100 in 8 Sunday August 17th

Wedding in the Old Darnley or is it the IVCA on the 100 in 8
enjoying food and drinks at the stop.

In spite of the dreadful weather forecasts predicting monsoon rains, severe flooding etc., twenty-five hardy souls arrived at the Popes Cross ready to do battle with the elements and complete the 100 miles in 8 hours.
As usual we had our pep talk from Gay Farnan especially adapted on the day to suit conditions including how to identify an innocent pool of water from a flooded manhole that could swallow up rider and bike etc. With this useful advice the group set off to Athboy at a leisurely pace passing through all the flooded countryside and from time to time wading through stretches of flooded road conscious of submerged manholes. The rain held off and the group arrived relaxed and dry in Athboy for lunch.

The Old Darnley Hotel treated everyone to a banquet of tea and sandwiches in very elegant surroundings, possibly confusing them with a wedding party, which was taking place at the same time. After a leisurely lunch the group resumed the challenge heading off to Delvin at a slightly increased pace. Very soon after, the sun came out and the group steadily increased the pace as it dashed through Ballivor, Summerhill, Leixlip, finally arriving back in the Park just as the storm clouds were forming for yet another torrential downpour.

The group were clearly very happy having completed the 100 miles and earning four leisure league points and in a lot of cases achieving the coveted IVCA Touring Trials Silver medal awarded to all those who have completed the 50 in 4, Wicklow 200 and 100 in 8.
Many thanks to all those who took part and making it such an enjoyable day and a special thanks to Eddie Gough who manned the broom wagon and assisted a number of riders with punctures/morale problems etc.

' Cheese'

Next event West Wicklow on 14th September.