How nice to see the tribute to Denis Goody revived in the newsletter. It has moved me to set down some of my own experiences in the vets, now spanning nearly 30 years.

: Denis Goody in the Championship 100 1981.

When I was making my comeback to cycling after an 18 year break at the tender age of 37 my first cycling contacts in Ireland were Eddie Dunne , Jim O’Sullivan , Kieran O’Mara and Paul Delaney. We shortly became the “ senior citizens “ of Eddie’s Howth Cycling Club.
When the Howth Club went into demise Jim, Kieran, Paul and myself started up Sutton Road Club. Susan was our first lady junior together with Jims’ and Pauls’ sons, one of whom, Stephen Delaney went on to become a Ras winner and Irish National 25 Champion. Another current vet, Greg Bourke made his debut to cycling with us in SRC and is one of very few of our juniors who started up in the Kelly / Roche heyday and stuck with the sport until now.
Having seriously caught the cycling bug once more and decided to have a go at racing again my inclination was naturally towards Time Trialling, which was what I had been doing in my teens in Cheshire.
The lads advised me that time trialling was almost non- existant in Ireland except in “the vets”.
And so it was that I made my way out to Black Bull to suss out the scene.
Denis Goody and John Essex made me extremely welcome and, as I had three years to go before being eligible to join, offered me the facility to ride private trials with them as often as I liked. Like the many other cyclists who knew Denis ( and indeed John ) I will always remember him (them) as a perfect gentlemen.
My first comeback TT was the Championship 25 in 1980. The photo shows me on my first Mercian and proudly wearing the same shorts and South Lancashire Road Club jersey as I rode my last races in 1963!!

Left Photo. Vets 25 Championship 1980. First event since 1963.
Right Photo. Vets Dinner 1984, a veteran at last. My first B.A.R. cert. Des, John, Donal.
Little did I think that nearly 30 years later I would be following in Denis’s footsteps as
IVCA Time Trial Secretary. I hope I do his legacy justice.

Whilst in the mood for reminiscing and paying tribute I should also mention that among the many friends to be that I met on my first few times with the vets were Donal and Willie. What shining examples of dedication to the sport and what a privilege to be working with them all these years later. Many of those early acquaintances are sadly no longer with us.

May 81 private trial. Willie, Jim Sweeney, Des Troy, Fred Smith. Howth C.C. colours.
(Mercian no.2 ).

As I approached my 40th in 1984 and membership of the IVCA I decided to invest in a new bike and had, what might have been the first pure time trial bike frame in Ireland, a custom built Superlight SL by Mercian. (Mercian no. 3 for me ). 74 parallel and very tight clearances with only 38” wheel base. I had built built radial spoked sprints for my Mercian no. 2 above , and now built new 28’s for the Superlight. I had what I think were the first type of clipless pedals by Cinelli, at the time being used by Ian Cammish in his domination of English time trialling.
I’ll never forget Gene Mangans’ comment after my first TT on it.
“ That’s a bloody good ride for a bloke with no toe clips”! I never met a man with a sharper wit.

Photo. No toe clips, 1984 All Ireland Triathlon, Sligo.

I made my second comeback to racing in 2007, a year after retirement, business pressures had put an end to training and racing for about 15 years, when I saw all the modern TT bikes now in use in the vets my beloved Superlight looked somewhat out of place and strangely, too big for me. How bike sizing thinking has changed in thirty years. It’s now consigned to use on the turbo trainer!
Although I hadn’t seen most people for many years I was welcomed back warmly, it seemed like I had hardly been away. Except in the legs of course. When I turned up for the first TT in 2007 Willie greeted me with “ are you still working in Baldoyle? “ I was amazed he remembered that. I had in fact moved from there in 1990 and had nearly forgotten Baldoyle myself!
I hope everyone appreciates that we have a very special comradeship in the IVCA. It’s a privilege to be involved again. In what other sport could one be competing with fellow members with an age span of approaching forty years and seeing records being set at both ends of the age scale. The longevity of competition life in cycling can’t have parallels in too many sports.
Which brings me up to date and reminds me I need to be back on the trainer this next couple of weeks to try to get some form for a couple of TT’s up north and the last TT day on the 30th of the month.

