It was a wheelie big fun weekend in Charleville

LAST weekend was a busy one for Charleville as the town hosted the autumn run of the Cortina Enthusiasts of Ireland and the annual two day cycle races organised by the local Charleville Wheelers Cycling Club.

Both events attracted large attendances with the 35 beautiful old Cortina cars adorning the car park of the Charleville Park Hotel.

The owners were loud in their praise of the local organising committee of the weekend led by Dominick Treacy and Mike Donegan, who laid on a top class programme. This included a tour to the Foynes Flying Boat Museum in the Co. Limerick harbour town and afterwards to beautiful Adare Village, before returning to Charleville on what was one of the finest afternoons of the year so far.

The enthusiasts who came from all over Ireland were loud in their praise for the management and staff of the Charleville Park Hotel, who laid on an excellent welcome with superb accommodation and catering for the group. Group spokesman Pat Lacy indicated that they will be back again to Charleville.

The town’s annual two-day cycling event organised by Charleville Wheelers Cycling Club was also an outstanding success with 247 cyclists taking part in the various classes and time trials. The event was sponsored by Charleville Park Hotel, which was also the race headquarters.

Chief organiser Brian Jordan was delighted with the success of the event, which was the 15th such race held in the town. Both he and his small committee are eagerly looking forward to planning for the next year’s race, which they hope will surpass last weekend’s event in both numbers taking part and in the quality of the occasion.

Local Cllr. Ian Doyle, who was also one of the stewards of the event, was also on hand along with Cyril McMahon of the Charleville Park Hotel to assist with the presentation of prizes to the winners of the various stages at the conclusion of the race on Sunday evening.

The overall winner of the main race was Pierce Boland from Tralee, Co. Kerry, who was riding unattached. Pierce also won stages two and three of the race, while the team event was won by the Deronde team from Cork City.

The organising committee consists of Brian, Keith, Ian and Adrian Jordan and Ms Corine Janman.

John Field from Kilbrin with his Cortina at the gathering at the Charleville Park Hotel.

Cyril McMahon of the Charleville Park Hotel with Pierce Bolant, Tralee overall winner of the two day Charleville Cycle Race, Keith Jordan and Cllr. Ian Doyle, at the prize giving at the conclusion of the race on Sunday.

Right: Paschal and Eileen Fenton with their Mark 3 Cortina pictured at the Cortina Enthusiasts gathering at the Charleville Park Hotel.