Flying the Kilrush flag for Sky Ride

KILRUSH will be represented in Sunday’s 84 mile Sky Ride Etape Hibernia by a team of 12 participants operating under the Team Kilrush 2010 banner.

Most of the team members are business people in Kilrush and West Clare and much of the reason behind the establishment of the group is to promote business in Kilrush.
Several local sponsors have come on board to support the group.
“The majority of us are business people,” Mark Reidy explained. “The idea is business people supporting businesses. Whatever bit of publicity that we can generate, we’re hoping that they’ll be recognised for it,” he added.
He is confident that all 12 of them won’t have any problem completing the distance on Sunday and in fact some might even compete at the business end of the event.
“Everyone is capable of doing the distance. Provided we don’t have any mechanical issues or unforeseen physical issues, everybody should complete it. Some of our group would be aiming for a very good time. We have a few that will be aiming for the top 20%, although we have a few that won’t be there,” Mark laughed.
He acknowledged that there are couple of interlopers in the team, who are not native to Kilrush.
“I must say they embraced the team name. There was a bit of bargaining done there alright,” he said with reference to allowing Johnny Redmond and Cillian Murphy join up.
The full group is Kevin Shalloo, Mark Reidy, Paul Griffin, Rachel Brew, Sineád Walsh, Alan Howard, Jason Ryan, Jane Darcy, Liam Coffey, Johnny Redmond, Cillian Murphy and Micheál Dooley.
The race is expected to attract up to 2,000 entrants. The event, which is open to club and leisure cyclists, will incorporate an 84 mile cycle, which will start and finish in Ennis. It will be a closed road spin, taking in mid, North and West Clare.
It is planned to run the event for at least five years and organisers hope that up to 5,000 cyclists will take part in the 2014 race.