FBD Insurance  Rás Tailteann 2005

22nd. May - 29th. May

Route

Stage 1:  Dublin To Emyvale, 136 Kms,
Dublin Swords By-Pass, Balbriggan, Drogheda, Tully Esker Category 3 KOM, Dunleer, Carrickmacross, Castleblaney, Ardee, Clontibret, Tyholland, Emyvale.


Stage 2:  Emyvale To Tubbercurry, 165 Kms.
Emyvale, Corraghduff Category 3 KOM, Tydavent, Scotstown, Smithborough, Clones, Belturbet, Ballyconnell, Bawnboy, Bellavalley Gap Category 3 KOM, Glangevlin, Drumkeera, Dromahair, Ballintogher, Ballinacarrow, Tubbercurry.


Stage 3:  Tubbercurry To Lisdoonvarna, 156 Kms.
Tubbercurry, Charlestown, Lurga Category 3 KOM, Kilkelly, Ballindine, Milltown, Tuam, Claregalway, Clarinbridge, Kilcolgan, Kinvara, Ballyvaughan, Corkscrew Hill Category 2 KOM, Lisdoonvarna.


Stage 4:  Lisdoonvarna  To Templemore, 162 Kms.
Lisdoonvarna, Kilshanny, Inagh, Kilnamona, Ennis, Cross of Spancihill, Broadford, Formoyle Category 3 KOM, Ballybrack Category 3 KOM,  Clonlara Bridge, O’Briensbridge, Montpelier, Birdhill, Newport, Lackamore Category 3 KOM, Curreeney Cross Category 3 KOM, Templederry, Borrisleigh, Templemore.

Stage 5:  Templemore To Abbeyleix, 144 Kms.

Templemore, Templetouhy, Johnston, Urlingford, The Crag Category 1 KOM, Grangehill Category 3 KOM, The Commons, Ballingarry, Ballymac, Cuffesgrange, Kilkenny By-Pass, Paulstown, Old Leighlin, The Butt Category 1 KOM, Coan, Uskerty Hill Category 2 KOM, Castlecomer, Glenmagoo Category 2 KOM, Ballyraggett, Attanagh, Abbeyleix.

Stage 6:  Abbeyleix To  Rathdrum, 160 Kms.

Abbeyleix, The Swan, Newtown, Killeshin, Carlow, Ballon, Bunclody, N80/N11, Ferns, Camolin, Gorey, Inch, Arklow By-Pass, Rathnew, Glenealy, Rathdrum.

Stage 7:  Rathdrum To Wicklow Town 138 Kms.

Rathdrum, Ballygannon Hill Category 3 KOM, Glenmalure, Slieveman Category 1 KOM, Aughavannagh, Barnameelia Category 3 KOM, Rathangan, Kiltegan, Baltinglass,  Poulaphouca, Valleymount, Ballyknockan, Lacken Category 3 KOM, Oldcourt, Ballyward Category 2 KOM, Ballysmutton Bridge, Sally Gap Category 1 KOM, Lugalla Category 1 KOM, Sraghmore, Roundwood, Wicklow.

Stage 8:  Dublin Phoenix Park Circuit, 50 Kms

Race Director:         Dermot Dignam

Roger Aiken Louth Safe Cycling Wins Stage 1 In The FBD Insurance Rás Into Emyvale

Chris Newton ReCycling.co.uk Outsprints Malcolm Elliott Yorkshire Trinity Capitol To Take Stage 2 Into Tubbercurry Co. Sligo

Chris Newton ReCycling .co.uk Takes His Second Stage Win Into Lisdoonvarna Co. Clare

Malcolm Elliott Yorkshire Trinity Capitol Winning Stage 4 Into Templemore Co. Tipperary

Morten Christiansen Sparbanken Vest Norway Wins Stage 5 Into Abbeyleix

Chris Newton ReCycling.co.uk Wins His Third Stage Into Rathdrum Co. Wicklow

Morten Hegerberg Wins Stage 7 Of The FBD Insurance Rás Into Wicklow Town

Bill Moore Meath Martin Donnelly Wins The Biggest Race Of His Life The Final Stage Of The FBD Insurance Rás In The Phoenix Park

