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Prior to the foundation of the Irish Veteran Cyclists
Association a group of cyclists met once a month for touring calling
themselves The Plus 40s or "Plussers".
In 1966 out of this gathering, a circular headed
"Veteran Cyclists Association" emerged. I still have a copy
and the following is an abstract from it.
"In response to numerous approaches and arising out of a
discussion at a recent function, where kindred spirits had
foregathered, a determined effort is now being made to cater for the
"over-forties" in every aspect of the sport and pastime,
which has been their common and abiding interest for so many years.
With this end in view, an inaugural run will take place next Sunday
morning, 13th. March 1966 starting from the Gouch Corner in the
Phoenix Park at 10.30 a.m. sharp."
From the earliest days of the Vets, the annual
dinner dance was a staple feature. The original location was
Navan, and transport both ways was by bike. Their menu for Sunday
1st. Nov. 1970 was as follows, Soup: Crème
Dèmbrocation, Entrée: Frame of Chicken -
Saddle of Pork, Mangled Sprockets, Russet Bearings with 3-in-1 Sauce. Dessert:
Diced Gears followed by Primus Brewed Tea or Café-au-Thermos.
Activity in the early years was largely confined
to touring but this began to change in 1974 when the I.V.C.A. held a
General meeting in the Stag's head, Dame Court at which a
constitution and rules were adopted.
I have a copy of the newsletter giving the
results of the meeting and the constitution. The names on the
Founders Cup record the main activists at this time: Des Troy, Fred
Smith, Tom Dempsey, Phil Byrne, Denis Goody, Eamon Dunphy, Smiler
O`Brien, Paddy Mc Inerney & myself Donal O`Connell. Others
involved at that time Terry Kernan, Tom Byrne, Pat Smith, Bill Gaynor
and Dick Walsh.
The first Racing Secretary elected was Denis
Goody who supervised the racing programme. Its interesting, in terms
of the debate at recent AGMs, that the programme was mainly Time
Trials - tens and twenty fives, with one fifty and one 100. The
initial programme also included one Handicap Road Race which, in
fact, did not take place.
This is understandable when one considers that
highest number of starters in any one race was 7. The remaining
fields had 6. When it came to TTs, 3 rode the 50 and 1 the 100.
In that year there were only 12 races between 24th. April and 13th.
Oct. Some sample times for the T.T.s were 10mls: Tom Byrne 26.36, 42
yrs. Denis.Goody 27.24, 58yrs. 25mls: Tom.Byrne 1.5..01, D.Goody 1.8.51.
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In Sept '74 the I.V.C.A held an open 25 T.T. in
which 16 competed. However, only five were local, with the
remainder from Northern Ireland. The races were popular with northern
cyclists for several years. Even then Willie Marks was
undertaking the exacting duties of timekeeping. I featured myself a
few times on the results sheets.
In 1975, the Vets competing remained a very
select group, averaging just six members per event. As usual there
was a shortage of officials which on one occasion meant that Terry
Kernan`s wife Ethne had to do the turn. At the time Ethne was heavily
pregnant. While waving her red flag at the turn a police car pulled
up asking if she in trouble and could they help.
In 1976 the number of events was increased with
the addition of four C.P.s. Pat Mc Inerney and Mick Manley also
joined the fray at this time. From then on the number of events
and members increased. The association's touring tradition was not
ignored however, with the first Sunday of every month reserved for
that activity.
Denis Goody had an unbroken run as race secretary until
his tragic death on the twenty second of October following an
accident with a car while out cycling near his home in Ashford where
he lived. Denis was an extraordinary man. He came to Ireland from the
R.A.F to join Aer Lingus. Prior to his moving, he had a background of
racing in England and set up the Age Standards tables, which were
harder to beat than the English Standards. He did the groundwork on
which this Association was founded and continued to improve it until
his death.
In the Winter months occasional walks in the
mountains or other such interesting places were organized, generally
by Dennis, and with a meal afterwards. On one such outing in 1981,
having climbed the back of the lake in Glendalough, over dinner in
Laragh the idea of the Wicklow "200" was originated by
Dennis and John Essex. The first. Wicklow "200" was run in
May 1982.
Denis was, of course, a superb bike
rider himself winning the 10, 25 and 50 mile Championships for years.
His ability as a raconteur, his vast knowledge, his encouragement of
young riders and his perseverance in pursuit of improvement was sadly
missed. He was both myself and Gene Mangan's best friend and we
missed him terribly. Dennis came to Ireland as a stranger and left as
one of us. "To walk with Kings and not lose the common
touch", that was Dennis. I have a copy of his Obituary, which
was distributed at the scattering of his ashes on the Drumree Circuit.
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