At the closing date for nominations for ICF Board positions to be filled at the annual general meeting in Malahide on Saturday, November 20th, Dermot Dignam was not among those submitted to take over as president from Pat McQuaid.

After two terms of two years McQuaid must stand down and although Dignam received requests from several clubs to accept their nominations he said: "I appreciate the gestures from all those who asked me to go forward but I have decided against it. I will be concentrating all my efforts on organising the Ras again next year."

The nine-day FBD Milk Ras will be from May 20th to 28th and Dignam will soon be releasing details of the route.

Dignam was defeated by McQuaid in the presidential election at the 1995 a.g.m. and last year he resigned from the ICF Board as chairman of the development committee.

Other positions to be filled are those in charge of coaching, development, leisure and mountain bike racing. Eamon Lawlor of Drogheda, who was on the FIC Board in 1997 but resigned after a short spell, has been nominated for all the vacancies.

Lawlor is listed with Mick Lawless and Paddy O'Callaghan for president and he is in against Paddy Doran for the coaching position.

There has been a vacancy as chairman of the sporting committee since the resignation of Pat Clarke and if Lawlor was drafted in it would clear the way for the other positions.