Ulster Championship 25, Woodgreen, 13/08/09

Four of us went up to this event and caught the best TT conditions in many years.

13/08/09 Ulster 25 Championship Woodgreen ( Veterans ).

Billy Kirk Ards CC time00:59:01 age72 handicap01:13:44 plus00:14:43 position1st
Cormac McCann Phoenix CC 00:59:56 72 01:13:44 00:13:48 2nd
John Madden Curran Racing 00:51:42 44 01:03:28 00:11:46 3rd
Jim McConnell East Antrim 00:53:24 47 01:04:34 00:11:10 4th
Cathal Miller Murphy and Gunn (PB). 00:53:27 41 01:02:22 00:08:55 5th
Phil Ormrod I.V.C.A. (PB) 01:02:25 65 01:11:10 00:08:45 6th
John Hunter North Down 00:58:34 53 01:06:46 00:08:12 7th
Brendan McCartan Phoenix CC 01:00:39 56 01:08:14 00:07:35 8th
Brendan McCourt Northern-Dave Kane (PB) 00:55:16 40 01:02:00 00:06:44 9th
Alan Rodgers Northern-Dave Kane 01:00:08 50 01:05:40 00:05:32 10th
Davy Quinn Apollo 00:57:31 40 01:02:00 00:04:29 11th
Enda Smyth Orwell Wheelers (PB) 00:59:22 40 01:02:00 00:02:38 12th
John Dillon Orwell Wheelers DNF, Off Course.
A course well worth visiting!

Many thanks to Timekeepers and Marshalls. A full compliment tonight but I must reiterate an earlier appeal. We badly need to get the timekeeping panel together. Donal did hid usual great job last night but was extremely hard pressed to keep track of finishing early riders at the same time as starting later ones. We really need to have two timekeepers, a starting steward and a pusher off at all events.

Congratulations to John Dillon on the win and a new PB. See John, you can ride 10's :o)
The first six beat handicap and all towards the end of the field. It seems the wind dropped!!!
A good turnout of both riders and marshalls made for a fitting end to the evening races.
I propose that next year we hold the time trial league in the summer!!!

The final showdown for league places took a twist, Dermot, Dermot and Phil needed high points to make changes. As it happened each managed only two points as a glut of PB's from the end of the field gobbled up the first six places leaving John Oram to extend his lead and John Dillon to jump up to 5th place in the TTL and 4th in the midweek league. The top ten looks like this subject to a final verification.

TTL....MWL...................................................................................................TTL....MWL

1.... 1 .....Oram John.... X............................. 1 3 10 5 9 8 6 10 8 9 7 10 8 ....93.... 57
2 ....2..... McGrath Dermot.... A........................ 1 2 2 6 8 3 10 8 8 6 5 6 2 ....66.... 46
3.... 3.... Moyne Dermot.... E.....................1 6 6 7 10 2 5 2 2 2 6 2 2 2 8 2 ....64.... 44
4 ....5.... Ormrod Phil ....C ........................1 2 8 2 4 6 7 4 2 3 2 5 10 2 3 2 ....62 ....39
5.... 4.... Dillon John ....X................................... 2 3 2 2 5 2 5 2 2 10 7 10 .....50.... 43
6.... 8.... Barber Tom.... D................................. 1 2 2 2 2 10 10 2 5 10 2..... 47.... 28
7 ....6.... Hynes Victor.... E.......................... 2 2 2 2 2 4 2 2 10 10 2 2 2 5 ....47.... 39
8 ....7...Fitzsimons pat Patsy.... A.............2 2 9 2 2 3 2 2 5 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 2.... 44.....33
9 ....16.... Moran Francis.... D...................... 3 2 2 4 2 2 2 2 4 3 2 8 2 2 2 ....39..... 23
10.... 13 .....Lynch Nicky.... B................... 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 6 4 2 2.... 39.... 25

Time Trialling emphasis now shifts to the last event on 30th August at Enfield / Kinnegad. As mentioned below in last weeks' newsletter. I'd like to see a good field riding the combined 25 / 50 option and a higher than ever number qualifying for BAR certificates.

