2700 TAKE TO THE ROADS OF COUNTY WATERFORD

The 2009 Sean Kelly Tour of Waterford, part of the An Post Cycle Series took place last Sunday and what great day it was! In the week leading up to the Tour we all knew that it was going to be an extra special event with an unprecedented 2200 having already pre-entered for the event. On the day just over 2700 actually took part in the event with  748 cycling the Kelly Cruise, 997 in the Kelly Legacy and 979 in the Kelly Comeragh Challenge. Many of those participating in the Kelly Cruise were under 16 years, no doubt ensuring a bright future for cycling.

Cyclists came from every county in Ireland, from the UK, Europe and even the US. They came in cars, vans and camper vans, filled every hotel, B & B and hostel in the area and were powered by 7000 sandwiches, 11,000 cups of tea and coffee, 4000 bananas, 8000 Flahavans Flapjacks, 2500 litres of Tipperary Natural Mineral Water and 1250 litres of Lucozade and much more!

The quality of the Sean Kelly Tour can not only be judged by sheer numbers as so many other ingredients go into making it the great event that it has become. First among these extra special ingredients is the unique ‘Waterford Welcome’ afforded by all of our volunteers right across the county to all of the cyclists. All those involved from people manning the registration desks in Dungarvan Sports Centre, to the crew setting up the barriers, to the parking personnel, to our stewards, to the post event massage therapists and not forgetting the Tour’s legendary food stop crews at Hillview Sports Club, Rathgormack Hiking Centre and Cappoquin Community Centre, as well as the waterstops at St. Molleran’s GAA Club, Ballymacarbry Community Centre, Kilrossanty Parish Hall, Kilbrien Parish Hall and Villierstown Community Hall all play their part in putting on a great show for the participating cyclists.

The two other ingredients which go into making this a unique event are the great man himself, Sean Kelly and of course the breathtaking Waterford landscape. Sean is highly involved with the nuts and bolts on the organisational side of the tour and a dedicated member of the Tour committee is also one of the first to arrive on the scene and one of the last to leave, chatting and having ‘the craic’ all the way along. In short he plays the part of ‘the host’ with some aplomb! Our own fair county from Dungarvan Bay to the mighty Comeragh Mountains and all of the towns, villages and communities dotted in between make this Tour one of the country’s biggest and best!

Of course there are many, many people to thank and that will be done over the coming days, weeks and months. Waterford County Council, Waterford Sports Partnership, County Waterford Community Forum and all of the cycling clubs involved recognise that primarily this event would never take place without the goodwill, enthusiasm, dedication and hard work of over 200 volunteers. These volunteers include interested individuals, cycling clubs, sporting organisations, community groups and staff of the various agencies involved that all work tirelessly to put this wonderful event on the road. Our sponsors have been so supportive all along and to one and all we are very grateful and they include An Post, Treasury Holdings, Failte Ireland, Flahavans, Tipperary Natural Mineral Water and Glaxosmithkline. Thanks also to MMG Cappagh, Dungarvan Shopping Centre and Dungarvan Nissan. Thanks to the support received from the Irish Cancer Society and we will have updates over the coming weeks as to how much was collected for this extremely worthy cause.

People are already talking about 2010 and what we can do to make the Sean Kelly Tour even better. But for now let’s just enjoy the moment and reflect on what was a wonderful day in County Waterford’s sporting, social and cultural calendar.