In Pictures: The Round the Houses Cycle in Ballysahnnon a great success

There was another very successful edition of the ‘Round The Houses’ cycling race, hosted by Mc Intyre’s Bar and Donegal Bay Cycling Club, on Thursday night.

The conditions were wet and windy. Many competitors remarked it was the toughest conditions they have endured at this event. Regardless, there was a good turnout of 34 riders taking to the start line. The race was handicapped into 4 groups. After the first group of Terry McIntyre riding solo, a group of 16 riders started 3 minutes behind. A further 3 minutes back, the category 3 and category 2 riders started. Another strong group of 15 riders. A further two minutes behind, we had the scratch group at the back. The category 1 group, which had only two riders. Darragh McCarter of Spellman-Dublin Port and Conor Dooney of Foyle Cycling Club. These lads had a tough task on their hands, the pair starting eight minutes behind the first rider.

The course consists of 8 laps of a 4.5km circuit. After the first lap, the second group on the road had caught Terry McIntyre. This was a strong group riding well together. They covered the lap in 6 ½ minutes. The groups behind had a tough job to close the gaps. The next group on the road managed to shave off 30 seconds off that 3 minute handicap. A different story for the scratch group. They made no dent into that 2 minute gap to the group in front of them. These lads had to work much harder to have any chance in the race. The two large groups in front were working well together with plenty of strength in numbers. However, Daragh Mc Carter, a previous winner of this race on numerous occasions, knew what it takes to win this race. The two lads kept the head down and powered on.

As the laps continued, there remained two large groups in front with the pair at the back chasing hard. The pace was relentless with groups averaging close to 40km/hr. It was too much for some with a few abandoning the race. Aonghus Murphy, Donegal Bay Cycling Club, was having a good race, keeping his nose towards the front on each lap. A strong contingent of Four Masters Cycling Club riders were keeping the pace high. Kieran O’Donnell, Michael Donaghey and Gerard Baxter putting the pressure on the front group. Also riding very strongly in this group was Gearoid Touhy of Castlebar Cycling Club. A great performance for an U16 rider.

Behind in the next group it was Lakeland Cycling Club to the fore with Conor Sprice and his teammates slowly closing the gap to the group in front. Mel Mc Shane of the Sligo Cycling Team clearly had good legs and was riding well towards the front. Another exceptional U16 rider in this group, James Mackey of Foyle Cycling Club was clearly in good form.

The scratch group were riding well together. Totally focused on the task at hand, they kept the toe on the pedal and never eased. They struggled to take any time off for the first few laps. But their relentless pursuit was paying dividends. On the fifth lap, the front of the race had slowed down to a 7 ½ minute lap. The scratch covered the lap in 5 ½ minutes! By this stage the second group on the road had caught the front. Darragh Mc Carter and Conor Dooney were on a mission and kept working together. At the start of the 7th lap they had reduced the gap to 20 seconds. They had the front of the race in their sights. An exceptional performance, closing the 8 minute gap with a lap and a half to spare. The front group was well splintered at this stage with riders dropping off and having to continue solo to the finish.

With 1 lap to go, the race was on. The strongest were to the fore now. James Mackey fancied his chances and made a strong attack on the Main street climb as the bell sounded for the final lap. His teammate, Conor Dooney, close behind. Darragh Mc Carter responded and kept close. Mel Mc Shane was also able to respond. The group behind lined out as each rider struggled to match the pace set by Mackey. Anyone with good legs hung on for dear life. By the time they made it to the Belleek roundabout, it was Conor Sprice, Lakeland Cycling Club and Peter Mc Gee of Tirconaill GAP Cycling Club, at the front of the race. Onto the Belleek road and Conor Dooney made a stinging attack. Mel Mc Shane closely followed.

A solo rider approached the Bridge for the final time. It was a Foyle CC jersey. They made their way up the climb one last time. It was Conor Dooney with a comfortable lead. No sign of any other riders behind. Conor Dooney crosses the line, the winner of the 2024 Round The Houses. An exceptional performance from a really strong rider. 20 seconds behind him, Mel Mc Shane comes across the line solo. A great performance from the Sligo man. He rode across the line so comfortably that it was assumed he was lapped and incorrectly announced as so. A further 10 seconds back, it was a large group coming to the line. Darragh Mc Carter, the home favourite, was sprinting hard. The crowds were roaring for Darragh. James Mackey was putting pressure on him. It was between the two of them. Darragh just about edged it by a wheel length and took third spot. A great competitor who always gives it everything and supports this race every year. James Mackey in 4th and 1st Junior rider. What a performance from this young lad.

The sprint for the minor placings were hard fought as each rider gave it everything to the line. Lakeland Cycling Club rode well as a team with Conor Sprice 5th and Seamus Mc Govern 6th. Micheal Donaghy of Four Masters Cycling Club took 7th spot. Another Lakeland member, Niall Murphy came in 8th. Conor Mc Gowan, Yeats Country Cycling Club, rode a great race and finished 9th. Four Masters rounded out the top 10 with a good result from Gerard Baxter.

Further down the field, it was all about finishing and getting over the line. The crowd lining the streets were amazing and cheered everyone up the hill. But Terry Mc Intyre was by far the most popular man in the race. He remarked afterwards that most people shouting his name “Have no idea who Terry is!” He is a local legend of this race. 77 years of age and he has raced every edition since 2013. Well done to all the riders that completed the 2024 Round The Houses. It is a tough, demanding circuit with nowhere to hide.

Sincere thanks to all the marshals, caterers, moto marshal, lead car, photographers and the Gardaí. Thanks for the support from our own club members, MSC Triathlon Club, Ballyshannon Regeneration Group, The Lakeside Centre and the local community. Without such great support, this event simply could not happen. Thanks to Terry, Betty and Ronan of Mc Intyre’s Bar for hosting the prizegiving and providing a great spread of tea and refreshments afterwards. It was well earned for marshals and competitors! A great crowd gathered there after the race. It has become a tradition, many come just for the afters. It is always a good time to catch up and talk ‘war stories’ of the race.

Thanks again everyone. See you all next year.

Results

1st Conor Dooney, Foyle CC

2nd Mel Mc Shane, Sligo Cycling Team

3rd Darragh Mc Carter, Spellman Dublin Port

4th James Mackey, Foyle CC

5th Conor Sprice, Lakeland CC

6th Seamus Mc Govern, Lakeland CC

7th Michael Donaghy, Four Masters CC

8th Niall Murphy, Lakeland CC

9th Conor Mc Gowan, Yeats Country CC

10th Gerard Baxter, Four Masters CC
Conor Dooney celebrates Ballyshannon win