Dates for those interested in travelling, Thurs.13th August, Ulster 25 champs, Woodgreen. ....Thurs.20th August, 10 mile TT Warrenpoint, great course.....Sat.5th Sept, All Ireland TT champs Swinford. ...Sat.12th Sept, Leinster 25 champs, Carrickmacross.

Phil.

10 mile TT. Black Bull 21/07/09.
Click here for result.............

Many thanks to Timekeepers and Marshalls. ( Three absentees !! )
Congratulations to John Oram on the win on handicap, the fastest ride and a new age 41 record.
Now with all three distance age 41 records.
The first 10 all improved on handicap - well done all. ( Ciara handicapped on the fastest
of her first two rides at the distance).
Conditions weren't so bad in spite of the cross wind and we didn't get wet.
I think the course change worked well.
Maybe the slightly downhill start made the course marginally faster.
Temp..Pressure......Humidity Wind
17..... 995mb........72% ...35kph

So. It's down to the wire now. One remaining TT, next Tuesday again a 10 at Black Bull. There's still a little room for manouvre at the top.

John is now uncatchable in the Time Trial League but can't afford to miss the last TT as his lead is slendour. The two Dermots and Phil will be looking for new PB's to change the orders.

After next week the focus will be on the BAR / FAR competitions with the final TT day on 30th August being the last chance for PB's or qualifying rides.

Times will be taken at the 25 mile point in the the 50 and will count for BAR / FAR giving the opportunity for two qualifying times. A seperate 10 option will be run also.

TTL MWL................................................................................. TTL MWL

1.... 1 ...Oram John ............................ 10 5 9 8 6 10 8 9 7 10 ...85... 49
2 ...2... McGrath Dermot..................... 2 2 6 8 3 10 8 8 6 5 6 ...64... 44
3 ...3 ...Moyne Dermot ...............6 6 7 10 2 5 2 2 2 6 2 2 2 8 ...62... 42
4 ...4... Ormrod Phil ....................2 8 2 4 6 7 4 2 3 2 5 10 2 3 ...60... 37
6... 5... Hynes Victor...................... 2 2 2 2 4 2 2 10 10 2 2 2 ...42... 34
8... 6... Dillon John...................................3 2 2 5 2 5 2 2 10 7 ...40... 33
7... 7... Fitzsimons pat Patsy........ 2 9 2 2 3 2 2 5 2 2 2 2 3 2 2... 42... 31
5 ...8... Barber Tom ...2 2 2 2 10 10 2 5 10 2 02 January 1900... 49... 30
13... 9... Gaston Gerry .......................2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 5 2 2 2 5 2...34 ...26

10 mile Circuit Time Trial, Dunsany, 14/07/2009.
Click here for full result...............

Not a bad evening, the showers stayed away for the race. 17c. 64% humidity,
1009 mb and about 15 kph southerly wind.

What was bad was the marshalling situation. Yet again the race only took place thanks to two riders giving up their race and one turning up to volunteer on spec. This situation will certainly now result in far more stern penalties in future for no show marshalls. Put simply, if we cannot rely on members to fulfill their obligations to assist with the running of events then the events cannot take place.

The drumree is certainly a challenging TT Circuit. It's almost exactly 10 miles but no one got close to their normal 10 time.

John Dillon won on handicap with 103.19% from an actual 24:14.

Second was Paddy Brennan with 103.99 from 26:29.

Third was Eamonn Newton with 104.93%.

Cathal Miller was fastest with a fine 23:39.

The next two Tuesday's are both 10TT's at Black Bull and bring the TT League to a close. Further opportunities for BAR and FAR competitions remain on August 30th on the Enfield - Kinnegad courses.

Evenings will be getting duller, think about my rear light suggestion.

