's Winter League in January this year as well as at the NPS mountain bike races at Ballinstoe and at Magheramorne Quarry near Larne. Julie took part in one of Dromara's club league events which was a 10 mile time trial on the Dundrum Road. Julie then suffered a set back when she broke her shoulder back in June this year while out mountain biking on Cave Hill but has recovered to get ready for this event. Andrea is best known for her adventure racing and endurance events taking part in the Ironman UK in 2008. In July Andrea entered the Irish Mountain Bike Championships at Dunmore and won the Sports Women class. Andrea also competed in the Belfast Rat Race along with Jen Watson and they retained their Winning Female Pair category. Out of the race scene Andrea was also seen at the Lap the Lough cycle at the end of August and got drenched with all the other riders. Andrea has been a regular at Dromara's Winter Trail Quests riding under the team name Iron Maidens along with Taryn. Taryn has formed the other half of the Iron Maidens in Dromara Winter Trail Quests last year as well as taking part in the similar Trail Blazers events during the summer. Taryn has come from a background of triathlon and adventure racing taking part in the Half Ireman in 2007 and Ironman UK in 2008. This year Taryn competed in the Carlingford Lough Endurance Challenge in July with Andrea and were part of the winning 1st female team. The next day Taryn was one half of the 1st mixed team doing the Wicklow Rogaine 24 hour orienteering event. Cathy is the current secretary of the triathlon club Hielbow and has competed in triathlons and other adventure races over the past number of years. This year Cathy took part in the Ulster Women's League finishing first in the first round as well as second in two other races. After 7 rounds Cathy finished second overall. Cathy has also completed the Ironman UK just a few weeks ago. On the leisure side Cathy was also at Dromara's Coastal Tour back in May this year. The four ladies have been training hard over the past few months. They received support from the Ulster Sports Academy at Jordanstown who put the women through their paces to give them accurate measures of their fitness. With 337 miles to cover between them over four days, approximately 84 miles per person per day, this will truly be a test of fitness, stamina and resilience. They only have to get one rider over the finish line within the 96 hours be able to say they have completed the race. However, if they are only minutes late they get nothing. Dromara Cycling Club wish them all good luck and hope to be able to provide updates throughout the four days. For further information on the race go to the Race Around Ireland website here The four ladies have selected four charities that they are hoping to raise funds for through their efforts. Feel free to make a donation to any or all of these by clicking on the icon below.
Another noteable entry in the Race Around Ireland is that of Joe Barr who is aiming to complete the distance as a solo rider. Joe Barr recently took part in Dromara's Mourne Sportive finishing that gruelling event in just over 5.5 hours. Joe is raising money for Shimna Valley. | Picture by Martin Grimley Taryn McCoy, Andrea Harrower, Julie Watt, Cathy Thompson pictured at the Ulster Sports Academy  Julie doing her first time trial Dundrum Road 2009  Andrea and Julie |
 Taryn and Andrea at Trail Quest Seaforde 27 Dec 2008 |  Taryn at Trail Quest 11 Jan 2009 |
 Taryn and Andrea 27 Dec 2008) |  Andrea 27 Dec 2008 |
 At Dolly's Brae 2008 |  Julie racing at Magheramorne 2009 |
 Andrea winning Sports Women's race at Irish MTB Championship Dunmore 2009 - medals presented by Julie |  Andrea takes part in the Belfast Rat Race 2009 |
 Cathy Thompson (in the red) Round 4 Ulster Women's League Picture by Darren Crawford |  Cathy at Dromara's Coastal Tour 2009 Pictures 2nd from left |
 Cathy pictured at Phoenix GP 2009 Picture by Marian Lamb |  Julie at Round 2 XMTB's Winter League 2009 Photo by Stephen Prentice |
