After months of planning and hard training, the brave participants in Inver Colpa Rowing Club’s fundraising Coast to Coast Cycle are all set for the off on Saturday week, August 19.
Over the last number of months club members have swapped their oars for pedals and wheels and have been hitting the highroads and byroads around Drogheda and the North-East on group training sessions on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and at the weekends.
The cycle is the start of a major fundraising drive for the club towards their new boathouse for which they have recently received planning permission.
Altogether 33 cyclists will take on one of 2 routes from either Galway to Drogheda (224kms) or Athlone to Drogheda (134kms), cycling over 6,000kms between them to make it back safely home that evening.
Leaving at 6am from Galway and 8am from Athlone, the event is an official Cycling Ireland leisure event and the cyclists will be accompanied by many marshals along the route to make sure everyone gets across the country safe and sound.
Club PRO, Sarah McCann, who will be cycling on the day herself, says she is really looking forward to the event.
“The amount of training that the cyclists taking part in the event have put in over the last few months is amazing!” she said.
“We have a really dedicated gang on board who have not only spent hours in the saddle in training, but have also raised at least €500 sponsorship each to go towards our new boathouse and we really appreciate all the effort they have put in for the club.
“We also need to say a big thank you to our cycle sponsors Leinster Farm Machines, WaterWipes, White River Group, Compressed Air Centre, MCC Label, Secure Accommodation Management and High Maintenance Property Management, along with Murrays Coaches for helping with transport and M&A Printers for helping with printing.
“The White River Wheelers cycling club in Dunleer have been a huge help in organising the event, along with the St John Ambulance Crew who are providing first aid on the day.
“A huge note of thanks goes as always to the Boyne Fishermen for helping out with first aid and providing the finishing space, which will be a welcome sight to all our cyclists after hours in the saddle, along with Grennan’s bar for the afters.
“Many thanks also to An Garda Siochana for their assistance with the event. Finally, we have to say a huge thanks to all of our marshals and helpers who will not only be helping out on the day but who have also been a huge help in preparing for the event.”
The cyclists hope to arrive home into Drogheda between 5-6pm on Saturday evening, crossing the finish line at the Boyne Fisherman’s on the Marsh Road.
