By Tommy Campbell, Irish Independent, Evening Herald, Sunday Independent
A new cycling school for under-age riders has been established in Dublin, Ireland. The school is the brainchild of Paddy Doran of the Dundrum SC Orwell Wheelers CC, together with David O'Donovan, the Sports Development officer of the Dublin City Council. Doran is the director of the project while Aidan Hammond will function as the assistant director.
Paddy, Aidan and the members of the Dundrum SC Orwell Wheelers will work with David O'Donovan and the Dublin City Council sports development staff in planning programs for under-age riders of all abilities and also to train coaches from the ranks of the Dundrum SC Orwell Wheelers C.C. to achieve the long-term success of the cycling school.
The aims of the cycling school are:
- That all of the participants are given the opportunity, regardless of ability or gender, to try cycling in a safe and enjoyable environment, which will lead to some of them developing a life long habit of cycling for pleasure, health or commuting.
- That some of the participants will go on to compete in cycling competitions as members of the Dundrum SC Orwell Wheelers C.C. and become life long members.
- That in the long term that the Cycling school will produce cyclists who will compete at the very highest level internationally.
- That everyone who participates will gain a positive experience which may help in his or hers physical, psychological and social development.
The school kicked off with great success in November with 14 participants on Sundrive road track. Children from the local area and the Orwell took part in skills, games and time trials with 10 members of the Dundrum SC Orwell helping out with Paddy, Aidan and Dave. Everybody thoroughly enjoyed themselves and prizes were presented to all the kids and T-Shirts thanks to the Dublin City council.
A program of events will be continuing from the last Saturday in January (29th) from 2pm to 3.30 to continue right throughout the year. Membership of the cycling school will be for Dundrum SC Orwell Wheelers riders only for ages 11 to 15.
More information: paddydoran@hotmail.com
