See original Your Forum article HERE

 

 

Track ‘reintroducing’ BMX racing to Ireland

 

Eamon Wyer and ShayMcNally.

Ireland’s first international standard BMX bicycle racing track is set to open in Ratoath.

The track on Fairyhouse Road will house the Ratoath BMX Club and will be a place for local young people to enjoy some outdoor activity.

The idea for the track, which is due to open by the end of October, came from BMX enthusiast and Ratoath resident Shay McNally.

It has taken more than two years of planning and fundraising to make it a reality, but Shay hopes that his efforts will inspire more clubs to get started around Ireland.

 

He says his Ratoath club is ‘reintroducing the sport to Ireland’.

BMX racing takes place on specially prepared dirt tracks over jumps and around banked turns.

Typical tracks are 350m long and races are sprints between eight riders.

The Ratoath venue boasts a National Specification track, which was designed based on the UK national track in Manchester, and is complete with an electric start gate for eight riders.

It is already lined up to host five national racing events.

 

The cost of the completed community project was more than €30,000, which was made up from fundraising, bank loans and a grant from Meath County Council.

 

The sport has recently experienced a huge rebirth and has proved to be one of the most popular recent additions to the Olympic Games.

Ireland is on course to have its first BMX Olympic participant, Kelvin Batey, in the London 2012 Olympics.

BMX racing in Ireland saw its heyday in the 1980s, as Irish competitors competed at national race events from 1981 to 1988.

Since this period all of the purpose-build tracks in Ireland fell into disrepair and the sites were levelled and built on during the boom years.

McNally hopes his club can raise the profile of the BMX racing in Ireland, giving local youth a structure in which to compete. McNally, who was a nationally ranked BMX racer during the 1980s, says the club already has some competition hopefuls. “A couple of local guys are pretty handy around the track,” he says.

 

BMX racing caters for children and adults from seven upwards. According to Shay, the BMX scene is a safe, positive and healthy environment that promotes fun competition in children and young adults.

“It’s a fantastic sport, especially perfect for the teenage years.”

He says the sport is particularly attractive to boys aged 11 -17.

The club does have a number of female members, or ‘powder puffs’ as they are referred to by their club mates.

As well as race events, the club will hold training sessions as part of their BMX school, where they will teach race techniques, skills and bike maintenance.

 

Ratoath BMX Club thanks all of the sponsors that have been involved with helping to raise the funds to build the track.

These include Flynn Signs and Display, bikestore.ie, theboardroom.ie, Harry’s Bikes in Clonskeagh, Des Brady Cycle in Ratoath, WP O’Reilly, Tayto Park and Urban Clinic. The club is also grateful to the landowners: Paul O’Brien, Joe McNamara and Robert Butler.

 

They also received great support from Regina Doherty TD since the inception of the project.

The club is seeking further sponsorship to help fund the ongoing maintenance of the track. Each sponsor will receive a full colour advertisement around the track area.

 

Local and national press including newspapers, magazines, radio and TV will be invited to the official opening and national race events. For more information please see www.ratoathbmx.com