League positions to date as follows:-

TT L....MWL.......................................................................... TTL ..MWL
1..... 1..... Oram John .....................3 10 5 9 8 6 10 8 9 7 .....75 .....39
2 .....2 ......McGrath Dermot .............2 2 6 8 3 10 8 8 6 5..... 58..... 38
3..... 3..... Ormrod Phil .............2 8 2 4 6 7 4 2 3 2 5 10 2..... 57..... 34
4..... 4..... Moyne Dermot .........6 6 7 10 2 5 2 2 2 6 2 2 2 .....54..... 34
5.....7..... Barber Tom ....................2 2 2 2 10 10 2 5 10 2......47 .....28
6 .....5..... Hynes Victor.......... 2 2 2 2 4 2 2 10 10 2 2 ...........40 ......32
7..... 6 .....Fitzsimons pat Patsy.2 9 2 2 3 2 2 5 2 2 2 2 3 2 .....40...... 29
8..... 14 .........Lynch n Nicky....22 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 6 4 .....35..... 21
9 .....17 .....Moran f Francis............. 2 2 4 2 2 2 2 4 3 2 8 2..... 35 .....19
10 .....19..... Devlin Linus......................... 4 10 8 2 2 2 2 2 2 .....34..... 18

Phil.

50 mile Time Trial Championship. 12/07/2009.

More wind! About 20kph from the south making it hard all the way. 17c, 64%
humidity and 999milibars so not bad on the lungs. Twenty four starters which is up on
recent years and good to see. A full comliment of helpers so thanks to all.
In particular those not rostered who came to make sure we were OK.

2009 50 TT Age Standard Champion is Hugh Davis with a plus 29:01 from an actual 2:00:05.

Second was Dermot McGrath with plus 26:54 from 2:13:14.

Third Paddy Davis with plus 23:14 from 2:11:02.

Three riders beat handicap :-

First was Phil Ormrod with 2:14:02, a 3:52 improvement and 97.18%.

Second Mark Prendergast with 2:00:12, down 2:24 and 98.04%.

Third Francis Moran with 2:13:00, down 0:35 and 99.56%.

Fastest was John Oram with 1:52:59 making a hat trick of championship wins and also his second age 41 record.

Second fastest was John Dillon with 1:55:32.

Third was Hugh Davis with 2:00:05.

Congratulations to all.

Click for full result.......

Next event, circuit time trial Dunsany Tuesday 14th July.

10 mile Time Trial. Black Bull 07/07/2009.

Another fine evening which brought about eleven handicap beatings.

After the dramatic effects of last weeks high pressure I decided to bring my weather station out last night so you''ll see a weather conditions report added to the result sheet. Should make for interesting analysis after a few events.

We were blessed with a surplus of marshalls and helpers, thanks to all for turning out. We had 29 riders reporting to start three of whom did not reach the timekeeper at the finish. Special condolencies to Linus who sat up opposite the start line thinking he's done a 22 only to find he still had a mile to go.

Tom Barber took his third win with a new PB of 27:40 and 95.18%

Mark Prendergast was second with a fine PB of 22:38 and 97.07%

Third was John Coates with 27:41 and 97.48%

Up to date league placings will be on show at Sunday's 50 championship for which I hope we have a fine day and a record number of starters.

In the TT League the top six are John Oram, Dermot McGrath, Dermot Moyne, Phil Ormrod, Tom Barber, Victor Hynes.

In the Midweek League the top six are John Oram, Dermot McGrath, Dermot Moyne, Phil Ormrod, Victor Hynes, Patsy Fitzsimons.

Please check the marshalling roster. We must have a full compliment for the 50 on Sunday.

Who said Time Trialling was hard?

Actually some think it's a pain in the arse!

__________________

25 mile Time Trial. Al Fresco Shield. Black Bull Tuesday 30/06/2009.

Ah well, you can't win 'em all. It was fine and not to breezy but the high pressure meant poor air and most of us found it a grind.

Sorry about the HQ mix up. I thought we had adopted the new Black Bull layby permanently, that was my intention. So please note that's where the 10 will meet next Tuesday. Not Grange!

