Wheeling in to Ennis for Rás Clár

After a very successful relaunch of Rás Clár in 2012, Dolmen Cycling will be hosting a bigger and enhanced race on this Sunday in Barefield. With over €2,000 in prize money and racing for all categories, A1, A2, A3, A4, juniors, U-18 and ladies, it promises to be an action-packed day.

As Rás Clár is the only race on this side of the country in the Cycling Ireland calendar, a big turnout is expected to fight it out over the difficult Meghera Circuit, which starts and finishes at Barefield School and kicks off at 1pm.
The A1 and A2 categories will be first off and will cover a distance of 110km over two laps. Last year’s winner, Sean Lacey, Tralee, (Aqua Blue Cycling team) will be back to defend the title but he should be closely challenged by up-and-coming

Clare cyclist Mark Shannon, Burren Cycling Club, who has made the big jump from A4 to A1 in just 12 months after some fine performances, most notably being third overall in the Connemara three-day event at Easter this year. Mark won last year’s A4 Rás Clar. Other local cyclists to the fore in this event should be Jarlath Hassett, West Clare CC and Mike Storan Planet. Tri CC.

The next race-off will be the A3 category and will cover the same 110km course. Last year’s winner, Barry Sutton, Ennis, cycling for DID Meath, will also be defending the title but should be closely challenged by Paul Harrington, Dolmen CC, Eamon Morgan, Planet Tri, Damien Roche, Planet Tri, Gary McDonnell, Quin and Sean McIlroy, Shannon. The junior U-18 category will go off with the A3s in this race and it won’t be a surprise if they upstage the more experienced cyclists, as they have been doing all season. The juniors will return to Ennis in early July for the Five-Day Junior Tour, which will be based in Ennis this year.

The A4s will cover 66km over one lap and last year’s winner, Mark Shannon, Burren CC, is now an A1. Cathal Russell, Dolmen CC, who was second last year, will be hoping to go one place better and take the title but there will be plenty of local cyclists to throw in a challenge, most notably Anthony O’Halloran and Robert Hawes (Burren CC) and Tony Skeritt and Michael Guerin (Dolmen CC).

The ladies’ race will also cover 66km and there should be a good turnout, as this circuit is one of the stages included in the six-day Rás na Mban, which will be based in Ennis in September this year.
All in all, a great day’s racing should be had and the organisers will present prizes to the winners in Barefield Community Centre, when the race concludes, where food and refreshments will be served.