Roger Alkin Louth Winner Of Stage 1

Stage 1:  Dublin To Emyvale, 136 Kms,   R. Aiken (Louth)   2-53-19

Stage 2:  Emyvale To Tubbercurry, 165 Kms.  C. Newton (ReCycling)  4-11-11

Stage 3:  Tubbercurry To Lisdoonvarna, 156 Kms.   C. Newton (ReCycling)   3.29.25

Stage 4:  Lisdoonvarna  To Templemore, 162 Kms.  M. Elliott (Yorkshire)   4-02-58

Stage 5:  Templemore To Abbeyleix, 144 Kms.  M. Christiansen (Norway)  3-23-13

Stage 6:  Abbeyleix To  Rathdrum, 160 Kms.  C. Newton (ReCycling)  4-01-09 

Stage 7:  Rathdrum To Wicklow Town 138 Kms.  M. Hegerberg (Norway) 3-29-36 

Stage 8:  Dublin Phoenix Park Circuit, 50 Kms   B. Moore (Meath)  1-01-14

 

Bill Moore, Meath Martin Donnelly Winner Of The Final Stage In The Phoenix Park

General Classification

Stuard Gillespie U.S. TIAA CREF

Malcolm Elliott, Yorkshire Trinity Capital

Mark Lovatt ,Trinity Capital

Tim Barry Tipperary Dan Morrissey First Irish Rider In 6th Place

International Team Winners

International Team Frankie Campbell (Manager) John Tanner, Mark Lovatt, Malcom Elliott, Kevin Dawson, Tommy Evans

Tipperary Dan Morrissey T. Barry, R. Wyley, J.O'Shea, B. Truman, J. Dempsey & Manager Paul Lonergan

 

List Of Competitors 2005 

Ireland 1    John Dempsey 2.   Stephen Gallagher 3.   Paudie O'Brien  4.   Conor Murphy  5.   Brian Keane  Canada Team Jet Fuel Coffee 6.   Zach Bell  7.   Kevin Miller 8.   Mark Pozniak    9.   Andrew Randell    10.  Stig Somme   Czech Republic Team Elmarco KK Cub 11.  Rostislav Kortky 12.  Jan Novak 13.  Jiri Korbel 14.  Onderj Pavelka 15.  Michael Stastny Estonia Team Kalve Chocolate 16.   Sigvard Kukk 17.   Andri Lebedev 18.   Marko Poldma  D.N.S. 19.   Andrei Mustonen 20.   Mart Ojavee England Team Fujibikes 21.   Gareth Jones 22.   Greg Roche  23.   Anthony Malarczyk 24.   Kristan House 25.   Stephan Wolfer Germany Team Stevens von Hacht 26.   Thorsten Wiedenroth 27.   Arne Hinrichsen 28.   Snoke Thiel 29.   Jens Schwedler 30.   Malte Urban Norway Team Sparebanken Vest 31.  Are Andersen 32.  Morten Christiansen 33.  Morten Hegerberg 34.  Gabriel Rasch 35.  Stian Remme Netherlands Team B & E Cycling 36.   Tino Haakman 37.   Richard Kooijman 38.   Menno de Boer 39.   Hugo Kettman 40.  Peter Vermeulen Scotland 41.   Duncan Urquart 42.   Evan Oliphant 43.   Gary Hand 44.   Alex Coutts 45.   David Smith Scotland West 46.   James Cusick 47.   Stuart McGregor 48.   Paul Coats 49.   Chris Smart 50.   Marcus Smith Wales Stena Line 51.  Julian Winn 52.  Jamie Norfolk 53.  Robert Partridge 54.  Paul Sheppard 55.  Yanto Barker US Team Guinness 56.   Donald Reeb 57.   David Kilpper 58.   Todd Duncan 59.   Mark King 60.   J.Skiles Keith US Team Boston Scientific 61.   Conor Hurley 62.   Peter Sleight 63.   Mike Barton 64.   Alan Potter 65.   Justin Lillie US Team TIAA-CREF 66.   Stuart Gillespie 67.   Ian MacGregor 68.   Sheldon Deeny 69.   David Robinson 70.   Nathan Mitchell US Maguire Cycles 71.   Dan O'Sullivan 72.   Emmett Hogan 73.   Max Spirin 74.   Aaron Beardsley 75.   Fred Stamm US Ventilux First Mortgage 76.   Kenny Williams 77.   Michael Walsh 78.   Kacey Charmberlin 79.   Nobby O'Reilly 80.   Jason Bethal US Tradewind Sports 81.   Chris Harnish 82.   Jeremy Burton 83.   Jeff Craddock 84.   Conor Coffey 85.   Thad LaVallee GB Recycling.co.uk/MG XPOWER/Litespeed 86.   Chris Newton 87.   Paul Manning 88.   Rob Sharman 89.   Shaun Snodden 90.   Ben Greenwood Yorkshire-Trinity Capital 91.   John Tanner 92.   Kevin Dawson 93.   Mark Lovatt 94.   Tommy Evans 95.   Malcolm Elliott NE England 96.   John Charlesworth 97.   David Buchan 98.   Ronnie Batey 99.   Steve Kenny 100.  Chris Daddy

