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Part 2 - Donal O'Connell looks back on his career in cycling |
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Donal, when did you begin your career on two wheels?
I raced from 1948 to 1956, and subsequently with the I.V.C.A. over a ten year period up to 1988. What particular highlights of your career would you recall? 1952 was a good year in which I represented Ireland at the World Championships in Luxembourg, finishing in the main group. I was also a member of the Irish team which raced in the three lap International in the Isle of Man the same year. In the race, myself Bob Maitland and two French riders made a break at Craig Wylie, Sulby Glen, on the last lap. A group of twelve other riders managed to bridge the gap at the Goose Neck and I finished 9th. The race was won by one of the two Frenchmen.
That year in the Isle of Man, Shay Elliott won the 1 lap Mannin Veg,
while Noel Tully won the two lap Viking Trophy. Both Shay and Noel
were clubmates of mine at Dublin Wheelers. Those were hectic tim In 1952 I also won an Olympic trial race and as a result would probably have been an Olympian. Sadly, no team was sent due to difficulties with the U.C.I In that period teams were only sent to the World Championships and the I.O.M. and I was privileged to represent Ireland at both. 1953 was another successful year in which I won the C.R.E. National Road Race Championships, fending off the challenge of Shay Elliott who was second, and Jim McQuaid who finished third. In a race that was nominally 200kms, the circuit took us from Dublin, through Mullingar, Kilbeggan, Tullamore, Edenderry, Enfield, and the Strawberry Beds before finishing back at the Phoenix park. Kit O`Rourke finished 5th in that race. Our time for the race was 5.33.05. During my racing career I liked to compete for Place to Place records. I held a number of these records including Dublin - Kilkenny - Dublin (6h.53m); Dublin - Derry (7h.09m) and Dublin-Wexford (3h.58m) Time trialling was also a major feature, with the norm being a time trial every second Sunday. I rode one or two 12 hour T.T's. and two or three 100 ml. T.T's. every year. In one 12 hour TT I rode 240 miles 125 perches. That 12 hours was I.C.F championship. I was 3rd. but it was won by Kit O`Rourke with 242mls 225 perches. I rode that 12 hour only 10 days before I competed in the World`s Championship, I was silly but the team manager was even worse. Time wise, I rode one hundred mile time trial in 4.33.12.
Gargan Wins Twelve hour Time Trial - Irish Independent August 1953 - |
And any low points? One of the saddest moments in my cycling career was in the Tostal stage race, coming down to Glengariff a horse took fright and ploughed into us. The shaft of the cart killed Denis Wheatly, an English rider. He was only 2 riders behind me, while I was knocked into a ditch by the big wheel of the cart. We all have our close shaves in racing, but I was very lucky that day to have survived. You have had a tremendous involvement in the sport off the bike as well as on . . . Yes, indeed. I was Road Race Secretary of the Irish Cycling Federation in 1972,`73 and`74 and Time Trial Secretary of the I.C.F. in 1977. I participated in the Irish Cycling Tripartite committee which was formed of I.C.F., N.I.C.F and N.C.A. officials to control cycling prior to establishment of the F.I.C. I was subsequently chairman of the F.I.C. disciplinary committee and also secretary of the F.I.C.sporting committee for 2 years. I was involved in the judging of and timekeeping of some of Ireland's major international races at that time including the Tour of Ireland, the Ras Tailteann and the Nissan Classic, and was on the organising committee of the Tour of Ireland from 1968 to 1980. I was also an I.C.F. delegate on the Olympic Council of Ireland. My involvement this aspect of the sport has also had in international dimension, taking me to the U.C.I. congress in Montreal in 1974. I am a qualified Masseur, with diploma from the Swedish School of Physical Culture taken in 1979. In this capacity I accompanied Irish teams to many international events on the continent, to Japan (five times) and to Malaysia. Back at home, I worked with the Falcon professional team on the Nissan International Classic for 2 years. In your previous article Donal, you shared the early history of the IVCA with us. Have you any further thoughts on this subject? As my previous article indicates, I was a founder member of the I.V.C.A. However, my indepth input to the organization could not begin until I was less involved with the F.I.C. I became General Secretary of the Vets in 1989 and held that position continuously right up to my recent retirement. With the foundations that have been laid I can see very good prospects for the I.V.C.A.continuing to expand. In the last few months alone I have received a lot of new enquires about membership. I would hope we can improve the social side of the association more and I would really like to see us replicate the growth we have experienced in our racing activities within the touring/leisure side. As to the time taken up in the role of General Secretary, you would want to ask my wife Lily. However, my own estimate would be and average of four hours a day, seven days a week. And finally Donal, what are your plans for the future?
Outside of the IVCA, I plan to resume my involvement in bridge, something which I have effectively suspended for the past three years. I also plan to travel more, and I don't mean to Batterstown, Black Bull and Brittas!
Thanks to Donal for the articles and to Ned Costello for his help in getting it on to the web.
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I
was a relatively late starter to the sport of cycling, only joining
the Dublin Wheelers C.C. in 1948 at 20 years of age. I have been a
member ever since and am now a life member. I served on their
committee from the beginning, for approximately 30 years in various
positions. I met my wife Lily in the club which may explain how she
has put up with me and "the Vets" all this time.
es,
racing in the Isle of Man during the week and rushing back to
the Phoenix park on a Sunday to win the Hercules Cup race. That
victory has special memories for me as the Lord Mayor of Dublin,
Andrew Clarkin, presented the Cup in front of a huge crowd, something
we, unfortunately, don't see at cycle races now.
Well,
while finally having relinquished the onerous duties of General
Secretary, I do plan to keep some involvement in the racing side of
the Vets in the timing and judging of the races. I also intend to
spend more time personally on two wheels rather than on paperwork.