Huge crowds for Sport Ireland Yeats Tour of Sligo
THE biggest cycling event on the Northwest calendar took place at the weekend and it was another brilliant success. The Sport Ireland Yeats Tour of Sligo saw close to 2,000 cyclists take to the roads on Saturday and Sunday. People came from all over Ireland and further afield for the main event on Sunday, which included three routes. Deirdre Lavin of the Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership said the weekend was another success.
“This is the ninth year of the cycle and it proved to be an outstanding success with close to 1900 cyclists from the 32 counties on their bikes over the two day event. The cycling weekend started with the Family Fun Day with children, parents and those new to the sport of cycling taking part. Special guests at the event were Rio Paralympians Eve Mc Crystal and Declan Slevin. The highlight of the family day was the 10 Hazelwood Spin while the younger children cycled the 2K Bike Trail. Participants enjoyed a festival of entertainment including skills and drills.” Then it was onto Sunday and cyclists took off from IT Sligo for the main event with strong winds.
Deirdre said: “The weather conditions didn’t deter the cyclists who had travelled from all over Ireland and the Ox Mountain Challenge got under way at 9am followed by the 100K Innisfree Tour at 10am. The more leisurely cycle involving the 60K Lough Gill Circuit departed at 10.30am with many new comers to the sport taking part.”
Deirdre said those taking part praised the event, which is now in its ninth year. “Feedback from the participants was very positive with everybody enjoying a great weekend of cycling and while there were many tired bodies crossing the finishing line the overall feeling was one of a great sense of achieve- ment. A large number of volunteers supported the hosting of the event and local charity Samaritans Sligo benefited from funds raised in conjunction with the cycle,” she added.
The event was co- ordinated by Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership and supported by a huge investment of time from the organising committee which included representatives from Sligo County Council, Mayo Sligo Leitrim ETB, and local cycling clubs Innisfree Wheelers and Eire Og.
“This was supported by local agencies, many community groups, volunteers, sponsors and media partner Sligo Champion, all of who contributed to a great event,” Deirdre added.