Victor Hynes was just that again knocking another 45 seconds off his PB with a 1:05:36 and 98.87% for his second win on the trot. Well done.

Second was John Oram, only 1 second off last weeks ride with 54:19 and 100.03%'

Third was Dermot McGrath with 1:5:36 and 100.15%

This event also has age standard prizes the results for which were as follows.

First was Dermot McGrath with a plus 11:34.

Second John Oram with a plus 8:31.

Third Phil Ormrod with plus 7:15.

Here's a snapshot of the top of the Time Trial Handicap League and Midweek League positions to date.

TTL MW ------------------------------------------------TTL MW
1--- 1 ------Oram John 3 10 5 9 8 6 10 8 9 -----------68--- 39
2 ---3 ---Moyne Dermot 6 6 7 10 2 5 2 2 2 6 2------- 50--- 30
3--- 2------- McGrath Dermot 2 2 6 8 3 10 8 8 -------47--- 32
4 ---5 ---------Ormrod Phil 2 8 2 4 6 7 4 2 3 2 --------40--- 27
5----4------- Hynes Victor 2 2 2 2 4 2 2 10 10 --------36 ---30
6--- 11-------- Barber Tom 2 2 2 2 10 10 2 5--------- 35--- 16
7--- 6 Fitzsimons Patsy 2 9 2 2 3 2 2 5 2 2 2 -----------33--- 25
8--- 12----------- Devlin Linus 4 10 8 2 2 2 2 2--------32--- 16
9--- 13- Lawless r Robbie 2 2 2 2 2 6 2 4 4 2 2 -------30 ---16
1--- 7 --------Davis p Paddy 2 2 2 7 2 2 7 2 2 --------28--- 20

SEE YOU NEXT TUESDAY AT BLACK BULL !

25 mile Time Trial. Black Bull Tuesday 23/06/2009.

Alleluja, a fine and decent day for a time trial!

Everything in place today, a full compliment of marshalls and officials, great weather and I got a proper warm up and preparation. I guess three days racing out of four was too much for some, we only had 20 riders to benefit from the best conditions for some seasons. Eleven of the 20 recorded times below their handicap.

Winner on handicap was Victor hynes with 94.63% from a 1-6-21. Second was Dave O'Brien with 96.62% from a 1-9-10 and third was John Oram with 96.99% from a 54-18. John was needless to say fastest on the night and also set a new age 41 age record. Also of note is the fact that John was second on age standard. It's very rare to see a youngster placing so high in this category, a fantastic time.

Also recording new age records are our grand old gentlemen Patsy Fitzsimons ( 75 ) and Kevin Simms ( 77 ). These guys are a credit and an example to all of us.

Many thanks to all the marshalls and timekeepers. I even got a photographer ( Jimmy Hickey ) out, just another ploy to get him hooked into joining us :o).

Next Tuesday is the Al Fresco 25 at the same venue. I have booked similar weather conditions but with a flat calm a high oxygen level float conditions!!!

Enough of the administration, now back to some serious rest and turbo work.

Phil.

Championship 10 mile TT Saturday 20th June 2009.

Well at least we stayed dry and didn't freeze but again the wind was a significant feature. We had a very tough return to the finish from Enfield.
31 starters, I had hoped to see a bigger field.
As it happened it was just as well as, once again, we were let down by a number of scheduled marshalls / officials.
Donal had to cope with starting and finishing simultaneously for a while! The man is a star!
There has been no response to my request for volunteers to get involved with timekeeping. Is there no one out there who does not want to ride time trials but would like to be involved with the support side?

I don't have last Tuesday's result yet so will get that out with next Tuesday's result on Wednesday.
On the subject of next Tuesday. We had hoped to get a 30 mile course based on Black Bull but it did not work out so we will revert to a 25 for the 23rd.

So. To today's 10 TT Championship.
The worthy champion is Dermot McGrath with a super plus 4:11 from an actual 25:47.
Second place went to Hugh Davis with a plus 4:06 from an actual 23:44.
Third was Sean Lally with a plus 3:46 from and actual 25:36.

