Dunlop Clan Dominates Cycle Season But McGirr Takes Club Person Title
Annual Dinner & Awards Night on Saturday 6th December 2008
The Lakeland Cycling Club Annual Dinner was held when over 60 members and guests attended a very enjoyable and successful evening of craic, dinner and prize awards. As well as Lakeland Club members in attendance, there was also members from the Fintona, Omagh and Emyvale clubs.
Compere for the evening was founding member, Pat Clarke and he reminded the attending partons that 2008 seen the 20th year of the club competition, which started back in 1988, with only about 10 events held during the summer in that year. The club now would have up to 30 events in club competition, which is held from April to the first week in \September.
Following on the opening remarks by Pat Clarke, the first presentation of the prizes was started with the St Patrick's Day 10 mile Time Trial and the winner here was Paul Brady (Emyvale CC) with Double Cycling Ulster Veteran Road Race Champion, Kenny Boyland in second place. Third place went to the club top junior rider, Dane Dunlop.
The first of the Lakeland CC summer league event was the 10 mile Time Trial League which was sponsored by Robert Wilson (Pedalware). Robert was delighted to be associated with the club and the league. Robert presented the first place prize to Kenny Boylan and the 2nd and 3rd places were taken by Dane Dunlop, while his older cousin, Raymond took the third spot in the Time Trial league.
The Hill Climb league was next of the prizes presented and here, veteran Boylan took first place. However, as the league is held mainly during the racing season, the Dunlops were missing for most of the League and therefore Peter Martin took 2nd spot while Pedalware owner, Robert Wilson snatched 3rd place
Club Chairman and Club sponsor, Raymond Pauley (Pauley Cable Joint) presented the prizes in the seven event road race league and club junior, Dane Dunlop, took the honours ahead of Boylan, while Martin was in 3rd place.
Nigel Armstrong, a former club chairman, presented the prizes in the club road race championship. It was noted that Armstrong joined the Lakeland Cycling Club in the same season as when the club started their league. He said “I am honoured to have joined a very successful club here in Fermanagh and has seen many changes over the years”. He also said that he wished the club continued success.
With a change in the prize presentation, 3rd place prize was given out to Paul McCrory, while another Dunlop clan member, namely William took 2nd place. Compere Clarke made it known that William Dunlop was the first Lakeland CC member to compete in the Tour of Ulster back in the 90's. Everyone who was in attendance give applause to William for his achievement. Next to receive his prize was over all winner of the Road Race Championship, namely Raymond Pauley.
Pat Clarke, advise that a new category was created this year and it was for the new novice in the club and the first winner of the category was Alan Magee.
The Mairead Clarke trophy which has been presented for the last 20 years was presented by the compere Pat Clarke. The trophy is presented the club rider who show the Most Promising Cyclist in the club for 2008. The winner was well deserved and the honour went to Dane Dunlop.
The main prize of the night was held till last but is the biggest honour for any member to win in the club. The Club Person of the year has been won by various members in the club namely Kenny Dunlop, Winnie Boylan, Geraldine Lyons and Pat Clarke to name a few.
Two names were nominated and here the fight was between Robert Wilson and Anthony McGirr and after the votes had been counted, the winner as McGirr, who was dumbfounded in the win. Members shouted for Anthony to make a speech but he just held the plaque aloft and sat down and took a quick drink to get over the shock of the winner of Club Person of the Year.
2009 is not too far off and in January and February there will be two events held and details will be release nearer the date of the events.