Biking Dirty article 7 June 2012

 

BMX Ireland’s Back!

Back in the 80’s we were good! We had three hundred plus riders at most Nationals. UK stars popped up at them occasionally and didn’t get their own way. Every time you turned around it seemed Andy Ruffell was over again bunny hopping over some willing victim.

Outside of Ireland we were getting noticed too, a core group of riders went to the most of the UK Nationals and did well, regularly making semi’s and finals, we had a UK number one, a European Champion, a couple of top eight riders at the ’86 Worlds in Slough and later, a British Champion.

Then … nothing …

 

 

The bikes got sold, given away, left out in the rain or if you were lucky they were put in the attic. The tracks got “upgraded” to apartment blocks and playgrounds.

Ireland entered the dark ages, 25 years in BMX Racing wilderness.

Fast forward to 2009 / 2010 and a few of the old school riders started to meet up and remember. The lucky few took the bikes from the attic, a few jumped in and bought new ones and we went dirt jumping, all the time remembering the fun we had racing. So meetings took place, plans were made and eventually Ratoath BMX Track and Club were dragged kicking and screaming into existence by some of those old school riders and a huge amount of local support. In less than a year since inception Ratoath BMX has become the largest cycling club in Ireland, a fact that gets pointed out to the roadies at every opportunity!

 

 
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