Island Wheelers Cycling Club, Coalisland, Co. Tyrone. Northern Ireland Official website for the Island Wheelers Cycling Club
Event: Eagles Special Olympics Charity Cycle
Host: Island Wheelers
Date: 08/06/2014
Thanks to the 150+ field of riders who braved the thunder storms and rolling roads of Tyrone this morning to help raise a fantastic £1745 for the Eagles Special Olympics Club.
A number of familiar faces signed-on from local clubs including ETCC, Orchard Wheelers, Sperrin Wheelers, Rock Cycling Club, Clogher Valley Wheelers, Harps and the Square Wheelers. In particular a huge number of riders turned up from Killeeshil GAC, who are preparing for their Four County Challenge in August. It was very encouraging as well to see a large number of slightly more inexperienced cyclists take to the roads.
The Club had organised three routes for the day, 10, 30 and 65 miles, to cater for all levels of cyclists. The 10 mile route was a lap of the Washingbay which was led by Martin Talbot & Owen Campbell and was thoroughly enjoyed by all the cyclists. The 30 & 65 mile routes took in some very rolling terrain and this was made all the more difficult by the incredibly harsh weather condition. Both routes started from Gortgonis then on to Brackaville, through Newmills, Sherrygrim, passing by Cookstown and on to Pomeroy where the cyclists stopped for their first, much needed refreshment. At this point the 30 mile route came home through Donaghmore and Dungannon while the 65 mile route continued on to Carrickmore, Creggan, Killyclogher, Sixmilecross and then on to the dreaded hills around Galbally & home through Donaghmore & Dungannon.
Thanks must go to all the club members who helped organise the event, with special thanks to lead/sweeper vehicle drivers & feed station attendants, Eddie Polin, Nigel Flanagan, James McLaughlin, Mark Greenaway, Cathal McGuigan & Sheena O’Neill, plus Gareth Dempsey and Aidan Lafferty who did the registration. Once again, without their help these events would not take place and Island Wheelers continue to excel when it comes to organisation. A big thank you needs to go to the hard working committee of the Eagles Special Olympics Club who supplied a wonderful variety of food to feed the hungry cyclists on their arrival back at Gortgonis. By the look of everyone enjoying the refreshments at Gortgonis hall after the event the food was a massive hit. We would also like to thank Paul Sweeney for giving us this chance to raise some much-needed funds for such a brilliant club.
In particular the club would like thank Owen Campbell who was the main organiser of the event and has spent many hours in the past few months getting everything in place.
The Eagles Special Olympics Club was formed two years ago in the East Tyrone Area and is a club for children and adults with learning difficulties. From starting out with just 8 members, it now boasts 33 athletes with a range of ages and needs. The club’s chosen sport is athletics and the club has already achieved gold, silver and bronze medals at Ulster Level, with seven athletes going forward to represent Team Ulster at the All Ireland Games in Limerick in June. Paul Sweeney, the Head Coach of the club, has had many years coaching experience having most recently travelled as part of Team Ireland to Athens for the last World Games. He has also been selected as Head Coach for Team Ireland at the forthcoming European Games in Belgium in September.