Surrey Racing League 101.  Roger Morgan    102.  Chris McNamara    103.  Timothy Dunford     104.  Simon Saunders  105.  Gary Dodd East England Angliasport 106.  Richard Eastham 107.  Chris Belsham   108.  Richard Cartland    109.  Simon McNamara 110.  Peter Hey Cork Kanturk 111.  Daniel Lynch 112.  Denis Lynch 113.  Martyn Irvine 114.  Eoin Concannon 115.  Michael Fitzgerald Cork Nucleus 116.  John Horgan 117.  Michael Hennessy 118.  Simon Kelly 119.  Padraig Marrey 120.  AnthonyO'Brien Dublin Whs. All Systems 121.  Ken Norgrove 122.  Ciaran Farrell 123.  Fergus O'Connor 124.  Brian Taaffe 125.  David Peelo Dublin IRC Moy Isover 126. John-Paul Lyons 127. Stephen Enright 128. Dave O'Reilly 129. Michael Elliott 130. Karl Elliott Dublin Usher Insulations 131.  Paul Healion 132.  Philip Finnegan 133.  Brian Stewart 134.  Michael Mulcahy 135.  Ryan Connor Dublin Murphy & Gunn 136.  Eddie O'Donoghue 137.  John Wall 138.  Adrian Hedderman 139.  Morgan Fox 140.  Frank O'Connor Dublin Dundrum S/C. 141.  Mark McLeavey 142.  Scott McDonald 143.  Francis Ennis 144.  David McLoughlin 145.  John Sower Dublin Exel Ravens 146.  Jonathan Gormley 147.  Ian Paine 148.  Tom Hemmant 149.  John Dillon 150.  Kieran Keane Kerry 151.  John O'Brien 152.  Michael Horgan 153.  Tony Devane 154.  Thomas Lavey 155.  Eldon Looney Kildare Murphy Surveys Woodlands Kitchen 156.  Colm Bracken 157.  Ciaran Steed 158.  Michael Steed 159.  Barry Donnelly 160.  William Byrne Kildare Ena Loakman Remax 161.  Daire O'Sullivan 162.  Richard Malone 163.  Dave Early 164.  Cormac O'Shea 165.  Tom Green Louth Safe Cycling 166.  Roger Aiken 167.  Karl Dolan 168.  Myles McCrory 169.  Sean McGreevy 170.  Eoin Whelan Meath cycleways.com 171.  Philip Cassidy 172.  Mark Cassidy 173.  Adrian Crowley 174.  Stephen O'Sullivan 175.  Eugene Morairty Meath M J Donnelly 176.  Craig Sweetman 177.  Simon Mulvany 178.  Robert Moore 179.  Bill Moore 180.  Sean Lacey Tipperary Dan Morrissey 181.  Tim Barry 182.  Rory Wyley 183.  John O'Shea 184.  Brian Truman 185.  Vincent Gleeson Tipperary Worldwide Cycles 186.  Barry Meehan 187.  John Mason 188.  Keith Griffin 189.  Andy Roche 190.  A.N.Other Wicklow North 191.  John Paul Lynch 192.  Adam Kelly 193.  Niall Jenkins 194.  Michael O'Donnell 195.  Frank O'Leary  Wicklow South 196.  Eamonn Pendergast 197.  Gerard Ivory 198.  Paddy Kelly 199.  Derek Cunningham 200.  Cain Crowley

What Happened When Bill's Friends Got Him

Paul Manning ReCycling.co.uk

Brian Keane, Ireland

Ian MacGregor U.S.A. Team TIAA Sean Lacey Meath M.J. Donnelly

Chris Newton In Action On A Mountains Stage

The Boston Scientific Team

From Mending punctures in jig time to now sourcing accommodation for an entourage of over 500 right around the country, it's little wonder that the name of Ballon man Edward Dawson has become synonymous with Ireland's unique cycling event, The Rás.

