FOR the last two years the Sean Kelly Classic was a highly successful pre-Christmas promotion by Frank Quinn in Carrick-on-Suir, but he is not continuing his involvement this year and it reverts to its original hamper race status on December 15th.
Dan Grant, of Carrick Wheelers, said they were organising the event, new in its 25th year, on similar lines to the classic, but the family spin will be scaled down to 22 miles and then the racing men will step up the tempo for six laps of the tight, one-mile circuit in the town. Kelly, who still gets out regularly on his bike, will again head the line-up.
When Quinn and his team of organisers launched the classic in 1994 as a celebration promotion for Kelly on his retirement, the entry exceeded expectations as almost 1,200 signed on. Last year there were over 800, but Quinn has decided to give it a break, although, he said, "We may try again next year with a different format."
At a meeting in Carrick on Monday night, the local club decided to continue the successful family outing aspect and finish it off with the hectic racing around the circuit over the two bridges in the town. For the last two years some of the big names in cycling took part in Carrick, but although Grant hopes that Stephen Roche, Martin Early, Declan Lonergan and the top locals will join Kelly again this time they are not sending out invitations to other world champions and tour winners.
The Bray Wheelers novelty time trial, which has also been going since 1972, is listed for December 15th, so a switch to the following Sunday would obviously be beneficial.
The cyclo-cross event arranged for Rostrevor on Sunday has been cancelled because of insurance problems, and Robin Seymour, who will be attempting to win the championship for the sixth time in a row at Ballymoney on December 7th, is going to take part in a race at Wolverhampton instead.
Seymour has been a regular on the mountain bike scene in recent years in Britain, but he has note gone for many cyclo-cross outings. However, when he learned of the cancellation of the Rostrevor promotion he entered for the race at Wolverhampton.
. Dan Costello was elected president of the veterans association at their annual general meeting, with Donal O'Connell secretary. Henry Whelan is treasurer. The other lVCA officers are: assistant secretary, Dick O'Brien; road racing secretary, Liam Keenan; time trials, Terry Kernan; touring, Eddie Blair; PRO, Ray Kennedy. The annual dinner and prize presentation will be on December 1st at Springfield Hotel, Leixlip.
