Lap Of The Mask A Great Success

Leisure cyclists flock to Lough Mask.

One of the biggest ever cycle bunches seen in Mayo gathered in Ballinrobe for Western Lakes Cycle Club “Lap of the Mask” cycle on Saturday morning. Participants could choose between the 64km Lap of the Mask route, and had the opportunity to cycle around the Head of the Mask at Finny which is 7km longer.

The sunny weather helped bring out the crowds, with only a light wind to contend with. The 150-strong group completed a circuit around Ballinrobe before heading out to Partry and on to Tourmakeady. Refreshments and a welcomed break were provided at Maire Lukes, where participants enjoyed the stunning views across the lake, with the landmark Ballinrobe water towers looking very small in the distance. With the legs rested and the bodies re-fuelled participants took to the road again to complete the second half of the journey. The route took the group on to Finny, Clonbur and finished at the Western Lakes cycling centre Ballinrobe where the water towers looked life-sized again! The BMX track was in full use at this stage where the BMX'ers put on a show for all the finishers. Participants basked in the sun and enjoyed the stunts riders while sipping on tea with a slice of cake.

This leisure cycle catered for all abilities, young or old, recreational or racers. Everyone went as fast or as easy as they liked as the route was well marked and marshalled. Support vehicles were on hand to assist with breakdowns, and people just enjoyed themselves in the beautiful scenery. A great day was had by all. Western Lakes CC would like to thank all the marshals, drivers, and volunteers who rallied to support the promotion and organisation of the cycle, and those who arrived in force to help out running the event on the day.

Proceeds from the Lap of the Mask are shared between Cystic Fibrosis and Western Lakes CC. The club’s next leisure event, the Polkadot Challenge, is on July 18th where we can expect to see a similar crowd out on the roads again, this time taking on some of the climbing challenges in the region. Sponsorship cards, to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis, are in circulation for this event. Details and registration are available on www.westernlakescc.com. Mayo cycling clubs are making a big effort to recruit recreational cyclists so watch out for details.