Edward from Maple Lawn, Ballon has been involved in the International Cycle Race for the past 36 years, beginning first as a participant to now becoming one of the event's main organisers.

The FBD Insurance Rás, which this week is passing through towns and villages throughout the country, is now regarded as the biggest international amateur event in Europe attracting teams from all over the world.

The event has therefore developed into a mammoth task of organisation with accommodation to be sourced in all the race stops, route maps to be finalised and the teams to be adequately catered for throughout the event.

It's Edward's who takes on the enormous task of accommodation and the logistical nightmare of making sure an entourage of over 500, including over 200 riders, have a place to rest their weary bones after a day's cycling.

This week, therefore, Edwards is up to his eyes in the event which began last Sunday and continues until Sunday 29, taking in hundreds of kilometers and eight sages ziz-zagging across the country.

In this area, the race will be passing through Carlow, Ballon and Bunclody on Friday while on Saturday, Baltinglass will be among the local towns visited. The nearest stage end is Abbeyleix on Thursday evening.

" It starts in October/November when I go around visiting various locations. But after all these years, you kind of know all the places" admits Edward, with the calmness of a man with tons of experience.

"We'd have about 500 they arrive gradually from Wednesday to Sunday before the race so I organise accommodation for them then as well," he adds.

Edward began his involvement with The Rás in 1969 when he participated in the race and the following year was a manager for famed Carlow cyclist and former winner of The Rás Mike O'Donoghue.

After that, for three years he worked with the French team and then moved into the area of helping in the organisation of the event.

Now it's Edward and Race Director Dermot Dignam who are the driving forces behind the event.

Edward's involvement in the Rás in on a purely voluntary basis. In fact, such is his enthusiasm and loyalty to the race that each year, two weeks of his holidays are given up to the event.

"I enjoy it. sure it's part of my life now...I'm hardly going to give it up after 36 years," laughs Edward.

This year, six professional teams will take part in the race, which will take in eight locations for overnight stops.

The route itself takes the cyclist through a host of towns and villages all over Ireland where once again the support from the public is sure to be a huge encouragement.

"It's brilliant in the towns and when we pass the schools and the children come out to wave and cheer-there isn't one school that won't be out...it's great," enthused Edward.

However, despite the meticulous planning that goes in every year, over its history The Rás hasn't gone without its near disasters, one of which is still very clearly in Edwards memory.

On one occasion, just 10 minutes before passing through the town of Navan, word came through to the race director that the road was completely blocked up due to a funeral in the town. Panic quite obviously ensued as a serous accident could have happened were it not for Edward's quick action.

"I just happened to know the area and brought the race down another route and managed to get around the town. Thankfully everything worked out well and the break away group stayed away," he explained

Edward is adamant that the Rás simply won't survive without the generous support of its sponsors including Flynn's Garage, Tullow and FBD Insurance, the events key sponsor.

"The support of the gardai is also vital adds Edward."

"There's about 16 off duty gardai who give up their holiday time to help out as well as the gardai in every part of the country who man every single junction we pass through" Edward explains.

Of course, as a proud Ballon man, one of Edward's dreams was to see the Rás stop in his home village. Sadly this didn't work out when the chance arouse a couple of years ago.

"Unfortunately the County Council erected bollards and roundabouts in Ballon so we weren't able to bring the race through the village. We had to move into Tullow instead which, of course, was a disappointment to me" Edward adds.

Quiet clearly Edward has no plans to put his Rás days behind him despite 36 years of involvement which he jokes would get you a sizeable pension anywhere else." No I've no plans to stop...as long as it keeps going...I'll keep going," he smiles.

Photographs © Copyright www.rástailteann.com