Club spins and touring What a week that was. Its hard to know where to start. On Friday evening, Micheal Flood and Darragh Coyle travelled to Derry for the Joe Barr 200-mile ultra distance event, which was to begin the following morning, heading for Donegal, Tyrone and Antrim. Entrants wear a timing chip which followers can watch online to track their progress. Micheal’s support crew was his sister Martina and Gavin Treanor. Darragh’s crew was strictly a family affair with his wife Gillian and father Tommy in the support vehicle. It was a gruelling day for these two men. Starting with some uncomfortably warm conditions, but deteriorating to wind and driving rain later on. Micheal was first club man over the line in second place overall for a time of 9 hours 57 minutes. Congratulations Micheal. Darragh followed home in fourth place overall with a time of 11 hours and 6 minutes. An incredible effort for Darragh’s first time at this event. Also on Saturday, club racing and committee member Dara McKenna was up bright and early with the weight of responsibility on his shoulders. Dara was in charge of the club’s team of marshals for the stage 4 finish of the Ras Tailteann. The race’s riders would be entering the outskirts of Monaghan town at speeds of up to 60kmph and their safety depended upon the competency of the marshals involved to help them avoid the road furniture from the Clones Road to Cathedral Hill via the Margaret Skinnader roundabout. It is a testament to Dara and his hard work that despite the large bunch finish, all riders made it through the last few kms safely. In recognition, the club were invited to lead out the race to the official start the following morning. Sunday's regular club spin had to be curtailed, because we had to be back to Monaghan Harps GAA for the rollout of the Ras at 11:30. The shorter route was Emyvale, Glaslough, Middletown, Drumhillery, Green Lane (down), Castleshane and back to Bogue’s Foodhall for a club social breakfast. There was great turnout of members for the spin, the social and the Ras rollout. Club members rode in front of the entourage from Harps, up Dublin Street to the courthouse for the ceremonial start. From there, there was a neutralised section as far as Berry’s garage where the action would begin and the race headed for the final finish in Blackrock, Co Louth. Incidentally, County Cork’s Dillon Corkery riding for Team Ireland won the Saturday stage finishing in Monaghan and went on to win the 5 day stage race overall in Blackrock. Special mention should also be made of Mark Skeath and Tommy McCague for bringing the Ras to Monaghan. Mark’s company SDG sponsored the finish along with Monaghan County Council. Thank you to club member and councillor Sean Conlon for helping to secure sponsorship through Monaghan County Council. Without sponsors this event would not happen. On Tuesday evening 16th of May at 6:30 PM, the club held the second in a series of a couch to 50k cycling programme. The aim is to bring novice and returning cyclists up to the level of fitness and road competence to allow them to ride the 50km loop in the Tour of Monaghan on June 18th and hopefully afterwards continue with their cycling development. In this session we moved to Glennan Chapel car park to practice some cycling drills and riding in formation. Next session we will hit the open road in small groups, each with ride leaders for a 20km spin. Please note the following dates for your diary for 2023: Emyvale CC events: Sunday 18th June – Emyvale CC Tour of Monaghan Sunday 23rd July - Emyvale Grand Prix Sunday 20th August - Bike the Blackwater Friday 20th October – Dungloe Club trip