We started 2020 on a high with in excess of 25 members taking part in a club spin from The Willow Grove, shortly afterwards the year evolved into one of adaptation and innovation which no one could have foreseen. I am glad to say that the club showed the resourcefulness and initiative to rise to these challenges.
On emerging from the initial lockdown new start points and staggered meeting times were required to comply with the new Cycling Ireland guidelines. Thankfully we were able to remain active at a time, when being in The Great Outdoors was more relevant than ever. We even managed to add some novel ventures to our activity list during the summer months such as: evening offroad spins, moving start points to deeper Wicklow and an on road/off road solstice spin. None of this would have been possible without the willingness and commitment of our tour leaders and committee. I would like to thank all those who put their shoulder to the wheel to keep the show on the road. Thanks also to Dave Ronan who is stepping down as Social Secretary.
An abridged Club League was a welcome bonus given conditions at the time. It is hard to see how this would have taken place without the assistance of several people who turned up week in week out to marshall while not being actual participants in the League. Take a bow: Stephen Healy, Aine Mac Carthy, Mim Wildes, Rory Hogarty and Paul Murray. Congratulations to all our champions and especially Alan McNamee who won The League, after an absence measurable in decades not seasons. It was great to see some of our new members take part in the League and we hope that this positive trend will continue.
In such a strange year it was rewarding to have several new members join the club and I would like to extend a welcome to Cearbhall, Natalia, Aine G, Denis and Chris. Hopefully we will be seeing more of you all when normal services resume.
To round out all the thanks, it is important to recognise the work of Aidan Ryan who stepped forward during the year to add Covid Officer to his long C.V. When circumstances were looking bleak , Aidan forfeited his chances of taking part in the Club League to ensure that it went ahead. No doubt George will reward you well next year. Great initiative by Alan and Danny in setting up a Zwift group during the winter months, well done chaps. Initiative is what all clubs thrive upon, we are always open to new ideas and hopefully we will have the chance to run out some of these in 2021 when we will have the pleasure of doing it all over again.
Wash your hands,
Paul O’Donoghue.
Chairperson
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