Bray Wheelers kicks off Irish festivities

By Tommy Campbell, Irish Independent, Evening Herald, Sunday Independent

Bray Wheelers, the club that started the idea of organising Christmas events over 30 years ago is back at the helm this weekend with its Christmas two-up time trial. All over the country similar events are now run off on the run up to the festive period, but the Wheelers can lay claim to being first out of the starting block, courtesy of Paddy Martin who is President of the club today.

The club's annual Christmas fun event takes place on Sunday from the clubhouse on the Upper Dargle Road, Bray, starting at 11 o'clock. It is a non-competitive ten-mile team time trial. Teams consist of two competitors, who are obliged to estimate their time prior to the start. The team with their actual event time closest to the estimated time are the winners. Fancy dress is encouraged for the day with prizes for the best costumes to be decided by the catering crew.

It will be nostalgic event for the club as this will be the last time that the event will start from the old clubhouse. Early in the New Year the 130-member club is moving to state of the art premises. In the 60's Bray Wheelers was the first club in Ireland to have its own premises and over 40 years later it's still the only club in the country with its own building.