First two places on handicap were the only PB's of the day and going to John Oram with 98.42% with Brian Cunningham second on 98.46%.
John took his second championship fastest rider of the season his 21:52 nine seconds short of an age 41 record.

I'll update the League position tables after next Tuesday's 25.

Phil.

Next TT Tuesday 16th June Batterstown / Mullagh circuit TT.

IVCA( Phil Ormrod) Time Trial Handicap League and Midweek League 2009.
Positions after 5 events.

TTL pos.1 Midwk pos. 1 Moyne Dermot ...........6, 6, 7, 10, 5, TTL pts - 34. Midwk pts - 21.
TTL pos.2 Midwk pos. 4 Devlin Linus................... 4, 10, 8, 2, TTL pts - 24. Midwk pts - 12.
TTL pos.3 Midwk pos. 2 Ormrod Phil................. 2, 8, 2, 4, 7, TTL pts - 23. Midwk pts - 19.
TTL pos.4 Midwk pos. 4 Oram John......................... 3, 10, 9, TTL pts - 22. Midwk pts - 12.
TTL pos.5 Midwk pos. 25 M Mullen Mick ................9, 5, 2, 2, TTL pts - 18. Midwk pts - 4.
TTL pos.6 Midwk pos. 3 Fitzsimons pat Patsy..........9, 2, 2, 2, TTL pts - 17. Midwk pts - 13.
TTL pos.6 Midwk pos. 7 Mongey Eddie..................... 7, 2, 8, TTL pts - 17. Midwk pts - 10.

Report - 25 Mile TT Championship - Saturday June 6th.

7 degrees C and hailstones is not my idea of a great start to a day for a time trial but that's what we had to contend with yesterday.
Clearly a few of our number silenced the alarm clock and went back to sleep.
Some of those were unfortunately scheduled to be out on marshalling duty and will, I presume, soon be receiving their notice of suspension from racing.
A hasty last minute committee meeting agreed we could just about proceed leaving one roundabout unmarshalled thanks only to the volunteering of Kevin Simms to sacrifice his ride, Mrs Gerry Mongey who readily agreed to help out and Mick Mullen likewise. Mick Davis and Kevin McFeely were the only two official marshalls to turn up. Kevin being an official, pre arranged, substitute for Jim Morahan
Donal ( not for the first time ) handled the timekeeping single handed.
So on that basis 30 riders braved the storm. Well not quite that. We started with reasonably clear skies above and to the west but black clouds approaching from the east. About only 10 degrees and a very blustery wind blowing.
By the time the first riders got back to Moy Valley it was raining and stayed that way.

Sean Lally added yet another championship win to his tally with 1:3:20 giving him a plus 12:20. Well done Sean.
Second was Hugh Davis with 1:0:30 and plus 11:20.
Third was Dermot McGrath with 1:6:22 and plus 10:48
Fouth was Paddy Davis with 1:3:53 and plus 10:27
Fifth was Phil Ormrod with 1:6:23 and plus 7:17
6th was John Oram with 0:55:59 and plus 6:51.

Not surprisingly John was also the fastest rider. Great ride.
Second fastest was Robbie Lawless with a new PB of 0:58:14
Third fastest was Lloyd Berry with 0:58:25
Fouth fastest was Alan Neenan with 0:59:27
Fifth fastest was Hugh Davis with 1:0:30
Sixth fastest was Dermot Moyne with another PB of 1:2:05

The first six on handicap ( which is the result that counts for the time trial league ) all recorded improvements on handicap.
Already mentioned above John, second,97.9%. Robbie, fifth, 99.57%. Dermot sixth, 99.73%.
Handicap first place, Tom Barber with 1:12:02 and 97.1%.Congratulations.
Third was Eddie Mongey with 1:5:30 and 98.92%.
Fourth was Phil ormrod with 1:6:23 and 99.15%

To everyone who turned out on a most inclement morning, well done.

Phil Ormrod.

Race Committee.